#all have crazy credits outside of this theatre. but often have never worked here before

[johntorrington]

not really doxxing myself bc if you all don’t know i’m canadian and work in theatre by this point that’s a you problem. but the stage manager i’m working with on my show later this summer has done 40 seasons at the stratford festival. what the fuck.

[tcm]

Speaking The Same Language By Theresa Brown

I first saw THE CONSTANT NYMPH (’43) at the 2011 TCM Classic Film Festival. Because of rights issues, the movie hadn’t been seen in ages. The screening at the festival was a big draw. I didn’t know what to expect. I begrudgingly went to see the movie to check it off my list. Not so crazy about Fontaine, still mad at Boyer for torturing Ingrid Bergman in GASLIGHT (‘44). Well I got the shock of my life! This became the find of my festival-experience that year. THE CONSTANT NYMPH is wonderful; a pretty unusual four-sided love triangle. All the leads personify an Idea(l). It’s a study of what’s entailed in the creative process. And about speaking the same language.

Charles Boyer, Joan Fontaine and Alexis Smith are three of the four characters in this 1943 film.

Lewis Dodd (Charles Boyer) - THE ARTIST

Charles Boyer plays struggling music composer Lewis Dodd. He seems to put himself down before anyone else can do it, and he hasn’t been in love – he’s just into his music. Lewis goes about his music by rote, though. He has the orchestration and instrumentation down pat; the sharps and the flats are there. He has the foundation of his music but not the melody. He has the body but not the soul. Something is missing in his compositions. He hasn’t truly opened his heart to anything or anyone; hasn’t quite given himself over totally to his Art.

He is the favored family friend/guardian of an old mentor of his who has four daughters. They fawn over Lewis, but he is attuned to particularly one of the girls, Tessa. She has a real ear for music. He finds he can talk to her about it, and she loves talking to him about it, too.

Tessa Sanger (Joan Fontaine) - THE MUSE

I was taken aback by Joan Fontaine in the most wonderful way. She bursts onto the screen running, jumping, galloping...so mobile and playful. I’d never seen her like that before. In THE WOMEN (‘39), REBECCA (‘40) and SUSPICION (’41) the girl barely moved. I’m pretty sure my jaw dropped in the theatre. Fontaine’s looseness is such a refreshing departure to see. She plays Tessa Sanger, a girl of 14, though she might have been better served had she played 16 or 17. Aaaah first love. Whether you’re 30 or 14, it can be exhilarating and exquisitely painful. And Tessa’s in love, with Lewis. She represents pure unfettered love in all its self-sacrificial and innocent glory. She loves Lewis because their common bond is music. Her tips on music are a bit discounted by Lewis because Tessa is a child. But he finds he can really speak to her in a sort of shorthand because she understands what he’s talking about. Everything she does is in service to his art, though they both don’t know to what extent yet.

Florence Creighton (Alexis Smith) - BEAUTY

As she’s often cast, Alexis Smith plays the icy, aloof, regally remote goddess; the somewhat unattainable Beauty. She looks good on Lewis’ arm when entering a room. Beauty, like a work of art, is to be looked at, untouched. Its only function is to be admired. If that’s all you’re asked to be...if that’s all you have to offer the world or your lover, is it any wonder you’ve not challenged yourself? She’s measured, constrained, restricted. She’s a perfectionist. She’s into the optics of things. Yes, she wants Lewis to be successful, to be a hit with her snooty crowd. She wants him to compose popular works, not really caring or understanding his need to capture what’s in his heart and put it on paper. 

What he wants to write might not meet the criteria of the upper class. He, himself, struggles to understand he needs heart and emotion in order to complete his music; give it a soul. Tessa’s pigtails and sincerity are no match for Florence’s statuesque glamour of an upswept hairdo and seductive power. How can Tessa compete with that? And after all, Lewis IS a man. But it’s really Florence who can’t compete. This is her first time in love as well, but not speaking the language of music makes her an outsider. And outsiders make trouble for and are threatened by things they don’t understand.

The Music - THE ART

The Music is the lynchpin of this whole film; a fourth character. There’s a lot of it here because, well... Korngold. Erich Wolfgang Korngold’s music is big, swashbuckling. It’s a pronouncement: HERE I AM! One might think the music is a distraction, but I revel in it. I was swept up from the opening credits. Korngold can be a bit bombastic, but he can tone it down and be lyrically romantic. The Music didn’t trip me up because I was into Lewis’ struggle to find his voice...and lose his heart. The Music will not be ignored. Lewis and Tessa make me think of Heathcliff and Cathy. Forces keep them apart: these lovers who are not lovers. Funny how Music in this movie brings people together. And keeps them apart.

Also enjoyably featured in the cast are Charles Coburn ~ delightfully quirky; Eduardo Ciannelli ~ very un-gangster like, not scaring, strong-arming or killing anybody; pretty and pert Joyce Reynolds and a strange interesting pairing of Peter Lorre with Brenda Marshall as an off-beat couple. Off-beat if you’ve seen them in separate movies before this.

I hope you check out and enjoy THE CONSTANT NYMPH. I was an emotional wreck by the end of its TCM screening and heard many, many sniffles on the line to the ladies’ room. If you find that you love someone but somehow aren’t quite vibing with them, this film will teach you that you might not speak the same language. Sometimes loving someone is not enough.

[vickielou]

Home isn’t a place, It’s a feeling (Tom Holland Fanfiction)

Chapter One 

The cameras flashed everywhere around me, I tried to pretend I wasn’t anxious at the thought of being seen at this thing. Premier Nights weren’t my favourite part of being friends with actor. They filled me with a sense of anxiety that before Tom got famous I’d never felt before. I felt a hand at my elbow. “You look worse than Tom and he’s the one everyone came to see” Harry laughed. Harry Holland. Little shit. Twin #2. 

“I hate these things” I muttered, his hand tapped at my elbow in reassurance. I tried to find it reassuring. I failed. “You can hide behind me if you want” he offered, I think he noticed my unease. The uneven pattern of my breathing and most obvious, I was biting my nails like crazy, my mother was going to have a fit when she saw them. I smiled at Harry, I tried to smile like I wasn’t panicking but I think Harry saw straight through me. A side effect of spending so much time around the Holland Boys. “Thanks for the offer, but Sam is still my favourite twin” I replied, a joke seemed the right way to go. Harry sent me a dirty look. “He got you the guitar for Christmas three years ago, let it go,” He said shaking his head in disapproval. I snorted. 

He was right. Three years ago on Christmas day Sam Holland, other little shit and Twin #1 had gifted me a Fender FSR CC-60s Mahogany Concert Acoustic Guitar and it was still the light in my life. You would think that my best friend would have been the one that had bought me the greatest present I’d ever received but Tom didn’t understand guitars and we had a deal that meant that Tom wouldn’t buy me anything to do with music and I wouldn’t buy him anything to do with golf because I couldn’t understand golf to save my life. 

I’d been spending part of my Christmas holiday with the Hollands since I was 10 years old. My mother and Nikki had been neighbours (-and best friends!) as long as either of them could remember. My mother worked as a care assistant and more often than not she had to work 12-hour shifts around the Christmas period so I learned from a very young age that the Hollands were like a second family to me. Every time my mum had to work overtime to make ends meet or couldn’t come and get me from school because she just couldn’t get her half an hour break yet, I would go to the Hollands and looking back now that time I spent at their house became some of the best memories of my childhood. 

The cameras flashed again and the sound of the crowd outside the cinema got infinitely louder bringing me kicking and screaming back to the present. “Guess Tom’s here” I muttered. I heard the sound of tyres squealing outside and the sound of chanting got louder. Damn those fangirls and their seemingly infinite lung capacity. “Tom! Tom!” They shouted I leaned on the door frame and watched the scene unfold. At some point during Tom’s grand entrance, Harry went to find Sam and I was left alone. I wasn’t fond of being left alone but Sam was doing photographs for the premier and he needed help. The cinema seemed bigger than it had been all the times I’d been there before. Somehow leaning against the door waiting for my best friend to come waltzing through it, when he was done sighing autographs, the place seemed to be the size of the Blackpool Tower Ballroom. The dress that I’d squeezed myself in to for the occasion felt tighter than ever, my chest painfully constricted. 

I had been thinking about leaving when the door in front of me opened and a familiar face was hurried through by security men that were three times his size, that was saying a lot recently. Tom had been working his arse off in the gym and was around twice the size he used to be. 

I took my time to take in his appearance before he noticed me, his face was flushed. His navy suit was dishevelled, the grey shirt underneath was flecked with sweat and his hair was sticking to his forehead with the same sweat from running around signing autographs and taking pictures with the aforementioned fangirls.

“Tommy” I called, he jumped a mile and looked over to where I was standing by the door. I saw the relief cross over his face that I wasn’t someone he didn’t know watching him at what could be considered a vulnerable moment. I was the only person who could call him that. 

“Jules, thank god.” He smiled walking over, I watched his eyes take me in as he came closer. He reached out his hand for mine and I happily let him pull me towards where the crowd of people were heading towards the cinema room for the first showing of Toms new movie ‘ONWARD’. I’d heard most of the movie in the clips that Tom had messaged me whilst he was on set, I hadn’t actually seen the animation though and I was excited to see what he’d been making the months he’d been away. 

We sat in the seats towards the back, two seats on Tom’s left side were reserved for Sam and Harry when they finally got around to joining us. Tom’s arm immediately went around my shoulder, allowing me to lean back into his embrace. I’d missed this. Yeah, I’d seen him since he came back from New York but I hadn’t seen him for a while it was nice to have him close to me again. 

“I’m so glad you came” he was whispering, leaning closer to my ear, I felt his breath tickling the shell and I sighed happily. His breath smelt minty fresh like he’d brushed his teeth minutes ago but I hadn’t missed the gentle pop of his gum. Smart boy, no tuna breath on premiere night. “Wouldn’t be anywhere else” I replied. Tom’s gentle smile was the last thing I remember seeing before the lights went off and the opening credits to the film started. 

 Before anyone can say it, I know what you’re thinking. You lucky bitch. You’re best friends with Tom Holland. I understand that because Tom is one of the greatest guys that you’ll ever meet. But not for the reasons that most of the fangirls think. Yeah, the man was fucking gorgeous, I’m his best friend but I have eyes. Buffer than a Norse god and more swag that a billionaire playboy philanthropist but that wasn’t the reason that I was so lucky. I saw a side to him that most people didn’t, I saw sleepy Tom falling asleep in front of the TV watching reruns of F.R.I.E.N.D.S. I saw Tom shitting himself watching the remake of IT. I saw him crying over a puppy video on his Facebook and I saw him proudly smiling at his phone when he finally did something right on Instagram. He was and always had been a great guy. 

But enough about Tom, let’s get back to where we were. 

The premiere went better than expected and I loved the new film, Tom had the gall to laugh at me when I was sobbing towards the end of the movie. That earned him a punch to the stomach that Nikki would have been proud of. Stupid boy, I can’t get through a damn one of his movies without tearing up. Damn almost had a crying fit when I watched The Impossible. Now, remember I was around 13 when the premiere of that film happened and the thought of anything happening to Tom back then was more than my pimpley hormone fuelled heart could take. Tom had to come out of the premiere and hold me for twenty minutes whilst I sobbed, repeatedly reminding me it was a film and he wasn’t going to leave me anytime soon. Yeah, It wasn’t my proudest moment. It was one of my favourite Tom memories though. 

“So, What did you think?” Tom asked as the lights came back on. I looked up at him through my panda eyes where my mascara had run and gave him the dirtiest look I could manage. “You said it wasn’t sad” I accused, rubbing at my eyes profusely “You lied to me” 

“You cry at every one of my premieres, when are you going to learn to wear waterproof mascara?” Toma asked, pulling his sleeve down over his hand and taking a swipe at the mascara running down my cheeks.  “What’s life without a little risk?” I smirked, he shook his head at me, his hand gripping my chin tighter as he gently wiped my face, in the back of a movie theatre with the sleeve of his suit. Oh the class

“You have got to stop rewatching Harry Potter” He sighed

“Says the person who bought me the boxset” I returned. “Not to watch everyday” He laughed, seeming happy enough with his handiwork. He let go of my face. Part of me instantly missed his touch. “And I suppose a great muggle like yourself is going to stop me?” I laughed. Tom looked at me with great disapproval. Tom had never understood my obsession with Harry Potter. A diehard Marvel fan instead, there was no room in his head for anything except Spiderman. The more I think about it, the more I realise that him not being Spiderman for the MCU was utterly preposterous. The man had spiderman bedding, granted Paddy currently slept on those but still, the man lived and breathed Marvel. 

“You’re lucky I put up with your arse. Now, what did you actually think?” He asked standing up and holding his hand out to help me up and out of the mostly empty theatre.

“I love it” I smiled. “You really pulled at my heartstrings. Are you going to introduce me to Chris Pratt now?” I asked, fluttering my wet eyelashes at Tom in faux flirtation 

“And have to bail you out of prison after you flash at him? No chance” He laughed, gripping my hand tighter and scoffing at my flirtation persuasion attempt. “Indecent exposure is a misdemeanour, I’ll skip prison” I replied. “I’m still not introducing you, in fact. I’m skipping the afterparty all together” He smiled. We’d reached the door to the cinema. Everyone was pretty much gone. There were a few stragglers that were walking around talking on the phone or waiting for taxis home I imagined. There was a teenaged girl that looked up when she saw Tom and let out the most adorable squeak. I pulled on his hand and made him stop to take a picture with her, not that Tom needed forcing to be nice to his fans but Tom could be oblivious and she struck me as the type of girl that wouldn’t have the balls to come over and ask for a picture. 

“So, want me to drop you off?” he asked, sliding into the driver’s seat. I heard the leather screech and he settled himself comfortably and reached for his seatbelt. 

“To the house exactly three doors down from yours?” I laughed, sliding into the passenger’s seat and instantly reaching for the radio, turning on signal one on low. 

“Well actually,” He said pausing and waiting for me to fasten my seatbelt before starting the car “I was wondering if I could stay at your house tonight?” He asked. “My house? With my mother?” I asked, knowing that my mother wasn’t at the house but playing hard to get all the same. 

“Isn’t she working at the care home tonight?” He pointed out. The beams from the traffic lights bounced across his face as he drove and I found myself watching the patterns with interest. “I’m not sure if I should find it creepy that you know her rota or not, why are you planning on getting me alone?” I asked, regarding him with a fake expression of fear and distrust. 

“I want to spend time with my best friend, and also not be surrounded by my parents right now” He replied, his shoulders tensed at the mention of his parents and I instantly understood. “I see where this is going, Nikki still hasn’t come around to the idea of you moving out, has she?” I asked laughing, “She would come around to it a lot easier if you’d come live with me,” He said turning on to our street. The sight of the familiar street made my heart happy in a weird way. “And add fuel to our families attempts at marrying us off?” I asked. I watched the smirk stretch across his face, Tom found our parents inability to accept our friendship as what it was utterly hilarious, I, however, found every single attempt that they made to push us closer together completely humiliating. “Why ruin the habit of a lifetime?” He said as he parked perfectly in front of my house. I got out of the car in lieu of answering the question. I turned to head up the path my front garden, slowing my pace only slightly in order for Tom to catch up to me, and also because my feet were killing me in these heels. 

As I suspected, Tom appeared at my side within seconds and I sent him a bemused smile. I opened the door and headed inside. I kicked my heels off and turned around to hang my coat up, to find Tom still outside the door. I cocked my head at him in question. 

“What are you a vampire? Need an invite?” I asked. He didn’t laugh  

“You never actually said I could stay over,” He said in explanation, digging his feet in the dirt as if he actually expected me to deny him access to what I suspected has become like a second home to him too. He really was a perfect gentleman. 

“Come in, you fucking idiot”. I laughed. “You better not hog the blanket this time”

[deborahdeshoftim5779]

The Marvel of Trelsi (Part VII)

I’m back for more Trelsi mania. Today, I want to expand on the disadvantages for the High School Musical franchise that Troy and Kelsi received so few scenes together throughout. We know why their friendship is so damn good, and so the natural question arises as to why they didn’t capitalize on this when showing the protagonist, Troy Bolton, headed on his journey to finding himself. 

Already, I’ve answered the following questions from my Introduction:

1- Who IS Troy Bolton?

2- Who IS Kelsi Nielsen?

3-  What makes the Trelsi friendship and dynamic so friggin’ special? Why does it make me want to weep and write poetry? (Part IV, Part V, Part VI)

After some consideration, I’ve added this question before I get to exploring the potential of their relationship:

Question- Why are there so few Trelsi scenes? What is the effect of this? Where could we have seen more Trelsi?

It’s necessary to recap the main value of Trelsi throughout the canonical franchise:

1- Movie Message: Be true to yourself. Troy learns that performing is a part of his identity and embraces this. Kelsi learns that she has a talent worth appreciating and shouldn’t allow people to change her music as though they know better than her. 

2- Character Development: Without taking the crime committed against Troy’s character development into account, the effect of hearing Kelsi’s words and lyrics spurs him to explore his new-found interest and apparent talent in performing. Once Troy shows Kelsi her worth, she becomes more confident, more assertive with her compositions and embraces the spotlight. 

3- Plot: Troy gets his chance to prove himself as a performer after hearing Kelsi’s music; Kelsi in turn gains the acumen to write for more musicals and eventually pursue a scholarship opportunity with Juilliard. Troy’s accumulated profile in the Performing Arts thanks to Kelsi’s songs inform his decision to pursue Theatre after graduating from high school.

4- Character Balance: There is a notable and enjoyable contrast between Troy and Kelsi as people. Even though they have complex shades of their individual characters, there are still some key differences. Troy is more outgoing than Kelsi, more willing to put himself forward. He’s the guy who’ll be joking with his buds at lunchtimes, whilst Kelsi is huddled over her manuscript paper, scribbling away. This is even after she becomes more popular. Kelsi appears more of a disciplinarian when it comes to composing, as you often see her frowning and crossing out notes when dissatisfied. Troy’s performing style appears more spontaneous; I tend to think that he would be the one suggesting ideas to develop his interpretation of Kelsi’s songs. This is evidenced by his practicing style in HSM I (running round the practice room whilst singing the chorus to “Breaking Free) and his routine during HSM III for “I Just Wanna Be With You”.** Kelsi is talkative and Troy is, interestingly, not talkative. Indeed, he gets alarmed when Kelsi babbles on and on about her ideas. When Kelsi becomes more confident, she can steam ahead with her beloved “ideas”, whereas Troy is more hesitant. Kelsi is more spur of the moment, whereas Troy is more analytical (although he clearly does give in to creative impulses). There are some overlaps here, particularly when considering Troy as a basketball player; neither Troy nor Kelsi are clear-cut. But they are distinct in some key areas. 

5- True Friendship: Troy and Kelsi rely upon each other as an unfailing source of support and never abandon each other when things get tough. They are completely loyal to each other. Remember, East High has a Drama Club. Kelsi is certainly not the only composer in the entirety of East High, and Troy has his pick of many other talented people who might write songs just as good as Kelsi’s or even better. Instead he sticks with Kelsi’s music even when initially unwilling to do another musical or show. When the future of each show is put into jeopardy thanks to Gabriella, Troy does everything he can to ensure the show will proceed after all because he cares about Kelsi’s hard work and understands the satisfaction she gets from creating music. It would be far easier for Troy to let Gabriella go her own way (as she tells us in HSM II); after all, he owes more to his girlfriend than to his friend. Insisting upon Gabriella’s performing in HSM III was significantly motivated by his loyalty and respect for Kelsi; hence the speech about how important his new-found friendships with less popular students in East High (and I’m sure he wasn’t just talking about Kelsi and Ryan, but probably other people he had befriended as well, whose names we don’t know). The respect is clear, as is comfort, unspoken understanding and affection. Thanks to the lack of concern shown to Troy’s other friends outside of Gabriella, no indication is given of whether Troy will remain in contact with Kelsi after graduating; obviously I think he would, but we can’t say for sure. 

So why don’t we get to see more of them? I’ve thought about this at considerable length, and although it’s far too easy to blame the screenwriters for not seeing the value of Trelsi right under their noses, I think there is probably a less biased explanation. 

Simply put; we don’t know very much about Kelsi Nielsen. Compare how much we know about her to Troy’s other important relationships: his “romance” with Gabriella and his friendship with Chad Danforth. We hear about Gabriella and Chad’s parents, their childhoods, their aspirations, their interests outside of their primary fields (science and basketball respectively), we know their flaws, we get to see day-to-day banter between these two and Troy on a regular basis. We know about their parents: Gabriella most probably lost her father, her mother has struggled between pursuing the demands of her job and giving her daughter a sense of stability. Mrs. Montez clearly earns a lot of money, and is an excellent cook. Mrs. Danforth loves Broadway, crushes on handsome actors and probably reads too many diet magazines. ([Chad] “One of her crazy diet ideas-- I don’t attempt to understand the female mind, Troy!”) Even other characters like Taylor get more depth even though she isn’t as close with Troy; we know about her older sister, her philosophy on life, her aspirations and interests outside of science. For example, it is notable that despite being scientifically-minded (Chem Club President), Taylor wishes to pursue a degree in Political Science. This is also the same for Gabriella, who wishes to study Law, although she is shown to excel in maths and science (particularly chemistry). 

Consider by contrast how much we DON’T know about Kelsi Nielsen. Who are her parents? Does she have any siblings? What is her wealth status? (She mentions having a piano at her house, so can we assume middle-class?) Given that she was the composer of the show, why didn’t we get to see her parents or other relatives in the audience? With regards to the plot, how did she become interested in music; I have theorized that her deep commitment to the art stems from a pathological shyness that probably lasted for most of her formative years. What does she like doing in her spare time, or what are her other interests outside of music? We know in HSM III that she is more than a competent dancer and may have taken ballet lessons as a child. But this seems contradictory when considering her clear clumsiness in HSM I. By HSM III, she is incredibly graceful. Did she take lessons at some point? What other creative interests does she have? We do know she likes classical literature, as her favourite book is the (extremely boring) “Wuthering Heights” by Emily Bronte. (Credit to BoltonEvans). Her obsession with romance says a LOT about her-- where did this come from? I’m fairly sure that Jason was Kelsi’s first boyfriend, but did she have any other crushes beforehand? We don’t know things about Kelsi that go beyond the surface, like her fears and her lifelong ambitions. Sure, we can assume she might want to be a composer, but it’s VERY difficult to get well-paid, consistent work in the Performance industry, and no amount of talent can change that. Hence why I discussed her single-mindedness to her career and the disadvantages thereof. 

Don’t get me wrong; we can infer a significant amount of things about Kelsi, as you can see from my hyperlink above. But so much remains unknown. Hence, Kelsi was simply not intended to be a very prominent or influential feature in Troy’s life. This is why Troy and Kelsi are never shown hanging out on a casual, day-to-day basis; almost all of their interaction is centred upon the titular musicals/shows and even though Kelsi eventually sits with the Cool Girls (Taylor, Gabriella and Martha) and the Cool Boys (Chad and Jason, with whom she eats breakfast during HSM II), she is never shown doing the same with Troy. In fact, this gulf between them when not near a piano or stage is so great that we don’t even get a final Trelsi scene after high school graduation, despite the fact that elements of Troy’s speech fit his friendship with Kelsi far better than his friendship with Zeke, Martha or his “relationship” with Gabriella. We get no indication as to whether they will keep in touch after graduation, and have to assume not from the canonical headline. It makes me weep and turn to drink, but my bias and wishful thinking only extend so far. In light of all this, it is simply astonishing that the film’s creators would go to all the trouble of 1)- linking Kelsi to the central character, Troy, 2)- creating a close and unique friendship between them, 3)- giving Kelsi roles and characteristics that should have been given to Gabriella, 4)- inserting Kelsi into the plot and character arcs to push things forward. They managed to be sloppy, careless and yet attentive at the same time. And though I lampoon them on a regular basis, I absolutely give them the credit for creating Trelsi. But their lack of concern for both characters is astounding, particularly since so many HSM fans love both Troy and Kelsi. 

As a result of this, the film suffers from the following disadvantages:

1- Little comfort for Troy: Although there are standout moments where Kelsi comforts Troy, the paucity of Trelsi scenes means that for most of each film, Troy is either left floundering in a sea of self-doubt, self-criticism and denial, or unsuccessfully seeking understanding, loyalty and support from the wrong people. Had he spent more time with Kelsi, he would have gained a steady source of support throughout. It would not have reduced the conflict, because Troy would still face obstacles caused by Gabriella and his friends as well as by himself. It would, however, have built up his character in a realistic and consistent fashion. This was supposed to be Gabriella’s role, and as I will discuss later, she fails abysmally. 

2- Promotion of unhealthy relationships: The less we see of the exemplary friendship between Troy and Kelsi, the more we see of the less exemplary friendships between Troy and the Wildcats, and the unhealthy relationship between Troy and Gabriella. Because Kelsi was not intended to have a significant influence in Troy’s life, there is plenty for room for Gabriella and the Wildcats to influence him in ways that inhibit his character growth and lead to a real decline in his ability to think autonomously. Kelsi reflects the complete antithesis of this, and thus her increased presence would provide an exemplary contrast to the drubbing Troy endures from those supposed to support him. 

3- Stunts character development: The dynamic between Troy and Kelsi is thoroughly egalitarian. They raise each other up both literally and emotionally, and they have a largely unspoken way of doing so. Without this source of support, Troy has to look elsewhere, most often to Gabriella. Troy’s sense of self diminishes at an alarming rate as a result of her influence, which will be discussed in later instalments. Performing onstage and seeing Kelsi there as a source of encouragement increases his confidence and sense of self. Furthermore, potential scenes between Troy and Kelsi that weren’t related to the musicals would help Troy learn more about himself, as they clearly share much in common, a passion for the Performing Arts being one of the main commonalities. 

4- Diminishes Kelsi’s value to plot: This is what annoys me the most. Even though Kelsi is the one who:

1- Composes ALL the music for said HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL,

2- Puts in HOURS getting the very best out of Troy and Gabriella,

3- Shows absolute devotion to her craft, 

4- Can work with any type of performer, even difficult ones like Sharpay, who trusts her enough to keep performing her songs, 

5- Arranged rehearsal times for everyone with recognition to their schedules in EVERY movie, which required excellent organizing skills,

6- Managed the entire school orchestra by herself, writing orchestrations and fixing charts, writing arrangements for different instruments,

7- Assessed the musical capabilities of characters who considered themselves non-musical or even uninterested in music so that she could include them in the musicals: (HSM II- ”...maybe Chad and Zeke can do backup and everyone can dance!”), 

8- Took the generic and predictable Lava Springs Talent Show at an exclusive country club and turned it into a show-stopper (HSM II- “Kelsi’s got some great new ideas to SPICE UP the Talent Show!”) 

9- Had a great understanding of each performer as an individual and could tailor her writing to suit their strengths, which is why she wrote differently for Sharpay as compared to Troy and Gabriella,

10- Made Chad forgive Troy in HSM II,

11- Provided constant loyalty and support to Troy throughout,

...she is considered a MINOR character by most accounts. This is inconceivable, unjust and patently ridiculous. Kelsi is the HEART AND SOUL of the movies. She brings everyone together***, and she is largely responsible for Troy’s magnificent transition on stage into a natural and engaging performer. To give her less scenes with Troy means that less attention goes to her and her incredible achievements and more attention to characters who have not even achieved one fifth of the above list by comparison. It sidelines a character in blatant contradiction to the whole aim of Kelsi’s character development, which was to give a shy and introverted character a VOICE. Recognition. What was the point in Troy reaching out to her in the first place if the script was just going to shove her back offstage despite everything she had done for Troy, Gabriella and the Wildcats? What was the point of Troy calling her and RECOGNIZING her as a Playmaker if she gets no credit for this either from the scriptwriters, Gabriella, the Wildcats or even Troy in his abysmal graduation speech? I reiterate: it was a crime for Troy to mention Zeke’s crême brûlée and Martha’s cheerleading, none of which had ANY effect on his character development whatsoever, but not make ONE mention of Kelsi’s music which propelled him to where he stood that day. Inexcusable. Since Kelsi was the ONLY other person described as a Playmaker, she should have received more attention. Thanks to the chronic inconsistency of both the screenwriters and Troy (too busy giving credit to Gabriella that she doesn’t deserve), the second Playmaker is routinely ignored where she should be getting the spotlight. 

Sorry folks, but this makes me mad.  

What kind of scenes could we have had between Troy and Kelsi that would add value to the franchise and lessen my inveterate anger?

1- Troy confiding his worries-- Although Troy and Gabriella’s first time on the rooftop is a better example of Gabriella being receptive to Troy’s concerns (”I’m sure it’s tricky being the coach’s son.../”Then they don’t know enough about you, Troy”), there’s no consistency in Gabriella’s concern. Throughout HSM II and HSM III, it almost vanishes on the spot. A scene where Troy confided his worries in Kelsi would result in Kelsi taking those worries seriously and providing solid, useful advice to help him progress. 

2- Kelsi confiding her worries-- I refuse to believe that the process of creating a musical or show went off without a hitch. Despite Kelsi’s claims that everything would be fine, she must have had worries about this, and I can only see her being comfortable enough to share these with Troy, who believes in her and calls her Playmaker. That would get her back on track. But what about Kelsi’s worries outside of music? We could have had some very interesting discussions here. 

3- Troy and Kelsi learning more about each other’s backgrounds-- When Troy shares some parts of his childhood with Gabriella, she just laughs in a condescending fashion and makes him feel like an awkward three year old. She doesn’t understand his dorkiness/nerdiness. Given that Kelsi shares a lot of Troy’s awkwardness, I can’t see her making fun of Troy for having a toy robot or a Batman cloak. In fact, in my headcanon, she’d quite like his treehouse. Why? Because Kelsi clearly values solitude to think and compose her songs. Troy values solitude to think as well, hence his love of trees. I can see Kelsi fitting in far better here as a companion in the treehouse. I think Kelsi probably valued her solitude as a child, and even though Troy mostly played with Chad when they were both boys, he clearly does use trees for thinking on his own. Also, because Troy always takes an interest in other people’s lives, and because he connects so well to Kelsi’s music, he would naturally want to know more about her background in this regard. (Assuming they got such a scene... *angry face*)

4- Troy and Kelsi banter-- Both Troy and Kelsi have a far more compatible sense of humour than Troy and Gabriella. Indeed, Gabriella is often incapable of taking a joke. Troy and Chad have a compatible sense of humour, but I don’t get the impression that Chad, who is more straight-forward and direct, would appreciate the value of Troy’s sarcasm, dry and self-deprecating wit. Kelsi definitely would, since she can poke fun of sensitive issues like her height: (HSM II, in response to Martha on what her summer plans are) “Grow, write music, grow.” Kelsi is quite good at making light of a serious situation with a comic understatement, as is Troy. There are some slight differences; it is Kelsi who is more prone to poking fun of others. With the exception of the hazing scene in HSM III, Troy rarely makes fun of anyone-- not even Sharpay. And we have already a little evidence that they find each other funny. Given that Troy becomes increasingly miserable in HSM III, he could have done with some of Kelsi’s light-hearted banter. So say I. :D

5- Deep conversations-- Kelsi’s songwriting reveals a maturity beyond her years. Troy already demonstrates himself as mature beyond his years, often bearing a lot on his shoulders. Gabriella, by contrast, is extremely immature despite her strong academic capabilities. Chad is too involved in either his own future, or trying to impose that upon Troy. He sees the world in black and white, with no nuanced shades of grey. Hence why Troy’s attempts to have serious conversations with Gabriella end with her pretending to listen/understand and then pulling the focus back to herself, and his serious conversations with Chad end in either mockery, sweeping generalizations and Chad once again insisting his views are correct. Therefore, it would be far more enlightening to see Troy having serious conversations with Kelsi. For example, they might discuss their futures; Kelsi is very ambitious, hence why she applied to Juilliard. What with her philosophy of pre-destination (it’s music all the way), and Troy’s philosophy of free will, they would have very mature conversations, discover more about each other and even learn from each other’s viewpoints. There’s a complementary contrast there, as both Troy and Kelsi showcase some of each philosophy in their future: Troy accepts pre-destination when he decides to keep basketball in his life, despite saying in HSM III, “Maybe I don’t see my life as a ball game anymore, man.” It would have been nice to see Kelsi being a little spontaneous when it came to her future too, given that it seems she was dead keen on attending Juilliard: “What? They got my letter?” Once again, we see Kelsi’s unmissable and scandalously underappreciated initiative. 

On that note, I’ll be looking into the potential of Trelsi’s relationship next, in particular the line between friendship and romance. 

TO BE CONTINUED

(*FOOTNOTE-- How tragic it is, that by the end of the film franchise, Kelsi is more confident, whereas Troy’s own confidence has withered to provide that truly horrendous ending we saw in HSM III. Read my fury about it here. Had Troy and Kelsi spent more time together she might have helped alleviate the effects of Gabriella’s negative influence upon him, and had she been Troy’s love interest, he definitely would have developed in a more linear fashion). 

(**FOOTNOTE-- Of course, Troy is a disciplinarian when it comes to basketball, which underpins his skill in this area. Say what you want about Coach Bolton, he really knows how to get the best out of his son, and instils in Troy a laser-like focus on his goals. Now this does not suit Troy when he discovers his interest in the Performing Arts right on the cusp of an important game, but it does give the implication that Troy is a hard worker and is generally successful when pursuing his goals. Or, when he fails, he can pick himself back up again and try harder). 

(***FOOTNOTE-- Once again, we see Troy’s astounding, though unintentional, blindness towards Kelsi and her achievements. How can he seriously claim that Gabriella is the one who “changed” East High, when it was KELSI who brought people to appreciate the beauty of music and performing through her excellent compositions?! Kelsi is the one he calls “Playmaker”-- “the one who makes everyone else look good”-- and not Gabriella, who simply has not achieved anything similar. All Gabriella did throughout the ENTIRE film series was simply be in the right place at the right time. She rarely ever took initiative, except to audition in HSM I, and to apply for Stanford’s Freshman Honors Program (which, whilst being commendable, has nothing to do with Theatre). Kelsi is the one who spent her time composing a song for Troy and Gabriella to sing in HSM II, most likely after she received her summer job from Sharpay. That’s real initiative. We will look at this in more detail later). 

[i-remember-there-was-mist]

I just finished the second day of auditions, and I wanted to share some specific moments that were enlightening, and my list of favorite “special skills” I saw!

Lots of people messed up and had to start over.  But the only one we really took out of the running was somebody who gave up after getting three chances to start over.  She told us, “I’m so sorry, guys,” and wanted to stop.  Messing up is not a death sentence, but giving up is.  I want to see how you work under pressure and when things don’t go exactly right.

People who were rude to the monitor (who is the person who checks in auditioners) were cut.  Treat every person with respect, whether you think you’re auditioning for them or not.  You can’t be nice to the lovely man checking you in, you’re not getting a job.

So many people had headshots that looked nothing like them--different hair color, vastly different body type (either has gained or lost a lot of weight since their headshot), a picture from 5-10 years ago...  And when you did that, it didn’t make us go, “Wow, you look so young here!” or, “Wow, you look so thin here!” It made us go, “Who was this person...”  when we were deliberating.  We literally couldn’t remember them because their headshot looked nothing like them. It’s not helping you if it doesn’t look like you, because with 80 people auditioning, we can’t remember every face without some help.  Have a headshot that looks like you when you go in the room.  Not something that looks way more polished and done up, not something from years and years ago, not some weird angle that hides the scar on your arm that you hate...  Just you.  I want to see you. 

A lot of people had a routine, and it was obvious. People who had drilled a specific handshake and greeting, or choreography to a song, or slate.  It didn’t make them seem prepared, it made them seem fake.  Fake was what we disliked above all else--we just wanted to see you! 

There was nobody who wanted these people to succeed more than us.  We were rooting for these people, we wanted the best, we wanted them to rock it.  I’m cheering you on behind the table more than you know.  And I’m not scary, I promise.

Stop making excuses.  A few people came in and said, “Well I marched last week so I lost my voice,” or, “Well I’ve never acted before,” or, “Well I’m sick so...”  Don’t make excuses to me.  I know you’re not feeling your best, just bring me what you can.  I’m not judging you for not having a voice, I’m judging you for trying to justify yourself to me.  And often, I wouldn’t have even noticed if you hadn’t said anything.

We saw the same song back to back.  Twice.  Once, we saw two ladies sing Cock-Eyed Optimist back to back (and an additional two times throughout the night), and we saw two women sing Can’t Help Lovin’ That Man (and an additional two times the day before.)  Let me tell you, the fourth person that came in with those songs wasn’t looked at very favorably.  It’s not their fault they were last, but we were so tired of hearing those songs.

People came in showing off their high Cs to me.  The audition notice specifies the range of every character, and none of them sing above an E5. I have absolutely no use to hear your C6, and you know that.  Tell me a good story, engage me, showcase your voice in the range that I’m asking for.  The shaky notes on the extremes of your range do not impress me. 

It may be true that the tiny things about putting together your headshot and resume aren’t dealbreakers...  But the culmination of all that work does.  Your overall headshot and resume and appearance and demeanor do matter.  If you came in with an 8.5/11 headshot on a piece of printer paper that you took against a wall in your room with your iPhone and your resume is a mess and you came in with jeans and a Northface on and you’re late...  Yeah, I do judge that.  I look at that as not putting as much thought and care into it as another auditioner who has a more put-together package.  If two equally good people are up against one another, I’ll pick the latter. 

What is it with being thirty minutes late to an audition?!  So many people just waltzed in long after their audition time.  Not acceptable.

Picking popular songs weren’t a huge deal, but picking a song outside the style was.  The show is set in the 1920s, we asked for golden age songs.  Someone brought in “Your Daddy’s Son.”  Beautiful song, not appropriate whatsoever.

We weren’t concerned with not having a ton of experience if you were fresh out of a BFA program.  But if you have been performing for several years and have no professional credits and only work in community theatre...I get a little concerned about entrusting you with a professional role.  And we could always tell when people had training and when people didn’t, whether that was collegiate or otherwise.  It was blatantly obvious. 

It’s crazy how male-dominated the creative teams of shows usually are.  We, on the other hand, were three ladies behind the table--director, vocal director, and playwright.  A lot of people commented on it, and were pleasantly surprised.  It felt good to have so much female representation in the room for a show about four historical female ragtime writers.

80 people auditioned, 20 people got called back, 2 will be cast. 98% of the people who came will not get cast, and I’ll tell you that we could cast this show ten times over with the people we saw.

Favorite special skills I saw:

Excellent truffle and fudge recipes

Can fold a fitted sheet

Owns over 200 LIFE magazines from 1930s to the 1980s

Wheelchairography

Proud Dachshund owner

8-foot bullwhip experience

Belching on command

Walking on 12″ stilts

Crossing Eyes

3-leaf clover tongue

Ribbon dancing

Walks well in heels

Nun-chucks and fan

Youtube hits in the tens of thousands

Clogging

Lisp

Traveled the world for a year

Heelys

Hand-milking cows

Wiggle ears

I bake amazing cupcakes

Loon call

I’ll update this when we do callbacks with any other interesting tidbits I have!

[ismael37olson]

A Potent, Little Metaphor

In the late 1980s, I wrote a musical called Attempting the Absurd, about a young man who has figured out he's only a character in a musical and doesn't actually exist, and that knowledge causes him lots of grief. Ultimately, he wins the day by producing the script for Attempting the Absurd. I recently published the script and vocal selections for the show on Amazon, and I described the show as "meta before meta was cool." But you know who did meta way before any of us? Gilbert and Sullivan. Their operettas frequently referred to themselves and occasionally to each other, and more than that, half their agenda was mocking the conventions of opera, as they used them. Since we did our public reading of The Zombies of Penzance in January, I've been reading books about Gilbert & Sullivan, and seeking out videos of their shows (I highly recommend anything from Opera Australia). I had seen some of their shows, but I'm discovering the others now as well.

And what I realize is that half the G&S agenda is mocking polite society, politics, and human nature; and the other half is writing operas that mock opera. Gilbert's lyrics mock opera (with wildly inverted sentences, overblown imagery), Sullivan's music mocks opera (the repetition, the bombast, the self-indulgence, and once in a while, forty notes to one syllable), and the two of them together mock opera's seriousness, it's pomposity, its faux exoticism. Gilbert and Sullivan "broke" old-fashioned opera. They laid bare the silly conventions and cliches by both using and abusing them all at the same time. In term's of today's musical theatre, we might call G&S shows neo musical comedies, in the language of opera. In fact, I think that's what I called Jerry Springer the Opera when we produced it. Writing The Zombies of Penzance was technically very hard for me, but it wasn't hard conceptually. I get G&S and I've been in love with The Pirates of Penzance since I saw Kevin Kline do it on Broadway in the early 1980s -- just a few years before I started writing Attempting the Absurd, now that I think about it. It was enormously fun getting into Gilbert's voice with this show. Writing the dialogue in his voice was a breeze, but writing lyrics in his style is insanely difficult. Here's one of my favorite moments of dialogue:

FREDERIC: Oh, would that you could render this extermination unnecessary by accompanying me back to civilization! No doubt the doctors and scientists have by now concocted an antidote, or failing that, they could cut all your heads off with a clean, sharp knife. KING: No, Frederic, no, no, no, that cannot be. I don’t think much of this tedious, soulless, shadow life we endure, but contrasted with the forty-hour work week, it is comparatively fulfilling. No, Frederic, I shall live and die – and then live again and likely die again – a Zombie King!

But Gilbert wrote some incredibly complex rhymes, and I'm pretty sure I kept every rhyme scheme he set up, interior rhymes and all. This is my rewrite of "Climbing Over Rocky Mountain."

We’re Christian girls on a Christian outing, No bad words and please, no shouting, Far away from male temptation carnal, Where our nethers never quiver, By the ever-throbbing river, Swollen where the summer rain Comes gushing forth; Gushing forth in spurts and sputters Sloshing through the roads and gutters, Pounding through the virgin hills below us. Scaling rough and rugged passes, Working out our shapely asses, There are greater joys, we know, in purity! Fit and healthy virgin lasses, Keeping pure our virgin asses, There are greater joys, we know…!

The one exception to my fidelity is in "Modern Era Zombie Killer," where I added one syllable to the title phrase though it still scans to the music correctly.

I am the very model of a modern-era zombie killer, I can cut off heads and yet be gentle as a caterpillar. Since the early days when the initial virus circulated, When you think of me, you think of walking dead decapitated. I’m very well acquainted, too, with matters metaphysical, I understand the issues, both the obvious and quizzical. If I could slaughter zombies, I would cross the River Styx for them. I’ve seen Romero’s movies and I’ve memorized all six of them! I like to make them suffer but I don’t think they can feel a lot; Decapitation’s fun, I know, but zombies really squeal a lot! In short, I can be fearsome or be gentle as a caterpillar; I hereby present myself, a modern-era zombie killer.

But I don't think I changed anything else (other than making it into a zombie story). Despite the wacky origin story, I want Zombies to be as authentic a G&S show as this fanboy can make it. But now as we're blocking the show, I realize, this is a really different kind of performance for the actors. There are so many songs and sections of songs in which the characters turn to the audience and explain the situation, their opinion of it, what they want, etc. Sometimes at great length. For musical theatre actors, that's so unnatural, to just stand and explain.

But as I think about it, I realize that's exactly what Threepenny does. Next to Normal does it a lot, also Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, High Fidelity, and so many other shows. Even Sweet Smell of Success, which we produced last season. In these shows, the actor has to be both (or alternately) inside the scene and outside the scene -- but still the character either way -- both narrating and living through the moment, both in the place and time of the story, but also aware of and talking to the audience. That's a hell of a tightrope. Also, like the original G&S show, we have a small stage and a relatively big cast, so staging is limited when everybody's onstage -- which is the last 10-15 minutes of both acts. I know being so physically static onstage for such a long time also feels weird to the actors. But having seen a lot of G&S shows now, they really do work this way. The music and text are so funny, and the plot is so insane, that the audience doesn't get bored in the least. The audience needs time to focus just on the words.

In fact, G&S shows usually follow a rule I learned from Hal Prince -- the more complex the content, the less active the scene should be physically. Think of brilliant musical theatre moments like "Being Alive," "The Ladies Who Lunch," "I'm Still Here," "Rose's Turn"... there's not a lot of movement, because there's so much going on emotionally, narratively, thematically. If we make the audience choose between visuals and content, they'll choose visuals. Humans are visual creatures. We have to make them choose content sometimes -- well, often in a G&S show. So our actors have all kinds of obstacles thrown at them this time. To find that neo musical comedy style, exaggerated, highly stylized, but still really honest -- that's not always easy (especially when you're playing an unusually high-functioning zombie). To find that reality that contains both the crazy inside world of our story and also our performance and audience. To get comfortable in the slow telescoping time of opera, even slower than musical theatre time. The scripts for musicals are much shorter than scripts for plays, because it takes longer to sing words than to speak them, because music operates on a different kind of time, a slower time. In musical theatre, actors learn to live inside those extended moments of time, fully alive but staying in that moment, that emotion, that reaction. Opera slows time down even more, because the music is even less in constant service of the storytelling. And Gilbert and Sullivan sometimes slow time down opera time even more than that, to mock the repetition and narrative pace of opera. Mabel's first entrance in Pirates/Zombies is one example. So are both act finales. So the challenge for our actors is to create an interesting performance not in physical zombie shtick as much as in character, reaction, backstory, social context, and our wonderfully absurd set of circumstances. The idea of zombies eating, then marrying these girls has to seem to be a Very Serious Matter Altogether. 'Cause really, are marriage-friendly zombies any more ridiculous than man-eating flytraps? The secret to Little Shop is for the actors to take it totally seriously, to believe that Audrey II is a genuine threat. The material takes care of the funny. It's the same for us. But our guys are playing zombies, after all. They have to be recognizably zombies. Zombies who sing operetta, including patter songs. Even though they can't walk very well. Because, did I mention, they're zombies.

All this reminds me of a great, weird show we produced called Bukowsical. The central joke of the show is that it tells the dark, ugly, cynical life story of the brilliant American writer Charles Bukowski, but in the most inappropriate form possible, a cheery, colorful, upbeat musical comedy. And that's essentially what The Zombies of Penzance is. It's a horror story told in the most inappropriate form possible, a bouncy, dry-humoured British comic opera. And that wrongness, the frequent self-reference, the mismatch of form and content, and the constant violations of period (even though we're pretending this was written in 1878) are all part of the meta joke.

My zombie hunting habits, though a potent, little metaphor, Are really more subversive than the critics give me credit for. In nineteenth cent’ry operetta, comedy or thriller, I am still the very model of a modern-era zombie killer!

We're telling the audience Gilbert and Sullivan wrote Zombies in 1878, but as you watch the show, we're constantly reminding you that Gilbert couldn't have possibly written these references to movies, to George Romero, to Pepto Bismal or the Aqua Teen Hunger Force, and he certainly never would have used the word fuck, which our show does a few times.

The fact that I rewrote Pirates as Zombies, and then concocted a ridiculously meta origin story, means it's a meta meta musical. It was already self-aware as Pirates, but now The Zombies of Penzance carries with it, every second, an awareness of Pirates, and for people who know Pirates well, there's even more fun to be had there, in how close to the original my "translation" often is. Meanwhile, our actors will find their way. They always do. We often do shows that are just so weird or so unique in their particular rules that it takes the actors a while to figure out how it all ticks and how they fit into that clockwork. Luckily, they all trust me, so I just keep moving forward and they keep lumbering along beside me. So much fun ahead. The adventure continues. Long Live the Musical! Scott from The Bad Boy of Musical Theatre http://newlinetheatre.blogspot.com/2018/08/a-potent-little-metaphor.html

[vulkanmag-blog]

ANDREA BARBER

New Post has been published on https://vulkanmagazine.com/content/andrea-barber/

ANDREA BARBER

ANDREA BARBER

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ANDREA BARBER

Interviewed & Edited by: Jaimee Jakobczak IG @ThisIsJaimee

While her first major film role is credited as that of Carrie Brady on Days of Our Lives in ‘82, actress Andrea Barber dazzled audiences as the spunky Kimmy Gibbler in Full House, a role which solidified her as a household name. When Full House returned to Netflix as Fuller House, much to the delight of die-hard fans, Andrea was thrilled to reprise her role. VULKAN caught up with Andrea to talk about returning to the iconic set and what avenues she might want to take going forward.

You’ve said that as a child actor, the audition process was “torturous.” What about it was so grueling for you, and how has your perception changed at all now?

I don’t think there is a single actor out there who enjoys the audition process! HA! But as a child, it was never fun to hop in the car immediately after school to go sit on the freeway for an hour just to read two pages of dialogue from a script, and then sit for another hour on the freeway back home. Nine times out of ten, I wouldn’t get the job anyway, so it all felt like a big waste of time as a kid, especially when most of my other friends were outside playing after school or doing clubs/sports. Auditioning is just a tedious process no matter what your age. I’m not auditioning now, but I’m sure I would hate it just as much as I did as a kid. Hollywood is very much a “drop everything and be ready to audition in two hours” type of business. That doesn’t jive well with my personality. I’m a planner! I thrive on schedules and structure. Unpredictability is not my friend! 🙂

In one word, how did it feel to be back with the Full House cast?

Home.

Has returning to acting ignited any desire to perform in other productions?

I would love to do theatre! The live shows would both terrify and thrill me simultaneously, but it’s something I’ve always wanted to do. I did many plays as a kid (I played Helen Keller twice in A Miracle Worker) and it’s so different from television work. You have so much more time to prepare, rehearse, and create a character. Theatre feels so much more alive; each night is different and can’t be replicated. There’s a bond between the actors and audience that’s unique to the acting world. I have so much respect for stage actors; I think they are the most talented breed of performer.

Can you share with us one of your fondest Full/Fuller House memories?

My fondest Full House memory is the cast dinners before every taping. The cast would go off the lot to have dinner and it was a special time for us to simply be together and laugh and shake off stress before the live taping. My fondest Fuller House memory was our first taping of our first show back after almost 30 years. The audience went crazy; I’ve never heard cheering so loud. People were crying, people were laughing. It was all the emotions mixed into a single night. People even cried and cheered when the living room and kitchen sets were revealed.

What is the most resonating thing one of your fellow cast mates has ever said to you? Who said it, and why do you think it struck such a chord with you?

Several castmates have told me I am the Lucille Ball of our generation, which is a massive compliment that I don’t deserve. But even being mentioned in the same sentence as her means so much to me. She is the ultimate study on how to convey every emotion without uttering a single word, using simply her facial expressions and body language. I feel this is a very intuitive way for me to act too - I have a hard time dialing it down sometimes! So the Lucille Ball comparison resonates with me and reminds me that you just gotta go for it, let it all out and don’t be afraid to look like a fool. The payoff can be huge.

What did you miss most about acting as you pursued education and other avenues?

I actually never missed acting after Full House ended and I left Hollywood. I missed the people I worked with, for sure, but I didn’t miss the grind. It wasn’t until I came back for Fuller House 20 years later that I realized how much I enjoy and need artistic expression in my life. It’s wonderful to get to be someone else, especially someone as outlandish as Kimmy Gibbler, for several hours every week.

What did you miss most about acting as you pursued education and other avenues?

I actually never missed acting after Full House ended and I left Hollywood. I missed the people I worked with, for sure, but I didn’t miss the grind. It wasn’t until I came back for Fuller House 20 years later that I realized how much I enjoy and need artistic expression in my life. It’s wonderful to get to be someone else, especially someone as outlandish as Kimmy Gibbler, for several hours every week.

If your kids expressed an interest in acting, would you encourage them?

If either of my kids ever express an interest in acting (so far they haven’t and I don’t think they will), I would highly encourage them to do local plays and theatre. I would support them in making it their after-school hobby. I wouldn’t encourage them to go the Hollywood route - that is a complete lifestyle change that affects the entire family. But doing local theatre would give them experience and keep the focus on acting, not fame.

What advice might you give them going into their own auditions?

Be yourself, and don’t be afraid to put your own spin on a character.

What is your preferred way to spend a free afternoon when the kids are otherwise occupied?

There is nothing more satisfying than a long run in the sun! It cleanses the soul.

What have you learned about love that you’ll teach your children?

Trust your instincts; they are rarely wrong. Value yourself and look for someone who values you even more.

 If you were to audition for a show currently airing, which one peaks your interest the most?

I love the Big Bang Theory. It’s a show about geeks who don’t take themselves too seriously - I love that! I can relate to that. Nobody is trying to be perfect; they each have their flaws but they are all one big, accepting tribe.

On that note, what type of role would you be interested in experimenting with?

I don’t know that I’d want to experiment! I like comedy! I would love to do a Hallmark show or movie someday, like my co-stars. Hallmark is light-hearted, feel-good TV. I would jive well with that.

Who are some actors that you love to watch these days?

Freddie Highmore (who plays an autistic doctor) on The Good Doctor is so satisfying to watch. I think the best acting is in the smallest details, often in simply reacting, and Freddie nails it. I also love watching Claire Foy in The Crown. She is so controlled and subtle, yet brilliant. I love actors who take big risks.

What’s one country or city on your bucket list?

Iceland! Everyone I know who has been raves about it; it isn’t a typical travel destination. Unfortunately, I think word about Iceland has gotten out and now it’s filling with more tourists. But I still want to go!

How has your previous work for the United Nations shaped your views of the world?

My work with the UN solidified my opinion that travel and learning about other cultures is critical to widening one’s own views and opinions about life. Everyone doesn’t always have to agree with one another, but we must learn to empathize and understand each other. It also made me realize how limited our education is here in America. Our high school graduates know a lot about American history, politics, culture, education, etc., but very little about the rest of the world. When you are suddenly able to see our world through the eyes of a different culture, you realize A.) how utterly privileged we are as a country, and B.) that the American way of doing things isn’t necessarily the “best” way. I don’t mean any disrespect to my wonderful country! I’ve simply learned that in order to really “see” America, you need to leave America. I’ve grown as a human and as a citizen as a result of it.

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Credits

PHOTOGRAPHER: Leo Deveney STYLIST: Sondra Choi MAKEUP ARTIST: Vanessa Venancio HAIR STYLIST: Jennifer Melissa Baker

[topboytoystopboytoys-blog]

WHICH IS BEST COOL GIFTS FOR 12 YEAR OLD BOYS 2017/18-USA

How to find a COOL GIFTS FOR 12 YEAR OLD BOYS

Looking for cool gifts for 12 year old boys? Preteens and teens are very hard to please, exclusively when it comes to toys or any kind of gifts. Purchasing best COOL GIFTS FOR 12 YEAR OLD BOYS for Christmas, birthdays, and other occasions can prove very challenging. Parents bear to forget how crucial this age is per se, without adding the additional pressure of extracurricular activities or school. Boys at that age go through adolescence, so you should predict quick mood changes, anger or, rage, on the contrary, a complete close down toward other members of the family. Sadly for parents, these mood changes will last a few years and you may feel like you cannot get forward with your child anymore.  With some attentive thought, loved and friend ones can find an excellent COOL GIFTS FOR 12 YEAR OLD BOYS. Now try to imagine you also have to buy a birthday gift for 12-year-old boy. Apart from the continual nebula regarding the kid’s temperament, you also have to try to treasure trove the perfect gift for 12-year-old boy. And although there are various options available on the market, faith us when we say that it’s not going to get effortless. We have determined to narrow down the exploration for you and have come up with an all-inclusive and effective guide on how to better recognize teenage boys and how to get indoors their mind by buying attentive gifts. We TOPBOYTOYS selection of presents for twelve years old is going to solve the complication of what to buy for boys. Our buying guide will implement you plenty of tips on how to access a teenage boy as well as some of the coolest gifts you can purchase for kids who seem to have everything. There are two categories of pre-teenagers; the not-so-active and the active. There are those boys who want exciting thrills outdoors and adventure whether it be riding bikes, camping, fishing, scooters or playing sports.  Then there’s the other electronic, science-savvy computer whiz that just wishes to hang out and play electronics. This page has some really cool gift ideas for 12-year-old boys that you may never have thought about.  

How we chose the best cool gifts for 12-year-old boys

As formerly mentioned, guessing the desires and needs of a 12-year-old boy is not going to be an easy job. You have to stop assuming what you used to like back when you were the 12-year-old boy will unquestionably apply to your child as well. On the contradictory, most of the boys today are not interested in physical activities or sports any longer, but slightly have a large affection for drones, tech gadgets, and video games. We hope that our suggestions of cool gifts for 12-year-old boys will make your life a little easier and will inspire a boy who seems to have everything he wants. Ask your 12-year-old boy first Although it suggests quite the consistent starting point, many parents don’t really ask their children what they want but instead, presume that a certain gadget or toy will raise their concern. Accordingly, before jumping to any consequence and emptying your credit card, we suggest you have a simple heart-to-heart talk with your teenager or 12-year-old boy. Ask him what he actually wants or what his interests or hobbies are. You may not hear a fair answer from the inception but it will still give you a clue about some component toward which you should focus. Parents who are fortuitous enough to hold a sincere answer from the beginning might really end up with a list of demands which, summed up. So, we advise you put on some restraint regarding the amount of money you are enthusiastic to pay to amuse your child’s desires. Limitations will also demonstrate your 12-year-old boy that he must work hard in order to obtain something he wants. Know his hobbies Another certainly important thing to examine whenever buying a COOL GIFTS FOR 12 YEAR OLD BOYS is that you always have know their hobbies. Compassionating what they are into really solves 90% of the gift problem, partially if you have the money and ambition to fulfill their inclination. Most hobbies at this age are related to sports, music, and technology. If your child is ardent about skating or parkour, buying additional gear or skate is the most obvious choice. We do recommend going to specialized stores and explore professional guidance as skateboards can be quite convoluted to analyze. They do come in different lengths and are made from particular materials depending on the type of skating practiced; so, unless you are an adept yourself, we might also advise bringing in your kid.

What are the Best Birthday Gifts For 12 Year Old Boys?

best gift for 12-year-old

As many of you study this previously know, conclusion best COOL GIFTS FOR 12 YEAR OLD BOYS can be difficult, especially if they’re teenage boy or 12-year-old boy. Teenage boys are a fastidious bunch, and conclusion the right best gift for 12-year-old can source the worst of headaches. So, what specifically makes me accomplished to give you suggestion on what best gifts to buy for boys? Well, I have over 6 years of retail store administration experience in a big box peddle setting, with an attention on best toys for 12 year old boys, REMOTE CONTROL CARS, video games, and electronics for 12 year old boys at some point in my career.

Birthday Gifts For 12 Year Old Boys

I also like to establish that I get plenty of hands-on time with various best toys for boys, video games, and electronics for boys that might be of concern for this very reason: crafting massive best toys for boy/best gift for boys lists for the holiday shopping season.

What are the Best Christmas Gifts For 12 Year Old Boys?

Christmas Gifts For 12 Year Old Boys

TOPBOYTOYS has a selection of Cool Gift Ideas For 12 Year Old Boys that are ideal for Christmas Gifts For Boys, Birthday Gifts For Boys and other occasions, you will find everything as a gift for 12 year old boys from fun novelty gifts to inspiring gift and educational gifts ideas perfect for this age group, so browse the range today!

What are the Best Toys For 12 Year Old Boys?

COOL GIFTS FOR 12 YEAR OLD BOYS

What are the Best Toys For 12 Year Old Boys? This age group can be a challenge to find COOL GIFTS FOR 12 YEAR OLD BOYS, because they will often ask for gift cards to purchase music or sports equipment, games or apps for their Nintendo Switch,  iPad, Xbox, WiiU, or Nintendo 3DS. Searching for the perfect gift for 12 year old boys that is different and unexpected that provides a lot of memories and play? While many 12 Year Old boys have interests that generally revolve around pop culture, sports, newly released movies especially if they are related to anything ROBOTS, Star Wars, Marvel Super Heroes or DC Comics, inventions and technology, deep down in the heart of young boys, there is still a desire to play and have fun.

best Star Wars

This all presents for 12 year old is great gifts/toys for boys.

What are the Best Cool Gifts For 12/13 Year Old Boys who are active kids?

great activity gifts for young boys

If you are shopping for an active 12/13 year old boy, you can’t go wrong with some of the great activity gifts for young boys here. Hours of outdoor fun can be had with the best Inflatable Cactus Game, where the intention is to get the hoops over the inflatable cactus, or with the simple but ever popular giant Bouncer Ball or the Frisbee, while 12/13 year old boy with an interest in sports will enjoy the colourful Rugby Ball or the Table Tennis Set, ideal gift for 12 year old boys.

ideal gift for 12 year old boys

What are the Best Cool Gifts For 12/13 Year Old Boys who are young aspiring scientists?

science gifts for boys

If your 12/13 year old boy is into technology or science, you’ll find some great gifts for boys in this range, specially matured to boost active young minds. With products ranging from a best DIY Speaker Kit, that can make a speaker out of plentiful everyday objects, to a Crazy Chemistry Kit, as well as fun but weird things that little boys will love, including a DIY Snail Farm and a Thirsty Plant Kit, you’ll be spoilt for choice here. There is even a Build Your Own Erupting Volcano kit, that can be painted once it has been constructed.

What are the Best Gifts For 12 Year Old Boys those who love to build?

fun gift for 12 year old boys

If manufacture is his thing, treat your young teenage boys to some fiendishly ambitious building gifts. Nano Blocks are tiny building blocks that can be made into a collection of fun gift for 12 year old boys to play with or display, from a T-rex dinosaur to a model of the Titanic or a bulldog. Budding wildlife professional will definitely enjoy mobilizing the 4D model of a Giant Dinosaur, a Great White Shark, or the colourful Natural Wildlife Puzzle in the range. What are the best Cool Gifts For 12 Year Old Boys those teenage guys with creative minds?

best Cool Gifts For 12 Year Old Boys

Encourage young 12 year old boy to dream up stories with the best cool gifts such as the amazing Roald Dahl Puppet Theatre, where they can have hours of fun with the particular backdrops and stick puppets, or check out the great Books and coloring Posters as well as the quality Coloring Pencils as the fun gift for 12 year old boys. Great stories, ideas and dreams deserve to be written up in their own individual Ideas Journal, while budding artists will enjoy the gift of Brushes Set and Paint to let their artistry express itself. What are the best Gifts For 12 Year Old Boys & teenage if you are looking to have some fun in the sun?

COOL GIFTS FOR 12 YEAR OLD BOYS

Lots of young boys will be attentive in performing their own music, and it is never too initial to start! With some microphone and great soft instruments, they’ll enjoy composing their own band and the great thing is that these pillow apparatus can be used up in the bedroom or outside in the sunshine! Subsequently, treat your fledgling rock stars to some homemade ice lollies or popsicles. What are the best cool gifts for those teenage & older boys?

COOL GIFTS FOR 12 YEAR OLD BOYS

Pre-teen boys will be delighted by the very realistic Zombie Mask or the Weird Slime Lab, but if you are viewing for something a little less gruesome, So You Think You’re A Skateboarder will also be favorite best gifts for boys in this age range or books such as the Underwater Puppies book. You can also embolden them to look after their money with the cool gifts for teenage & older boys of a Batman Wallet or Simpsons. With so many different inspiring and fun gift ideas for teenage & older boys, TOPBOYTOYS.COM is a great place for dads and mums, uncles, aunties, and grandparents to shop for the best cool gifts for boys age 12, teenage or older boys of all ages. Find fun stocking fillers here as well as unusual and inspirational COOL GIFTS FOR 12 YEAR OLD BOYS that you know will be enjoyed for a long time to come. Do you need to treasure trove a great present for a young boy between the age of 7 and 12? Why not let make it easier for you with our selection of best cool gifts for boys between the age of 7 and 12, where you can filter the results by gift popularity and budget? Based on your search conclusion, you can find the perfect gift for boys a lot easier and in a lot less time! Being able to find best gifts for child recipients immediate does not mean that TOP BOY TOYS has a smaller range of gifts because it is quite the contradictory! TOPBOYTOYS has one of the larger compilation of best cool gifts for kids & teenage boys.   Read the full article

[kateemmerson]

THE SASSY SYNCHRONISTIC STUFF OF SIMPLY SHOWING UP

THE SASSY SYNCHRONISTIC STUFF OF SIMPLY SHOWING UP #Minimalist meanderings

Recently in the quaint country of Romania for some work, I experienced some (well SEVERAL) sassy synchronistic stuff unfold as I allowed the special energy of this beautiful city take over for a while. I was staying in a flash 5 star hotel as a guest of my host in the country (Sassy #1 – having been delightfully upgraded from an already wonderful 4 star hotel as upon checking in they were renovating that back part of the hotel and a band had extended their stay, so they had no room at that Inn and so they “moved me” to the ooh la la Radisson on the front) Ooh I love that I believe in unexpected delights!

Sassy #2 – there were strelitzias basking on the new concierge’s desk at check in. Hello South Africa. The Radisson was also directly opposite the main concert hall near the old walled city, and 2 days later I discovered there was a special concert on THAT evening. How?

I had been gifted a three-hour private walking and driving tour of the city earlier by my hosts, and we happened to go inside the concert hall to view it’s historical magnificence when we stumbled across some deeply inspirational choral practice whilst looking up at the domed ceilings with awe. Sassy #3 – My amazing tour guide mentioned there was a very special concert on that evening – nudge nudge wink wink.

Sassy #4 – we then landed up in front of the “palace” that was built under Communist rule, now the seat of government. My host proclaimed, that although being Romanian she had never yet been inside or had the tour, and that sadly you need to submit your passport at least 24 hours before in order to get inside. We were marveling at it from the parking lot. Then she gets a twinkle in her eye and says- shall we try and get in? She made a phone call to a friend who works inside, and even though he WASN’T working that particular day he said – go to the entrance and they will allow you to visit today! My host and guide both decided I was their lucky charm, making everything so easy and effortless.

I started feeling a bit lousy in the afternoon after returning from the tour, and had taken myself off to bed for an afternoon nap, contemplating the concert that night. 35 minutes before the start of the concert, I knew I would regret not trying to get a ticket, so I dragged myself out of bed again, splashed my face and added a dash of lipstick, walked across to the “late sales” booth at the side, and stood in a long queue.

Mmmm bed seemed very appealing again. Waiting, slowly.

I saw a very well dressed elderly gentleman standing near the queue for the 15 minutes I was there and kept wondering what he was doing? He wasn’t talking to anyone, but kept trying to motion to them. I kinda felt sorry for him. As I got to the front of the kiosk, they told me they only accepted CASH> >>>aaaargh I only had my card. Cash machine here? No! Tickets were 75 leu and I had only 40 leu cash on me. Damn. Maybe the other Hotel across the road could convert my foreign money, as I knew my own hotel didn’t do that. In Romania what is weird is that all the hotels only work in Euro’s, as it’s now part of the EU, yet all the local shops and establishment still use Romanian Leu, the original, local currency. It’s a tad confusing.

That Hotel also had no local money for me and the banks had closed ten minutes ago.

Eventually after 10 minutes – with the show now starting in ten minutes, I found a cash machine, realizing it would dispense in local currency. DUH! Now, a little weird travel lesson from South Africa. We are considered a slightly “dodgy” country, you know because we look and sound just like Nigeria where most of the money laundering in the world happens. Every time I leave SA I spend about an hour on the phone calling my two banks and getting all my business and credit cards cleared for the countries of my travel, otherwise any foreign transactions might be deemed fraudulent transactions. And even after doing that time-consuming clearance, they can still decline transactions when I’m overseas. So I have multiple cards with multiple options so as not to get caught out.

It took me three cards to be able to draw cash from THIS Romanian machine!

Right – dash back, sweating and huffing to the queue, now with less than 5 minutes till show time. Old man still there. Sassy #5 – He shows me a ticket and says “you for one?” He seems to “imply” he has a ticket (in very broken English and of course I am 200% fluent in Romanian) so I go to the kiosk lady and get her to verify the ticket is indeed valid as there was no date on it (that’s how their special season tickets work apparently) and he says he wants only 60 leu for it. B for bargain, as the tickets were  originally 75 leu.

“COME” he urges, “we late”.

As we are walking and running up the stairs he manages to convey to me that his wife is home and ill and this is her season ticket – pretty good communication hey? We walk into this uppermost concert room and I gasp. OMG – vast, bold, exquisite and ornate. Everyone dressed to the nines and I am transported to ancient Eastern European grandeur.

Sassy #6 – He proceeds to walk to the FRONT ROW. I am front and centre and can hear the musicians breathe as they are warming up. In and out, deep and crisp and even. And the faint squeak the violin string makes before the haunting sound is emitted across the air. I can reach out and touch the conductor as he sashays to the front and lifts his baton!

I can see him twitch and sweat beads form on his brow.

Front row tickets for simply BEING in a city on a night and being willing to show up. I am in awe of the magic of life.

Too often we try and PRE control and PRE book. I believe there is a place for that, but I do love the magic of being in the moment and letting life unfold! FRONT ROW SEATS UNFOLDS! Sassy #7 -The next morning as I head outside to my taxi back to the airport to leave for Greece to run a writing retreat, I see the music conductor sitting in the hotel lobby. Already half way through the revolving door, I make a split second decision to do the full 360 degree circle and get out where I started. I walked up to him, apologized for interrupting his Sunday morning with his female companion, shook his hand and said how marvelous it was that I had enjoyed the privilege of being in the front row the night before. “I remember you, madam, thank you” he said, smiling and eyes twinkling.

And that is how I love to travel.

Do you need to start letting sassy magic unfold in YOUR life? Perhaps I can share some of my methods with you over the next few months?

Last week, I had 90 minutes to “kill” before meeting a dear friend for a mutually soulful chat and had gone early to make sure I was in the right place. So literally killing time, wondering where to go to I was just meandering along in my Russian hat. This “random” guy, bit older than me, Kevin to be precise, stop and says, “I know this is weird but I have (Sassy #8) “time to kill” before making my way to my theatre show tonight with friends and may I buy you a cup of coffee. You look really interesting”. I shrieked with laughter, looked a little shocked and amused at the same time and promptly tuned into my spirit and said yes. I KNOW some of you are reading this with many many “WTF is wrong with you Kate!!!” going round in your head.

As we sat and chatted and told each other a bit about ourselves, (and please let me re-iterate with zero weirdness or innuendos or sexual undertones whatsoever) I was telling him about my new book being released this year helping clients to get really clear on the complex emotional issues of detaching emotionally from a home before putting in on the market to sell, and to support people to sell, pack and move with ease. He just looks at me and smiles – he is about to sell his house and it’s a potentially complicated story with the house and…..Sassy #9 he ALSO works for a well-known estate agent in his town. Now – here’s the rub – I am I the process of looking for potential “brand partners” in the whole property industry, alongside “guinea pigs” to keep working with the material to give me feedback on how it all works for them. Social proof if you like. So this sassy just tickled me pink.

And then there was today catching a bus on a sad, dreary day from Rugby – saying goodbye to my mum on the side of the road just as the light was just coming u, I start chatting the the guy waiting for the bus with me, also headed to Heathrow Airport. Sitting across the aisle, we simply chat about where we are headed and why, and spend the next two hours chatting about work, life, beauty therapy, making brave bold choices in life and business and following our dreams. He landed up Sassy #10 – lugging my suitcase between the buses whilst we waited for an hour and he bought me a mug of tea and became my companion for a while on the road. We even landed up looking at his new brand logos for his business.

Yep, I speak to strangers and I let my trust in people, the world and what we are all doing here seep into my soul at every turn. It’s all to easy to shut off, shut down and shut up. How is that working for YOU?

  Call me crazy, call me naïve, call me mad. Or worse. I call it “THE SASSY SYNCHRONISTIC STUFF OF SIMPLY SHOWING UP”. And I mean showing up with trust, openness, love, compassion and your wits about you at every turn. Let life and people surprise the hell out of you, shock you and win you over. Yes, it’s a bit of a dare!

  WANT TO FIND YOUR OWN VERSION OF SASSY?

I am so passionate about this concept of LIVING IN THE MOMENT and being in love with your real self (as in deeply proud of who you are and how you live your life) and for me it all starts with HONESTY.

The starting point is simply to TAKE STOCK in all 8 areas of life, so that you get clear on WHERE YOU are and what is and isn’t working for you.

I have created an entire video series – FREE of charge to support you to get started. Click here to  QUICK SHIFT 1 THING using the 4  G-SPOTS of TRANSFORMATION If I can help you do that as smartly as possible, then you will have some starting points to let yourself meander and BE. And that is good for ALL of us. My mission is to help you find your own SASSY and SHIFT!

When you sign up, you will need to confirm your e-mail address, and get stuck into the first video with pen and paper. Then I will send you 2 more videos.

These 3 live videos will cover the 4 G spots of Transformation – Grips, Gap, Grow and Guts.

TAKING STOCK in all 8 areas will help you figure in which 1 area YOU need to shift immediately.

Then further down the line you will be invited to “The Cappuccino Challenge” -another surefire way to stay HONEST with YOURSELF. Courageous acts of self-love every day for 30 days. Loved by THOUSANDS of CLIENTS that have transformed their lives permanently in just 20 minutes a day  –  Just so you know what’s in store for you as you join my “tribe” ok?

LET’S GET YOU STARTED RIGHT AWAY

With lightness,

THE SASSY SYNCHRONISTIC STUFF OF SIMPLY SHOWING UP was originally published on Kate Emmerson - The Quick Shift Deva