Well, just another typical night
Last week we opened!
This week we close.
I'm already sad, even though we still have two more performances. I really have grown... in a very short time... very fond of this group of people.
I've already sung the praises of Trisha and Rich. But not deeply enough. Being onstage with them is literally like being safe at home with family. And so the Lapin Agile is a very warm and homey place in our version. People have responded to our clear love of one another. It was really a stroke of luck that the three of us would be cast in this together. Because you can't fake chemistry. And you can't build real history in two weeks.
The Norris Theater is a lovely space. It's fun to do a show with great production values again. Along with that space comes lots of dressing rooms. But instead of camping out in one of my own, I camped out with my boys: Connor, Adrian, and Bryan. I feel like a kid again! Great dressing room mates are rare, and our dressing room is clearly the best! (suck it the rest of you). Also, they are killing it in the show. Bryan plays "the Visitor," spoiler alert: He's Elvis. He melts hearts nightly, and just about every line he says gets a laugh. Impressive. Adrian plays the flamboyant art dealer, Sagot. The rich tapestry of the Lapin Agile is populated with fun characters, and Adrian brings such joy and fun onto the stage. And then Connor comes onstage like a whirlwind as Schmendiman. I honestly didn't know how good a part that was until the first read thru when Connor showed us all where the bar was. We knew then where we had to be to make this play special. In fact, in all the shows I've done (hundreds), there have been a handful of first reads that floored me. The first was when I did "Man of La Mancha" at Pepperdine, and John Raitt gave a virtual master class of a first rehearsal. The second time was when I was doing "The Misanthrope" with New American at The Odyssey, and Adam Paul played Oronte and his first read of the HOPE poem had me in tears. The third time was a few weeks ago when Connor gave us Schmendiman. And even though I'm the old guy in the dressing room, they make me feel like one of the kids. And I really love them. And I'm so excited to see how they will all grow as they progress through their careers. If I could, I would buy stock in all of them.
Of course the play is about Picasso and Einstein (in my bar). Andrew (Picasso) has this one moment onstage that is so perfect I can almost not help but laugh every night. When he meets (or rather, thinks he meets Suzanne), he does this half-bull, half tango dancer move that is glorious! He's charming and talented, and can eat more rice crispy treats than ten men. Richie (Einstein) is one of those people you run across once a blue moon who is good at everything. Like better at most things than you are at the one thing you're really good at. It would be annoying if he weren't so kind and smart and wonderful. Aside from being a great actor, he can play virtually every instrument, composes music, and I think he may churn his own butter? I don't know. But I do love acting with him.
Finally, there is the lovely and talented Kimberly who plays three roles in the show. Aside from her ability to make quick changes like a champ, Kim has created three delightfully different characters. And she's fun to play with. She's one of those actors who is very present onstage. Always alive and available. I find myself talking to her a lot in the show because she's a great listener. She also is responsible for at least 75% of the inappropriate jokes that happened in a rehearsal.
I will also really miss our dear stage manager, Diane. OMG. I can't even tell you how awesome this woman is. She makes her own Limonciello. It is delicious and deadly. She's on top of everything and brings us baked goods. It's like having Mary Poppins looking out for you. (If Mary Poppins gave you a lot more than a spoonful of sugar). She is the greatest!
And the crew is awesome. I really wish we had a longer run so I could get to know them better. Ian designed the props and was so sweet and supportive. And of course, Orestes and Chris brought us all together and gave us the freedom to make the Lapin Agile our own.
It's been a fun one. Over way too soon. But I've made some forever-people which is all you can really ask of any venture in this crazy business.
This week we close.
I'm already sad, even though we still have two more performances. I really have grown... in a very short time... very fond of this group of people.
I've already sung the praises of Trisha and Rich. But not deeply enough. Being onstage with them is literally like being safe at home with family. And so the Lapin Agile is a very warm and homey place in our version. People have responded to our clear love of one another. It was really a stroke of luck that the three of us would be cast in this together. Because you can't fake chemistry. And you can't build real history in two weeks.
The Norris Theater is a lovely space. It's fun to do a show with great production values again. Along with that space comes lots of dressing rooms. But instead of camping out in one of my own, I camped out with my boys: Connor, Adrian, and Bryan. I feel like a kid again! Great dressing room mates are rare, and our dressing room is clearly the best! (suck it the rest of you). Also, they are killing it in the show. Bryan plays "the Visitor," spoiler alert: He's Elvis. He melts hearts nightly, and just about every line he says gets a laugh. Impressive. Adrian plays the flamboyant art dealer, Sagot. The rich tapestry of the Lapin Agile is populated with fun characters, and Adrian brings such joy and fun onto the stage. And then Connor comes onstage like a whirlwind as Schmendiman. I honestly didn't know how good a part that was until the first read thru when Connor showed us all where the bar was. We knew then where we had to be to make this play special. In fact, in all the shows I've done (hundreds), there have been a handful of first reads that floored me. The first was when I did "Man of La Mancha" at Pepperdine, and John Raitt gave a virtual master class of a first rehearsal. The second time was when I was doing "The Misanthrope" with New American at The Odyssey, and Adam Paul played Oronte and his first read of the HOPE poem had me in tears. The third time was a few weeks ago when Connor gave us Schmendiman. And even though I'm the old guy in the dressing room, they make me feel like one of the kids. And I really love them. And I'm so excited to see how they will all grow as they progress through their careers. If I could, I would buy stock in all of them.
Of course the play is about Picasso and Einstein (in my bar). Andrew (Picasso) has this one moment onstage that is so perfect I can almost not help but laugh every night. When he meets (or rather, thinks he meets Suzanne), he does this half-bull, half tango dancer move that is glorious! He's charming and talented, and can eat more rice crispy treats than ten men. Richie (Einstein) is one of those people you run across once a blue moon who is good at everything. Like better at most things than you are at the one thing you're really good at. It would be annoying if he weren't so kind and smart and wonderful. Aside from being a great actor, he can play virtually every instrument, composes music, and I think he may churn his own butter? I don't know. But I do love acting with him.
Finally, there is the lovely and talented Kimberly who plays three roles in the show. Aside from her ability to make quick changes like a champ, Kim has created three delightfully different characters. And she's fun to play with. She's one of those actors who is very present onstage. Always alive and available. I find myself talking to her a lot in the show because she's a great listener. She also is responsible for at least 75% of the inappropriate jokes that happened in a rehearsal.
I will also really miss our dear stage manager, Diane. OMG. I can't even tell you how awesome this woman is. She makes her own Limonciello. It is delicious and deadly. She's on top of everything and brings us baked goods. It's like having Mary Poppins looking out for you. (If Mary Poppins gave you a lot more than a spoonful of sugar). She is the greatest!
And the crew is awesome. I really wish we had a longer run so I could get to know them better. Ian designed the props and was so sweet and supportive. And of course, Orestes and Chris brought us all together and gave us the freedom to make the Lapin Agile our own.
It's been a fun one. Over way too soon. But I've made some forever-people which is all you can really ask of any venture in this crazy business.
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