PINK! Praise and other goings-on

So now that PINK! is past, what better time to post other's thoughts on it? Yes, it is backward, but better late than never. Besides, PINK will be back. Oh it will.

"I am the Managing Director of the WorkShop Theater Company where the production of PINK is taking place, and I had the good fortune of seeing the show last night.
Besides the setting (a sleep-a-way camp for 12 year old girls. ), there is NOTHING saccharine about this play.
In fact, I would best describe it as a "God of Carnage" for "tweens."
It is coarse, vulgar, innocent, sweet, deadly dramatic, and most importantly, very, very funny.
It only runs a week more -- but the play and performances are so good, that I just had to write to those of you who were wavering, to check this play out.
It will be 90 minutes very well spent."
--David M. Pincus, Managing Director WorkShop Theater Company
www.workshoptheater.org
Chair, Theater Task Force
Manhattan Community Board 4

And here is Broadway After Dark's Review, which gives such a nice summary of my character I chuckled in agreement:
http://www.broadwayafterdark.com/Durell.htm
Cabaret and Other Wanderings with Sandi Durell
Welcome to Camp “PINK”
Down Payment Productions WorkShop Theater Main Stage
Reviewed by: Sandi Durell
September 20, 2009

"Ah, pubescence, those wonderful years of honesty, no cares, exploration. In this case, however, the girls at Camp “Pink” are the result of a more modern day phenomenon. They are the Me Generation capable of saying and doing anything. They are nasty, vicious and abusive. Five nymphets finding womanhood at sleep-away camp, obsessed with everything sexual as they refer to each other as Vagina and batter each other with brutal honesty, eventually turns into the ultimate horror.

Samantha (Julia Giolzetti), the quiet book reader, sensible and mature is the butt of much battering and ‘odd girl out’; Ashley (Caitlin Mehner) sexually mature, is the leader of the pack, suffering from the dysfunctionality associated with sexual abuse by her father. She is mean, lies and capable of anything as we see at the conclusion. Zoe (Kaela Crawford) is Ashley’s shadow, slave and play toy. Tracy (Alison Scaramella) is good natured, fair and understanding but sometimes caught in the web of being just a 12 year old trying to grow up. Abby (Stephanie Strohm), a bit overweight, would like to have experienced more and finds herself confused much of the time as she is tossed around in the emotional play of the Me Me’s.

The 90 minute ride provokes both laughter and riveting disgust as they tear each other apart with everything from whose Bat Mitzvah they will attend ( 2 of the girls have the same date), the experience of a first menstruation, dealing with parents’ affairs, fashion, cheating, boyfriends, first sexual experiences and all the bitchiness one might imagine.

The final horror occurs as Ashley wants to give Abby the experience of sexuality and, with Zoe’s assistance, Abby is tied up and inadvertently smothered to death. In typical Ashley style, she immediately blames Zoe as she tries to deny who and what she is and has done.

The cast is top rate in their performance abilities, the play disturbing and thought-provoking, and although playwright Stacy Davidowitz assures that the content is entirely fictional and none of the characters and events are based upon real people and events, there remains a BIG question mark in my mind! The run of this play is complete but should it be revived I recommend you see it and decide for yourself."

Whew! Good times!

So rehearsals have begun for T.A.B. (take 2) and I'm really excited to see the play in a new light and go back to work on Kathy. Since this time around we're treating everything much more abstract, I'm going to need a much firmer grip on the character so I can then go crazy with the text. The director, Tracy, is wonderful and has so many great ideas that it almost feels like I'm working on an entirely different, but still awesome play. And it's cool to see new actors playing the other parts; while nobody is necessarily doing it "better", it's fun to see how different people interpret the same characters and dialogue...sometimes the line readings don't change at all, sometimes they're radically different...I love it!

Also PUNCHDRUNK is coming to the USA and I'm in the midst of a field trip planning to go for Halloween! If you're not familiar with the troupe, Google that ish NOW. They are amazing, and I only know that from firsthand accounts.

Aaaaand what else? It's getting colder around here but I am resisting busting out the big jacket because that means winter and winter is poopie.

Well off to rehearsals!

PINK! is over...for now.

Thanks so much to everyone who came to see us! I've never had such universally gushing responses toward a play before--people of all different kinds loved it, young and old. I was approached by many strangers and asked if the events in the play had ever happened to me as a kid (they haven't, I would never hide my diary in such an obvious place!), or if I really was a lesbian. That was awkward...not that I can convincingly play someone who kisses girls but just awkward in general to declare your love of boys to strangers. I was also told by a lot of people, also some strangers, that they identified with my character the most out of the 5 girls which was the ultimate compliment to me. Granted I wasn't an evil villain, I was a misfit kid, but how awesome that I got people to see through Samantha's eyes. This show also got me really good at crying onstage. Which I think is the hardest thing to fake. Anger, laughter, and fear are all pretty straightforward but actually tricking your body into crying is so damn hard. By repeating the scene over and over and also finding words and actions of other characters that triggered tears helped immensely....and of course all the other girls were so good and the moment was written so well I never had to fake it. Actually last night the tears came so quickly and easily I kind of just sat back and let them happen.

Things haven't been going great on the personal front, but I'd like to think the tears were just frustration, exhaustion, and regret that the show's over. But who knows.

In happier news, I was offered a small part in a new movie from the same company who worked with me on "Last Chance", which is now in post production. I am thrilled to work with them again since I had so much fun on the last shoot. And there are dogs involved! Maybe Baxter will get a cameo. Don't be a diva Baxter.

And in awesome news, remember the show I did back in May for the Downtown Urban Theatre Festival?! It got picked up for the Manhattan Rep Theatre Fall Play Festival! Yes, "T.A.B." returns October 28 at 8pm and the 29-30 at 6:30pm. If you weren't able to catch the first incarnation, I highly recommend coming to the festival. It's a provocative and touching story and much of the old gang is reuniting which gives me joy. Nothing is more awesome than collaborating with actors more than once.

If I find a review of PINK! I'll post, but that's it for now. I have another audition tonight as well, because, well, I don't understand what "take a break" means. Heh.

My true loverly lub.

Too sexy for words!!!! Ewan McGregor is the first and only fella for me. Oh, you say he's married? Alas. Anyway while scrolling through Best Week Ever I found this and it made me squishy inside so I had to repost it. Also www.bestweekever.tv is the funniest blog in the world. For serious. Although today is the Official Day with no Cats (and therefore no LOLz) so maybe check it tomorrow instead.

Also its 9.9.09 which means something to us, but not to people with different ways of counting time, animals, plants, or really the rest of the universe. But it's a cute little coincidence. Where will I be at 9:09 pm on 9.9.09?......rehearsing. As any self-respecting actor would be.

My sore throat lingers, and coughing is an issue, but that shouldn't stop you from seeing PINK! tomorrow at the Workshop Theatre Mainstage (see what I did there?)(it was a plug)(nevermind). People get sick at camp so it's not too much of a stretch.

Can I just say as well....that I am so so SO proud of this production. That's my overwhelming emotion, even though I should be nervous about opening. I am just filled with pride and admiration. When so many people come together on a project and really throw their entire souls into it 1000% for weeks, it shows. It shows in the AMAZING bunk beds constructed by Amanda, Laura's seamless and awesomely edited web videos, Johanna's keen eye and life saving organizational skills, Stephanie's ridiculous, heartbreaking and fabulous costumes, Joel's spooky lights, Kate's sweet smile as she rubs shaving cream off my face. It shows in Stacy's words, words she has invented and collected from these insane children and words she has twisted into a beautiful terrific thing. It shows in Brian's gasps and giggles as he gleefully directs us. And of course, Caitlin and Kaela and Ali and Steph are SO talented. I will truly miss this group. You know that a show's good when you fear the end of it before it even opens!

So I hope you out there will come see it. It's not some half-assed shindig. If I do my part right, you'll leave the theatre thanking the heavens you're no longer twelve years old.

Website, Video, Parties = Sleepy.

Sooooooo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VPJoep7O0k&feature=player_detailpage
Here's the video introducing my Pink! character, Samantha. I encourage you to check out PinkthePlay's YouTube channel to see the other videos as my fellow cast members are brilliant and awesome.

Also, http://www.pinktheplay.com has been completed and is now the most fierce place to be on the web (except here, of course).

And the Henry plays have been getting some nice press after being booted out of Prospect Park by Michael Jackson's memorial (which, I mean, we have to let that go. Free Shakespeare is wonderful, but MJ is MJ). Besides we had a kickass marathon yesterday of both plays and had a great turnout. Including Lisha, who I very unprofessionally winked at while "setting up the English camp."

AND tonight is the big party for Pink! at Volstead on 54th st. 9pm. All the cast will be selling dollar Jello Shots, looking fabulous, with themed drink specials. And I can only assume the music will be amazing--lots of Brit Brit. So come out for a little bit and drink with me! If you mention my blog I'll buy you 5 drinks. Not really. Well, maybe.

Also, check me out one more time in Henry V next Sunday the 6th in Prospect Park. Here's a picture of me as the Boy, full of exuberance and bug bites: (and shut up, they totally had water bottles back then!)

Busy! As a bee!

What a fortuitous weekend! Saturday was spent with the fine folks of Pink! in New Jersey basically staying in character all day and taking many fun photos/videos for promotional/recreational purposes. Oh those girls are funny. They are all such spectacular improvisers I couldn't help but applaud after each unscripted interview was filmed.


Plus the website is up and running (plug plug plug): http://www.pinktheplay.com/ with a handy synopsis and soon, some of the videos we shot. It was such a great time to get out of the city and its unbearable heat and do some actin' in the woods.





Then Sunday Henry V went up in Prospect Park and I was astounded at the response we received. Joggers, bikers, and families literally stopped in their tracks to listen. Kids who I assume had no idea what was going on were pointing, eyes wide, at us prancing around on the pagoda. And as cynical as I get about Shakespeare in the Park being so cliche and lame and doesn't inspire people to keep his words alive....I kind of ate dirt metaphorically and actually, because I die and then fall on the dirt.





That's another thing. Why couldn't the English lackeys die near strategically placed towels? Death disables your ability to keep the ants out of your ear! And then as they sing the sad song and we slowly walk offstage, I feel a mosquito get me in the thigh. And now I have a baseball-sized swollen monstrosity where he drank my blood. But as they say, the show must (itchily) go on. So yes, two more chances to see (for free) Henry V in the Prospect Park Music Pagoda: Sundays August 30 and September 6, 4:30pm. B or Q to Prospect Park. If you're just coming to see me, here's a fair warning that the Boy has very few lines, but a spectacular death scene. If you want to wait for Pink! be my guest. That would be September 10-20.





Did you notice I only have 3 days in which I am not performing for three weeks?! Wahoo.





As far as personal life...Baxter got groomed and looks ever so darling:

See?! I love my pup!

Had a lovely birthday dinner for an old friend last night at Alta, where the tapas flow freely and my taste buds go, "alsdgajdgjhgsdjkfgdsjcmmmmmm". It was good.





Alright, more to come, as always.