Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Play

I have been cast in a play in a community theater presentation of the Philadelphia Story. I am very excited to be involved in the whole process, since I have not performed on stage in over 2 years. I am also very nervous.

I have lines to learn, blocking to remember and a character to develop. The show dates are in May. That may seem like a lot of time but the reality is, it is not. I also have work, a house that needs attention, a wife who I enjoy spending time with, 2 kids to play with and teach, a blog to write and Guilder to frame for it. I’m Swamped.

Rehearsals started last week. My friend Dave is directing. He has been recovering from cancer/chemo/radiation and it is good to see him out and about and doing the stuff he loves. I am also lucky enough to have some of my friends (Josh, Seamus, Beeds) also in the cast. Two nights a week I get to hang out with friends who, for the past few years, I may have only seen once or twice. I never realized how much I missed them nor how much I have missed the creative process.

One of my pet peeves about rehearsing is the fact that people I know keep referring to it as “play practice”. For some reason, maybe I am a theater snob or something, but I always correct them and tell then that I have REHEARSAL. I think that sounds much better than 'practice'. If you look up the words practice and rehearsal in the dictionary they pretty much have the same definition. But rehearsal just sounds more, I don't know, more important, I guess.

But now I have given this much thought. I am not really rehearsing anything. I get to go to the theater and pretend I am someone else for a bit. I get to make believe that the stage is a living room or some other area. I get to wear costumes and use props. I am not rehearsing. I am not practicing. I am playing.


If you are going to be in the Philly area the second two weekends in May, come on out and watch me play.

38 comments:

Anonymous said...

I've been a longtime reader, and overall enjoy your blog, but the Princess Bride reference just made me fall in love with you!

Darren said...

I love that play. Who are you playing?

BTW, when someone asks me about a play practice, I ask them about their sports rehearsal or sports costume.

Anonymous said...

Hey Bill, can you pick up milk on your way home from play practice tonight?

Anonymous said...

I feel your pain. Every Wednesday night when I leave the house JP says to me, "Have fun at band practice, honey!"

I've told him a million times: It's only practice when you're working through your part by yourself. When you get together with the rest of the group, it's called rehearsal!

We'd love to come and see the show. Let me know where it is and how to get tickets.

Karen said...

I keep trying to remember to say "I am going to work", not "I am going to school"....even tho I work in a school. It's work!! Really!!

Anonymous said...

Hmmm. I am a practicing nurse not a rehearsing nurse. It doesn't seem to work in that context. I don't think patients want me to rehearse with them when giving an enema or such.
(So glad Dave gets to direct you!)

Teri said...

which theater? tltighe@aol.com

Suzy-Q said...

so if you are re-hearsing...when did you hearse the first time?

Undercover Mutha said...

Blocking to remember? Does that mean that there is a fight scene? Sharkey, tape it!

Anonymous said...

I don't think you will ever know the joy that I get when I watch you on the stage. As I say to the Lawnwhisperer, it is always a win-win for me. Like that sex and pizza comment. When you're good it is good and even when it is bad...it still is pretty good.

Anonymous said...

I don't think you will ever know the joy that I get when I watch you on the stage. As I say to the Lawnwhisperer, it is always a win-win for me. Like that sex and pizza comment. When you're good it is good and even when it is bad...it still is pretty good.

Charlotte in Pa said...

William, we would LOVE to come see your play. Please email me the details!

Also... the girl that I am a nanny for is now a senior in high school and has her first serious boyfriend. Her father is quite a theater buff - performs in community theater, etc. The first time she brought the boyfriend home, her father asked him, "So... how are your crew rehearsals going?" I thought she was going to die! So... it goes both ways.

~moe~ said...

Get some rest. If you haven't got your health, you haven't got anything.

Anonymous said...

What's the phrase... "all the world's a stage and we are merely players" or some such.

Good luck...or rather... break a leg?

Anonymous said...

When Arthur sneezes it is a Dudley Mooregasm

Charlotte in Pa said...

If someone sneezes 007 times... is it a Roger Mooregasm??

C D said...

play practice is just wrong. wrong wrong wrong.

my favorite quote in college...
"I can't, I have rehearsal"

Break a Leg!

C D said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

You're in a play?! INCONCEIVABLE!

Anonymous said...

Ok, but practice makes perfect.

Bogart said...

Best movie ever...

Oh yea, the play thing is cool too.

Anonymous said...

When the Statue of Liberty sneezes, it is a "Give me your sick, your tired and your poorgasm"

Nature Girl said...

That is awsome Bill! Have fun playing, and until then, have fun rehearsing! :)
Stacie

MP said...

Maybe it's a high school thing. We had "play practice" in high school. Anything I was in later in life was "rehersal"..which I still called "play practice".

Have fun!!

Amber said...

Do you go over your scenes at home? Does Lauren give you extensive notes? Are you going to try that new acting method where you say a line with your eyes closed but then look away and think, then close your eyes and say a line, then look away and think?

I really hope you know what movie I am referring to, or this is the lamest comment ever.

eclectic said...

COOL! Break a leg!!

Anonymous said...

Can you get some clips on the site so we can see your acting skills?

N said...

will it weird you out to know that i am TOTALLY coming to see you perform?

i think it would be a little creepy if i knew there were all these anonymous bloggers out in the audience who knew more about me than i probably ever intended for them to know...

but, you've asked us to come, so i'm coming!!!

Unknown said...

AWESOME!! I'm totally coming. I mean, uh...I'll be there.

OhTheJoys said...

One of these days you'll meet the father of joy at play practice!

Charlotte in Pa said...

When you sneeze in Ocean City, it's a shoregasm.

Chris Cactus said...

Love the play and the movie. What part?

Anonymous said...

Very cool. I'm glad you're getting back into this.

I did a scene from Philadelphia Story for a college theatre class, and I played Tracy.

Anonymous said...

Does your wife know your a goofy Thespian?

Anonymous said...

Does your wife know that your a goofy Thespian?

Nilbo said...

From now on, when I make a list of things I have to do, I am ALWAYS going to add "... and Guilder to frame for it." THAT made me spit coke. Well, Diet Coke.

And Cat: You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

OK, I have family coming for dinner, so I have to vaccuum and wash the floors, bake some bread, and clean off my desk. Oh, and I also have Guilder to frame for it.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Angela said...

And remember, this is for posterity. So, be honest.