And Another Thing.....

Saturday night I said good-bye to someone very dear to me. We met last summer, and over the past 8 months we have become very close. I knew when we started the relationship it would be brief, that it would end far sooner than I wanted it to, but I got into it anyway. I first met her last summer when I read about her. She sounded like the kind of person who would be really interesting. We didn't really meet face to face until about a month later, and I loved her instantly. She was sassy and funny and sweet, and I adored her. In December we started meeting for weekly get togethers, and by January we saw each other almost every day until last Saturday when I knew she had to leave and their was nothing I could do about it. I even told myself she was staying one more day just so I could make it through her exit out of my life. I am talking about Della Brady, the character I just finished playing at Richmond Triangle Players in The Cake. I have been acting for over 46 years, and I have never played anyone I knew any better than Della. A large part of the credit for that goes to an amazing director, Dawn Westbrook. Dawn started out with a tremendous confidence in my ability to play the role. She let me grow and explore and go places I've never been before as an actor, and I'm sure my performance would not have been what it was without her push and guidance, and I mean that as a good thing! An actor, unless they are in a one-woman show, plays off of each cast member, and I had some of the best starting with a lovely man I have known for years, Gordon Bass. Gordon played my husband, Tim, and from the first time we read together in auditions, it was as comfortable as if we had been married for years. We just fit, and I don't know of anyone I would have trusted more for where our scenes took us. What a joy to look into those soulful eyes each night. To quote Della, "and I thanked God because I ...had you." My antagonist was a beautiful (inside and out) actress named Zakiyyah Jackson. Our characters' relationship was a difficult one, but I couldn't have been the Della I was without her. I never enjoyed arguing with anyone more! Watch out Richmond! You're going to be seeing a lot more of this talented lady! Last, but not least, Nicole Morris-Anastasi played Jen, the "like a daughter to me" character. I have known Nicole for several years. I watched her blossom and grow in this part, and she should be very proud of what she put on that stage each night. It was hardest to keep it together when I had to say good-bye to her in our final scene. Bravo, lady!!! We also had a kick-ass crew led by stage manager, Lauren Langston, who never missed ANYTHING!!! Thanks to Darren for literally taking all the "crap" I handed him and Nora, well, you know I could not have been successful without you! Top it all off being in my beautiful bakery designed by David Ballas to make things just right. Shows, especially good ones, and this was a really good show, not just my opinion, read the reviews, are made up of a lot of different people working very hard. Add to that a wonderful, loving supportive theater with amazing people at the helm, Philip Crosby and Lucian Restivo,  and you can't miss. I have never been prouder of anything I have ever done on stage. If I never had the opportunity to act again, I am glad I went out on this one! Goodbye Della. I will miss you and The Cake, but not the cake. Pie anyone?

Where Do We Go From Here?

Me with the lovely Lynn West

It was a hot July night, and sweaty and covered in dust I walked into the building. My hair was falling down around my face, and I can still remember what I was wearing, a navy sleeveless 1 piece culotte outfit that zipped up the front with a red, swiss-dotted applique of a mushroom on the leg. I had been to the circus that day at the Fairgrounds, now known as the Richmond International Raceway. The circus visit was not the special thing that was happening on July 25, 1974. The building I entered was Swift Creek Mill Playhouse, and it was opening night of my very first professional show, The Music Man. I don't remember much else about that night except that I had missed the memo on dressing up for opening night. In those days everyone "dressed" to go to the theater, but there I was in my dirty circus soiled clothes at the opening night party. I didn't think much of it then, but I guess it left an impression if I still recall it 45 years later. The opening night was obviously not that important to me. Being in the show was! You could say this is when I began this journey of being an actress, but it started way before age 10. The earliest recollection I have of being in front of an audience would be age 3. My parents took me and my sister to some mountain resort, and we were waiting by the hostess stand for a table. There was a man playing guitar, the restaurant's live music for the evening, and he asked, "Does anyone know how to hula dance?" I walked right through the crowd and up on stage to hula. My sister, 5 at the time, was mortified. I've never had a problem being in front of people. I was always "acting up" for my parents, especially my daddy. I was lip-syncing way before it was a national pastime! I used to put on the 45 of Vicki Lawrence's  The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia and play it at 78 speed and mouth the words for my dad, and he would laugh and laugh. Translation for those who have no idea what I am talking about: A 45 is a small, vinyl record that contains a single song. If you play it on a turntable at 78 it revolves very quickly, and it makes the singer sound like they are on permanent helium. The Music Man, however was my first "professional" show. I was paid to perform. I got paid $5.00 per show, and we did 4 shows a week. $20.00 a week was big doings for a 10 year old, but I didn't care about that. I loved doing the show! I haven't really stopped acting since then. It hasn't always been a paid gig, but I have loved every minute of it! I met my ex-husband doing a show. If it were not for the theatre, I would not have my 2 amazing daughters. The theatre has blessed me in so many ways! I am 55 now, closer to 56, and roles are not as readily available for my age. Recently I told my daughter, " I'm past wanting anything. I'm never going to make my living as an actress, and I'm okay with that." God had something different in mind. Earlier this year I found out that I get to reprise my role of "Louise" in Always, Patsy Cline at VaRep, and just recently I was cast in what I think will be one of the most challenging roles of my career with Richmond Triangle Players. This old girl's not done yet! With any luck, I never will be.

The Best of Times

Last night I saw a production of "La Cage aux Folles" at Richmond Triangle Players. Go see it before it closes in June. You will not be disappointed! But this is not going to be a post/review about this production. Not to say that I didn't have a great time, I did! I laughed and cried a little, and even got the chance to sing along, but obviously this production affected me on a different level. I spent most of last evening dreaming I was in "La Cage", not the production, the world. I don't remember any specifics just that my everyday life was being spent with Georges, Albin and the Cagelles, and it felt real, and right and natural! When I woke up this morning it got me to thinking. What a wonderful world to live in! The show begins with several chorus "girls" (really men in drag) singing these words, "We are what we are" filled with the witty little lines of the hes becoming shes. It's a fun little number and a great way to start the show, but the same fun little number, later in the show, turns into a grand statement of pride and affirmation when Albin as his stage persona, Zaza, sings his true feelings when he realizes that his true love Georges and the son they raised together, Jean Michel, want to hide him away because of "what he is" It's an emotional moment because up until that hurtful realization Georges' and Albin's world has been free from that reproach and judgement. They have raised a son together as man and wife, married, committed and creating an environment loving their son and each other. Obviously, my subconscious longs to be in that judgement free world. RTP (Richmond Triangle Players) creates that world in their little theater on Altamont Avenue for anyone who walks through their doors. The audience last night was dotted with couples, gay and straight, old and young, men and women. An older male couple sat in front of me and several times during the show they reached over and touched each other with affection. It was so sweet, and later in the lobby when the show was over and the cast was mingling with the patrons, straight and gay alike, it felt like home. No one was casting condemning glances or making belittling comments. In our little world inside that theater we were in the world of "La Cage," and I liked that world. So thank you, RTP and the cast of "La Cage" for creating that world for me for a few hours on a Friday night, and thank you for all you do to extend that world past your doors!