The first performance of What’s My Line? at ACME last night was an unqualified success!
Everything clicked perfectly: the panel was hilarious and played brilliantly together, the host was charming and funny, the guests were truly interesting and talented, and the set looked AMAZING.
Upon reflection, it was one of the best shows I’ve ever done. In fact, it was so good, I can’t remember a single thing about it.
No, I wasn’t drunk, I was just so focused on performing from moment to moment, I wasn’t able to stop and “watch” myself, like I can when a show sucks. All I know is that I had as much fun as I’ve ever had in a show, and when I was finished, I met several Industry people, who all told me how pleasantly surprised they were to discover that I was funny.
This one guy said to me, “I had no idea you were so funny! Why aren’t you on a sitcom?”
Before I could answer, he said, “I mean, I really didn’t think you were funny.”
“You’re in good company,” I said, “with just about the entire entertainment industry.”
Another woman told me that she loved the show, and will come back every week for the entire run.
“There’s a fine line between ‘devoted fan of the show’ and ‘stalker,’ you know,” I said.
She totally topped me: “Well, I’m not going to be ignored, Wil!”
I laughed again . . . but it was about 70% nervous.
I also found out that a lot of people read my website, and a lot of other people believe the totally fake bio I wrote about being a hobo.
I told this one guy that I didn’t think anyone could possibly believe that, but apparently they do.
“Do you think I should change it?” I asked.
“No way,” he said. “It’s hilarious.”
“Oh.” I said. “Thanks!”
We had a very full house, which is uncommon and pretty surprising for the first performance of a show, especially on a Wednesday, but they were totally with us from the very beginning, and that contributed to the success in a BIG way. So if you came out last night, thank you!!
I’m absolutely loving my life as a writer, but the show last night, and a couple of really wonderful auditions recently have reminded me how much I enjoy being on stage, and performing for a live audience.
This is the beginning of about five months of amazing shows at ACME, and I’m luckily to be part of two of them. I don’t say this about everything that I do, (actually, I hardly ever say this about anything that I do) but it’s totally worth coming out to see What’s My Line? at ACME.