For the Birds
For the record, I'm not really a bird fan. I don't wish them ill or anything, (I don't even eat them) but in general, they don't do much for me, either in reality or symbolically. And some of them I do actively dislike, most notably the geese that poop all over walking paths, stop city traffic, and try to attack me when I'm running.
But I really love being in the one-act show "Bird Icon" (for the record, "for the record" is something my character, Claire, says in the play.) From our first read-through for "Bird Icon" I thought it was an amazing script, but couldn't tell if I was just bedazzled by the thrill of it. After all, I'm involved in an original production where I have a key role written, at least in part, with me in mind.
So wait, pause the action for a moment...how did I get this opportunity? In one of those rather labyrinthine chain of events that would almost make me believe in the providence of theater deities and/or fate (two ideas that I normally actively rage against, but then again, I rage against mayo) I knew "Bird Icon's" playwright, Jim Lundy.
I met Jim just about two years ago. In the spring of 2012 I was cast as Claire in Jim's one act "Broken Hill," staged as part of the Eat Street Players Fresh Bites Festival. I was dubious about taking the role...from just reading the script, I couldn't tell if I would actually be on stage or if I would just be doing a prerecorded voice-over (my character was basically a voice in taped messages). Thankfully, I did get to be on stage, and we ended up performing "Broken Hill" not only for Fresh Bites but also for the 2012 Fringe and for the Minnesota Association of Community Theaters' festival in 2013. Claire's part morphed during these different productions and Jim's rewrites included the addition of the infamous (at least in the Chamy household) sexy pizza-making scene. (And, for me, a rather ironic scene...mostly because I don't cook/bake/make pizza, but if I did, I would NOT want the process interrupted by sex. Unromantic, I know, but I hate movie scenes where someone makes an elaborate meal that never gets eaten because sex gets in the way. It's worse than mayo).
Being a part of "Broken Hill" was a great experience, so earlier this year, when "our" theater company Applause was again pondering how to participate in another community theater festival (this time for short shows, so aptly named Fast Fest) I thought of Jim. (Another historical aside: Applause is not really our theater company and it has a long and glorious history as a community theater in Bunsville/Lakeville, but in its present incarnation it is pretty much Chad and I and our friend Gary. This is actually really awesome and we have a great time rehearsing in our sun room, or our church, or various library meeting rooms, and performing wherever we can, but Applause will grow...)
On a red-wine fueled whim, I asked Jim if was he was working on anything that might work for Applause to do at Fast Fest. I thought it was pretty presumptuous to ask Jim to write something for us, but was inspired by the aforementioned red wine. Luckily, Jim was in the midst of working on something, and thought having a deadline would help the process. He also thought having actors in mind to write for would be helpful (rather than confining as I feared).
So once again I am playing a Claire who is love with Pete (this time played by Chad) in a Jim Lundy production. It may or may not be the same Claire and Pete as in "Broken Hill," or maybe we are the same characters in a different timeline?, although Chad says absolutely not. (Chad really wants no connection to the infamous sexy pizza-making scene). And while I am actually not my character Claire (I know that, okay, really I do...) it's pretty amazing to get to be a character that embodies all the personality quirks that I usually need to suppress (or at least appropriately try to channel) to play other roles, much less get through daily life. Claire is hyperactive and goofy and flailing and dramatic and needy and striving and says whatever pops into her head and speaks in run-on sentences...
By now you have read OVER 650 words and are probably still wondering, what in the hell is this bird show about?! I have half-jokingly described "Bird Icon" as a show about parental death, which is at least partially and literally true, but not really snappy marketing. Although death of a parent is the subject matter that speaks most directly to me, "Bird Icon" is about so much more. It's not really a plot-driven piece, but a character-focused exploration of how we try to make something of our lives, through art, theater, and love, and more mundane pleasures like food and sports and ferns. Did I mention that CHAD PLAYS A VIKINGS FAN?! So yeah, Bird Icon might just break you heart a tiny bit (at least if you are drinking while watching it which you can totally do at Bedlam!!) but it will also make you laugh, too (and not just in the nervous, awkward, Minnesota Lutheran way).
I am kind of in awe of this whole process of bringing "Bird Icon" to life. I'm so thankful to Jim for sharing his work with us, and trusting us with this beautiful and funny script, inspired at least, in part, by the recent death of his father. (Yet another aside but it is fascinating to get a glimpse into the process of writing and how real life experiences spark fiction that manifests in different ways). And working with "my guys," Chad and Gary, is always a blast and an honor. (So yeah, I want Applause to grow, but also don't want to share...the stage or my guys!). Okay, for the record, Chad and I did have at least one noticeable tiff during a rehearsal, but it's all part of the creative process, right?
I do hope hordes (that is, tens) of people come to see us at our rapidly approaching shows at Bedlam, but I am really just grateful for the chance to perform "Bird Icon." AND, if you, or your workplace, or secret society, whatever, have a relatively large living room or meeting room, or better yet, basement, or garage, we are totally mobile. We will bring this show to you, your family, employers/coworkers, grand poobahs, and/or your pets. (NO geese though).
But I really love being in the one-act show "Bird Icon" (for the record, "for the record" is something my character, Claire, says in the play.) From our first read-through for "Bird Icon" I thought it was an amazing script, but couldn't tell if I was just bedazzled by the thrill of it. After all, I'm involved in an original production where I have a key role written, at least in part, with me in mind.
So wait, pause the action for a moment...how did I get this opportunity? In one of those rather labyrinthine chain of events that would almost make me believe in the providence of theater deities and/or fate (two ideas that I normally actively rage against, but then again, I rage against mayo) I knew "Bird Icon's" playwright, Jim Lundy.
I met Jim just about two years ago. In the spring of 2012 I was cast as Claire in Jim's one act "Broken Hill," staged as part of the Eat Street Players Fresh Bites Festival. I was dubious about taking the role...from just reading the script, I couldn't tell if I would actually be on stage or if I would just be doing a prerecorded voice-over (my character was basically a voice in taped messages). Thankfully, I did get to be on stage, and we ended up performing "Broken Hill" not only for Fresh Bites but also for the 2012 Fringe and for the Minnesota Association of Community Theaters' festival in 2013. Claire's part morphed during these different productions and Jim's rewrites included the addition of the infamous (at least in the Chamy household) sexy pizza-making scene. (And, for me, a rather ironic scene...mostly because I don't cook/bake/make pizza, but if I did, I would NOT want the process interrupted by sex. Unromantic, I know, but I hate movie scenes where someone makes an elaborate meal that never gets eaten because sex gets in the way. It's worse than mayo).
 |
| Chad and I as Pete and Claire..."Let's make out quickly, I have peanut butter to eat!" |
Being a part of "Broken Hill" was a great experience, so earlier this year, when "our" theater company Applause was again pondering how to participate in another community theater festival (this time for short shows, so aptly named Fast Fest) I thought of Jim. (Another historical aside: Applause is not really our theater company and it has a long and glorious history as a community theater in Bunsville/Lakeville, but in its present incarnation it is pretty much Chad and I and our friend Gary. This is actually really awesome and we have a great time rehearsing in our sun room, or our church, or various library meeting rooms, and performing wherever we can, but Applause will grow...)
On a red-wine fueled whim, I asked Jim if was he was working on anything that might work for Applause to do at Fast Fest. I thought it was pretty presumptuous to ask Jim to write something for us, but was inspired by the aforementioned red wine. Luckily, Jim was in the midst of working on something, and thought having a deadline would help the process. He also thought having actors in mind to write for would be helpful (rather than confining as I feared).
So once again I am playing a Claire who is love with Pete (this time played by Chad) in a Jim Lundy production. It may or may not be the same Claire and Pete as in "Broken Hill," or maybe we are the same characters in a different timeline?, although Chad says absolutely not. (Chad really wants no connection to the infamous sexy pizza-making scene). And while I am actually not my character Claire (I know that, okay, really I do...) it's pretty amazing to get to be a character that embodies all the personality quirks that I usually need to suppress (or at least appropriately try to channel) to play other roles, much less get through daily life. Claire is hyperactive and goofy and flailing and dramatic and needy and striving and says whatever pops into her head and speaks in run-on sentences...
By now you have read OVER 650 words and are probably still wondering, what in the hell is this bird show about?! I have half-jokingly described "Bird Icon" as a show about parental death, which is at least partially and literally true, but not really snappy marketing. Although death of a parent is the subject matter that speaks most directly to me, "Bird Icon" is about so much more. It's not really a plot-driven piece, but a character-focused exploration of how we try to make something of our lives, through art, theater, and love, and more mundane pleasures like food and sports and ferns. Did I mention that CHAD PLAYS A VIKINGS FAN?! So yeah, Bird Icon might just break you heart a tiny bit (at least if you are drinking while watching it which you can totally do at Bedlam!!) but it will also make you laugh, too (and not just in the nervous, awkward, Minnesota Lutheran way).
I am kind of in awe of this whole process of bringing "Bird Icon" to life. I'm so thankful to Jim for sharing his work with us, and trusting us with this beautiful and funny script, inspired at least, in part, by the recent death of his father. (Yet another aside but it is fascinating to get a glimpse into the process of writing and how real life experiences spark fiction that manifests in different ways). And working with "my guys," Chad and Gary, is always a blast and an honor. (So yeah, I want Applause to grow, but also don't want to share...the stage or my guys!). Okay, for the record, Chad and I did have at least one noticeable tiff during a rehearsal, but it's all part of the creative process, right?
I do hope hordes (that is, tens) of people come to see us at our rapidly approaching shows at Bedlam, but I am really just grateful for the chance to perform "Bird Icon." AND, if you, or your workplace, or secret society, whatever, have a relatively large living room or meeting room, or better yet, basement, or garage, we are totally mobile. We will bring this show to you, your family, employers/coworkers, grand poobahs, and/or your pets. (NO geese though).
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