People will tell you that as an actor there is this place you sometimes go to that is kind of like a euphoric state of being. Some of my professors have described it as an out of body experience. I have heard people say that they go on stage and forget they were performing because they were so "into" it. I think these are different descriptions for the same thing: the best acting experience you can have.
I had that the other day while performing Dear Harvey in Utah. I have never felt so emotionally connected to a show or character before in my life, and DH is so important to me for so many different reasons. But there was a specific incident that made the message of Harvey Milk really hit home. This incident combined with newly discovered trains of thought equipped me to come this place I have never experience before.
I believe that the actors greatest tool is experience. Without experience, how can we recreate the actions and emotions of a character whose life we are portraying? I'm not saying I'm a method actor, but some form of experience is needed.
During the whole show on friday I had this energy that was completely new and unique. I was really excited about the new space we were working in, the audience had maybe the most positive energy of any audience I've performed for, and everything I wrote about earlier made this show special. I felt so connected to my character that by the time I reached my last monologue I couldn't help but burst into tears. My last monologue is about both sorrow and hope, and all my experiences concerning the show culminated into a raw and genuine feeling that I wish I could recreate every show.
I don't know if I made any sense explaining that, but everyone else felt the change in me too. Multiple people came up to me and said that was the best time I've done that last monologue and one person specifically commented how something was different about me that show. Like I embodied Stuart Milk. That was the greatest compliment I've ever received.
Anyway that is all for now. I had to at least try to describe my experience with words. Also Peter Cirino forced me to make this blog.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Hey Jon. This may sound stupid, but I cannot figure out how to add my resume onto my blog. I noticed you have yours in a separate section; how did you do that? Also, fun fact, I read your resume and noticed you were in This is a Test. I totally did that play in high school for a Night of One-Acts and I played the teacher. Thought that was kind of cool you were in it too, because it is kind of a random show. Anyway, your help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI had never posted a comment before tonight, so twice in one post seems a bit over the top, but I just read your last post and felt like I should say that I remember how powerful your performance was that Friday in Utah. After doing the show so many times since September, it is sometimes easy to emotionally detach, but your monologue really moved us all because of the raw emotion that you brought to it (and yes I can speak for everyone because we were talking about it afterwards). I think I know what you mean when you say that certain events made that performance so much more meaningful, and that is so true. Just wanted to say that.
ReplyDelete