Got My Vans On But They Look Like Sneakers

Finished the play on Sunday. It went pretty perfectly, if I do say so myself. We tore the set down afterward, and I ripped my pants (random). To get a little deeper into it, I love the play. Always have, even during M*A*S*H, which was probably the worst script I'll ever encounter in my life. It's going to be tough losing this years seniors, not only because of their talent (now that will really devastate the program), but because of their personalities. Zach is the diva. Nolan is the funniest kid I know who isn't an asshole (Kyle, I'm looking directly at your Socialist ass). Ryan is the man all around. Trev really grew on me during this show, bouncing back from being kicked off the cast to delivering a helluva performance, and being an all-around awesome guy. Emily's like a brother (I hope she sees the humor in that). Megan and Anetta are lesbians. What kid of guy doesn't love hot lesbians?

I'll miss them, that's what I'm trying to say. If I can be so humble, I gave a hell of a performance. Shit, I gave two great performances, with the roles I was given. This may be a double-edged sword, though, because there is an excellent chance I'll land the lead in the straight drama next year (I'll have to work on my singing to get musical lead, but it's not much of a stretch). That'll mean I will have to lead a pack of mostly inexperienced actors in a situation with no one to look to. Kind of scary.

Speaking of next year's place, Cosco, Chris, Kyle, and I have been talking about what it might be. I think GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS would be excellent, although we would have to axe the 138 f-bombs they use. It would be such a difficult play to pull off, just because of the dialogue and lengthy scenes (it would even be hard for an experienced cast, which we won't have). I watched the film again, which happened to be on IFC, and it grew on me. I saw it once, probably a year and a half ago, and I wasn't crazy about it. Not a bad movie, but didn't blow my skirt up. It did this time around, though. Maybe it's because I've seen a lot of movies, read a lot about them, and been in two dialogue-driven plays since the last time I saw it, but I appreciated the absolutely exceptional script and delivery of dialogue the movie had. Al Pacino, Jack Lemmon, Alan Arkin, Ed Harris, (a young) Kevin Spacey, and a fire-cracking, jaw-droppingly awesome Alec Baldwin all give exceptional performances as guys trying to get by in the real estate world. The film contains many long takes, letting the characters go at one another back and forth, back and forth, and it fucking works. God must have hit the snooze button by letting only Al Pacino get nominated for an Oscar for this, considering he only gave the third best performance of the movie. Jack Lemmon, whose Shelly "The Machine" Levine is a salesman too old for the job who can't keep up with the times, is astounding. His performance radiated tragedy, from his ooey-gooey, futile sales pitches on the phone to breaking down in a phone booth from hearing he can't keep his daughter in school, to his final scene. All the while, the direction stays restrained, not giving into the cliches or soap opera bullshit. The tension piles up, and it keeps getting better.

And can I applaud Alec Baldwin, please? The guy was on-screen for seven minutes and stole the whole show. His monologue, a venting of hate and bravura to an office full of men who quickly wilt in to schoolgirls, is one of the greatest supporting performances I've ever seen. The guy has made a career of giving great side performances, from the oblivious (but smart enough to not get killed) captain in THE DEPARTED, his seething asshole Juan Trippe in THE AVIATOR, and his role in 30 ROCK, which he actually won the Leading Actor Emmy for. Watch the clip on YouTube, and try not to want to rent the movie. It's just so fucking awesome.

"First price is a new Cadillac El Doraldo. Anyone want to see second prize? Second prize is a box of steak knives. Third prize is you're fired."

I've been joining Facebook groups like crazy. I love it.

That's all for now.
*I've started titling non-review posts as lyrics from songs, if anyone is still asking "WTF?!".