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!

In the Audition Room? Me?

I've always wanted to be in an audition room on the other side of the table. And even though I've been acting for 20 or so years, I never have, save the one time I directed a play my senior year of high school, and all the auditioners were my friends. So I was ecstatic when my bffaeae Erin asked me to help out with auditions for the reincarnation of "T.A.B." I'm not sure if I'm reading with people or not, but I know that seeing an audition from the other side is so valuable to an actor. Since I'm in the spirit of giving, I'll share my thoughts on the experience sometime tomorrow (and no, I won't name names or comment on specific auditions). I'm considering this a free acting class more than anything. How did the ancient actors learn their craft? Mimcry and imitation. How can you be an actor if you can't observe how other people inhabit their bodies and the world? Isn't that kind of the whole point? To get inside someone else's head, to leave your own, is a special kind of bliss I would guess only happens in the most rare and sublime of cases.

In other news, I find when I'm in crisis I desperately find work to do. Anything to keep my mind working...otherwise it shuts down and I turn into a poopy kind of person.

Speaking of, I had an audition Monday that freakin rocked. I worked hard on the material and it paid off as I was told I was called back while still in the room. What a great feeling and a great experience. So that callback is in a few days and they gave me lots of new material to peruse, which I love. Nothing makes me happier than a bunch of sides to go through and a full script to read. I love words. I love plays. I love reading them out loud, much to the chagrin of my neighbors.

So what have I learned this week, friends? When love fails you, go to work. When work fails you, give love another shot. But NOT A Shot of Love With Tila Tequila. I think mentioning Tila Tequila will give my blog 3000 more hits today than normal. Here's hoping.

Appropriately Sad Song Lyrics

If I'm really going through a breakup I might as well post some song lyrics. Sorry guys, we'll resume with regularly scheduled programming soon.

Come on Get Higher--Matt Nathanson
I miss the sound of your voice
And I miss the rush of your skin
And I miss the still of the silence
As you breathe out and I breathe in

If I could walk on water, If I could tell you what’s next
Make you believe, make you forget

So come on, get higher, loosen my lips
Faith and desire in the swing of your hips
Just pull me down hard
And drown me in love

I miss the sound of your voice
The loudest thing in my head
And I ache to remember
All the violent, sweet,
perfect words that you said

If I could walk on water, if i could tell you what’s next,
make you believe, make you forget

So come on, get higher, loosen my lips
Faith and desire in the swing of your hips
Just to pull me down hard
And drown me in love

I miss the pull of your heart
I can taste the sparks on your tongue
I see angels and devils
And God
when you come on
Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on
Singin' shalala la

Come on, get higher, loosen my lips
Faith and desire in the swing of your hips
Just to pull me down hard
And drown me in love

So come on, get higher, loosen my lips
Faith and desire in the swing of your hips
Just to pull me down hard
And drown me, drown me in love

(come on get higher, loosen my lips)It's all wrong
(faith and desire at the swing of your hips)It's all wrong
(just to pull me down hard and drown me in love)It's all right

So, come on, get higher
Come on, get higher
'Cause everything works love
Everything works in your arms

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.

OPENING NIGHT!!!!!

SQUEAL!!!!

But first, an audition....

Wish me luck!

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.

Coughy Hurty Theatre.

I AM SICK! BEWARE!

This is how I must present myself to every actor and production person I have interacted with since Sunday. There would be catastrophic results if anyone got this bug I possess. It makes me hungry but too tired to eat, sleepy but to hurty to sleep, and my neck is just one achy lump of muscle. It's bad, folks. But never fear, I've taken off work today and hopefully tomorrow to stave off the infection and keep me as healthy as possible for tech week.

Oh and Sunday was the last Henry show. I debated attending the afterparty but am so glad I decided to go. Sutton as usual was a graceful hostess and I was reminded of how great it is to be surrounded by friendly actors having a good time.

Wait, tech week? I'm THIS SICK during TECH?!

That's right, I am. Because my life is a miserable hilarious joke. Of course I'll survive but for now I'm just resting in the sadistic satisfaction of it. What was nice yesterday was that the Pink! bunks are made and I have Jonas Brothers sheets that looked oh, so, so comfy and we got a little break and-woosh. I was asleep, immersed in the world of Bunk 14, with Joe Jonas watching from the pillowcase. I think we were all impressed with the space and how hard the set designer worked to recreate camp in its bunked, wooden, cramped glory. Combined with our costumes and breast binding (no C cups for 12 year olds!) yesterday was a blast despite this ailment.

My sleepiness looms. As does the Pizza Delivery Man. I hope they both arrive soon.

Oh, and as if I haven't said it enough: Pink! opens THURSDAY at 8pm. http://www.pinktheplay.com.