The State of the Actress.

My body is tired, but I feel revived. Good rehearsal this morning; our first run-through of AFTER DARK. Starting to trust myself, which at times is a tall order. Haven't heard from the critic in a while, the one who resides on my shoulder and whispers evil, nasty things in my ear. Yep, pretty quiet these days. Which is oh-so-nice, because now I have nine days to work without him there,... nine days to get really, really ready for opening.

I'm using a lot (a LOT) of emotional memory for this show, which is unusual for me. Usually the given circumstances are enough to bring out my emotions. This time, maybe it's the writing of the piece or just the difficulty of the circumstances (being quite extreme, in melodrama) but I've had to start stirring my emotions "artifically".

Not that it's a problem, using artificial means... it does make me feel like I'm not always in the moment. It's a tough thing. What I'd like to try for is a fusion of emotional memory and investment in the given circumstances; so that if the given moment isn't giving me what I need, I can always fall back on emotional memory.

Anyways... I have plenty of time to work this one out. Overall, feeling great. And the vaudeville is just FUN, plain and simple. I move into my new digs next Monday, and we get paid this coming Friday-- YAY! Went to Trader Joe's today; god, I love that place. They don't have EVERYTHING, but what they do have is so DIRT CHEAP. I'll have to go back once I move into the new place, and I'll have more time and space in which to cook. YAY! Gas, Food, Lodging!

I have to run. Vaudeville rehearsal in 10 minutes.

What Do You Think, Frank?

The Dana has decreed that I update my blog, so here it is.

Things here at the Melodrama are in full swing. Rehearsals are going well, the vaudeville is going to be a blast (it's Western-themed, y'all), and the show is going to be 90 minutes of emotional turmoil for my character. She discovers her husband is a criminal, her long-lost abusive step-father is alive and drops by to tell her that her husband has to marry someone else, unless he wants to go to jail... and then she spends the rest of ACT I wanting or attempting to kill her self. It's FUN for the WHOLE FAMILY!

No more time to write and ponder the universe. I have to get some groceries (who knew Trader Joe's Chicken Marsala had DAIRY in it, for chrissake?) and make some dinner. Starving. Then home to work on music, blocking, lines, and EMOTIONAL PREP. Oh, WHY didn't I pay more attention in ACTING CLASS?!

Word.