Ran a chart for my production

[alejoplay]

I don't quite know what to look at in an event chart.

This is for a production of a play of mine that opened last week. We got a one bad review today and, frankly, I am a little concerned.

Seeing Venus on the DSC LOOKS encouraging as is the Part of Fortune in the 10th house. I am also curious about the ASC and DSC being at critical degrees.

Is there anything else I should look at/be aware of?

If it helps, I am the playwright. The director is my best friend of 14 years. We both run the production company and are co-producers of the show.

I don't quite know his chart, but I've got a few connections to mine:

Pallas Conjunct My DSC
Moon Conjunct My Midheaven
Mercury and Neptune Conjunct My Sun in the 7th (by 3 degrees)
Pluto Conjunct My True Node in the 5th
Chiron one degree off my DSC

[Kim Falconer]

Is this the chart of the opening night?

The critical degree on the Ascendant is considered 'edgy'--things come to a critical or crisis point--or that one might be 'at the end of one's rope' if it describes a person. 29 Leo is my EXACT ascendant and so far not at the end of my rope and not a particularly 'critical' life, as far as I can see!

When we look at event charts, we can use them as transit charts, as you point out. It would be interesting to look at these transits (this chart) to the chart of the production company itself. But as an election chart, it's moot. Election charts are chosen moments in time to begin something--so you would have looked at the chart-or other possible charts-to find the right time for opening night (or a wedding or a journey etc). In that case you would consider things like the Moon--

If you want matters to move quickly and you want publicity, you choose a time when the moon is above the horizon and increasing in light. We have that, but this moon is also going to square Saturn opp Neptune, not known for good press (though it isn't going to STOP good reviews!) A new to first quarter moon in the 9-11th house is great and the more trines and sextiles and conjunctions to inner planets it makes, the better. Here the Moon is inconjunct the ruler of the 5th and just past the square to the Sun (chart ruler). It doesn't mean things won't succeed, but it means there could be some detours or changes along the way--how long does the show run?

A parallel of declination to Fortuna (part of Fortune) is excellent--can you check for that and list the parallels and contra-parallels? Let me know if you need help finding these! You can see the declinations by clicking on 'extended chart data' at Astro.com-a PDF will open. Use an orb of 1 degree or 1.5 max.

You have the final aspect of the moon conjunct Fortuna-though Fortuna will have changed signs by then (it movers as quickly as the ascendant). Having Fortuna in the 10th is great for publicity though. Generally, you don't want an election chart with Fortuna in the 12th house or in Pisces--there she becomes the part of misfortune unless it is a 12th house event (like a séance or dream work—defiantly not a medical procedure.)

When you want an event to ‘last’ you put the Asc and the Moon in fixed signs—which you have. Of course this will mean they will square or oppose each other UNLESS you choose a time when the moon is in a greater degree than the ascendant.

I don’t use asteroids in Horary or Event charts generally but if one related to the production (there is an asteroid Shakespeare, for example) I would include that one and see where it sits.

Ultimately you want the moon ‘happy’ and here she is exalted, top of the chart so that’s helpful. You also want the ruler of the 5th (stage productions) happy—and here Jupiter is in it’s own sign, forward in motion, trine Sa, sextile Su/Me/Ne. The square to Ur isn’t ideal but you can never set up an election chart that is ‘perfect’…it could simply mean eccentric patrons or even reflect a theme in the play itself. You also look at Venus as the natural ruler of the arts and Sun as the natural ruler of the 5th. Venus on the horizon is strong, though it would have been better to have her angular—same as Sun (which might have meant a sunset curtain time to have them both in the 7th, which is probably just too early anyway….)

With all those planets in the 6th, ‘critics’ comes to mind but remember, if they are talking about it, it’s good! You may have had a poor review but that is just one—what is the over all response?

I hope this helps and isn’t too rambling!!!

Let me know what you think.

Warmly,
Kim

Oh, I just realized also that Saturn and Sun are in mutual reception. That means they keep their degrees but can change places. If the play has a Saturn theme, this could be helpful. It means Moon will still Square Sa though.

[alejoplay]

Wow, thanks for this.

The play closed a couple weeks ago. Essentially, we got very good reviews in major publications and a bunch of awful ones in not so major publications. The problem was finding the audience for the play. We had the bad winter weather to deal with and the challenge of allowing word of mouth to build over three weeks (too short a time). So, while the play was an artistic success, it was not a financial one.

The play does have an Saturnian element in it as all three character have to face up to reality and mature by the end of the play. What was interesting is that audience members in their early 20s had no use for this nor did audience members in their late 40s/early 50s (I am generalizing here, but it was pretty consistent with what we saw). Audience members in their late 20s/early 30s responded to the play the strongest (Saturn Return influence?) with extreme emotion (tears on several nights).

[Kim Falconer]

That makes sense about the Saturn Return connection. Very interesting.

That it was an artistic successe is comendable...congratulations. I get the feeling that it will 'stay with' those who saw it, and participated in it, for some time to come.

Warmly,
Kim