good news.bad news

[gilana]

So I went to the callbacks last night. I was, of course, painfully nervous going in, but as soon as I had anything to actually do that went away. They asked me to read for one play, and I felt pretty good about how that went. I had managed to get a copy of the plays overnighted from Bunns and Noodle, so I had a better idea of what they were all about. There was one play that I really connected with, and they were reading for that when I came down from the other one. They had a bunch of people read a scene, and no one was doing it the way I heard it in my head. And I had this incredibly strong feeling that I just wanted to hear it my way, once, and live through it myself. So I asked if I could read for it. They agreed, and I was lucky enough to get lillibet's talented husband as a scene partner, and I got to do it my way. It was great; I really didn't care if it was any good, or if it was what the director wanted, I just needed to do it and I did it. I honestly didn't care if I got the part after that, I just needed to do it once and let it out.

Anyway, got up this morning and checked my email and I have, in fact, been offered a part. It's a part in the first play I read for, but it's not the part I read. It's a small part, which is fine -- in fact good, since I've been a little worried about handling a big one, although I suspect that's just me not giving myself enough credit again. But it's the part of Trotsky's Spanish gardener, Ramon. And I don't have a clue how to play it, I don't have any emotional resonance with it, and I'm not sure I can do a Spanish accent. I'll probably take the part, 'cause hey, it's a part, and a chance to try out this acting thing. And presumably the director will let have some clues and, you know, direct me. But I'd love to know why she cast me as that. Did she think I couldn't handle a larger role? Or did she think I'm good enough to make something of a small one? (Yeah, yeah, me me me. I'm sure there was just someone else that suited her vision of Mrs Trotsky better, which is fine. But I was good at that part, and I have no idea how I'll be for this one, and I'm nervous.)

Comments

[miss-chance.livejournal.com]

First off, congratulations for getting the part! And for stepping up and asking to read the part you wanted. It's funny to me, these days, reading your journal and reading how you have to go through a process of allowing yourself to try something that you're afraid of, or speaking out when you're not sure. It's funny because I've known you for long enough now that I've seen you evolve from a person who really didn't have a lot of confidence toward a person with a lot of self-confidence, but who still has to remind herself of that. :-) Given everything I've seen you step up to the plate and take on in the past few years, I think you're probably the only one surprised now when you do it again. (But certainly _not_ the only one impressed!!)

As for which part you got- there's one observation I remember being surprised by back in my TRME days, watching the audition/casting process. It really made an impact to me to realize that directors don't cast rolls, they cast shows. They can see someone read for a part and think A will make a terrific Z, but if they're looking at a bunch of actors, suddenly A would make a terrific Z in isolation, but not as good a Z to B's Y; and if there are four parts to cast, then the balance has to work. I've even seen directors not cast the strongest player because they were so much stronger than everyone else it made the show look shabby, where as with a weaker player the show had a consistency. I'm not saying that to slander your fellow players in any way—I'm sure they're all fine actors—but just to illustrate a funny way in which casting turned out to be less about the individual actors and rolls than I expected.

Mazol Tov! Looking forward to seeing your show.

[gilana]

I think I've evolved from a person who really didn't have a lot of confidence toward a person who can act like she has a lot of self-confidence :) But you know, that's one of those things that if you fake it long enough, it comes true. Anyway, glad to hear I've been faking it so well, and thanks for the vote of confidence!

[miss-chance.livejournal.com]

Which part in which play, BTW?

[gilana]

The part is Ramon in Variations on the Death of Trotsky.

[lillibet.livejournal.com]

Rachel makes a very good point about the balance. It has also been very interesting for me to watch six other people cast shows out of one set of auditions--they've made some very surprising and interesting choices and from their decisions and comments that have been made, it's clear that in many cases they are picking up on different things than I was seeing and have very different senses of what works, who's good, etc. So, as with so many other things, it's a matter of taste. Also, we had a remarkably large group of very talented actors audition for this and the decisions were tough. As we went over the list of actors not cast there were several where people said "that's too bad--[that actor] was really good, very castable", but they just weren't anyone's top choice. I really hope they'll turn out again for my Murder auditions in a few months.

Anyway...congratulations. I'm very psyched that you're going to be part of this!

[gilana]

It seemed like a great group of people at the auditions; I can't wait to find out who's playing what. I just hope I get to know more than just the people in Trotsky. Should be fun!

[gilana]

Hey, what's Jason's email address? I want to know what he'll be playing!

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

My roomie told me that Jason is playing Don in "Universal Language." I think he'll be fantastic in that role. I had a blast reading with him for "Sure Thing," but in the end I like the roles they gave us best. :-)

[dpolicar]

Congratulations!
Incidentally, it amuses me that not having a Spanish accent strikes you as problematic, but not being male doesn't merit a comment. I understand why, but it is kinda funny.

[gilana]

Yeah, well, there's not much I can do about the male part (or would be willing to do, I suppose). I did think that was odd as well, but I suppose the director did that for a reason. Besides, don't you think I'd look good with a big droopy mustache?

[dpolicar]

don't you think I'd look good with a big droopy mustache?
Startlingly, yes.

It's not that surprising

[melissaagray.livejournal.com]

It'd not that suprising as gender switching non-central roles is pretty standard fair in most theater productions....so long as the character's gender does not effect the plot. I've been in many theater groups where we lacked a critical mass of men, so any roles that did not require a man in the part were always switched to girls. Ramon became Rachel or Ramona and that was the end of that.

BTW, the characters ethnicity may also not be plot or humor related, and thus be able to be ignored. If there's a reason the gardner needs to be Spanish, you can learn the accent....if the only thing that matters is thta he's a gardner, I'd forgo the accent to conentrate on the acting.

Re: It's not that surprising

[lillibet.livejournal.com]

Interestingly, if everyone accepts the parts they've been offered, all three roles in that play will be performed by women, including Trotsky. There's another play in the set that's also going to be two women, instead of one man and one woman, and it's a pick-up scene, so I'm particularly fascinated to see how that one works. The other four plays are all cast as written.

I think the thing that's most interesting to me is that this is not the result of a lack of male actors--we had more than enough to fill all the male roles, but the directors went with what they thought worked best. I'm really pleased that we were able to give them that choice.

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

Congratulations! Take the role! I guarentee you will have a great time and learn a lot at the same time. I just found out last night that I got cast, too. I'm in "Philip Glass Buys A Loaf of Bread." I'm really looking forward to being in a show with you!

In the last T&F show, I played a male character. Actually, 6 of us women played men and boys. (Don't know if you saw "Rosencrantz & Guildenstern," but that was us in the painted-on beards). It's a fun challenge, learning to walk and move like a male. We (actually, I) bitched miserably about the beards, but we had a blast once we nixed the attempts to bind down our boobs. :-)

[gilana]

Thanks! I've already accepted and am starting to get myself psyched up (as opposed to psyched out!). I can't wait to see Philip Glass, I can't imagine how that one works. I'd love to learn to walk like a male; a trans friend tried to teach me once but failed miserably. I'm actually hoping I get to wear a big mustache; I think that would be hysterical. And assuming the director follows the stage instructions, I get to wear a serape, so boobs shouldn't be an issue :)

I'm so glad you'll be in it too, this way we'll HAVE to meet eventually!

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

Absolutely! I think T@F is destined to be known as the Drag King theatre. Here's some backstage pix of the last show. I'm sure you're going to be a much hotter dude than we were. :-)

R&G Backstage

[rmd.livejournal.com]

And I don't have a clue how to play it

i think that's part of the director's job, providing that ... um... direction. :-)

congrats!

[emerlion.livejournal.com]

wow, here's that motorcycle again, in another of my friend's journals...

Who are you? I must know.

And Gilly: Yay on the part! What's the date for the play? And don't worry about the Spanish: It's just like Yiddish, but with an accent.

:-)

[rmd.livejournal.com]

wow, here's that motorcycle again, in another of my friend's journals...

Who are you? I must know.

i'm regis, a friend of gilana's from boston, who lived out in seattle for a while, which is how i know firni.

there are a couple of other people we've got in common on our friends lists, but i have no clue if i know you.

[emerlion.livejournal.com]

How bizarre. I know Gilly from when I lived in Boston, and Firni I picked up on LJ completely randomly.

Your name doesn't ring any bells, though, but I wouldn't be surprised if we met at some party or other.

[gilana]

The funny thing is, I took Spanish in high school, so I know I can speak Spanish with a Spanish accent; it's speaking *English* with a Spanish accent that I'm not so sure about. But I'm not going to worry about it yet; for all I know the director *wants* a Yiddish accent! :)