Hello. Our Opening happened. I can't say it went well. I will tell you why in a minute, I just wanted to preface this with the fact that this weekend REALLY made me think about why I do Theatre.
For the 3rd time - out of 3, mind you - I am performing in a show with mild to no audience response. Opening Night Crowd - you were nice, but you're supposed to be. Everyone else has fallen asleep, opened candy, half-heartedly chuckled, or not chuckled at all. It's not like I think that everyone must be streaming tears of mirth, but it would be nice to get some energy back because...
It is (was) a 3.5 hour show. Being that energetic for that long can kill a person who swings as low as I do on down days. No response? none? I'm about to go RED NOSES on they asses!
3 weeks more.
Here's my big issue, the reason I am as upset as I am: I don't get to work as an actor much, and in this economy I know that not many theatres I could work in are a) going to do big shows or b) going to use new people. That leaves me with WSC or Journeyman for next season IF I get called to audition (I'll bitch about invite-only another time). Not that these aren't swell companies to work for, but I want to branch out. I only have 4 years left in DC, and I want to use them WELL. I've been out of school for almost 2 years, and all I have accomplished as an actors is 3 shows with lousy press and even lousier cast-attitude. I want to be in a show where I am proud of not only my own performance (because I am for this one), but also of the show and the cast. I'm just so tired of pettiness and littleness and bringing it into something that isn't about US, but about doing a job, playing our roles, and entertaining people as best we can.
Bitch-out.
2 comments:
Hey C,
Sorry that things are not going so hot. You know, I think that soldiering on with heads up and the hope of future artistic integrity in our hearts is the best that we can do at times. It's not a solution to the problem - but there is no REAL solution. I'm doing the same thing right now...
The show will only solidify with time...and speaking of time, I'm sorry about the cuts issues. :(
I love ya, darlin' - and I will be seeing the show the weekend of the 28th no matter what. And I will laugh and react.
soldier on,
liss
Just consider this all to be the shit life experience you can turn around and laugh at in 15 years once you're wildly successful and giving (un)motivational speeches to aspiring actors (maybe even from CUA!) about how hard it all is, and how you should do ANYTHING else if you can. ;-)
You'll get through it, wish I could be there!!
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