"too flattering-sweet to be substantial..."
That quote, from Romeo and Juliet, is how I kind of feel about this month of August, this interim relaxation period between Cornell and SLU. It is so relaxing and carefree, and I watch way too much TV and write way too often/much in my LJ, and I sleep in way too late... it is "not life [...] it is a stolen season." (ok, that's not shakespeare. but it is shakespeare in love!)
I've had a relaxing two days. I've happily watched Scrubs, Friends, and America's Next Top Model in excess. I've done a bit of yoga and read about half my book. It occurred to me yesterday as I was reading and taking notes on the book (god so helpful) that I'm wasting time and energy taking notes with pen and paper, and wanted to kick myself for not thinking of taking notes on the computer! durh, that would have been smarter/easier. Oh well. Maybe I'll start that for the next chapter. But then again, maybe I am leaning more by writing it by hand... well, not enough more to have it be worth the wrist cramps and lost time.
Today I spent some time running Shakespeare scenes with Casey. I loved doing it for several reasons -
1) I love reading, hearing, saying, and thinking about Shakespeare.
2) I loved that I could be helpful to Casey in a theatre-related way. I so rarely get to be a part of that part of his life.
3) It was kind of romantic to be reading the "But soft, what light through yonder window breaks" scene with Casey, even if he does think it is overly sappy and that makes it hard for him to get into. I say he needs to be in better touch with his emotions, because damn that is a beautifully written scene.
4) Selfishly, it was fun to read a play aloud, as if I were an actor myself. I was telling Danielle the other day about how I wish I could have had time to major in a LOT of things in college. Could I have become a good actor if I worked at it four years? Maybe? (probably not.) How good of an artist would I have been if I had worked on my pottery for four years? Probably VERY good. How much great literature would I have read if I had been an English major? How good could I have gotten if I had decided to join orchestra at Cornell? etc. I LOVE the major I chose, but I sometimes wish that I had time to pursue all my talents/interests to their fullest potential!
I think the only thing I didn't like about it was that we really only worked a few scenes, and his audition is tomorrow. He says he can only work on it so long because it's hard and wears out his brain and tongue, and he doesn't seem tooooo nervous about the audition tomorrow. I need to remember that it is HIS career, not mine, and that just because I over-study and over-prepare for things, doesn't mean that he should or will. I definitely think there's a place for him in this play, and that with the prep he's done in the last two days, he'll be fine at the cold reading. I just hope he's decided to be done for tonight because he feels as ready as he wants/needs to be, and not because it's hard and he doesn't want to work hard anymore tonight. He'll need a strong drive to produce good, thoughtful work and to go after what he wants in this business. I suppose plenty of people succeed in life just fine without my (possibly excessive) work ethic and need for preparation. I mean, his monologue was great and he did secure himself a callback no problem. And once he's read through a scene, he really does say the lines quite nicely. I guess we'll see how tomorrow goes. I so want him to do well and land a role!
Also, OMG OPENING CEREMONIES OF THE OLYMPICS. If you didn't see them, find a way, because those Chinese sure know how to put on a performance!!! I can't wait to start watching the games - especially gymnastics, equestrian, judo, softball, and diving!
I've had a relaxing two days. I've happily watched Scrubs, Friends, and America's Next Top Model in excess. I've done a bit of yoga and read about half my book. It occurred to me yesterday as I was reading and taking notes on the book (god so helpful) that I'm wasting time and energy taking notes with pen and paper, and wanted to kick myself for not thinking of taking notes on the computer! durh, that would have been smarter/easier. Oh well. Maybe I'll start that for the next chapter. But then again, maybe I am leaning more by writing it by hand... well, not enough more to have it be worth the wrist cramps and lost time.
Today I spent some time running Shakespeare scenes with Casey. I loved doing it for several reasons -
1) I love reading, hearing, saying, and thinking about Shakespeare.
2) I loved that I could be helpful to Casey in a theatre-related way. I so rarely get to be a part of that part of his life.
3) It was kind of romantic to be reading the "But soft, what light through yonder window breaks" scene with Casey, even if he does think it is overly sappy and that makes it hard for him to get into. I say he needs to be in better touch with his emotions, because damn that is a beautifully written scene.
4) Selfishly, it was fun to read a play aloud, as if I were an actor myself. I was telling Danielle the other day about how I wish I could have had time to major in a LOT of things in college. Could I have become a good actor if I worked at it four years? Maybe? (probably not.) How good of an artist would I have been if I had worked on my pottery for four years? Probably VERY good. How much great literature would I have read if I had been an English major? How good could I have gotten if I had decided to join orchestra at Cornell? etc. I LOVE the major I chose, but I sometimes wish that I had time to pursue all my talents/interests to their fullest potential!
I think the only thing I didn't like about it was that we really only worked a few scenes, and his audition is tomorrow. He says he can only work on it so long because it's hard and wears out his brain and tongue, and he doesn't seem tooooo nervous about the audition tomorrow. I need to remember that it is HIS career, not mine, and that just because I over-study and over-prepare for things, doesn't mean that he should or will. I definitely think there's a place for him in this play, and that with the prep he's done in the last two days, he'll be fine at the cold reading. I just hope he's decided to be done for tonight because he feels as ready as he wants/needs to be, and not because it's hard and he doesn't want to work hard anymore tonight. He'll need a strong drive to produce good, thoughtful work and to go after what he wants in this business. I suppose plenty of people succeed in life just fine without my (possibly excessive) work ethic and need for preparation. I mean, his monologue was great and he did secure himself a callback no problem. And once he's read through a scene, he really does say the lines quite nicely. I guess we'll see how tomorrow goes. I so want him to do well and land a role!
Also, OMG OPENING CEREMONIES OF THE OLYMPICS. If you didn't see them, find a way, because those Chinese sure know how to put on a performance!!! I can't wait to start watching the games - especially gymnastics, equestrian, judo, softball, and diving!