Touring is traditionally an adventure playground for young actors and those who would remain young past their first youth; oats are sown, hell is raised, candles are burned at both ends. The twin excitements of a new town and an almost unbroken succession of first nights, every one a triumph of adrenalin over adversity, added to the curious sense of truancy involved in being away from home create an emotional wildness.
--Simon Callow, "Orson Welles: The Road to Xanadu"
Sounds like fun. What tour was he on?!
Welcome back--did you miss me? Last week's layoff week marked the end of my first year with "Spamalot" and so I suppose this begins the next major phase of this journey for me. The week off afforded me some time to get my holiday shopping done in New York, and to enjoy an early celebration with my Mom and family up in Massachusetts.
It is perhaps timely that I write something about our lovely leading lady, Esther Stilwell, since we are in Esther's hometown this week.
If you have seen the show, you know what all of us know about Esther--that she is an attractive, graceful young woman with a stunning, powerful voice. Hers is one of those great show business stories about the start of a young performer's career. Esther studied at the University of Oklahoma and spent a summer at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in England; upon graduation she did a handful of shows including a couple for Disney and the 25th anniversary tour of "Cats," in which she played Grizzabella. But "Spamalot" was her first professional job; she was brought in as the stand by for Lady of the Lake when the national tour was forming and toured with the company in that capacity for the first year. When the reigning Lady left the show, Mike Nichols and the other creative team members decided to give Esther a wonderful break and move her into the role. Thus, in her early 20s and at the start of her professional career, Miss Stilwell became the diva leading lady of a major Broadway national tour. Yet for all the hoopla, Esther is incredibly down to earth, self effacing, sweet natured and real. I believe she owes these qualities to a strong background of family and faith right here in her home town of Fayetteville. She welcomed us here with great warmth, leaving goodie bags for all of us at our hotels, complete with lists of her favorite spots around town and delicious chunks of her own homemade fudge, and her parents hosted our opening night party in their home. Esther will be leaving us in January and there is no doubt that she will be much missed. And the fudge was divine, by the way.
Fayetteville is the home of the University of Arkansas, and has all the qualities of a college town, with a charming campus and a downtown strip of pubs, restaurants and fun shops.
In the heart of this district is the Walton Arts Center, our theatre this week. The result of a collaboration between University of Arkansas, the city of Fayetteville, and Sam Walton (the founder of Wal-Mart, which has its headquarters in nearby Bentonville), the theatre was opened in 1992. It's a somewhat institutional feeling building, a far cry from some of the ornate old theatres we have played recently, and the interior of dull tan colored seats looks rather like an enormous graham cracker. Aesthetics aside, the Walton Center is a well supported, integral part of the Northwest Arkansas region, as evinced by our sold out houses this week.
I admit I have not done a great deal of sightseeing here in Fayetteville. My hotel is out on a highway and we are carpooling, plus there are not too many attractions in this town. There is a museum in honor of Bill and Hillary Clinton, commemorating their time spent here, teaching at the University of Arkansas School of Law. The Fayetteville Public Library is said to be one of the best in the nation. I regret to say I did not visit either institution. It's been a week of simple pleasures--some shopping, internet surfing, reading, and generally hanging out. Sometimes weeks like this are so very welcome on tour--resting and recharging is necessary and places like Fayetteville are great for that.
The highlight of the week has been watching our company game of "Secret Santa" unfold. Every night people are finding goodies and gifts at their dressing stations, being treated to poetic recitations, sent on scavenger hunts, being made to wear funny clothes, finding their spot in the quick change booth festooned with Christmas lights and wreaths. Several of the folks who elected not to participate in the gift giving have volunteered as "elves" to deliver goodies; here is Brad Bradley in full elf regalia ready for duty!
My dresser this week is Melissa, and this is only her second time doing this.
She's a nice, soft spoken young lady who executed her duties to perfection on her very first night. She says her sister is a theatre major but Melissa is more interested in art history, because she wants a job that will afford her opportunities to travel. I harangued her with talk of my passion for the Italian Baroque, and recommended all sorts of books to her, poor girl! Ah well. So, folks, next time I write it will be after Christmas and Hanukkah have passed. I want to wish you and yours the happiest and healthiest of holidays! Take time during this next week--of last minute shopping, tallying up receipts, dashing from one commitment to another, and in general overindulging as we all do this time of year-- to just sit quietly and remember how fortunate you are. In this season of giving, make time to give back to yourself in the form of positive thoughts and feelings of gratitude. And if you can, do something for someone less fortunate this year. The "Spamalot" company has "adopted" two families in Des Moines and it has been a source of great joy for each of us to contribute to making the holiday warm and happy for these deserving people. Give your loved ones the greatest gift you can give--your affection, your embrace, your appreciation and your love.
The best of times is now
What's left of summer but a faded rose?
The best of times is now
As for tomorrow, well, who knows, who knows, who knows?
So hold this moment fast
And live and love as hard as you know how
And make this moment last
Because the best of times is now, is now, is now...
--Jerry Herman
No comments:
Post a Comment