Tonight’s the night! I’m going to do my first ever reading of the “Fat Piece” in front of a live audience – ever. I am reading as part of “Story Jam”, a story-telling live music show produced by singer, performer, writer Stephanie Rogers and held at The Wilmette Theater. I’m a bit frightened in an excited way. I’ve been working on this particular piece off and on for decades, steadily for months. I have had invaluable guidance from solo show writer and scholar Arlene Malinowski who has been helping me for years. But this version is still kinda raw. Well, it’s as raw as a piece can be that has been written and edited for years!
I don’t know what the audience will think. Will they laugh? Will they seem bored? Weight is a tricky subject. In the past, when I’ve made jokes about my weight during concerts the audience has not laughed with me. But I think I’ve laid a good foundation at the start of the piece. I basically tell them to laugh whenever they feel like it. But one never knows. There is a thin line between writing a piece about my experiences with weight and a rant. But I think that I’ve got a good sense now as to how to tell the truth without self shaming or ranting. I just hope it will engage the audience. I am singing in the piece and there’s a very clever rap section in the middle so we shall see if I’m as clever as I hope I am!
The thing is, I want to say so much but I am limited, mostly by time, which is a good thing. This is one monologue of several in my show and one of five (There are four other readers tonight) in this performance.
I’ve lived with this piece for ages now. It’s time to take her out. Enough practice. It’s time to sink or swim. My other pieces for my show are super strong. Audiences reacted most favorably. I can only hope the same for this. But it’s never been tried. I hope this won’t turn out to be a flop. But my instincts say it’s funny and poignant and Most importantly, it’s honest. I am revealing some intimate stuff here. I’m telling my weight to a crowd of strangers!!
I will blog about the reaction I get. I won’t be devastated if it doesn’t go over hugely. This run will give me an idea if my Fat Piece is going to work as a performance piece.
This is the Acid test.
I’m tripping blindly.
I’m trusting my instincts.
I’m going out on a limb.
And I have absolutely no idea of what the audience reaction will be.
Gotta love art!
