Picnic – Final Show/Strike

One last shot of everybody.

Today’s final performance was one of the most emotional closing nights I’ve ever had followed by possibly the worst strike I’ve ever had. I watched the final moments of the play between Helen Potts and Flo Owens with the rest of the cast. By the end, everyone was crying.  This has been an unforgettable experience that I’ve been privileged to share with an incredibly gifted cast, an amazing crew, and a wonderful director.

The strike, however, was insane.  Think back to my post from two weeks ago (or just scroll down a little) and you’ll remember the lovely fake grass I mentioned.  You might remember that we, the actors, applauded the use of numerous staples to keep the grass from sliding and us from slipping and falling.  Well, it turns out that the “numerous staples” actually ended up being somewhere in the range of 7600.  When you’re sitting on the stage floor and ripping out 7600 staples by hand, you start to regret your earlier need to feel “safe” on the set.  It took at least five hours just to rip the staples out.

An emotional moment came when some of the techies started to cut apart the painting that made up the backdrop of the set. All of the actors stopped for a moment to save parts of the painting. Instead of being annoyed at having to cut lots of little pieces of painting out from the canvas instead of just being able to roll it up and toss it, the techies were very gracious and allowed each performer to pick a part of the painting to keep. My piece is a beautiful part of the sky. I plan to write one of my favorite quotes from picnic on the painting scrap and taking it to Hobby Lobby to have it framed.

Add a comment February 15, 2009

Picnic Review

The Kalamazoo Gazette’s review of Picnic is available in today’s paper and online!

WMU’s ‘Picnic’ provides a feast of fine acting, exquisite direction

by Gordon Bolar | Special to the Gazette 

Friday February 06, 2009, 7:45 AM

KALAMAZOO — William Inge’s American classic “Picnic” is the story of summer romance in a small Kansas town. In Western Michigan University’s University Theatre production, the sudden appearance of a fetching but troubled outsider in the otherwise tranquil backyard of Flo Owens (Jenny Westlake) and neighbor Helen Potts (Natalie Hurdle) turns the quiet and ordinary lives of both families and the town upside down.

Carefully crafted small moments make this production a feast for the eyes. Each cross, entrance and exit seems charged with energy and meaning. Director James Daniels cast fills the play’s long silences with meaningful movement and physical business that help to underscore the yearning for connection that is at the heart of this play.

Jasmine Lake is captivating as a spunky tomboy who transforms herself into an attractive adolescent anticipating her first date. Tori Blade as Rosemary, the old maid teacher undergoes a startling and dangerous change of her own into a drunken fool desperate for marriage to her nerdy boyfriend and last hope, Howard (Darren Johnston).

Picnic’s central character, the shirtless wanderer, Hal Carter, must display an unusual combination of brute force, physical grace and vulnerability. Johnny Scranton II more than meets this challenge on several levels. Scranton is believable as a lady’s man, a braggart, an ill-at-ease rube, a backyard brawler and as an accomplished dancer.

The play’s most engaging episode is a 15-minute choreographed sequence of business and sensual dance in which Scranton trips the lights fantastic with three different females and makes a distinctly different emotional connection with each of these characters. Hannah Sielatycki, brings poise and depth to Madge, Hal’s love interest.

The scenic design by Joshua D. Reid and Greg D. Roehrick depicts a backyard space between two houses, set against rolling hills under a brilliant watercolor sky. Sara Tomaszewski’s sound design is a veritable haiku of lonely train whistles, distant barking dogs and soft music from nearby radios. This rich visual and aural texture brings the Kansas landscape to life, engages the unseen surrounding community in a supporting role and elevates the entire production beyond anything that might be construed as ordinary.

Add a comment February 7, 2009

Picnic – Opening Night!!!

This is it!!! Opening night!!!  Make sure you come out and support The University Theatre at WMU!!!

Me telling you to come see PICNIC!

Add a comment February 5, 2009

Picnic – First Dress

Today was our first dress rehearsal for Picnic. There’s no better way to feel like your show is coming together than to finally put on your wig, costume, and makeup and completely transform into your character. Fortunately for me, my character this time around is a 1950s school teacher, so I get to wear adorable 1950s style dresses and hats and such.

Next time you see a costume designer or costume shop worker, give them a big hug, or at least a thank you. They are never appreciated as much as they should be. Remember, without them, the performers you see on stage would just be sad little actors in black rehearsal skirts and character shoes. Here’s a few pictures of what our costume shop put together for me for Picnic.

Act I and II Outfit

You don’t get to see it here, but in Act II I take off my little jacket to reveal an adorable halter top dress.

Act III Outfit

Add a comment February 2, 2009

Picnic – Tech Sunday

Today was Picnic’s Tech Sunday, also known as the official beginning of hell week. This was the first time we put the show on its feet with all of the technical elements – set pieces, lighting, sound. As always, this means a combination of exciting moments where everything comes together as well as terrifying moments where things that don’t quite work threaten to pull the show apart.

One of the most spectacular moments of the evening came when Caitlin, our lighting designer, revealed the night sky she created for the first part of Act III. Using the painting of the Kansas skyline that serves as the set’s backdrop, she carefully added a beautiful full moon and countless twinkling stars to create a visual image that was almost more entrancing than the action being played out beneath it.

One of the terrifying moments came when we stepped out onto the stage for the first time. Since the play is set in the backyard shared by the Owens and Potts families, and the set designer wanted to make the actual playing space look as realistic as possible, the design team chose to put down fake grass for the backyard instead of just painting the stage floor green. It looked absolutely spectacular. However, when we stepped out to walk around, we found that the techies‘ idea of “securely stapled” was not nearly secure enough to provide the actors with stable footing as we ran around the stage. It’s very disconcerting to feel the floor slipping around beneath you when you’re trying to concentrate on performing. Fortunately, a group of techies came out to add more and more staples until we felt secure.

In the end, we made it through the entire show and nobody got hurt, which is all you can ask for on a tech Sunday.

Add a comment February 1, 2009