Doc Broadway

So, did you ever see the movie Doc Hollywood with Michael J. Fox? If you haven't, basically, here's the rundown: Hotshot doctor Michael J. Fox has just finished his residency and travels across the country to start at a high-priced platic surgery practice. On the way, he runs over a white picket fence belonging to the judge in (if I remember correctly) Grady, South Carolina. To work off his fine, he his ordered to practice medicine in the local clinic. Hilarity and poignant "finding oneself" drama ensues.

Well, I seem to find myself in a similar situation as of late.

For those of you just tuning in, I recently started a directing gig in the small town of Sandersville, GA. Not including auditions (which I really don't, because I was only in town for a couple of hours each time), this is day three of the Sandersville Experience.

So, here I am. Doc Broadway. Charged with putting on Beauty and the Beast, which, for those playing the home game, is a pretty major production.

Now, before starting my short stay in Sandersville, I thought I knew what a small town was. After all, I grew up in Conyers, and we were pretty sure that we were living in a small southern town.

And we were wrong.

Yesterday, I walked through pretty much all of Sandersville. I actually have to walk further to get where I need to go in Athens...that is, when I'm not driving. A census estimate has Sandersville's population hovering around 6,000 (according to epodunk.com...no, I'm not making that site up), and it seems, a vast portion of that population has been alerted to the presence of a director in the area.

So, this young musician/actor/director from Conyers, Rome, and Athens GA is being hailed as a "big city" fellow.

Whoa...

We've had two rehearsals so far (a read-through, and a first sing of a couple of the chorus numbers), and it's looking very promising. I'm going to have to fasten my "patient Ben" hat pretty securely, but I can tell already that we're going to have an exciting show on our hands.

But first, I'm going to have to figure out just how I'm going to do the small town thing. More on this to come as I have a few more experiences, but here are a few to tide you over til' then:

• I'm living in a house built in 1897. I'm afraid to touch anything for fear of destroying it. For those of you who know me well..."accident prone" doesn't even begin to cover it.
• I've heard the name "Sherman" spoken through gritted teeth several times since I've been here.
• I've heard the expression "Oh, my stars!" more times in the past 48 hours than I have in my entire life.
• I was at the Waffle House the other night (only thing open after rehearsals...the whole world seems to shut down), and another patron couldn't eat his bacon...so he gave it to me.
• I've set up office hours in the only coffee house in the area. Mercifully, they have wireless internet so I can keep up with the world. On my second day showing up here, I was greeted as a regular.
• Yesterday, I had to buy a 3-to-2 prong plug adapter. There are no 3 prong outlets in this house. Oh, and the adapter cost 75 cents. In Athens, a diet Dr. Pepper costs $1.39.
• Everybody says hello. I'm called "Sir" by everyone I talk to, and whenever I hear the name "Mr. Dawkins," I'm looking around for my Dad.

It's a different kind of life I'm living right now. But, I'll be back in Athens on the weekends...getting my fill of air conditioning and businesses open past 9.

But don't worry...I have a little case for DVDs. I'll keep myself entertained.

TUNE OF THE DAY:

John Denver - Thank God I'm A Country Boy

Mercy...I am so not a country boy. Perhaps I should learn a little more how to be one if I'm going to get along fine here. But, let me tell you, you haven't lived til' you've heard colloquial French spoken with a major southern drawl. "Bahn--Jer!"