Top Ten Things Different about The Melodrama.

TOP TEN THINGS that are DIFFERENT (better and worse) ABOUT TGAM since I was here in 2000:

1. John & Suzy King (better). They have their bad days, like we all do, but 99% of the time, they are wonderful company managers. They make everyone feel appreciated and taken care of. They are professional and fun to work with onstage, and approachable and understanding offstage. A joy.

2. Costumes (OH so much better). Jim Tanner is the resident costumer; he comes up from LA every now and again, and is AMAZINGly talented (and fun-- we made an instant connection). His designs are BEAUTIFUL-- and in such a small space, having beautiful, well made costumes makes a huge difference in the quality and feel of the show.

3. Housing (better). The old, termite-ridden house was sold, and now there's a new house (and the condo). The new house is in about the same condition as the condo, maybe a little better. The condo has noise issues with the neighbors, I guess, but other than that, no complaints. I'm at the house, and I have NO complaints! No termites, more than one bathroom for four people... it's all good for me. Plus, we have a very nice (and manicured) front porch area, with grass and flowers, etc. It's lovely to sit out with a book or do yoga. A little oasis in the middle of Little Mexico (aka, the Steinbeckian landscape). Plus, it's now free!

4. Security (worse). We had a break-in here at the house, a few weeks ago. They came in through Jim Shine's room, while we were all upstairs in the living room! Very scary. Grabbed his wallet, some DVD's, (left the porn, though), then grabbed Billy's wallet and some other things. Not cool. However, (see bullet #1), John King was all over it, and Jim had locks on his screen door within two days.

5. Money (not better). For all the work you do, all the cleaning up dead nacho cheese and drippy margaritas at ten-thirty at night, patrons thinking you're a waitress, no break inbetween shows on Saturdays, and one-breath orders like: "two large Skinnies, a boot of Sass, four Luckies, a souvenier pail of Doc, and a small Edsel, on the B"... it still isn't enough money. Just not enough money. Just ...having to be apart from Warren, and trying to pay bills at home AND feed myself, and working so hard... nope, just not enough money.

6. My Mazda (better). Ah, my Mazda. My Mazda (Betty) has saved my sanity. I love her. I hope she knows how much I love her. No more bumming rides. I go to beach whenever I want, I can grocery shopping more than once a week... FREEDOM! I know that this isn't really a Melodrama thing, this is a Cara thing... but still ...YEAH!

7. Dressing room talk (worse). In the dressing room, I sit inbetween Billy Breed (Buddhist and king of the disgusting, sexual comment) and an ex-Catholic priest, Scott Herr. Need I say more? Oh, yes, I think I need. They are driving me bonkers. Billy had a bit of a crush on Scott when he first arrived, but that has since worn off... with a vengeance! They passive-agressively argue about EVERYTHING: religion, politics, the media, the length of my hair... you name it, and they'll disagree about it. And if they agree (which is rare) they'll still find a way to fight about it. Separately, I like them both very much. Together, I want to push them out a moving vehicle.

8. Bar Management (better). We have a cool, young bar manager, Paul. I dubbed him "Hot Paul". Cause he is. He's a friend of Shawna's, and while John and Suzy may mutter about him from time to time, I think he's a great addition to the crew. He's good with the patrons, he's not a nut-job, he sings tip songs, and he generally fits right in with all of us gays, queens, divas, freaks, and geeks. Oh, happy day.

9. Half Yards are GONE (better). There were these horrible plastic tubes they used to sell here, with the Melodrama logo on them, and you'd get orders for three or four at a time, full of margaritas. Well, they are GONE GONE GONE! All souveniers are now user-friendly.

10. T-shirts (better). The Melodrama t-shirts are actually cool, now. They have one word on the front (either Villan. or Hero. or Herione., etc) on the front, with the Melodrama logo on the back. Very cool.

And... things that are THE SAME (good/great):
The fabulous (yet king-of-random-tempos) Mark Wanless, solid stage management (Tom Mosher is the SM, very good), Eric Hoit, the weather, Shawna Young, Mark Daniel's wife-beater t-shirts, never have to spend a day in the box office, Gary Adams, Trader Joe's, the Melodrama patrons, fresh produce from the Hayashi fruit stand, Jim Shine (who looks different because he's weight, but he's still the same old Jim Shine), and Jim Shine's performances. ;)