Showing Up
I'm struggling with my audience skills. After all this time dedicated in the last ten months building up my acting skills and tools, it is harder to let go of my critical eye. In class and related rehearsals we were constantly critiquing each other and ourselves. I want to continue raising the standard for myself, while at the same time dropping the standard for others when I go to see a show, back to where it was. Not so much for those working on the show, but for me, to produce a more enjoyable experience. Watching the work of my fellow ensemble members, all of whom are gifted and emerging professional actors, is not a typical audience experience.
It's not so much the critical eye, as that when I see aspects which need work I am not compartmentalizing them and letting myself enjoy the show. I assume I'll be able to in the future, but I need more time to rebuild my audience habit. I saw Richard III at the Intiman a week ago yesterday. It was a very, very good production, but I was a bit disappointed for a couple reasons. First was my need to recalibrate my audience experience.
The second reason was harder to let go of. Expectations from other Intiman productions and King John. I thought Richard III was a great production, and it would have been even better for me if it didn't feel so much like other productions I have seen the Intiman. Joe Boling (a local icon) used to rag on Freehold for using ladders in so many of their productions. Intiman has the same problem with scaffolding. It made the play, which I've read several times, but never seen in it's entirety seem it was lacking freshness. I'm also realizing King John was a once in a decade experience. I feel it was in a different class. A play I had never read, yet I understood the text and characters so clearly I almost feel it is unfair to compare them.
So, I couldn't really enjoy the play until I stopped comparing it to King John. Their laser focus and connection with the text and other players spoiled me. I found it much harder to follow the story and characters in Richard III. Don't get me wrong Richard III was definitely worth seeing, but to fully enjoy it I needed to get previous Intiman Shakespeare productions and the King John production at CHAC out of my head. My Dad who had not seen any of these other productions thought Richard III was outstanding, and he has been attending theatre regularly most of his life, and is pretty balanced in his evaluations. I guess I've been spoiled recently.
Over that weekend I saw four shows, all of which were good. I saw a clown piece, Dario & Bario done at Freehold on Friday, taught by my movement/clown/mask instructors George Lewis and David Taft. Wonderful, but not as good as I've seen them do it in the past. This was a short engagement before they do a fringe tour. I didn't feel the focus and spontaneity I've seen in the past. Whether it was simply an off performance, or the updates are still working their way in I don't know. I suspect the former, as the audience takes and such felt very technical as though they weren't feeling that little extra which makes comic timing really zing. If you live in Minneapolis, Winnipeg, or Edmonton give it a look see. They are wonderful and generous performers (and instructors).
After that I headed for Jet City Improv. Instead of being a few seconds late, I was half an hour early. Bother, I was enjoying myself when I left the show. It was a pretty good show, with a good audience. Some very funny bits. I was awarded the best suggestion, and now have free tickets for one of their shows.
On Saturday I saw Pinter's The Birthday Part at CHAC. It was hot, hot, hot in the theater. I noticed it more than the same situation a few weeks earlier where I was one of the players. It is amazing what adrenaline can do for you. I was acclimated to the hot thanks the run of our show in the hot. Steve and Paula broke into a sweat long before I did.
Here's one of the quotes from the little applet I have in the upper left hand of my blog. It gives me the creeps more than most anything I've heard from w. It doesn't sound like he's the decider does it? It sounds more like he is talking to the real deciders.
It's not so much the critical eye, as that when I see aspects which need work I am not compartmentalizing them and letting myself enjoy the show. I assume I'll be able to in the future, but I need more time to rebuild my audience habit. I saw Richard III at the Intiman a week ago yesterday. It was a very, very good production, but I was a bit disappointed for a couple reasons. First was my need to recalibrate my audience experience.
The second reason was harder to let go of. Expectations from other Intiman productions and King John. I thought Richard III was a great production, and it would have been even better for me if it didn't feel so much like other productions I have seen the Intiman. Joe Boling (a local icon) used to rag on Freehold for using ladders in so many of their productions. Intiman has the same problem with scaffolding. It made the play, which I've read several times, but never seen in it's entirety seem it was lacking freshness. I'm also realizing King John was a once in a decade experience. I feel it was in a different class. A play I had never read, yet I understood the text and characters so clearly I almost feel it is unfair to compare them.
So, I couldn't really enjoy the play until I stopped comparing it to King John. Their laser focus and connection with the text and other players spoiled me. I found it much harder to follow the story and characters in Richard III. Don't get me wrong Richard III was definitely worth seeing, but to fully enjoy it I needed to get previous Intiman Shakespeare productions and the King John production at CHAC out of my head. My Dad who had not seen any of these other productions thought Richard III was outstanding, and he has been attending theatre regularly most of his life, and is pretty balanced in his evaluations. I guess I've been spoiled recently.
Over that weekend I saw four shows, all of which were good. I saw a clown piece, Dario & Bario done at Freehold on Friday, taught by my movement/clown/mask instructors George Lewis and David Taft. Wonderful, but not as good as I've seen them do it in the past. This was a short engagement before they do a fringe tour. I didn't feel the focus and spontaneity I've seen in the past. Whether it was simply an off performance, or the updates are still working their way in I don't know. I suspect the former, as the audience takes and such felt very technical as though they weren't feeling that little extra which makes comic timing really zing. If you live in Minneapolis, Winnipeg, or Edmonton give it a look see. They are wonderful and generous performers (and instructors).
After that I headed for Jet City Improv. Instead of being a few seconds late, I was half an hour early. Bother, I was enjoying myself when I left the show. It was a pretty good show, with a good audience. Some very funny bits. I was awarded the best suggestion, and now have free tickets for one of their shows.
On Saturday I saw Pinter's The Birthday Part at CHAC. It was hot, hot, hot in the theater. I noticed it more than the same situation a few weeks earlier where I was one of the players. It is amazing what adrenaline can do for you. I was acclimated to the hot thanks the run of our show in the hot. Steve and Paula broke into a sweat long before I did.
Here's one of the quotes from the little applet I have in the upper left hand of my blog. It gives me the creeps more than most anything I've heard from w. It doesn't sound like he's the decider does it? It sounds more like he is talking to the real deciders.
Haven't we already given money to rich people? Why are we going to do it again?
--George W. Bush
Washington, DC
Nov 26 2002
to economic advisers discussing a second round of tax cuts, as quoted by former Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neil
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A Tenant’s Guide to Renting
The first challenge every tenant faces is finding an apartment for rent that suits their individual needs. For today’s tenant, the most effective apartment search can be done using an online apartment finder. Tenants should decide what they require in an apartment or house rental before beginning their search. For example: the number of bedrooms, location or distance from public transportation and how much the tenant can afford to pay in rent, furnished or unfurnished apartment, etc. By making these important decisions first, tenants can avoid renting an apartment or house only to regret it later. Many tenants today are taking advantage of the convenience of the internet to locate apartments for rent as opposed to the traditional print publications.
Once a possible apartment or home has been found, it is the tenant's duty to thoroughly inspect the premises making a commitment in the form of a security deposit. A tenant should not rely on the landlord or the landlord's agent to tell the tenant if anything is wrong with the property. The tenant must inspect the property carefully and ask questions about it.
Inspecting the condition and functionality of the following areas/features of the apartment before committing yourself as a tenant is highly recommended.
1. Kitchen appliances in working order.
2. Water pressure strong, plumbing without leaks.
3. Electrical outlets and wiring working.
4. Walls and ceiling painted or papered without cracks
5. Ventilation or air conditioning accessible.
6. Floors, railings and bathrooms in good repair.
7. Fire escape easy to use.
8. Stairs safe and well-lighted.
9. No rodents or insects.
10. Heating system in working order.
11. If furnished, check and write down condition of all furniture.
12. Windows and doors operable and weather-tight; screens provided.
The tenant should also check the security of the building to find out if there is a dead-bolt lock, security chain, or through-the-door viewer.
BEWARE OF EXISTING DAMAGES: In order to avoid being blamed for damages that already exist in the rental unit, the cautious tenant should take every step for self-protection. Before moving in (or as soon as possible thereafter), the tenant should make a list of all existing damages and repairs that need to be made. A copy of the list should he presented to the landlord and attached to the lease This way the landlord cannot blame the tenant for damages caused by others and the tenant will know what the landlord intends to repair. If the tenant keeps good records the landlord will not be able to keep the tenant’s security deposit for damages that were actually caused by others. Taking pictures before moving in is also strongly recommended.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Paul Rossano, associated with www.AllSpaces.com who “Conveniently Connects All People with All Spaces in All Places” has been dedicated to the Real Estate rental market for over 8 years. He has assisted over 25,000 tenants with their renting needs. Any questions about renting apartments, houses or other rentals, feel free to visit www.AllSpaces.com or email him at Paul@AllSpaces.com.
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