Good morning, everyone!
It's approximately 1:30am on Friday; the 20th of January.
Throughout our time on this old planet of ours (oh, by the way, broad-stroke 'Fundamental Human Truths' segment, incoming) we are given opportunities to take note of landmark life-events and share them or, conversely, to let them flow over us and out of our lives, like so much wind between the ears.
Allow me to let you in on one of which i've taken note.
Before today, before tonight, even, i had yet to see a Renaissance Season Production at the ASC.
This evening, i had my Ren-Cherry popped for me by a hunch-backed, limp legged, limp-Armed sociopath.
His name was Richard.
And he was a real charmer.
I've seen a couple productions of ol Triple Dick in my time as a student and a film-lover (thank you, yet again, Sir Ian, for reminding us just how much better you are when you're evil...I'm looking at you, Magneto), and i've even had the chance to play in one myself as Sir Catesby. Good ol' Catesby. Ol' Bill Catesby. Sounds kinda like Bill Cosby, but with brass knuckles instead of a refreshing jell-o treat...if you don't get that reference, go see the show. Brass knuckles: never not a good idea....
Anyhow.
I mention my passing familiarity with the script (and it is only that; I was and still am only passing familiar with anything more than the overall plot, and even then do i sometimes get a little wobbly...honestly, if you haven't been investing in these characters for the past 2-5 bloody plays, it's hard to keep track of everyone and why they hate everyone else...except for Margaret. She's pretty clear.) to illustrate my gleefully ignorant place of mind during my pre-show sit down.
Allow me to talk it out
"oh, cool! i get to see a show that i remember just enough of to know i like it, performed by people whose work i know i'm fond of, and i'm just about to start touring again, so i'll have something to write about on my blog! Maybe i'll even see some material i want to use for auditions/hypothetical scene work for my hypothetical post-graduate education! I'm really going to enjoy this show!"
To be clear, all of those things happened. Because of my experience as an audience member, I look forward to returning to this text with a renewed interest in the characters and their circumstances, all together due to the quality performances i saw this evening. And that it's a great play.
But that's nothing i didn't expect.
What caught me off guard was a realization that came after everything else. Came after the show. Came after i walked home and warmed my face in the soft glow of my laptop screen. It's a simple thing, really, but it caught me:
Those people directed themselves.
In a week.
I just watched what was, for all intents and purposes, a Professional student-production of Richard III.
What a triumph of love for this media.
Sure, it's a job, and it pays, so there's something pragmatic in taking a gig like this; it feeds and houses and pays the bills. All the necessaries.
But so does hanging dry-wall. So does working a desk. And those are, in certain ways, (ways that i think make what we do such an exiting challenge for people who are seeking it) much easier.
These people, these madcaps of the medium, are doing THIS as their new years resolution.
Thank you, everyone at the Ren-Season for a great show. See you next week.
P.S. If you're reading this, i thank you.
P.P.S. tune in again...at a yet undetermined time, for more ramblings about theatre, life on the road, and what it is to be an aspiring theatre professional in this yet fresh 2012. Oh, and i might talk about things like Politics, social issues, spiritual journeys, and the joyful miss-happery of my personal life.
P.P.P.S. Spoiler Alert: The boat sinks and she marries some other guy. And then Leo makes the same movie a few times before being in the Great Gatsby. Is anyone exited for that? Should i go back and try reading it?
It's approximately 1:30am on Friday; the 20th of January.
Throughout our time on this old planet of ours (oh, by the way, broad-stroke 'Fundamental Human Truths' segment, incoming) we are given opportunities to take note of landmark life-events and share them or, conversely, to let them flow over us and out of our lives, like so much wind between the ears.
Allow me to let you in on one of which i've taken note.
Before today, before tonight, even, i had yet to see a Renaissance Season Production at the ASC.
This evening, i had my Ren-Cherry popped for me by a hunch-backed, limp legged, limp-Armed sociopath.
His name was Richard.
And he was a real charmer.
I've seen a couple productions of ol Triple Dick in my time as a student and a film-lover (thank you, yet again, Sir Ian, for reminding us just how much better you are when you're evil...I'm looking at you, Magneto), and i've even had the chance to play in one myself as Sir Catesby. Good ol' Catesby. Ol' Bill Catesby. Sounds kinda like Bill Cosby, but with brass knuckles instead of a refreshing jell-o treat...if you don't get that reference, go see the show. Brass knuckles: never not a good idea....
Anyhow.
I mention my passing familiarity with the script (and it is only that; I was and still am only passing familiar with anything more than the overall plot, and even then do i sometimes get a little wobbly...honestly, if you haven't been investing in these characters for the past 2-5 bloody plays, it's hard to keep track of everyone and why they hate everyone else...except for Margaret. She's pretty clear.) to illustrate my gleefully ignorant place of mind during my pre-show sit down.
Allow me to talk it out
"oh, cool! i get to see a show that i remember just enough of to know i like it, performed by people whose work i know i'm fond of, and i'm just about to start touring again, so i'll have something to write about on my blog! Maybe i'll even see some material i want to use for auditions/hypothetical scene work for my hypothetical post-graduate education! I'm really going to enjoy this show!"
To be clear, all of those things happened. Because of my experience as an audience member, I look forward to returning to this text with a renewed interest in the characters and their circumstances, all together due to the quality performances i saw this evening. And that it's a great play.
But that's nothing i didn't expect.
What caught me off guard was a realization that came after everything else. Came after the show. Came after i walked home and warmed my face in the soft glow of my laptop screen. It's a simple thing, really, but it caught me:
Those people directed themselves.
In a week.
I just watched what was, for all intents and purposes, a Professional student-production of Richard III.
What a triumph of love for this media.
Sure, it's a job, and it pays, so there's something pragmatic in taking a gig like this; it feeds and houses and pays the bills. All the necessaries.
But so does hanging dry-wall. So does working a desk. And those are, in certain ways, (ways that i think make what we do such an exiting challenge for people who are seeking it) much easier.
These people, these madcaps of the medium, are doing THIS as their new years resolution.
Thank you, everyone at the Ren-Season for a great show. See you next week.
P.S. If you're reading this, i thank you.
P.P.S. tune in again...at a yet undetermined time, for more ramblings about theatre, life on the road, and what it is to be an aspiring theatre professional in this yet fresh 2012. Oh, and i might talk about things like Politics, social issues, spiritual journeys, and the joyful miss-happery of my personal life.
P.P.P.S. Spoiler Alert: The boat sinks and she marries some other guy. And then Leo makes the same movie a few times before being in the Great Gatsby. Is anyone exited for that? Should i go back and try reading it?
Glad you're back-- wish I could see the Ren Season. Can't wait for more theater ramblings!
ReplyDeleteAlso, YES I'm excited for Great Gatsby, and ALSO for Titanic in 3-D. I saw that movie so many times in theaters when it was first released. They could re-release it without the 3-D and I'd be happ(y/ier).