Gypsies, Tramps, and...Wizards?

There are a few things I want to delve into today, so here goes. Where to start?

Well, tomorrow's the big day. Today, actually...technically. Well, technically tomorrow, but...whatev.


Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Six words, ten syllables, thirty letters...tens of thousands of thoughts floating through my head.

I've got my copy on reserve at Barnes and Noble. And here I sit, a whole 22 hours to go, with butterflies in my stomach. I'm nervous. Is that insane? It's hitting me...the finality of the whole affair. I walked by a three-story screen in Times Square last night beaming the words "There Will Soon Be 7" upon the streets of New York. People read it aloud as they walked by and at once I realized how personal and universal a phenomonen the whole thing is. It's the most beloved book series in the world, but I feel like it's mine. It's special and it has a huge hold on my heart. That's the genius.

::sigh::

J.K. Rowling has set up for such final moments. A graduation, a wedding, DEATH, among others...and I think more than excitement, it's those things that are keeping my tummy in a flux. When I pick up my copy, it'll be the last time I buy a Harry Potter book for the first time. When I read the first page it'll be the last first page and when I close the book for the first time it'll be the last time I close a Harry Potter book for the first time.

::goes crosseyed::

So maybe I'm being dramatic..

But can ya blame me?

Anyway, enough about that.

Today is Ellie's birthday. And to celebrate, Tina, Ellie and I went to see PATTI LUPONE in "Gypsy". Notice the difference in size? Yeah, thought so. That should give you an idea of the evening.

I think what bothered me really (which wasn't Patti Lupone's performance, which I really liked), was that after so many performances of the show, it's like the character is in service of the actress rather than the other way around. What I mean is that the original character was made iconic by the potrayal...and every significant performance of it since then has been because the actress blows the lid off the role...whereas this sort of felt like, "We have an iconic actress playing an iconic role! Aren't you SO impressed?!" You know what? Give me a no-name who goes balls to the walls. Not Patti Lupone, who, while good, seemed aware that she was an actress playing Mama Rose rather than actually being Mama Rose. Do you see? Do you follow? Ok, maybe the performance bothered me slightly.

Eh...it was good. Not amazing.

And also...and this seems to becoming epidemic. I've discussed it with Lindsay, and we agree that we're somewhat stingy with our standing ovations. I'm all for standing and honoring a great performer or cast, but some people just toss 'em out there like it's nothing. As an actor, it's a great privelage to have an audience stand and applaud you. And there are four problems that arise when people stand IMMEDIATELY upon seeing the cast on stage...even when it's a mediocre show. One, it promotes the idea in peoples' minds that they should giving a standing ovation for EVERYTHING, not just the really special times. Two, if you're sitting behind these people, you can't see. Three, and this goes hand in hand with the last...sometimes I only want to stand for the performers that really moved me (ie, I stood for Lea Salonga in Les Mis, but not the tart playing Eponine, who...yeah). Third, I feel subconsciously judged by the people standing if I'm just sitting there like a bitchy lump. You know what? I'll stand when I'm ready to. I'm clapping, aren't I?

Ok, rant over. It's not really that big a deal...but I felt like mentioning it.

And that's it...the last blog I'll ever write before the first time I read the last Harry Potter book.

(...sorry.)