Well, dear readers, we’re coming along. Yes, you heard it here, dear readers, we’re coming along. My head is near bursting because there are so many lines swimming around trying to embed themselves into my consciousness. I haven’t done this sort of thing in so long that it is quite nerve-wracking. However, I’m getting it, and yesterday’s endless repetitions were very helpful, especially running the entirety of the role with my fellow actor, Matt Ashford. There were three or four little speeches that I was just having endless problems with, as I could not connect the dots and it was driving me a little crazy. However, after three go-throughs with Matt, I was feeling better about everything, and I just about had it all in my head. I still feel a bit at sea every now and then, but I think I at least know the point of everything and I seem to now be getting through each line without forgetting much. So, we’ll continue to work through the long scene every day this week, and hopefully I will get secure with it at some point prior to going on Friday night. We’ll be taping the two video segments on Wednesday, and I have to figure out what I’m wearing for those. The good news is I’m not really panicking, so that’s good. I hope that continues to be the case. I do think Matt is having fun playing opposite someone who is at least giving him the right sorts of things to play off. I do think I spent at least half the day yesterday going over everything, but I’ve learned that one must just take a break from it all and let things sink into the cranium. So, I did take time out to do some errands, pick up a couple of packages, eat some pizza (the character is supposed to be slightly pudgy, so it’s fine), and sit on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I managed to watch two count them two motion pictures on DVD (after the first motion picture, I did run my lines). The first motion picture on DVD was entitled The Picture of Dorian Gray, a new region 2 release from Warner Home Video in France (I’m sure it will come out here at some point). I like but don’t love the film, but it was nice to see it again, and it is quite a handsome production. I do hope that when they get around to the American DVD that the transfer will be better – this was taken off the same transfer used for the tape and laserdisc releases and it’s okay, but not nearly what it should be. I always enjoy George Sanders, and Hurd Hatfield acquits himself nicely, as does a young Angela Lansbury and Donna Reed. The DVD does have the color inserts of the painting, which is nice and very striking. But, in the long run the film just sort of plods along without much drama for all of its almost two hour running time. After running my lines, I then watched the second motion picture on DVD, which was entitled L’Idole. What an interesting film this was. It has never had a US release (it came out in 2003) – it’s directed by an Australian (Samantha Lang), written by a Frenchman (the great Gerard Brach – Roman Polanski’s usual collaborator), it stars an American (the beautiful and talented Leelee Sobieski), a Chinese (the wonderful James Hong), and everyone in the film speaks French, save for about three lines spoken in English with an Australian accent by Miss Sobieski. It’s basically a character study of an actress living in France (Miss Sobieski) who is understudying the wife of the lead actor in a play – the lead actor is also shtupping Miss Sobieski on the side. Miss Sobieski’s character has some weird neuroses (she’s an actress, after all). Mr. Hong plays her elderly Chinese neighbor, who takes an interest in her, cooks for her, takes care of her, even washes and irons her nightgown. It’s a strange dynamic between the two of them, but somehow very compelling. The entire film has quite a strange vibe to it, but I found it very well done and very enjoyable and I may even watch it again. Miss Sobieski is terrific (she’s my favorite of the current crop of nobodies who star in movies these days), and Mr. Hong is great. In case you don’t know his name (I didn’t), the minute you see him you realize he’s been in an amazing number of great movies over the years – he’s instantly recognizable, with his unique face and voice. He’s been in everything from Love Is A Many Splendored Thing, to Blade Runner, to Chinatown (as Miss Dunaway’s house man, Kahn), and hundreds of other well-known films. His imdb listing is amazing, and he’s still going strong at 77, working more than most actors who are half his age. I got the DVD on eBay – it’s a region 2, of course, since the film had no US release. In any case, I thought it was a winner, and it has a lovely score by Gabriel Yared, which is, unfortunately, out of print on CD.
What am I, Ebert and Roeper all of a sudden? Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because my head is currently bursting with words, words, words (that is three little words).
Today I must arise early, and conduct another musical theater workshop (MTW) at LACC. We’ll be doing more singing – people’s second passes of their last songs, with notes addressed. I’ll then grab a bite to eat, and then I’ll be rehearsing with Matt and we’ll go through our paces at least three times. After that, I’ll try to relax and let the lines continue to sink in to Ye Olde Cranium.
I’m still trying to figure out the order of the short story collection – it’s very delicate, and I’m finding it difficult. I have a tentative order that I’ll live with for a few days, to see how it feels.
If you have friends in LA, do tell them to come and see the play this weekend. It would be really nice to have full houses for our last four performances (this weekend and next). It does look like we’re set to tape the final two performances, so that’s good.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, keep running lines, over and over and over again until they are just living comfortably in my brain – in that way, my head won’t be bursting quite so badly. I must do many other things, as well, and then I really must find time to relax. I must also decide on my wardrobe for the play – I may have to go out and buy a sport coat and a pullover shirt. Today’s topic of discussion: What are the most defining moments you’ve seen on television – those once-in-a-lifetime moments that had high drama, were life-changing, illuminating, were world-changing? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I try to calm my bursting head.