Everything's a-Runnin' Smooth, Part 3: Truckin' Home

We woke up, got ready, ate breakfast, and drove our 10' truck (named Bobby-Ray) to the Lincoln Theater at University of Hartford for a two-show day. We were once again down a third of the set (and my beloved tractor), but this space's modest size seemed strangely more appropriate for our diminished set. The loss of my tractor prop had made the first 30 seconds of the show a little miserable (there's only so much jaunty walking, hitch-kicking and marveling at the glories of the farm that one can do without any assistance), so Alaina wisely sent Shaun and Colleen, dressed as chickens, onstage to help distract the kids. The shows went fine, we packed up our tiny truck and headed back to the dealership, to visit Cargo Cathy in "sick bay" and retrieve our remaining set pieces. Cargo Cathy wasn't doing so well:




We lugged the remaining set pieces out and, with great precision and planning, placed them into our tiny truck:




Despite the ordeal, we were happy to be reunited with the full set as we trucked to our La Quinta in New Haven. While more negotiations with UHaul ensued.

While visiting Cathy, we learned that there was no definite repair date, partially because the insurance company had not responded to the dealer's request for a quote, and partially because they had yet to determine the extent of the damage. Theatreworks was still holding out hope for a Saturday fix, but we were not so sure. To be on the safe side, we reserved a 14' truck in New Britain for Saturday, with a final destination of Greenville, SC (our four-day sit-down at the beginning of April). Seeing Cathy in pieces did not inspire much hope.

Friday rolled around, and we got ready to perform in New Haven, when the reality hit: should we need to retrieve Cargo Cathy on Saturday, Alaina and one actor would be losing their day off. Not only that, this was our final day off in New York City before heading off to the South, not to return until June. So, clearly, nobody was jumping up for this position. Tensions ran high before the show, infusing the performance with a new energy that was at once exciting, and unnerving. Post-show, Alaina hopped on the phone to Theatreworks and returned with news: Cathy's "due date" was set for the Monday after we were to head down south, which meant that we would be pushing up the reservation date on our new 14' truck, and driving it down to Greenville. The consequence for this? Once in Greenville, Alaina would be flying back to New Britain to drive Cargo Cathy down to meet us. We loaded out, drove to the New Haven UHaul location where our third (and final) UHaul was waiting for us, and did it all over again:




Tired, cranky, but relieved to be finished with this ordeal and going home, we rode into the traffic of the Cross Bronx Expressway, and back into the city we call home. And everyone was so happy to be there.

Call tomorrow: A glorious day off. Thank goodness!

Kid Quote of the Day: When Shaun appeared onstage for the first time in his Duck costume (which includes an aviator jacket, hat and goggles), a very indignant little child announced: "That duck should be naked." Umm...

Colleen Tractor Quote of the Day: "Ethan Marc Angelica!! I know a young man who has been missing his tractor very badly for the last few days. I think the least he could do is put it away after he's done with it."