Wednesday, July 14, 2010

The Fear

Tech for Lion starts tomorrow, so we're really getting down to the wire. The days are getting longer, and the rehearsals more intense. Kandis was talking about how she always tells the costume people to get sweat guards in her costumes before a performance. "Once that fear-sweat gets in there, there's no getting the smell out again. I don't want someone to have to wear it and smell the fear." It's a bit of a relief that that fear never really goes away, no matter how long you do this whole "acting" thing.

I've almost got my lines for Eleanor down. Lady talks a lot. We had an understudy line-through last night at my place and it was a lot of fun. I'm solid on about 90% of the play, except the last couple scenes and two of the monologues, and even those I can get through with a little prompting. A bit more work and I should be golden.

I'm more worried about the blocking. I see it every day, and I write it down, and I think I know it, but there's a huge difference between watching it and physically doing it and getting the muscle memory and knowing where you have to look to get the motivation to move from one place to another. Luckily there are understudy rehearsals (I think those happen after we open, I don't have the dates) where we go though the whole play with just the understudies and Lori, our lovely stage manager. So I'll get to stand up with the lines a bit, and find out just how much I actually know.

Last night was a relief, though. I know this play really well by now, and I think I know Eleanor pretty well too. Kandis has said I can come ask her any questions I have about character stuff ("I can't promise I'll have an answer, but please ask.") and I think I'd like to do that. I have a few questions about the crazy stuff she does and why, but it's easier to get when you're seeing someone do it and making choices as to why than when you're just reading the play.

I hope I get to go up again, just in rehearsal, even. I'm afraid, yeah. But I think the fear is good, it means you're paying attention.

1 comment:

  1. You are so marvelous, you really really are. And I know it's easy for me to have that level of confidence in you, but there it is. Love you love you love you.

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