The Moments That Take Our Breath Away

It is a well known fact to anyone who knows me or reads this blog that I am passionate about acting. I cannot remember wanting to be anything else when I was growing up. I have been blessed to have had a fairly consistent side career as an actress for the past 38 years. I have never really addressed my philosophy or my particular style of acting before in this blog, but something happened to me last week that inspired me to share in this post. 

I have never had any formal training as an actor beyond high school drama classes and the experience I have gained under the mentoring of some fabulous directors over the years. I never studied Stanislavski or Adler. I am not "method", the classic "What's my motivation?" style. If I had to name my style, it would be "in the moment" I try, when I am onstage, to be "in the moment" always! Acting is pretending, pretending to be someone else, somewhere else. I think about my character. Who is she? What does she like? How does she sound? How would she feel? in this moment. By being in that moment, every action and sometimes, more importantly, reaction are consistent and real. If I create that real moment, then the audience isn't watching me act, they are experiencing that moment with me. I have created a world, and I have invited them into it. The more real the world is for me, the more they feel they are a part of it. 

Right now, I am playing the part of an adoring fan, Louise Seger, in Barksdale Hanover Tavern's "Always, Patsy Cline" This role is nothing but moments because except for a very few lines to "Patsy" and the band members, everything I say is directed to the audience. It needs to be real or I am sure the audience would soon bore of the long conversations I have with them. The character of "Louise" creates a world for the audience out of her memories of her friendship with Patsy Cline. She makes it quite clear how enamoured she is with Patsy and her music. At the end of the show, Louise shares with the audience the moment when she heard the news that Patsy Cline had died in a airplane crash. It is a sweet, tender moment. Most of Louise's lines in the show are fun and illicit laughter. This particular time is a side that the audience has not been allowed to see of Louise.

Barksdale Hanover Tavern is an extremely intimate theater. This plays well for this kind of show. In this particular production, after my "Louise" shares this news with the audience, I have been directed to step off of the stage and in the aisle as we all look at a solo mic, spotlighted in the center of the stage, and listen to the last notes of "How Great Thou Art". Last week as I stepped off of the stage and into the aisle, as I stood there in the dark of the theater, I felt the hand of the woman sitting in the front row on the aisle slip into mine and give it a gentle squeeze as if to say, "It's all right, Louise. I miss Patsy too. It's okay to be sad. I'm here with you." She held my hand until it was time for me to step back up on the stage. In all my years of acting, I have had many moments. I have never experienced one quite like that. It was so special to me, and one I am sure I will not soon forget. It reminds me, once again, why I do this, why I have always wanted to do this, and why I will continue to do this as long as my mind and body will let me. 

48...gonna be great!!!

Yesterday, I turned 48. I am 2 years away from the big 50, but the funny thing is, I don't feel old. In fact, I feel better on this birthday than I have in years! I am happier, and one of the biggest reasons for that is I'm healthier. I am 45 lbs. lighter than I was on my last birthday, and I can't believe the difference in the way it makes me feel on a daily basis. My lighter self is not the only reason I feel like this birthday is the beginning of a wonderful journey. I have 2 of the most wonderful daughters that anyone could ever ask for. They love me, and I love them so very much. I am so blessed to have them in my life! I am living on my own in a house that's all my own to decorate as I please. I am also having an amazing time directing for the first time with a fabulous group of students at Tucker High School, my alma mater. It feels surreal to stand in that auditorium watching these high school students and their excitement as they create on the very same stage that I stood on 30 years ago. I am so proud and can't wait to see these young actors and actresses in the show on opening night! Something else has happened in the last week that is another step on my "new life, new me" journey. Those of you who know me, know that if I had my wish, I would be acting full time. I was bitten by the acting bug 38 years ago. Because of a whole set of circumstances, I have not been on the stage in a year and a half. It's like a piece of me goes missing the longer I go without doing a show. Back on October 1st I went to Barksdale and Theatre IV's open call for their entire season, but the show I was really interested in was "Always, Patsy Cline." This show drew my attention especially, for two reasons. One was the fact that it was being directed by someone that I admire greatly, Joe Pabst. Joe and I have worked together many times, and I really wanted the chance to work with him again. The second reason was that I would get to share the stage with a stellar actress and an awesome singer, Debra Wagoner. I got a callback two weeks ago, and last week I got a call offering me the part of "Louise" I am thrilled! I cannot wait to start rehearsing and to set foot on the stage again in such wonderful company! So...48? Old? Not a chance! I feel like my life is just beginning!

A Guest at Norman's Summer Home

This past Saturday, I was treated to an afternoon at the theater by my sister. She had won tickets to "On Golden Pond" at Barksdale's Hanover Tavern on Facebook. I had been wanting to see this show since its opening, so I was a happy camper, or should I say happy pond tourist? I loved this movie back in 1981, but I had never seen the play. It was delightful, especially watching the back and forth between Ethel, played by Kelly Kennedy and Norman, played by Joe Inscoe, but this play is not about a summer's stay on Golden Pond. It is about Norman Thayer and everyone's relationship with him, his long and loving relationship with his wife, Ethel. His brief, awkward encounter with his soon-to-be son-in-law, Bill Ray (played wonderfully by Andy Boothby), the new bonding relationship he builds with soon-to-be grandson Billy Ray ( a role you could tell Eric Pastore had a wonderful time playing) and his strained relationship with his daughter, Chelsea. Considering the play revolves around Norman, he has to be played by a POWERHOUSE of an actor. Joe Inscoe is that and so much more! I had the honor and privilege of working with Joe this past December in "A Christmas Carol" with Theatre IV. Eventhough he and I have been in Richmond Theatre for a lot of the same years, this was the first opportunity I had gotten to work with him. Joe was our Scrooge, and he was amazing!!!!! I found myself standing in the wings many times just watching him work. Cedric Hardwicke said, “When [actors] are talking, they are servants of the dramatist. It is what they can show the audience when they are not talking that reveals the fine actor.” If there was ever a quote to describe Joe Inscoe as an actor that would be it. When you watch Joe on stage, you never think, "He's acting." He never looks like he's "acting". You feel like your watching this person's life, that you have been invited in to look through that 4th wall to glimpse a piece of the everyday of whichever character he happens to be playing. Last Saturday, I happened to be invited into the world of Norman Thayer, and I found myself wishing I were older so I could trade places with Kelly Kennedy just once to play Ethel. If you can't tell, I'm a big Joe Inscoe fan, and Richmond Theatre is lucky to have him. Henry Fonda won an Oscar for his portrayal of Norman back in 1981. I sure hope we'll be hearing, "And the RTCC award for Best Actor goes to Joe Inscoe." It plays at Hanover Tavern through August 28th. From what I've heard, most performances are sold out, but you owe it to yourself to call just in case a seat has opened up.