Sometime in the last couple of years, a mylar covered screen was erected on
stage left side of the SMT rehearsal unit to simulate a mirror. I’ve always avoided
looking into it while performing because the few times I mistakenly looked, I
saw myself and not the character I perceived I was portraying. It always
disappointed me. But at Sweeney rehearsals, it has become a friend. At the
first rehearsal, I sat at the back, snuck a peek and mouthed to myself, “OMG.
You are Sweeney. You really are Sweeney. OMG. OMG. It’s you. Yes, you. Yep, you.” and
continued to mug for the mylar while making sure no one was looking.
The
conversations with the mylar have progressed. At Wednesday’s rehearsal, for
example it played shrink to me. I looked up and the reflection told me, "Keep
going Andrew. Nobody said this was going to be easy. Pull it together." And it was then I randomly noticed what a damn good looking cast it is. I don’t think I've ever been in one this pretty. Maybe. Well? No. I don’t think I have. This is the
prettiest. They’re all really good looking. And some of the sounds that I've heard excite me so much that I keep trying to find the opportunity to
connect with some of them. But alas, I forget how alienating it can be when
you’re playing a lead character. I feel kind of segregated for a hefty amount of
time and then when a break comes, I feel so consumed with instruction and
information that I find it rather difficult to chill out and socialize. That is
one thing I really miss about being in the Joseph ensemble.
I developed friendships quickly and really enjoyed the bond of being in the
midst of the cast as opposed to feeling like I’m on the outer edges. I mean I know I do this for the artistic gratification but without the interaction of other creative types, it can feel kind of meaningless. Maybe I
will be able to bridge that in the coming weeks. If not, I'll just have to develop my bond further with my faithful friend, the mylar.
Hey! You got one or two brothers returning for Sweeney too! Don't feel you have to sit on the sidelines. You KNOW you'll always be part of our family... even when you're covered in blood and hacking away with a razor! :p
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about the Mylar. (Try catching a peek as Jason approaches you... not very contritely...) And I agree with Martin - blood-splattered or not, you're gonna be like the father of the cast. (And the father of Johanna :P)
ReplyDeletehaha! but it's gonna be hard to think of luke as my brother when he hacks me to death in the finale! i wonder if i get to slice you somewhere in the 2nd act, martin. And emma i'm glad i'm not alone with the mylar! hope you guys will blog your thoughts in the coming weeks too!
ReplyDeleteAndrew, we all see how hard you are working and you are amazing! I think we are all trying to process the information coming at us - I can't get over how much the cast is already coming together. I still have mommy-brain and am so out of the rhythm, I keep meaning to tell you how wonderful you are doing....maybe I'll catch you eye in the mylar at one of our rehearsals as we swing our razors high!
ReplyDeletethank you Kelly! you actually said something the other night and it meant the world to me. i've been meaning to talk to you. i like what you did with silence in Amadeus and i think it might help me during Worst Pies. we must talk. enjoy Devin's first!!
DeleteTo all the cast, use the mylar to look deep into and draw out those wonderful characters for the next little while, then just BE them. You have been selected because your artistic staff saw those characters in you as actors. I believe in them and you. Now, go live those dream roles (for most of you they are dream roles).
ReplyDelete