Communicating Doors, god will whisper in your soft places

A beautiful casting as if it's a farce, American


An older, more rakish individuated casting, English


My favorite, more grounded Chekhovian casting, New Zealand

I have accepted Next Step Theater's invitation to direct their March play. I ran my choice by Ben Sherman, their director, and will propose it to the Board tomorrow. I am proposing Alan Ayckbourn's murder-mystery-with-a-twist, Communicating Doors.

This is wildly unlike me. It's not devised; and it's not Greek, Shakespeare, or Chekhov.

But it is a good fit for the troupe. It's a strong story with playable action. And it stretches me as a director into a genre whose classicism and difficulty I respect. Plus -- those rare and golden words -- this is a fully-supported production. Next Step has the budget, the rehearsal space, the actors, the set designer/TD, the stage manager, the producer, and the venue. And if work conflicts arise, Ben is willing to direct in my stead.

In chaotic systems, change begins at the outer edges, in tiny variations. I'm introducing many tiny tendrilly changes this year: working out, Life Coaching, new financial habits, writing my niece on Thursdays, and now a murder mystery.

old eyes see emerald
difficulty -- newborn eyes
see green water, fish

god will whisper in
your soft places, murmuring
of night jasmine wind

summer is a kiss,
a command to fall down, leap,
make basilisk shrieks

Rumi and Shams told
every secret, and each was
a strange wild Yes

chaotic systems
are most sensitive to
initial conditions

wear pearls; look up, laugh,
pull your V-neck lower -- he
smells like lavender