was last night. Overall the show went really well. The audience laughed the whole way through and we received a standing ovation at the end. There were a few bumps along the way but nothing major. We had to get used to waiting for laughter before continuing dialogue and other things like that.
I’m continually amazed at the talent that I’m surrounded by on stage. Everyone has years and in some cases decades of stage and acting experience. Some are trained professionals and some have been active at SCT for over 20 years. They seem to totally own the characters and are just great to watch.
And then there’s me. I stepped on the stage for the first time a little over half a year ago. I’m really happy to have had all the opportunities that I’ve had in that short time. I’ve gotten a good bit of stage experience and learned a lot from my teachers (one is also a cast mate). But I feel like I’m struggling to keep up with the rest of the cast.
Now I’m sure they would all tell you that I’m doing great and I’m silly to feel this way ’cause they’re nice, supportive people and I appreciate all their support. I know I have some natural ability and talent or else I wouldn’t have been cast. But, you see, everything I do and have done in the world of theatre and acting is new, unchartered territory for me. I don’t know how I should feel about my connection to my character at this point. I don’t know how it feels to be completely connected to a part; maybe I’ve been there before but I’m not sure.
It’s weird, but my last show I played a grave robber and I had a hard time during rehearsals finding that character. The closer to the opening of the show, the more confident I became until I felt pretty good about it. In this show, I felt a closer connection to the character starting off but as we’ve gone along, I’ve become less confident on the monologue (the main portion of my speaking in the show is a monologue).
For the other actors out there, does being confident in your choices that they are the right choices become easier? Does it just come with experience and training? I understand that sometimes you can connect with a character quickly and easily and other times not so much. But do you ever get to the point when you can consistently say “I’ve got this nailed?”
With all that said, the director has been great and has let me play with different options and given me feedback on what she thinks. I appreciate her support, I just hate not being able to say “This is the best I can do.”
Ok, that’s my self-conscious rambling for today. I’m generally a self confident person, but this has been on my mind.
You’re GRRREAT Kary! You don’t need to worry about a thing. All it is, I think, is experience, and you’re racking it up. That’s why you GET to be onstage with all of them with so little experience- because of your raw, untapped skillz.
But yeah, I know EXACTLY what you mean. My first show at TheatreMSU was “The Imaginary Invalid,” in which I played three different roles that didn’t have too much stagetime. And then my next show was “It’s Only a Play,”
which was the senior show, and had me in a cast of veterans like Gabe Smith, Chris Tyer, James Eison, Matt Webb, Melissa Fenwick, Vaughan Shearer, and Holly Ashcomb, who were all at the top of their games. And my highlight was this climactic monologue, and I never felt really sure about it either.
Difference is, you actually have talent so you’ll blossom into an actor. I became a teacher! 🙂 jk
Thanks, I appreciate your comments. But don’t go be dogging yourself on my site! James Comans is my hero!
I think that most times, how my character comes out each night is dependent on where I (read: Lyle) am in my head at the time. If I’ve had a rested, relaxed day, I tend to feel the character more. If it’s been a busy or boring day at work, or if my head is not in the theatre but someplace else that night, I’m off.
Also, I find it “easier” to STAY the character in dramas, for some reason. “Martin” in *Comfort’s Broken Light* was easier to be–after, of course, MANY nights of searching for him–and stay into than, say, “Sidney” in *Inspecting Carol.* Also, “King Philip” in *Lion in Winter* was like that. Once I found him, I felt him easier each night. Characters in comedies–even though I deem them much more difficult than dramas–for me are more likely to slip into “Lyle.” I guess that’s maybe because I like to be silly and laugh and act goofy in everyday life, and being that way onstage just feels like ME. That’s not necessarily a bad thing; it’s just aggravating when trying to hone in on who I am in a show.
I’m excited to see *Smoke* this coming weekend. Break legs! Lyle
Your stage looks like somthing I built when I produced a show / comedy spin on “Arsenic and Old Lace”
I was a hoot.. mostly with teddy.
I even had a second floor and a set of stairs going up the side.. and teddy would run up and off the stage set.. flying in to a set of stage left large matresses.
But thats.. another story.