I'm back...

Yeah, that guy looks like a
REAL big stretch for me.

...after a LONG delay.

I have to confess, the steakhouse thing took a lot out of me, creatively.  While it was a pleasure to write so much, and a pleasure to share, it was also a task.  I'm whining. 

There is much to share, and I plan to do so, but I need to talk about something funny today.

I have been cast in the show "A Little Night Music" at Village Theatre Guild in Glen Ellyn.  I am playing the role of the dragoon, Count Carl-Magnus Malcolm.  Yes, it was important to put all those names/titles in there. 

The show is populated with insanely talented people that I have either worked with before, known through reputation and been waiting to work with, or new people that I've never met.  It is a big ol' mutual admiration society, and I'm proud to be involved.

Where am I going with this? 

Right here.  The character I'm playing is not that much of a stretch, in some regards, and in others exactly the opposite of me.  I attended my first rehearsal last night.  Since I do not like to burden a director with too many questions about character early on (ever), I've been doing a lot of pondering about the role.  I am a firm believer in the story of your character being in the text.  Listen to what others say about you.  Listen to what you say.  Think about their station in life.

Carl-Magnus is an insufferable, vain, arrogant, self-absorbed prick.  That part is not the stretch for me.  That, I'm fairly certain, I can find.

The part that I'm struggling with today (AFTER ONE REHEARSAL - Dear God, I am whining), is that he is also clueless, or at least seems to be a little slow.  But is he really?  I'm struggling with whether he is just a man of faith, who always believes himself to be right, who believes that no one lies to him, and trusts in himself and life.  Or, conversely, is he clueless?   Does that make it easier on the audience?  Believe it or not, this matters.  

I have always looked for the deeper moments in any character I play.  I, as a director, will often cast someone based on what I believe to be the most important moment and which of the candidates I believe will be able to show me that convincingly.  It sometimes comes down to one sentence, as it did for me when I cast Dierdre in "I Hate Hamlet."   

So, in my quest, there are several references to Carl-Magnus and his military service.  I Googled "Carl-Magnus in war."  Know what I found?  FAN FICTION.  BRILLIANT FAN FICTION.  I'm not sure I can use any of it, as ultimately my role will be shaped by the director, but I am enjoying the hell out of the research. 

This has rambled a bit.  I'm looking forward to this production.  I'm looking forward to forwarding my research.  I'm looking forward to the moment when I can ask the director what he sees, and IT'S NOT AFTER ONE REHEARSAL AND WAY TOO SOON.  Since this is public, I believe I just did. 

Anyway, it's good to be back.  More to come...