Daisy Journal: Hoke Speaks Out and Moves Us All

With Christmas behind us, we're back to rehearsing scenes for Daisy. Last Thursday and tonight we worked on what will be two of the most difficult scenes in the show. Last Thursday we blocked and worked the scene where Daisy tells Hoke he can't be excused to relieve himself and Hoke gives her a piece of his mind. Tonight, we worked the scene in which the bombing of the Jewish temple in Atlanta (a real historic event) affects Hoke deeply. The event leads him to tell Daisy a story from his childhood in which he saw his best friend's father after he'd been murdered and hung from a tree by racists.

Both Lynn (Baskin) and Eve (Connolly) did a wonderful job this evening. This is an especially difficult scene for Lynn to play as you can imagine. Deeply touching and emotionally draining. He reached down deep and found something tonight that I've not scene from many local actors lately. He had us all choked up. When it was over, I thanked Lynn for the great work he did tonight. Honestly, words can't express how much I appreciate what he's is doing for this role. It can't be easy for him. I just hope that enough people come to see it. Because if they do, I know they'll appreciate his contribution as much as I do.