Philia’s Dream Garden

(c) 2007 Dave Hunt, University of Mary Washington

So I look back on my experience in Forum and I have mixed feelings. There are many things that I miss about the show and many things that I am glad to be done with. I feel like I have way too much time on my hands now! Haha (I know that’s a good thing)

There are some really important things that I learned about acting though this process. Comedy has never really been my forte. I was not born with that comedic timing gene that some are gifted with. But one of the things that sticks out the most to me during the process was the idea of the set up and the deliver (I like to call it). Although some would say that my character is minor in comparison to most of the male characters in the show, I found that I was being mentioned all the time even though I was nowhere to be found (more then likely I was in the garden ?). And a lot of the jokes that were told depended on my character setting up the joke so that they could then run with it. For example, the joke during the Philia/Senex take me scene is made funny by the fact that my characters declaration that her heart is out of reach allows for then Senex to come in with a witty remark about how he could care less that he couldn’t have my heart. But without my character setting that up there is no joke to be made. Again that is seen over and over with the counting joke. Pseudolus is only as funny as the other characters around him give him stuff to make fun of. This show more the any other one really made me understand how codependent we are on one another as actors.

There were so many times when I understood how Gregg felt when he always tells us that he can only work with what we give him, he can’t force things out of people. This show made me want to give more then any other show has. But the problem is that I feel like I failed often at the one thing that I wanted to do more then anything else. I definately believe that this was by far the show the I have put the most work, care, and effort in yet I’m not satisfied. When I look back I wish that during the rehearsal process I had given more for the director to see so that he would have had more options to work with and possibly use in the show. But I’m not beating myself down, because I am still happy with how far that I have come. I just know that my journey is nowhere near where it will hopefully continue to go. Sickness seems to be a plague when it comes to musicals and me. And this hindered my abilities greatly in being able to perform at my highest, and I can honestly say that I hide behind my music to save me if my acting is sub par. But because I was sick and couldn’t half sing most of the time, this show forced me to put more into the acting part during the run of the show. I really began to focus on how important the initial entrance of your character is, and making an impression. Overall I was just thoroughly school on so much during this show. I almost with that we had another weeks go at it, because I think that every character mine the most had more things to explore.

Oh my goodness did I turn into a blonde during this process. I may not physically be a blonde but in the stereotypical sense I was times twenty. And I just found it to be really interesting, because it really helped at times for me when I was sick and didn’t feel like going out and playing Philia, to connect despite. I believe that my being physically forgetful as a person helped my character greatly being believable when she would completely forget things or be stupid.

This show, even though it was not set out to do, taught me patience greater and how to deal with lost of people and their personalities. I’ve always thought myself to be level headed in most situations, but I can defiantly think of many times during this process that I was ready to snap. And when I coupled that with me stressing over all of the things that I had to do, (and more then likely was only half accomplishing) I thought that l couldn’t handle it anymore. But in the end not only did I end up getting almost all of it done, but I didn’t make myself sick over it like I usually did.

I really do love to perform and only hope that in the professional world I can make it. And because of all of the shows that I’ve been in here at the school and everything I have been taught really see that the only way that this is going to happen is to just abandon self consciousness and leave it all on the table. The most you can do is make a fool of yourself, but who doesn’t make a fool of yourself everyday. I know I do all the time.

(c)2007 Dave Hunt, University of Mary Washington

Ok, so here’s the lowdown on the last two performances we had of Forum! On Saturday I have to say that the run went really well. We sold out so that immediately pumped the cast up and we were all really excited to perform because a larger audience usually means a larger response. Which is exactly what happened! There was a large group of high school students that came so they especially responsive to stuff like soulja boy that the older generation is especially a tuned to. And what’s funny is that a lot of things went very wrong that night but every time something went crazy the audience just ate it up. I also felt that my voice was a lot stronger then it had been the last 4 performance, which was a big plus. Then today although the audience in the beginning was very blah they slowly warmed up to us and I think that they really liked the performance. I was very pleased with my voice today. I only wish that I could have had a few more performances to continue and see my voice and character grow. Despite the audience lack of enthusiasm in the first act in the first act I was really happy with my scenes overall. I am really with the way that we went out and think that we ended with a bang.

(C) 2007 Dave Hunt, University of Mary Washington

Ok so Thursday our performance was Fabulous! The audience was very receptive and seemed to really like the characters and story. Which for me was very interesting cause usually on Thursday the show is a little rocky cause we have had a few days off and there for are rusty. But on the contrary the cast was pumped and we had our largest audience who was totally into the show, so it just pumped us up! Which for me is really odd cause I thought that I sounded like a frog and sucked. Over the three-day break I was trying to fight a cold that seemed to spring up on me out of nowhere Ugh, so I was definitely not at my peak but the audience nonetheless was oblivious to the fact. But then just like black and white Friday sucked balls! The audience was not responding and we all seemed to be lagging in energy. Then ahhh even though we though all the mike stuff was sorted out… to no avail my mike went out (or more so somehow the cord got pulled out probably me and I had to sing my song without a mike!!!!!!) well it was a crappy performance I think but whatever its over. So all I can do is hope and pray that our next performance it better

(c)2007 Dave Hunt, University of Mary Washington

I just have to start of this blog by saying that the audience was blissfully unaware of all the crazy things happening on Sunday and the fact that we were like twice as long as other nights. They seemed to be perfectly content and happy! Yay, which means that we did our jobs despite our failings. So anywhoo to actually get into the performance, which I must point off I have had two days off from, but was oh so necessary if we wanted the show to be anything. On Sunday I GOT A COLD! Ugh I really don’t know how I got through the show cause I could barely breath half the time. When I wasn’t on stage I would jump up and down in the dressing room cause that’s the only thing that would open my nasal passages so that I could breath haha. I just pray to god that my voice didn’t sound Horrible even though David kept saying I sounded like a frog. Also despite the fact that I told Landon that I was really sick and I didn’t want him to get what I had, he was especially slobbery on Sunday. If you get sick boy it wont be cause I didn’t warn you! I have to admit my mind was so consumed by sickness, that I had to force myself to focus every time before I would come on stage. Usually it isn’t hard at all, but when your mind is consumed with something else let alone in the middle of a performance, it’s just not a good sign.

Well besides my sickness, the monitors blew out mid performance so that the band couldn’t hear the actors when they sang and the poor Asm’s and Sm were forced to hold their mikes out in hopes that it would produce enough sound for them to follow us. Then David’s mike blew in the middle of the second act and he had to sing his song acapella (And very well I might add When his mike blew out it made a loud farting sound, which he and Fritz played off beautifully on stage. Although backstage we all were baffled why all of a sudden everyone was laughing then; later on they explained that they played it off as a fart. I really have to get well by Thursday cause I would like to finish out the week with a bang and in my current condition I don’t know if that will happen. I have one more day to try and get it together. I also want to work with the whole blackatude cause no one finds it funny anymore and I wonder if its the way that I’m playing it, people are just way to culturally sensitive, or it’s not reading to the audience. I don’t know, but I don’t like it! Haha. Ooo also I really need to play up more the gravity of the bag, I feel that humor is being lost from the prop because people aren’t seeing how freaking huge this bag is. Uhh I just am not happy with the way that the week went so I want to really try and be more engaged all the time, find the subtle humor, and Make sure that Philia is more then one dimensional. It will happen I know!!!

 (c)2007 Dave Hunt, University of Mary Washington

Well, I don’t know where everyone’s mind was tonight but I don’t think for the first half it was on the show, myself included. Which is really unfortunate cause that was the night that all of our parents came, literally all of our. It’s funny cause at the end when I talked to the my parents they really enjoyed the show, yet they never laughed or seemed to be that interested in what we were doing. Luckily in the second act the livened up and seemed to be more interested, I also think that we got more into it. I don’t know what it was but we let the audience get to us. It was so bad the Sam had to come down at intermission and give us a pep talk. We honestly let the fact that the audience was so sparing in its laughter get to us and cause us to push at things and not be natural in our roles like we had been before. At the end of the show we got a large applause, which was so confusing because no one thought that the show went well. I also don’t think that it helped that all of the cast was still hung over from the cast party the night before. My voice to me was just not on par. It may have sounded ok, but I just feel like it was not in any way at the level that it had been the nights before. Well at least that night is over and we can hopefully redeem ourselved tomorrow and next week.

So I found out last night that the audience was very racially conservative. For the last few performance of the show, every time when I am in the window again in “that’ll show him” when I show a bit of black-a-tude the audience responds very favorably. Last night though, the minute I started that bit they just died. It’s really funny the found the scene with Hero and I to be very funny and laughed but they would not give on the whole black thing. It also hit me down in the dressing room that some people might have a problem with the fact that I’m black and Andrew is white. Huh how bout them apples, Very clever Gregg, very clever. Again I think that it is so interesting how an audience can change so much from night to night. This audience was very selective in what I found funny and what was not. And when it didn’t find anything funny they were dead silent. Which for the actors, although it isn’t the right choice always, causes them to start pushing and working harder at making the material attainable to the audience. Overall I felt that my voice was at one of its strongest yesterday. I find and I wonder about my other cast-mates whether they think that the little 10 Min’s of vocal work that we do with Chris is enough. Cause I know for me that it is definitely not. He only touches of the surface of our vocal warm ups, but other then David I never see anyone else going to warm their voice more. Well whatever as long as they sound good I guess. But to wrap it all up, the audience was a dud but once they got going they grew into a very nice audience. It just took pulling a few teeth to get them there.

(c)2007 Dave Hunt, University of Mary Washington

Yay the night went really well, and the audience was awesome! Although Emma was in the audience and cackled like a donkey haha. But I must admit that I felt really good and bad at the same time. To be completely honest I think IDR was a better run for me or at least I felt more engaged in the character. For opening the good was that I felt that my voice was warmed up a lot and it sounded good, but as far as being one hundred percent engaged I can’t say that I felt completely there. Afterward everyone seemed really excited and responded well to the performance. But one of my friends made a comment to me that my performance reminded her of Nunsense, and I have to be honest that I got a little mad after I thought about it. When I look back to my days in Nunsence I remember flying by the seat of my pants and not knowing what the heck I was doing ever. With this show, yes I can see how the characters are the same because in many ways they are. But I feel so much more prepared and alert and just plain knowledgeable about stuff. I’ve opened up a lot and am not so afraid as I used to be to make choices. Though the characters may seem the same, the actor is definitely not! I don’t know why I feel the need to say that, but I really believe. After doing this role I’m ready to try even more roles that will challenge me and cause me to make bigger decisions and place on different faces. But haha back to opening night, it went very well, although there were times when the show slowed down. (David I must say seemed to be on his A game, and I just wanted to send him a big hug via internet) OOooo and I got the line where I say that I don’t know how long I’ve had the ring finally last night.

 (C)2007 Dave Hunt, University of Mary Washington

SOOOO our dress went FABU! Or at least I was really pleased with my performance. I really felt like everything flowed really well for the first time. But now I don’t want to get to comfortable cause I felt so well. Also the window thing went really well, the audience received it really well. And the bag which I at first hated cause I was like how the heck am I supposed to control this massive bag. But again yesterday Gregg was really pleased the bag and thought that everything was progressing well with the bag. I’m not sure if I like at the end of the play how the line “Are these many geese a gaggle” is going. I asked Gregg at the end and he said that to him it sounded fine, but I’m not sure if I really like it. Maybe I’ll play with it or not haha. I really hope everything goes well tonight it’s our first run… and I’m nervous but not. I think that at this point we’ve done this play so much that I can only be so nervous. AHHHH ok that my breakdown for the day. OHHH and one really cool thing is that I gave Andrew a tip yesterday and he took it and then a the end of rehearsal Gregg was like he had never heard his voice sound as lovely as he did. YAY the last thing that I want to work on is the end of the play at the chase scene, cause I feel like the play at the end tends to die during the chase. It just slows down too much, but I think that today we can speed it up some and keep the energy up. Oi, I’m just rambling right now so till after the run! EEEEEEE I won the Order of the Courtesan!! I didn’t even think that it was possible… ha

So, yesterday our run in my opinion went horrible, I had no energy and I just felt like everything that I did fell flat. More then likely the show went fine and everything looked like it usually does. But personally I just did not feel on point. Also we changed some of the wig blocking so that now I wear the wig the first time that I am seen in the window, and the night before everything had gone so well because I finally figured out what my motivation was in playing attitude and black-a-tude. But the minute that I put on the wig its like I completely lost it and it just felt stupid for me to be angry about the fact that I had to wear a blonde wig. But Gregg said at the end of rehearsal that he wants me to try something where rather then getting annoyed at the fact, I just accept that fact that I wear it and would like to see someone try and say something about it. We’ll see how it goes. I actually think that it can be really interesting and definitely adds a different element to my character. Oh I am just so tired, I mean I’m really happy right now but I really just want to go to bed. I am glad that my notes however have been dwindling down slowly and at the same time, I find myself wanting and trying new things. Despite the fact that there are not so many notes. And you know what’s really funny I find more and more that I don’t like to get a lot of good notes, I only want to know that bad ones cause they cause me to be more motivated and try more things. When I just get good notes I feel like I’m not doing my job. Anywhoo, till later

So our first dress run went uhhhh well… haha we had quite a few problems and had to stop often which didn’t help with the run. I don’t know how Gregg felt about everything cause at the end of the day he seemed to be semi-pleased. I honestly thought that it went horrible but at the end of the run Gregg came up to me and gave me a hug cause (I (WAS BLACK) Yay, although it felt extremely awkward. And I really thought that it was going to not read to the audience. Now though there’s this whole wig issue, cause I now am supposed to wear the wig as soon as I appear in the window with the Wig! Now that changes my motivation for being angry about having to wear a blonde wig. Ugh. But I can make it work cause I’m an actor… it’s what I do. Haha Uhh I’m so tired, I stayed up last night in the box office until 4 in the morning attempting to write a post and failing horribly and now we have a run and I am so tired, I’m going to have to pull it out of my rear. There is one thing that I want to work on today cause I’m not really happy with my song “That’ll show him.” I now include this moment of Black-a-tude, but when I do it I feel like I lose character for a moment so I really would like to make the song more fluid and my movement more fluid. Really I think that if I can just enter with the right motivation then it will make the song flow better. I’m kinda in a weird place right now. I’m excited and ready kinda for the show to open, but I feel like there is more growth that I can do with my character. I do have to say that as soon as I added the wig for the first time I truly felt like a blonde. I am kinda interested to see what the people from the riverside are going to say when the see the show on IDR. Ahh oh well till tomorrow or more like tonight. HeHe

OHHH and the band…. ok I love them for everything that they are doing… but there are some times that those trumpets and others at times are straining for notes or playing note that are definitely not in the score! It eventually sounds very nice, but not without a lot of struggle (No band I really like you guys please don’t take it personally, I am so grateful for everything that ya’ll do)