A Midsummer Night's Follow-up Post!

Finished the first weekend of A Midsummer Night's Dream, and wow, what a weekend it was. I'm going to start with the high point and then whinge about the low point last, 'cause I'm in a good mood and I want to start with the good stuff.

I have been having loads of fun with this production. Lysander is *so much more fun* when the setting and direction allow him to be a character unto himself, instead of him and Demetrius just being hapless straight men for Hermia and Helena, who are in turn overshadowed by the mechanicals (at least, that's been my most common experience of the show). In this production, Lysander is a blissed out, perma-stoned hippie, not just in costuming, but in characterization. Aside from giving Egeus an actual reason to not want him anywhere near his daughter, this is a whole lot of fun to do, and Shakespeare's words actually work remarkably well with that interpretation. Then the faeries do their thing, and he gets increasingly crazy as the show progresses, which is a whole different kind of treat to play.

There is also a lot of physical comedy in this production (as well there should be!). So far during every performance I've found new injuries obtained while crawling around on the stage, including a nasty cut down one forearm, none of which I even noticed until backstage and out of the moment. For some reason this makes me really, really happy.

Then to top things off, at our last show of the weekend, which I also think was our best, Michael "A Bloody Deed" Anderson was in attendance, and emailed us afterward about how much he liked the show! He even mentioned my performance (among others) specifically! I am so incredibly squeeified about this, I just... squee! Someone whose work I respect, and who I know knows his Shakespeare, liked the show enough to email us and say Very Nice Things afterward. Eugepae*! :)

So yeah. Having fun. Three shows next weekend: Fri and Sat at 8, and Sun at 3. I hope y'all can make it! (see previous post for other details)


Ok, now for the more contemplative (or, if you will, angsty) part.

I still worry sometimes that my brain is just not wired in a way that is conducive to doing for-reals theater. On opening night, after a remarkably productive and focused day at work, my head was all foggy and I completely blanked on a line. I blanked so badly that I had to go get the script later to confirm that it was me who'd screwed up, let alone what I was supposed to have said (it was "Where is Demetrius? Oh what a fitting word is that vile name to perish on my sword!", in case anyone is curious). Helena covered admirably, but we ended up skipping some important lines as a result.

I'm trying not beating myself up about it, and even succeeding most of the time, and it sounds like the performance overall was still well-received (dietrich, another person whose work I respect and who knows her Shakespeare, saw it and had kind words afterword, which were particularly good to hear at the time), but it's definitely below the standard I want to set for myself, and it gives me pause to think and worry, as I tend to do.

My memory remains one of my biggest concerns about me and theater. The same manic ADHD energy that makes me good at physical comedy and extemporaneous speaking proves an obstacle when I have to say exactly these things in exactly this order. I'm really pleased with myself that I've been as successful as I have at memorizing a role as large as this, which as I've said previously I'd feared I might not be able to do at all, but there are still times when my brain is in "one of those moods", and I don't know how to snap it out of that.

Well, I guess that's not entirely true. After Friday I brought a soda to the performance, and that actually helped. I've found in previous productions that even a little shot of caffeine and sugar before each entrance keeps my head from clouding up too badly. Practice also, of course, helps. I'd gotten through our last two dress rehearsals without a flub, but then we had a day off before opening night, and I wonder if maybe that contributed as well. One thing I know about my brain is that things either make it into long-term memory or atrophy quickly, so I've talked to the director about having a brush-up rehearsal prior to next Friday's performance.

So in short, this remains something that concerns me but I don't think it's an insurmountable obstacle. I just need to figure out what works best for keeping my head clear, and then be diligent about doing it.

* "Eugepae!!" is, by the way, my new Official Latin Motto.

Theater mobs a go-go...

So, I'm thinking of trying to put together some mobs for local theater events soon.

First off, I've slacked on getting people together for Comedy of Errors, and plan to go on Weds (would also love to see Richard III, but I'm just not free any of the nights before the 19th when both shows close). Tix are $25 for people under 35! I'll probably buy by Tues noonish, so let me know asap if you want in!

edit: Tix have been bought for CoE, but if you use this link at GoldStar (many thanks to hahathor for pointing me there, btw! Great theater discounts!!), to buy tix, you will be seated with the rest of us (currently me, zapf, sandrylene, and hahathor).

Second, Theater@First is doing Equus. I haven't seen the show before, but I hear it's a feel-good story about a boy who wants a pony. Aaaanyway, my plan is to go see the 3pm matinee on Saturday before Midsummer.

Lemme know if anyone wants to go together.

Local auditions for Assassins and As You Like It

...and while I'm binging on posting about local theater stuff, there are a couple of local groups that are hosting auditions in the coming weeks.

First, apologies for the late notice, but this Tues and Weds, the MIT Musical Theater Guild is holding auditions for Assassins. Unfortunately I'll be out of town for one of the performance weekends, so I won't be able to audition, but if you're looking for a local group that's open to non-MIT people, they're a lot of fun to work with.

Second, next Mon and Tues, Theater@First is holding auditions for As You Like It, to be performed outside in Davis Square. You have to follow that link and fill out the audition form to reserve a slot if you want to audition.