Cheers for Emjoy, Cheers for Wait Until Dark

Mike and I were invited to stay for the “opening night toast” after Sunday’s performance of Wait Until Dark. We accepted the invitation, of course! I felt like a star, celebrating with cast members. But just like after the rehearsals, I found the experience somewhat bittersweet. This was a more standard type of letdown, though. Nothing to do with my blindness, really. Just an “empty nest” sort of thing. Emjoy and the cast didn’t need me any more. They were doing fine on their own now! A review in the Chicago Sun-Times confirms my assessment:

Gavino, a most skilled and charming slip of a girl, deftly manages to shift from Susy’s initially blithe self-confidence into shrewd counter-insurgency mode as she refuses to become the classic female victim. She also makes you begin thinking as Susy does, with a heightened awareness of sounds and smells and space and the little strategies required for living blind.

Way to go, Emjoy! All your hard work and research paid off! And really, the best review came after the preview on Thursday, the night I was invited to sit on stage with the cast for a Q & A session after the play. The very first comment came from an audience member who said her husband is visually impaired. “That actress was fabulous,” the woman said. “I was so glad she didn’t play it like we see in TV, where the blind person spends the whole time looking up to the sky!” The woman said she was startled when Emjoy came out at the end for her curtain call. “She walked down the steps like someone who could see!” Emjoy was surrounded by well-wishers at the opening night toast, but she did manage to make her way towards Mike and me before we left. After uncoiling from our congratulatory hugs, Emjoy said she had a present for me.” I thought of writing you a thank-you note, but I knew you wouldn’t be able to read it by yourself,” she said, pressing a CD into my hand. “It’s music Susy would have listened to.” Recognizing the quizzical look on my face, Emjoy explained. “When I’m playing a role, I like to put songs on my iPod that the character would listen to, it helps me get into the part.” She reasoned Susy would be a jazz fan. You know, Greenwich Village in the 60s. “There’s some Miles Davis, other jazz. Oh, and Joan Baez. Some Bob Dylan tunes, too,” she said. “I copied them from my iPod onto this CD for you.” It was a beautiful, thoughtful gift. A perfect souvenir. Because, heck, the opportunity I was given to be a part of a live theatre production was just that: a beautiful, thoughtful gift. Okay, enough. Quit reading thi blog post. Pick up the phone, call 773.753.4472 and order your tickets for Wait Until Dark. That, or link to the court theatre website to order tickets online. Whatever you do, don’t…ahem…wait — this thriller closes in two weeks!