Juno: 3.5/5 stars. Why? This movie was supposed to be incredible, supposed to be funny and wild and have a brilliant soundtrack! Of course, what is funny about teen pregnancy? 1 whole star to Ellen Page for her sassy deadpan delivery. In fact, what would have been Michael Cera's 1/2 star goes to her as well, because Cera was a) almost not in the movie, and b) exactly the same as he was in everything else he's been in, only this time he wore shorts. Jenniefer Garner kept her pursed-lipped one-note going on and on until (SPOILER ALERT) even I was ready for Mark (Jason Bateman) to just leave her. 1/2 a point for plot twist, there. 1 star for the costumes and overall design and feel for the environment, and the final 1/2 star goes to the script. It is, unfortunately NOT a full star because it was really good, really going places until it decided it needed to step up the pace and skipped over some important emotional bridges, making some scenes not make sense or cause me to think "that crazy biz-snatch!" The pregnancy itself looked kind of unimportant by the end of the movie, which I guess is the point: it's not about the pregnancy it's about the people the pregnancy affected. Overall: Cute, quotable, nice, but limp and flagging by the end.I was in Delaware over the weekend for my dad's show The Guys and to see Becca. I have to say, it was the first time I felt really happy to be home. It was almost home-y, for once. And I like talking with my Dad. He's actually going for REAL theatre in the community theater, which has GOT to be frustrating! As frustrating as, say, directing a bunch of MTs and Freshmen in an imagination and movement based piece? Been there.
But no, almost no one auditioned for dad's show, which is a 2-person drama, so he had to make a tough choice: cast the guy who flaked on his last role in a show dad directed (to go on a 3-day bender in NY) but who CAN act, OR the guy who is pretty reliable but acts as well as a wet washcloth. Dad chose the bender. This ticked off his chosen actress, who refused to work with him. So dad had to let her go and cast her understudy. A first-timer. A blonde. An army-brat.
And I'll tell ya, the show was not fantastic, but it was short, and I saw its potential. Especially in dad's staging and set. It was the same a few years ago when he did Scotland Road and insisted on having slanted walls and a bare white set. Without it the show wouldn't have worked! For this one, only the back wall was painted red, he had a window with a NY skyline showing which had lightbulbs installed to dim with the sunset. The actors did not play off each other, they were very singular. And it was supposed to be about these people coming together!
I gotta be proud of my pops, though, for his creativity in a sea of complacency.
Hanging out with the Becster was fun! We saw Juno together and shopped. Shopping at the Dover Mall means basically walking laps from Sears to Boscov's, stopping at the halfway mark for Auntie Anne's, shifting stuff around at Old Navy and Payless remarking, "ooh" and "I kinda like this" or "that's really YOU" in a joking manner, walking around looking appalled in Spencer Gifts, and getting something small and on sale at Bath and Body Works. Then deciding to go to Target where you basically do the same thing, but also press all the buttons on annoying toys. Yeah, rock DE.
I miss Becca fo' shizzle. She's been my nizzle for like half my life and there are still so many things I say on a regular basis that I can attribute to an inside joke we had. We used to finish each other's thoughts and laugh just because the other one blinked. It sucks that I moved, and that she moved, and that we live so far apart and that I suck at correspondence (ask anyone). Perfect world: She moves to Silver Spring. End o' story. Just saying. I have really good friends out here, but Becca's like "the one that got away..." Silent laughter because we can't breathe? Never happens anymore. Gots to get on that.
Anyway, I have rehearsal again tonight. Do you ever feel bad for the two-line characters? I did. I don't anymore. It's f***ing awesome to finally be in a show. And think! If I'd gotted INKwell, if I'd replied on time for the staged reading about being fat, or if I'd already signed on with Constellation or not dropped Spooky Action... I wouldn't have been able to be in this show... ok that's exaggerating. I was only supposed to be available at least for tech week and performances. Because I learned A LOT about small parts in my youth (ie: always be present and observe everything) I'm available now so I rehearse now.
Again: the dates for the show are:
2/7-2/11 - PWYC PREVIEWS
2/14-3/9 - Regular Run (including PWYC Saturday matinees)
So no excuses!
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