I had one week to go. I had directed the play "God" by Woody Allen, and it was enjoying a successful three-weekend run in August. It sold out its Sunday show, making it the first show ever to sell out a performance at that theatre, and I felt it had done what I could do with it. One more weekend of performances, and I could take a break. That's when The Cell called.

The Cell is the only true equity theatre in Albuquerque, and any time they call for a show, you should take it seriously. I had auditioned for a part in "August: Osage County" by Tracy Letts back in July but didn't get the role of the sheriff. I was too young (among other reasons, I'm sure). Without going into details, the sheriff dropped out right before rehearsals began, they shifted the actor who would play Little Charles to the sheriff, and asked me to play Little Charles. I got the okay from my wife and said 'Sure' to the role. I had acted in a Tracy Letts' play called "Killer Joe" many years back and directed another called "Bug" a couple years ago. So here I was again. Seven more weeks of theatre, but at least it was professional theatre, and the show was "August: Osage County. "

If you don't know the show, it won the Pulitzer Prize for theatre and the Tony award for best play in 2008. If you haven't seen it, that's because it just stopped playing on Broadway. It's a sprawling tale of an Oklahoma family coming together after the patriarch of the family goes missing. The matriarch is a pill-popping, scathing, old-timey lady with three daughters, a sister and her husband and son (Little Charles), and a couple of in-laws. Throw in a sheriff and a Cheyenne maid, and you've a thirteen person cast with all kinds of soap operas going on.

The show is three acts long, lasting about three and half hours (with a couple intermissions). It harkens back to old Tennessee Williams and Eugene O'Neill plays with modern twists and much more language. Personally, it reminds me of "The Three Sisters" by Chekov, but that's just me.

The writing sells the play better than anything. The mother and daughters quibble with each other, and it's revealed that the patriarch killed himself at the end of the first act. As soon as it starts to get heavy handed, Letts throws in a joke or a light hearted moment to keep everyone interested. Most people find bits and pieces of their own family in this massive tale, including an awkward and uncomfortable dinner scene where the mother, loaded on pills, starts ripping into anyone who speaks. I always said it was like having my mother at her worst times ten. Most of us have been there.

My bit as Little Charles was limited to the second half of the second act and a little piece of the third, but I must say I made the most of it. Little Charles and Ivy are cousins, but they have an intimate relationship. I miss the funeral of the patriarch but come on the scene profusely apologizing to my dad. The next scene I apologize to my mom, who has none of it. Then I apologize to Ivy in the next moment, who cut me off to kiss me. It is the first smooch in the play and comes an hour and a half in. It was not uncommon to have oohs and aahs during our moment. We also got murmurs and people saying 'Aren't they cousins?'

Other than that, Little Charles drops a green bean casserole, almost announces to the family that Ivy and he are in love, and sings her a little song that I made up myself. That's about it for me, except the kicker. It's revealed in the last act that Little Charles is actually Ivy's half brother, because her dad had an affair with my mom. Ah, rural Oklahoma!

It's not easy being a little part in a long play. I almost always took a nap during the first act and played two rounds of pool during intermissions. Patience was the key, and I did my best. I tried not to look forward to anything or remember what had been done. Take it one show at a time.

The show was so popular that a performance was added to our three week run of five shows a week. The theatre even attempted to get an extra weekend, but actor conflict prohibited it. I was secretly relieved. I love being a part of sold out popular shows (especially with a little paycheck), but I had been doing theatre non-stop for four months along with cab driving in the day. If we had continued, I would be doing the show again this weekend. Last week, we did six shows in four days. Woof! Another week of that might have fried me.

So that's it. That what's been up with the Jungle. August in September, smooching my cousin/sister. Now, it's October, and I'm starting to see what's been going on in the world around me. A lot less incest, but a lot more complaining. I guess I can start telling you about that stuff in the weeks to come.

Chris Jungle never had sister to fool around with.