Thoughts about Winter Sonata: The Musical

-The first half hour kind of confused me. Because... no singing? The first song came about half an hour in. Although they made up for it afterwards; there was actually a lot of singing in the show. Just not at first.
-The basketball danceoff business between Joong-san and Sang-hyuk was a little... out there. Like, I couldn't tell whether the show was taking itself seriously or not. And whether they were fighting or flirting. And also, which one was the Jet and which one was the Shark.
-I was super impressed with their "floater" actor. He had a lot of expression and physical comedy. Also, who even knows how to play the accordion?? According to Hotty, it's fairly common in Korea. But still, as a Westerner, I was impressed.
-I kind of wish the band hadn't been backstage, although looking at it now I can see that there really wasn't any room for the band to be visible. (In fact, there wasn't even enough room for both the piano and the drum set on the same side of the stage.) That's a situation that could have been solved creatively in a black box theatre, I daresay.
-Although the show already displayed a LOT of creativity. For instance, the business with the bus. LOVED it, especially the driver's costume! Although it confused me when the driver left - I didn't realize they were still on the bus, because I couldn't understand the dialogue.
-That time when they were singing... Joong-san only had one headphone in. And I know it's just how you wear them, but still. I was distracted, because... hey dude. Your headphone fell out.
-I liked the direction. I always knew where to look, I always had a good place to focus, and I ALWAYS knew the difference between the male leads. Watching the TV drama, I got confused (especially before Joong-san has red hair) because I couldn't always tell which guy was which. But with the musical, I always knew. It was partly because of the direction, and partly because the characterizations (especially Joong-san's) were great.
-Although I DIDN'T like Joong-san's characterization at the end. I get that his injuries shattered his confidence and made him a little frail, but I think the actor aged the character like fifty years - even though only three years had passed. It was a little over the top for me, and it made me very sad to see all of the character's swagger -which is the basis of his attraction in the first place - disappear completely.
-Also, who picked his wig? Because that thing either had a TON of hairspray in it (and needed to be washed) or was just super gross (and needed to be replaced). Also, if he's wearing a wig anyway, why not switch wigs during the time-jump and let him be a red-haired fox like on TV...?

Overall, I really liked it! I LOVED the music - I would buy the soundtrack, if there was one. And I loved Loved LOVED the set! I'm SUCH a fan of those minimalist sets - why bring a house onstage when you can bring on a bench and CALL it a house? Or, y'know. Put lights on a guy's shoulders and call it a bus.

In This Show

I will not try to direct the people around me.

I will not offer help with the (very difficult and word-filled) music unless specifically asked to do so.

I will not bad-mouth other actors (including the girl who got the part I wanted) or the director. Or anyone else.

When I think about what a lame part I got, I will think about the people who didn't even get a chance to be in the show, and just be grateful to be part of it at all.

When I get home, I will be useful and clean and pack, and not just sit around like a bum.

As much as I would like to be selfish and a diva, this is not about me at all. I'm here to support. I will show up on time, know my lines, and do what is asked of me, without volunteering in an obnoxious fashion. And do it with a smile.

Choosing a Song for Auditions

I used to go through a lot picking a song. Seriously. I would listen to the soundtrack of the show, and then go through my sheet music (I have a lot of it), looking for That Perfect Song. The one that captured the spirit of the show I was auditioning for, that was practically in the show it was so amazing. In fact, it usually took me so long to pick a song that I didn't have a final choice until the day before the audition.

Which is fine. If you have fifty songs that you're good at singing and you know, it's fine to operate that way.

But throughout that whole process, my husband Hotty would look at me and say, why don't you just pick three or four songs to get really really good at, and use those whenever you audition? Instead of choosing from fifty songs, choose one that just kind of fits the general feel of the show, from four.

But I was never really into that.

So then I tried out for the Scarlet Pimpernel a couple months ago. And I sang a song from Fiddler on the Roof, called Far From the Home I Love. And despite the fact that I started in the wrong key and forgot a line of the lyrics, I realized something: I totally rocked that song up. Like, a lot.

So for my audition on Saturday, I figured, Hey. Maybe it's a trifle melancholy for Into The Woods (except for, you know, the melancholy parts. Children Will Listen, anyone??). But it's SO perfect for me. I sound friggin' gorgeous when I sing it. And that confidence adds a lot to your audition.

Maybe from here on out I'll start looking for excuses to sing that one. Because I like it so much. Because even though it doesn't go impressively high or low, it's right in the middle of my range where I feel unstoppable and can completely fill a room with my voice. Because it's what makes me feel like a rock star. And sometimes, feeling like a rock star is what gets them to ask you back.

Auditions are fun!

So today's been a pretty lackluster day for me. I'm just kind of sitting around at my job, working and not being too excited.

Except for every once in a while. Because every so often, I remember what's happening tomorrow.

Tomorrow I have a callback for Into The Woods. Some of you may know that I was in that show my senior year of High School.

Yeah... I was a theatre nerd in High School.

I completely LOVE it, and I've been hoping a theatre around here would put it on for about the last year and a half.

And now one is.

And one of my good theater friends is the Assistant Director.

Are we excited? Pretty sure we are.

Can I tell you about my audition, though? Because I'm not sure what to make of it.

So I was number four. Number two walks in, this cute girl, and I watched her audition through the window. She sings a song from She Loves Me, called Vanilla Ice Cream. She sings this lovely high part at the end, loudly, and I think, Maybe I should have picked a song with a loud high part at the end. And after she's done, my friend, the AD of the show, runs up to her and gives her a huge hug. And I smile, because, aww. They're friends.

So I wait my turn, and I go in the audition room. And my friend doesn't wave. He doesn't smile. He barely even looks at me. And after my audition, no hugs for me.

What gives?

I have some theories on this one:
 - Maybe the director told him not to be so nice to people anymore, after he was so excited to see Vanilla Ice Cream girl.
 - Maybe he didn't want everyone to realize how much he likes me, so when they're casting the show he has a better chance of getting me a good part.
 - Maybe he hadn't seen Vanilla Ice Cream girl in a long time (which only explains how he treated her, not me).
 - Maybe she did way better than me.

Thoughts, friends? Also: validations, please.

Thoughts about Suckerpunch

- The premise of this movie is awesome. WHY isn't the movie itself awesome? I think Hotty spotted it... not enough of the "real life" storyline. They needed more than just the beginning and the end. I understand what they were trying to do with the whole lobotomy thing, but ... that wasn't the right choice to make.
- Costumes were awesome. It would be a good film to analyze for costume study.

- Lots of symbolism. It would be a good film to study for that, not because the symbols are well done or meaningful, but because a) there are a lot of them and b) there are NO wrong answers.
- I'm glad I saw it with people who wanted to see it, and not anyone I had to convince to go. Because of this, no one judged anyone for wanting to be there.
- I like that Jenna Malone and Abbie Cornish actually look similar enough to be sisters.

- Did they include the fact that Babydoll is 20 so that she's not a minor, thus avoiding an R rating?
- I just... this film has all the ingredients of an awesome experience! (Except a great script, I guess.) WHY was it so crappy?? And not just crappy, people. It was the worst thing a film could ever BE. It was BORING.

- But at least it was pretty.

Thoughts about Jane Eyre

• My opinion of this movie is biased by the fact that I’m completely in love with the book, and have seen every movie version I can find. Just so you know.
• This is a pretty movie. It’s not a scary movie (although it tries to be, at times), and it’s not a funny movie. It’s pretty.
• It’s also a dark movie. The goal here seemed to be atmosphere and feeling, and the first was done well, while I had issues with the second.

• Jane was not upset enough about Mr. Rochester. In the beginning of their relationship. The whole ‘falling in love’ bit was portrayed more by Mr. Rochester himself, interestingly enough. So that you could tell he was falling for her, but her… not so much. Also, she didn’t hate Blanch enough at all.

• She WAS very upset later, at the wedding/aftermath. That was beautifully done.
• WHY OH WHY do they insist on having every. Single. Person. Talk about how handsome Rochester ISN’T, and then cast him as a very handsome person?? Just ONCE, I’d like to see him played by a genuinely ugly man.

• I mean, they have no problem at all with making Jane look plain.

• I wish they hadn’t taken out all the funny stuff. Seriously… it’s all gone.
• I’m gonna buy this movie.

Show Report: Alice in Wonderland, The Rock Musical

Just now, did you have the same thought I once did? That thought being, A Rock musical? Seriously? But you know what, it actually turned out ok.

I'm not gonna lie... I was kinda scared there. Until opening night, we had not had a full runthrough with all cast members present. Ever. We had not done a runthrough with all props or sets... in fact, we'd never even done a runthrough on the stage. THAT'S how unprepared we were.

It all came together, though. Opening night, nerves saw us through all the awkwardness of learning how to handle the props/sets/everything, and after that it was smoother just because we'd done it once. Closing night was fantastic... one of my best theater experiences ever. The show was amazing, my performance felt great, and I  liked everyone in the cast. Except one person, but even that night I was kind of ok towards her. So basically, if every night had been like that one, I could have done it for a month straight.

Two things. I want to mention the girl I hated, not to trash talk her personally, but mostly to complain about unprofessional behavior. Y'all. If you are ever in a play, COME TO REHEARSAL. Even if you're only in like three scenes and only sing one song, come. Do NOT skip just because, do NOT come at 6:30 on opening night (I don't care if you're in another show and are running late because of rehearsals for it. Opening night is more important). Do NOT tell everyone in the cast to calm down at the end of a long hellish rehearsal that you only came to the last five minutes of. (At that point, I said something cutting to her, and four people thanked me afterwards.) Do NOT blab in the dressing room about how little you care that you showed up late for the performance. And do NOT rely on your friendship with the director to get away with all of this. Because even if you're super talented, it a)drags down the morale of the rest of the cast and b)reduces your chances of getting cast in another show. And that's all I have to say about that.

The other thing I wanted to mention is my favorite line flub of the show. At the last minute, the director added a line for Tweedle Dee, when several characters are sitting around talking about how they don't want to go to the Queen of Hearts' croquet match. He says, "Do you know how long it's been since I've been on a date with a woman? Held her hand, nibbled on her ear, and heard her sweet voice whisper the words, 'Call me again and I'll call the police!'?" Turns to the audience. "You know it's happened to you!" Pretty awesome in its own right, ok. But on closing night, he said, "... heard her whisper, 'Call the police... (3 second pause while he panics)... and I'll ... call you.' " Y'all, this kid is 12. It was priceless. When the director, who happens to be his older brother, heard, he totally cracked up. As did we all. :)

By the way, I was the Cheshire Cat. That's right; J.A. finally gave me that big part he promised me! And you know what? I was awesome. :)