My show closed yesterday.
The closing of a show is always a bittersweet moment. It's nice because your life is somewhat free again. Your weekends aren't taken up by performances and you don't have to say, "I can't, I have rehearsal" to 90% of the invitations you receive to hang out with people. On the other hand, it's sad because you've spent a large part of the last few months of your life with the same people, creating a world, building a story and when that curtain closes for the final time...it's all done.
For my first foray back into the theatrical realm, this show was definitely a lot of fun.
I did something I'd never done before both in the genre and in the character I played. I'd always done musicals and never played a comedic role — two things that changed with this show.
While initially it was a bit difficult for me to get into the spirit of the show, once we started into runs of the acts and such, it became a lot more fun for me. (It's a bit hard to really get into a show when you only have rehearsal once, maybe twice a week, and you have far fewer lines to memorize than normal.)
As I mentioned when I first talked about being cast, my role in this show was a bit out of the ordinary for me. Not only was she essentially a ditzy model, she was also a comedic character, which is strange for me, because I usually play the straight parts. I am the stereotypical ingénue.
But in the end, I really enjoyed it. While at first glance, Sammii (my character's name) seems very easy to play because she's just a dumb model, the director and I had a great time talking about how there is more to Sammii's character than meets the eye. Yes, she might not be the sharpest crayon in the box, but she is incredibly genuine in all her interactions with people and very compassionate.
This is evidenced by her first entrance in the show where she literally freaks out for the entire scene about a bird that has just died. Nevermind the fact that the two other people in the scene are having a serious conversation about a break up — A BIRD JUST DIED, GUYS.
According to most of my friends that same, I stole the show, and since more than one person said it, I suppose there must be some truth to it.
In regards to the kiss I was a bit nervous about, in the end we took it out. At first we moved it from its original location in the script (which was seriously strange), but eventually the director decided that it fit the scene and the relationship of the characters better to just do without, and I was totally fine with that. Plus, I was wearing beaucoup amounts of bright red lipstick, so I'm sure the guy I played opposite probably didn't mind much either.
Even though I had to wear a crap ton more makeup than I normally would (hooray stage makeup!), I have decided that I really like the retro look with the bold eyes and bright red lips. Not necessarily for every single day, but definitely for the occasional night out.
Also, for those that are wondering, I used Revlon's Super Lustrous Lipstick in Wine With Everything. And not only does that lipstick keep your lips nice and moist, the color lasts for a really long time. Not necessarily like 8 or 12 hours, but definitively long enough that, for a nice night out you'd only have to reapply once max. Just, you know, in case you're on the hunt for some new lipstick.
I made some wonderful friends during the run of this show, had a lot of laughs, and can't wait until I get to hop back on stage again.
But for the time being, I'm taking a break and focusing on the whole freelancing thing for a bit. The next show I'm thinking about auditioning for will probably audition in April or May and will got up in late July. I'm crossing my fingers! And who knows, maybe by then I'll have this freelancing thing under control. A girl can dream anyway.
But for now, I'm just glad to have my weeknights free. Oh, and the ability to go to bed before 11 on work nights. Sleep is a very wonderful thing and I have missed it dearly.
----------All photos by Harold Bonacquist. Copyright Vienna Theatre Company 2013. All rights reserved.
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