Mirror Mirror On The Wall!

Today I was talking to my older brother, and he asked me about the post below w/the pic. He wondered what exactly I didn't like about the picture. I just don't like it. I don't think it looks like me, granted, I am in costume with my hair slicked down with pomade, and completely unaware that the picture is being taken from a bad angle while I breath through my mouth. It's an unflattering shot, that's all.

In the picture I see a pudgy, balding doofus. In reality, even though I maybe that pudgy, balding doofus, to some extent, my self image still is slightly more attractive and vibrant. My Peter Pan complex is in direct conflict with the picture wherein I look more like Mr. Smee!

Self Image is a funny thing. Vanity is just as comical, I guess.

Another Year Older...

...And the camera has become less kind to me.

This shot was snapped backstage on opening night of my show, as I listened to the director give a pep talk. I think it's an extremely unflattering picture of my baby-faced, receding hair-lined, remember when I was young and thin current self.

The guy who took the picture loves it!

Opening Night

A few jitters, a couple flubbed lines, one or two missed cues, and then the show is over. In darkness we walk to the center of the stage and wait for the lights to rise on our curtain call. Will they clap? Will it be earnest applause or just the polite, rhythmical slapping together of two fleshy hands?

Earnest applause.

So the show didn't go as smoothly as possible... so the audience for opening night was as large as we would have hoped... the fact is that our opening night has come and gone. That hurdle is passed. Now we can just focus on performing the show and hope word of mouth is good. The critic from the Baltimore Sun appeared to have enjoyed it... even introduced herself to the director. We'll see how it goes.

Tech Week Continues...

That's right, Tech Week. Rehearsal after rehearsal. Tweaking! Adjusting! Calling for 'Line'! Running! Rerunning! Calling for 'Line'! Working! Reworking! Hemming! Rehemming! 'Line'!

Tired!

Tomorrow night's Opening Night! The beginning of a 5 week run; Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday performances. John Logan's 'Hauptmann' at the Colonial Players of Annapolis. Stay tuned for the reviews...

Really?

You're reading a book in stop-n-go traffic? You don't see a problem with this? You have a hard enough time talking on your phone while driving, but to read a book behind the wheel? Haven't you ever heard of Books On Tape or CD?

Why Do I Do?

Tonight my cousin's 12 year old daughter called to interview me. Why? She called to interview me because of my theatre background; cuz I'm an 'Actor'.

It's for a class project/paper. She asked 10 questions ranging from my full name to what advice I would give to an up-and-coming actor/actress. Standard interview questions.

The problem is that sometimes I don't just know the answers to the questions. I apologized several time to the polite interviewer, 'I talk a lot sometimes. Did I answer your question?'

Why did I get into theatre? I dunno... probably to get attention. Maybe because I wasn't very athletic...
What's my favorite part about being an actor? I dunno... being introduced to a new story, to new characters with every new show.
What's the worst part? Working three different jobs just so I can do a 'Professional' show for 5 weeks, and then walk away with a depleted bank account, bad reviews, and another character on the Resume.
What's the hardest part about being an actor? Dealing with the rejection; but you have to deal with it or you won't keep at it.

Self-Reflection is always a slippery slope for an actor/actress. Why do we do it?

Standard BS response is, 'To create art,' or 'Cause I can't imagine what else I would possible want to do'.

Probably just should've told her, 'Cause sometimes it's really fun, but sometimes it sucks... the parties can be cool... you'll meet interesting people... applause is very reassuring... I don't know... I talk a lot sometimes. Did I answer your question?'

BLOG BITE!

- A rare occasion, though it does it happen, when something one has recorded in their online blog is read by a person who may misinterpret the post, or may just take offense to said post.

Blog Bite happens occasionally. Once my brother took offense to a comment I made about his telephone habits. (I'll apologize now, since he is one of the handful of my readers. I'm sorry.) I usually try to keep things pretty vague in my writings, specifically, for this reason. I know of only a few family members and close friends who keep up with my posts, so I am always surprised when someone stumbles upon it.

Perfect example - a few weeks ago I wrote about an audition I attended. Without naming names I briefly summarized the events of the evening without a second thought. Then I was cast in the show, and at one of the rehearsals a castmate approached me and quoted my blog to me. The quote was about a dialect/accent that was used (by him) in the audition that I compared to a Muppet's voice. It never occured to me that if this castmate GOOGLED our show my post would appear and he could read my observations of the audition and decipher my purposefully vague critique.

Rehearsals are going well, and this castmate, whom, originally thought his own dialect/accent sounded like a Looney Tunes Martian is, I find, a talented actor. His accent has improved, and luckily he isn't one to hold a grudge because we share a lot of stage time.

The Honeymoon Is Over...

...for about a week now. It was hard adjusting back into the real world, but I guess we've done it. Plodding along, side by side, we'll wander through the years. (Isn't that sweet.)

Oh, talk about a reality check I found out as our Honeymoon was ending that 2 scripts of mine have been rejected by local theatre companies. It's not the first time. It won't be the last. I have to say that the rejections did sting a little more than usual coming, as they did, at the end of the Honeymoon.