New York really is what you make of it. It's an amazing city...even in an age when NYC is going through "it's not like it used to be."
I'd been good about waking up early, around 8:30 every day, to get my day started. Slowly but surely, by going to bed later and later, I started today at 12:15. But I had a good video chat with Chris and that got my creative juices flowing.
I went to Drama Books, the only place in the country that has most ANY play or acting book you want IN STOCK. I sat down with a nice cup of coffee and A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams. I had the great fortune to not know much of anything about the play other than "Steeeeeellllllllaaaaaaaa!" and "I've always depended upon the kindness of strangers." I list this as an asset, because my imagination got to populate this beautifully written play. I hate when I've seen something before I've read it because once you have an image in your head, it's damn near impossible to get it out of there. So your imagination gets the day off while you read the dialogue from an already imaged world.
This play is great. It was one of the few plays that really held my interest the whole time while reading it. I would LOVE to direct it. I love reading plays from a directorial point of view rather than an actor point of view. When you're an actor and you know what part you want to play, you read it from THAT character's perspective. But the director's point of view you can really see the play as a whole much better.
Light is a big part of this play. The naked bulb being covered with a shade. Cold blues and feint pinks. Blues music. I couldn't help imagining the cast coming out and building the set with strings right before the audience's eyes. Constructing the rooms and putting up with portieres. The end of the play would be the strings all snipped and fall away in unison. This is an actor's play. Great scene after great scene. Meaty text to mine. A play to read over and over again. Questions to ask. Etudes to play out. Animal. Passionate. From the gut.
I read the play intermittently, which isn't ideal, but sometimes has to happen. Luckily, while not reading, my mind was engaged artistically which watching Lucky Guy with Tom Hanks. Very strong work. Tom Hanks is one of my favorite actors and it's nice to see a film actor really bring it on stage. He started out at Great Lakes Theatre in Cleveland, so I'm on his exact career path...so far. Now I need to book a few movies and I'm sure I'll follow his arch:)
The dialogue was a fast ball the entire play which just flat out WORKED. You had to keep up, but this also meant you were constantly engaged. GREAT acting. Quick transitions and inventive staging were also showcased. And the masterful sense of play and ease by Tom Hanks was just so inspirational. Fucking have FUN on stage...while else do it??
The play was also a love story about New York City. The late Nora Ephron's passion about the city really shined through Tom Hanks' Mike McAlary. The kind of play that makes you really love being a New Yorker. I question my place in this city everyday............but my place in this city is also validated each and every day.
