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TRANSMARINE
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
2002 Posts |
 Posted - 07/02/2007 : 13:13:36
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I was a theatre major in my college days...dreams in my youth of acting were all I knew. I gave it up 15 years ago, not having any faith or confidence in myself...spent many years since kicking myself and burying my talents and dreams until I became boring, and always miserable. As of late, I began to really want to explore my acting again, but was fearful and out of touch, but have been dreaming at night constantly about it.
A few days ago, a friend from college calls me out of the blue, asking me if I want to be in a play his friend is directing at their theatre company. He was to play the part, but took another role in another play elsewhere. The director, who I also knew years ago was ecstatic with the suggestion of me...and voila. How could I say no? I read the play that night, realized how difficult it is going to be, and immediatly accepted the challenge! When things align, it's almost supernatural.
So anyhow, thought I'd express my excitement and anxiety! This is the best thing to happen to me in a while. The best part is I didn't even have to audition! I hate auditions!
I will have to completely change my schedule for this show, but I can't wait. We will begin rehearsals in two weeks, rehearse for 4 weeks, and run for 5 weekends. Anyhow, I will keep updating.
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His name is Dalton. He's got a degree in philosophy.
-bRIAN |
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trobrianders
> Teenager of the Year <
Papua New Guinea
3302 Posts |
Posted - 07/02/2007 : 13:19:52
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Your turn to be happy. What's the play? Yes, keep updating. Transmarine's saga.
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Ed is the hoo hoo |
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TRANSMARINE
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
2002 Posts |
Posted - 07/02/2007 : 13:37:30
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BOOK OF DAYS by Lanford Wilson.
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His name is Dalton. He's got a degree in philosophy.
-bRIAN |
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Carl
- A 'Fifth' Catholic -
Ireland
11546 Posts |
Posted - 07/02/2007 : 15:07:35
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Good luck TRANS.
*exit stage left*
 "Aw yeah, that's the good stuff!" |
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coastline
> Teenager of the Year <
USA
3111 Posts |
Posted - 07/02/2007 : 16:22:54
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So are you playing a tranny?
 Please pardon me, for these my wrongs. |
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TRANSMARINE
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
2002 Posts |
Posted - 07/02/2007 : 16:30:56
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No, Coasty. So don't get all excited.
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His name is Dalton. He's got a degree in philosophy.
-bRIAN |
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kathryn
~ Selkie Bride ~
Belgium
15320 Posts |
Posted - 07/02/2007 : 18:18:30
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I didn't know you were a thespian. Congrats!
I got some heaven in my head
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Homers_pet_monkey
= Official forum monkey =
United Kingdom
17125 Posts |
Posted - 07/04/2007 : 09:32:43
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Yeah well done Trans. Good luck.
 I'd walk her everyday, into a shady place
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TRANSMARINE
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
2002 Posts |
Posted - 07/16/2007 : 08:58:33
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I start rehearsing tonight. Excited. Going to be good. You should all come and see it in August. 
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His name is Dalton. He's got a degree in philosophy.
-bRIAN |
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TRANSMARINE
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
2002 Posts |
Posted - 08/03/2007 : 19:00:01
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Two weeks from tonight is opening night. Wow. It's going along really good. Good cast members . Our director has decided to highly stylize this production, so the set is minimalistic (a bare stage...hows that for minimal?). I'm completely off-book, which is nice. Gives me room to experiment in rehearsal. I am, however, exhausted, and we're getting down to the gritty. I work from 8am to 5pm, rush to rehearsal 20 miles away, get home about 11.30pm, and get ready for the next day. Then it takes forever to fall asleep because I'm wired with creative thinking shit. Starting this weekend we are striking the current shows' set to start building ours on Monday. Should be quick as it is only a couple elevated platforms. Actually, it never goes quick. Then come Wednesday it's already press photograph time...then next weekend final scene work and the beginning of tech rehearsal week. Aaaarggghh! But it's great. I'm just so fucking tired.
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His name is Dalton. He's got a degree in philosophy.
-bRIAN |
Edited by - TRANSMARINE on 08/25/2007 14:00:08 |
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Carl
- A 'Fifth' Catholic -
Ireland
11546 Posts |
Posted - 08/04/2007 : 12:14:53
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If you get any Shakespherean kinda bits, fling your arms wide and go "Whooooaaaaah!"
"I hate how the reptile dreams it's a mammal. Scaley monster: be what you are!!" - Erebus. |
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OLDMANOTY
= Cult of Ray =
United Kingdom
469 Posts |
Posted - 08/04/2007 : 14:34:47
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Good luck TRANSMARINE, I can relate to your first post, having also buried my dreams for years. Then one day I was bored out of my head at work and suddenly thought 'fuck it, it's now or never' and I quit that same day. Eight years on and my acting career hasn't exactly set the world alight but who cares, I'm broke but happy!
Do you think this could lead you to do something similar? It sounds like the experience is having a big impact. |
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TRANSMARINE
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
2002 Posts |
Posted - 08/10/2007 : 10:48:03
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Wow, OLDMANOTY...very cool! I go to work every day with the intention of quitting...but I need the medical insurance. LOL! But as soon as this show is over, I'm outta here to find something else...I'm sick of it. Moving back into acting in the last few weeks has really made me realize how quick time goes by and how short life must be...and that I am enjoying this so much I need to continue it, must continue it. Last couple nights were strange...have not felt focused or really there in rehearsal...I attribute it to fatigue. Everyone told me how good I was, however, so it was mostly in my head...unless they saw me dragging and were trying to pick up my spirits. Whatever. It doesn't matter I guess...been edgy and moody...I'm tired of rehearsing. I want it to just go into performance. I'm ready. I don't want to stagnate. One week to go! Opening night in seven days...
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His name is Dalton. He's got a degree in philosophy.
-bRIAN |
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lonely persuader
= Cult of Ray =
Ireland
488 Posts |
Posted - 08/13/2007 : 00:56:57
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| the play's the thing |
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TRANSMARINE
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
2002 Posts |
Posted - 08/13/2007 : 08:20:46
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Spent most of Saturday working at the theatre...helping finish up the stage/set, painting, hanging shit, placing lights. Loved every fucking minute of it. Ate KFC. Didn't enjoy that. Can't stand fast food...but it was catered (lol...on our director's $10 budget), and I was hungry. C'est la vie. Spent yesterday at home fine tuning and mulling over notes/changes/ideas...blah blah blah. Yesterday was my last free day until Sept. 16th. I watched some old OUTER LIMITS episodes, a couple HAWAII FIVE-O episodes, and FLASH GORDON (1980)...all DVD's I picked up this weekend. Am all ready for this the final week of rehearsal...tech week. The addition of lighting, sound, and music...tightening of loose ends and the addition of new technical elements.
The countdown is on! DAYS TO OPENING NIGHT: 4
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His name is Dalton. He's got a degree in philosophy.
-bRIAN |
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OLDMANOTY
= Cult of Ray =
United Kingdom
469 Posts |
Posted - 08/13/2007 : 09:28:00
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| I'm doing a show at the Edinburgh Festival at the moment, first performance was this morning and we had 8 in the audience! A bit dispiriting but not unusual as you're competing with 1000's of other shows at the same time. Hoping we'll get a great review and things'll pick up. |
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Carl
- A 'Fifth' Catholic -
Ireland
11546 Posts |
Posted - 08/13/2007 : 13:47:37
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Nice, OLDMANOTY!
"I hate how the reptile dreams it's a mammal. Scaley monster: be what you are!!" - Erebus. |
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TRANSMARINE
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
2002 Posts |
Posted - 08/13/2007 : 14:12:26
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quote:
Originally posted by OLDMANOTY
I'm doing a show at the Edinburgh Festival at the moment, first performance was this morning and we had 8 in the audience! A bit dispiriting but not unusual as you're competing with 1000's of other shows at the same time. Hoping we'll get a great review and things'll pick up.
What is the show?
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His name is Dalton. He's got a degree in philosophy.
-bRIAN |
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OLDMANOTY
= Cult of Ray =
United Kingdom
469 Posts |
Posted - 08/14/2007 : 08:37:53
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quote:
Originally posted by TRANSMARINE
quote:
Originally posted by OLDMANOTY
I'm doing a show at the Edinburgh Festival at the moment, first performance was this morning and we had 8 in the audience! A bit dispiriting but not unusual as you're competing with 1000's of other shows at the same time. Hoping we'll get a great review and things'll pick up.
What is the show?
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His name is Dalton. He's got a degree in philosophy.
-bRIAN
It's a play version of an obscure novel by Robert Louis Stevenson called Catriona (the sequel to his 'Kidnapped'). We wrote it ourselves - it's quite a surreal piece, not a straight 'traditional' play like you might expect from the source material. We had 47 in the audience today so things are looking up, hopefully full houses by the end of the first week.
Look forward to reading the report of your opening night, TRANSMARINE. I know what you're going through! |
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coastline
> Teenager of the Year <
USA
3111 Posts |
Posted - 08/14/2007 : 08:58:20
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What's with you actors and your all-capitals forum names?
Please pardon me, for these my wrongs. |
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OLDMANOTY
= Cult of Ray =
United Kingdom
469 Posts |
Posted - 08/14/2007 : 09:27:45
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quote:
Originally posted by coastline
What's with you actors and your all-capitals forum names?
Please pardon me, for these my wrongs.
Nothing to do with an inflated ego, I didn't realise caps lock was on at the time! |
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TRANSMARINE
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
2002 Posts |
Posted - 08/14/2007 : 11:04:58
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quote:
Originally posted by OLDMANOTY
quote:
Originally posted by coastline
What's with you actors and your all-capitals forum names?
Please pardon me, for these my wrongs.
Nothing to do with an inflated ego, I didn't realise caps lock was on at the time!
I did. 
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His name is Dalton. He's got a degree in philosophy.
-bRIAN |
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TRANSMARINE
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
2002 Posts |
Posted - 08/15/2007 : 12:19:16
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DAYS TO OPENING NIGHT: 2
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His name is Dalton. He's got a degree in philosophy.
-bRIAN |
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TRANSMARINE
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
2002 Posts |
Posted - 08/16/2007 : 08:18:22
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DAYS TO OPENING NIGHT: 1
Tonight is final dress rehearsal. Last night's tech run-through went extremely well...very excited. We will finally have some stragglers in the audience tonight (people associated with the theatre company), so it will be good to hear reactions other than the director's for a change.
Also, for added pressure, I learned last night we will have four reviewers in our audience on opening night; The LA Times, The Orange County Register, The OC WEEKLEY, and BackStage West. Oh my...the butterflies are already fluttering. I am taking a day off from work tomorrow so I can have a heart attack before the show in the evening.
Anyhow...send good vibes my way!
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His name is Dalton. He's got a degree in philosophy.
-bRIAN |
Edited by - TRANSMARINE on 08/16/2007 08:18:48 |
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Broken Face
-= Forum Pistolero =-
USA
5155 Posts |
Posted - 08/16/2007 : 08:23:50
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Break a leg, tranny.
- Brian |
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coastline
> Teenager of the Year <
USA
3111 Posts |
Posted - 08/17/2007 : 21:40:11
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So, how'd it go?
Please pardon me, for these my wrongs. |
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TRANSMARINE
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
2002 Posts |
Posted - 08/20/2007 : 12:56:07
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It went great. So far, so good. Friday night and Saturday we had a full house...yesterday afternoon we had 8 people! Oh well. But everything was great. Reviews will come out this week sometime. My family came Saturday night...made me a bit nervous...otherwise, I have not been gripped by stage-fright as I was in my past. I've been very calm, collected, focused, and ready. Of course, there is a bit of anxiety before the show, but I am just having fun! When I'm waiting in the wings for cues, and see my fellow cast mates around me nervous, I usually pull some joke or rude gesture to make them laugh right before they have to step out onstage...I find this to be highly entertaining, and no one has yelled at me, so....
haha! Can't wait 'till Friday to do it all again!
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His name is Dalton. He's got a degree in philosophy.
-bRIAN |
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coastline
> Teenager of the Year <
USA
3111 Posts |
Posted - 08/20/2007 : 13:43:08
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quote:
Originally posted by TRANSMARINE
yesterday afternoon we had 8 people!
I wonder if it was the same eight from OLDMANOTY's show.
Please pardon me, for these my wrongs. |
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OLDMANOTY
= Cult of Ray =
United Kingdom
469 Posts |
Posted - 08/20/2007 : 14:16:37
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quote:
Originally posted by coastline
quote:
Originally posted by TRANSMARINE
yesterday afternoon we had 8 people!
I wonder if it was the same eight from OLDMANOTY's show.
Please pardon me, for these my wrongs.
It's possible, I think they were Americans!! We had 4 today, one less and the audience will equal the number in the cast. I'm just glad I'm not being paid through ticket sales! |
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TRANSMARINE
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
2002 Posts |
Posted - 08/20/2007 : 14:58:55
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I don't mind if there's 8 or 80, to tell the truth. As long as someone's watching! I'm doing it for free, so it doesn't bother me. I would rather the house be full, however, as our theatre company survives on sales. This is a common trend, however with STAGEStheatre. First weekend is always rocky, then the people come pouring in.
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His name is Dalton. He's got a degree in philosophy.
-bRIAN |
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coastline
> Teenager of the Year <
USA
3111 Posts |
Posted - 08/20/2007 : 16:10:08
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Have the reviews started appearing in the papers yet?
Please pardon me, for these my wrongs. |
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TRANSMARINE
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
2002 Posts |
Posted - 08/20/2007 : 16:46:35
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quote:
Originally posted by coastline
Have the reviews started appearing in the papers yet?
Please pardon me, for these my wrongs.
Not yet...probably Wednesday/Thursday. If you want to see some publicity pics, go to the address below. I am in the first two pics, and the group shot (can you guess which silouhette I am?). They are cheesey pics, but what the heck? If you're confused, I am not the black guy and I'm not the redhead chick.
http://stagesoc.org/Productions.htm
As reviews surface I will post. Enjoy!
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His name is Dalton. He's got a degree in philosophy.
-bRIAN |
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Daisy Girl
~ Abstract Brain ~
Belize
5305 Posts |
Posted - 08/20/2007 : 20:33:42
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Thanks for sharing the photos. I can't wait to hear the reviews.
bluefinger |
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TRANSMARINE
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
2002 Posts |
Posted - 08/21/2007 : 10:07:04
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Thanks, Daisy. I just got a phone call from a cast member (who also sits on the board of the theatre). She told me a reviewer called our director and asked questions about me. I am mortified...what is he going to say?! Yuck...I try not to get worked up about this crap, but morbid curiosity and ego always are the victor. Arrrggghh.
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His name is Dalton. He's got a degree in philosophy.
-bRIAN |
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Daisy Girl
~ Abstract Brain ~
Belize
5305 Posts |
Posted - 08/21/2007 : 16:05:29
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I would guess that it would only be good if he was asking specific questions about you... :) Why would they waste their time if you sucked?
bluefinger |
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TRANSMARINE
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
2002 Posts |
Posted - 08/22/2007 : 14:46:33
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Okay...here's the first review! It's from the Orange County Register...pretty darn good, I might add!
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
'Book of Days' a perceptive tome
Review: Fullerton troupe brings Lanford Wilson's multilayered 1998 script to dazzling life.
By ERIC MARCHESE
Lanford Wilson sets the action of his "Book of Days" in Dublin, Missouri, a small, close-knit community where everyone knows everyone's business and secrets are hard to keep. When a pillar of the town dies in what appears to be a routine accident, that setting affords Wilson the chance to raises questions of social, political, moral and religious ethics.
That's because the death of Walt Bates, like everything else in Dublin, isn't what it appears.
In Stages Theatre's mounting of the 1998 play, we witness how the majority of the town accepts the death, while one perceptive woman, Ruth Hoch, begins questioning the evidence. As she digs for the truth, she hits nerves at every step, setting in motion a chain of events that rocks the town to its core.
Wilson's midwesterners are real folk who love Dublin, love the state of Missouri and are dedicated American patriots – but by the time we've closed this "Book," we're unable to see any of its characters in quite the same light.
Amanda DeMaio's self-assured ensemble of a dozen breathes credibility into this complex gumbo. Like Wilson, and Ruth, their goal is to reveal hypocrisy, double-dealing and greed. They succeed mightily, their "Book" a broad-brush indictment of our society's ills.
DeMaio and company attack the pleasingly understated text with a no-frills staging. The Dubliners are taciturn folks who, when they do speak, speak volumes. Their sly asides to us indicate Wilson's taking us into his confidence about the reality, versus the superficial, of life in this town.
The opening scenes have a loosey-goosey sensibility which belies the more serious content, and Wilson crafts plenty of detail that add to a sense of verisimilitude. This story, Wilson says, could happen anywhere.
In Greek chorus fashion, DeMaio's ensemble provides us picturesque descriptions of the town and surrounding countryside. The effect of the company moving on and off stage, saying Wilson's often-poetic words to Jon Gaw's underscoring, is evocative.
Gaw's simple yet effective backdrop of trees, lit with emotion-inducing variety by Kirk Huff, provides all we need to know about where we are; the ensemble fills in the rest.
Walt's cheese factory is the town's economic hub. Walt's son James, once a local high-school sports hero, is now a sleazy lawyer more interested in pleasing his mistress than in minding the family business.
That leaves Ruth's husband Len, to run things as plant manager, while Ruth works as its bookkeeper.
In an unlikely turn, amateur actor Ruth lands the lead in the local community theater's staging of Shaw's "Saint Joan." Tantalizingly, the more she identifies with her role as Joan of Arc, the more she begins to regard acting as frivolous.
With an easy laugh and good comic timing, Mo Arii's Ruth is at once voluptuous and down-to-earth, making a credible transition to dogged, hard-nosed investigator. Arii is this "Book's" focus, and she's as committed to the role as Ruth is to hers as truthseeker.
Tracy Marquis' Len is easygoing and supportive yet principled. Veda Franklin is equally well-cast as his laidback, tolerant mom, a '60s hippie who teaches at the Christian college. Arii, Marquis and Franklin's cozy camaraderie makes credible Len and Martha's reaction to the town's fury.
All of DeMaio's cast sports credible rural dialects, giving this "Book" a twang of regional flavor. Andrew Gerges makes the sleazy James one nasty little snot, a smoothly hateful, sexist jerk. Jon Parrish is weaselly as Earl, James' none-too-bright henchman.
Nakisa Aschtiani is pleasingly assertive as James' wife LouAnn who, like Ruth, isn't about to back down from a constant barrage of bullying. Diane Davis paints a Sharon who's bereft at husband Walt's death – but not about to be sucked under by the riptide of events.
As Boyd, the once-flourishing Broadway and Hollywood director reduced to helming Dublin's amateur staging of "Saint Joan," Brian Fichtner is aptly cynical and vaguely amoral. Sean Rowry swallows many of his lines but is still aptly hypocritical and militantly pious as the Reverend Graves, complicit in James' morally questionable conduct.
Reflecting Arii and Aschtiani's characterizations, Andrea Freeman is both saucy and tough as Ginger, the local good-time girl who falls for Boyd. William Wooten should be a tougher, more prideful Walt rather than an amiable, humble one, and as the sheriff, Eddie Majalca could likewise ramp up the machismo.
Freelance writer Eric Marchese has covered entertainment for the Register since 1984
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His name is Dalton. He's got a degree in philosophy.
-bRIAN |
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I'm in a play!
