Emotions Running High

It's not everyday I decide to take a piece from Tony Kushner and try to do it justice. The man has won all kinds of writing awards and what...I'm supposed to just...paraphrase? Or get the lines as close to perfect as I can? Not happening.

My fiancé's been drilling me...so it's becoming crystal clear why "Tell me. Don't make me ask. Please," is NOT the same as "Tell me without making me ask. Please." It's like script analysis 101 all over again and I'm loving it. I know that most people who audition regularly are used to having to paraphrase from time to time when they "go up" on a line and I'm definitely no exception, but I haven't been auditioning much at all - not since 2011- so I feel this is the perfect time to start again with a clean slate and remind myself that in the beginning, no one tells you that "good enough" is enough. I live for deep, gritty, grimy, sad, scary, full, intimidating scene work and the fact that the writing is so good here is such an added bonus. The subject matter is dark but relatable and the relationship between these two people is so quickly established right from the very top of the scene.

The only regret I have right now is that I didn't try to play Harper back at NYU when I was offered a part in a students' scene night. I think that's why I'm rediscovering her now. I have a little residual guilt about not getting to sink my teeth into this part back then. This play was SO popular in the early 2000's. Everyone was buzzing with excitement and acceptance. The idea of playing a gay woman or a Mormon homophobe, a gay man with AIDS or a closeted gay boyfriend...? all these characters spilled out of this play with perfect detail and complexity. No more Neil Simon plays over and over again and even Neil Labute was maybe starting to lose his appeal. Our scene nights became much more alive and colorful. Tony Kushner found a new way to capture life in New York and it was/is beautiful. I will say though, I was still so naive and inexperienced then. The idea of playing Harper in 2001 is so appealing now but I would never have given her real life back then.

I try not to be too method but it is so true that you need to live a little to show life in your work.