Ideas Still Coming, Even This Close to Curtain

With the performance date looming, you might think ideas would start winding down—but if anything, they’re speeding up. Even as we move into full rehearsal mode, there’s this ongoing flow of inspiration that keeps shaping the final version of the play.

After our most recent run, I sent a group email to pitch a tweak for Scene 1. The thought was to build out some more tension and character depth while Andrew and I are running—maybe he chastises me with a line like, “You have to take this seriously… you’re gonna get one of us killed.” That simple moment could do a lot: add urgency, foreshadow conflict, and even give some weight to Aaron’s character by having Andrew defend him—explaining that Aaron has seen war and is trying to toughen us up for what’s ahead.

At the same time, Bob came in with a sharp idea for Aaron’s arc: during his usual rant about how we’re never going anywhere because we’re too soft, he gets a text that changes everything. We’re being deployed. The contrast between Aaron’s cynicism and the gut-punch of real news? That’s some powerful dramatic irony, and it adds another layer of realism and shock.

Beyond the script, we also tried to land on something simple but symbolic: what to wear. We figured we’d keep it in the spirit of the military—nothing too on-the-nose, but enough to feel like a unit. A little visual cohesion to signal the world we’re in and the stakes we’re facing.