Now that NYSSSA is over, I'm feeling incredibly deprived of my daily dosage of theatre: both as an actor and an audience. To fill this void I have devised a plan for the upcoming week of August 8th. My dad is going to Ecuador and my mom works everyday in midtown; so, I plan on venturing through the city, safely and frugally monday-friday next week. However, yesterday I experienced a preview day in the city and accomplished a lot.
Harry Potter Exhibit- Coming into it I really didn't know what I was going to see. That didn't really matter to me though. I just remembered about the exhibit and heard great reviews and of course it's Harry Potter. I grew up with the series. When I saw the Nimbus 2000 I realized how long it has been. The whole exhibit was a series of costumes and props from various characters, characters that I've forgotten about. It was basically a stroll down memory lane.
Drama Book Store- I could only buy 1 play so I chose Marisol by Jose Rivera. I rushed into the store, walked through with a purpose, found it and rushed out. I know that if I would have stayed longer to browse I would probably spend all my money and end up not being able to purchase tickets for other shows. Later in the day I sat in Bryant Park and after literally taking a nap in the chair and on the table, I read the play and fell in love. This was the perfect modern hispanic play that I could play a part in. Marisol is going to be really fun and challenging to figure out and characterize for myself. She'll definitely bring out some apocalyptic and depressing sides of me that I have buried back from 8-10th grade. It's exhilarating, however, to not really know what to expect.
Midtown Comics- Right next door to the Drama Book Store, Midtown Comics was my brothers haven for the day. I walked in knowing I would be out of place. There was a graphic novel section and a comics section. In the graphic novels there were more regular everyday people, kids, women. However, in the straight comics, were my brother rested, there were hardcore, typically satirized comic books "nerds." All different kinds too: tattooed biker men, glasses and funky ties (given into) business men, scrappy and obsessed looking young men... MEN! It was so typical it was scary. I guess the comedic satirization from TV is true! I loved standing on the side and taking in each of their characters also. I didn't love feeling like I was being watched for not fitting in and having people inspecting me. But, I totally tried to create a comic book girl character for myself: walked around the store like I knew what I was looking for and asked questions like I knew what I was talking about.
Bought tickets to How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying- Adding to my Harry Potter filled day, I purchased at the box office (with a discount) tickets to see the show for August 24 at 8pm. (Not during the week of adventure, giving me more to look forward to later.) I am so anxious to see Daniel Radcliffe perform onstage. I feel like I know him or at least I know him as Harry so, I really want too see him as a new character: test him as an actor, see it for myself.
Memphis- Chad Kimball is f'ing amazing. His Huey Long character and performance reminds me of Rooster from Jerusalem but Kimball gets to sing. Definitely and actor who can sing as opposed to a singer who can act, for example, Felicia in this performance (understudy). Overall, great music and dance numbers- totally feels like real rhythm and blues concerts, performances during the 50s and not like a musical. It reminded me of Hairspray because of the similar historical conflict. However, I sense that Memphis is more modernly made and written: partly because we are now allowed to show more truth in what actually went down (apartment scene of sneaking around to have sex) and language. There were also great, truthful, acting moments but I can not say it was always truthful for every character. The ensemble however did a great job of living in their moments. Perhaps it was only because I got really cheap tickets and sat in Row A Seat 8 which in the Shubert Theatre is practically looking straight up to see the actors (saw a lot of underwear...) but I saw the actors facial expressions clearly. I saw the spit, the sweat, the breathing, the little interactions of the ensemble. It was an experience I am very grateful to have had and was more rewarding than if I had seen it from the usual mezzanine or even from center orchestra.
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