Michael Heller - Alfred - 16-10-2011
As promised a report on the last day of tanz der vampire in Stuttgart. A special day that had it’s start at the hotel in the early morning. I wasn’t able to sleep anymore, felt the nervs in my stomach and knew it would be a special day. I would be wearing my costume, like Alfred wears at Tanzsaal, for the first time and I was incredibly hoping to ( Read more... )
He sounds like such a lovely Alfred! I'm certain now that I would love him - I hope I get to see him! A lot of the things you describe sound so lovely. And some of them sound a lot like Tibor, or at times Ádám or other Hungarians... I'm not sure if they're things that have also been done in other productions but I just haven't seen them, or if Michael has been to Hungary or (most likely) if he's seen Tibor in Germany and picked up some things from him. Or he just has his own ideas that happen to be a lot like those of my darlings!
And Marc kissing Michael? *drools*
You know, I'm not bothered by not moving during Carpe noctem... Because contrary to popular belief, people don't move and twist about when having nightmares. When you're in the REM phase - the dream phase in which we have dreams and can remember them - your body is paralyzed and only your eyes move. So it's actually not very believable to move during the dream. I know it can help tell whose dream it is, but it always still bothers the scientifically oriented little me who knows it can't actually happen. Maybe Michael's also read about different dream phases and doesn't move because of that.
So he stroked his face with the sponge in Einladung? That's something I've up to now only seen Tibor and Ádám do, I think... Did he perchance also practice kissing with the sponge? :-) And so many details you describe are something I've seen them do and miss in most other Alfreds because they just make it so much more lively and real...
I'd write a lot longer, but I'm at work and actually supposed to be reading far less adorable things...
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I recognises really much different Alfreds in the Alfred Michael created. Of course I can't tell about the Hungarian, but he also did use parts from Fredrik, Niels, Dennis and even one thing I've seen so far only by Lukas Perman live. But as said: I can't say which things he had from the Hungarian. I heard that Michael, While watching the last show with Krisha, was playing along with his lips and body...I can understand that he traveled the world as soon as he knew he got the part to see as many as possible. Maybe he youtubed a lot of Alfreds too and created out of all this images his own Alfred! But maybe it are his own ideas, which makes them even more Brilliant! (I heard by the way that the two added textlines were not just for the prelast show! He does the always!)
And yes Marc was kissing Michael...poor guy...he needed the rest of the scene te recover from that experience. I guess that was a prelastshow joke, since marc didn't do that with Krisha (Or he just doesn't like Krisha as much as he likes Heller)
And I do understand that during the nightmare Alfred should lie still and should not catch the attention, but he didn't move at all. I like it when the professor makes the noice and than Alfred moves for a few moments. Just to make clear that it's the professor sleeping very well and Alfred having a great night. From the moment the real scene starts I don't care about the not moving part, but at the beginning it would be nice if he'd do something ;-)
He tried to imitate Sarahs movement with the sponge over his face, yes...I had seen Niels doing something like that, but exactly this? That was the first time. He didn't practice his kissing skills, as far as I've seen.
Looking forward to read more of your comments! I'll try to send you the audio as soon as possible...there is a lot of screaming on it, but you can hear Heller just fine I think! ;-)
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Wow, I love to hear about such a devoted actor who's so into the part he plays! And it's great that he seems to have seen many performances and incorporated ideas from them and also made completely his own thing... I would love to see him, to see what I think of him, but I think from all these things he does that I would like him. (Though I think I'd have to see that checking-the-pants thing before deciding if I like it or not, it can be too much or it can be funny depending on how it's done...)
Hehehe... All the better if Marc didn't kiss Krisha in the evening... He must like Michael extra special!!! Or Michael is easier to joke around and improvise things with. (Or he must be done things to since he's the new guy...)
And I like improvising lines. Ádám does that a lot, but he's the only one I've seen so far who does it. And I love the way you describe Michael fainting... Did the darling really have tears in his eyes? Bless him! I want to hug him already.
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It's really nice to see and hear. He seems to care about the part, about his own achievements and about how others sees him! (Maybe I should sent him the link to this report...) I do really like it when someone takes his job so serious! And I'm especially glad that he takes the part of Alfred so serious! (And believe me: the checking the pants thing was just cute...he didn't overdo it and it was not that big...it was just a shy look, or just try to grap something to hide it...he didn't want anyone on stage seeing it, so he acted it very small! It was really cute...And I bet 75% of the audience didn't get it at all ;-))
Or it has something to do with the fact that they had rehearsels together? I can understand that creates a special thing! And I wouldn't have kissed Michael either...he's more like a model-English-Student...he's so...stiff...
I never heard an Alfred improvising lines before, so it was really great to hear it at first!
And yes he really had tears in his eyes...or at least it looked like that...It was so cute...and the fainting was lovely...and I wanted to hug him the entire show!
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Who knows, he might be very interested to read how someone sees the way he plays the role, and I bet he doesn't often get to read such detailed reports! And OK, if he doesn't overdo the checking the pants thing then it can be cute. I do like it when an actor isn't afraid to play the erotic part of Alfred - he somehow has to have both the erotic awakening and the innocence. :-)
You mean you wouldn't have kissed Krisha, right? Not Michael?
It sounds like he does more improvising than any of the Alfreds I've seen or heard, but Ádám adds some little things. (For example in the He, ho, he reprise when Krolock disappears he doesn't only pull Professor's sleeve, he also says "Professor, he disappeared!" And some other bits, too.)
Aww... It's truly impressive if someone can really cry on stage (Gyuri really, really had me in Spring Awakening, he was crying for half of it or so...), and very few actors get so deep into Alfred's emotions that they can do something like that. I love him so much already!
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Hmm...I could try it of course...but maybe I've seen things wrong...would be really strange...he reads something and thinks "Huh? Did I really do that??" So, let's doubt a bit. If he googles for himself he'll find the review anyway! And no it's certainly not overdone...it's really the young boy being a bit insecure about his erotic awakening...I'm very sure a big part of the people didn't even see it. It was really cute!
I would certainly not have kissed Krisha! First of all he's avoiding me at the stage door, and second...why should I want to kiss Krisha after seeing Dennis and Michael? Michael would be very nice to kiss... (Damn...this is the point I can't sent him the link anymore...)
He really does a lot...he created his own Alfred and I loved it so much! It was interesting to watch every second! I'd love to see Adam too to compare them a bit, maybe Michael did have a little look at him! But I like it when an Alfred dares to react a bit more! There are so much possibilties!
I don't know if it was really crying, but at least I saw the lights reflect in the teardrops in his eyes...Niels had that also...it was really as if Michael (and Niels) was gonna cry, but was forcing himself not to...I think it's so cute! It's really as if he believes he lost the love of his life! (Damn...Gyuri crying half of it...that's so cute! In the Netherlands we had an actor playing Zaza in la cage aux folles who was really crying every night during the last song before the break...that was heartbreaking...so real!)
Can't wait to meet eachother in Berlin to watch Michael together!!!!
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You wrote in your previous comment (by mistake, I think) that you wouldn't have kissed Michael, that's why I asked if you rather meant Krisha. ;-) Mmm, I think Michael would be very nice to kiss, too... We should form a queue to him. (Hmm, I wonder what he would think of that...)
Doesn't Krisha avoid everyone at stage door? ;-)
Aww, Alfred on the verge of crying, that's really so sweet. And it shows they've gone properly into the character - not just seeing him as a side character with some funny moments and a romantic song, but really as a character with his own story for whom everything that happens, funny though it may sometimes be to the viewer, is really serious and meaningful... that they're really emotionally in the character. I love that.
And yes, Gyuri cried so much in Spring Awakening - and sometimes singing awesomely at the same time as he cried. It was amazing. And I was crying too, his performance was so powerful. I miss it.
We must see him together! I really will make sure I get there though I don't yet know how to afford it.
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Aha...that was a mistake yes...My mind couldn't force itself to think of Krisha, I guess ;-) But kissing Michael wouldn't be a punishment of course!!! And if we'd form an queue of it he'd be his shy little self not knowing how to react on it...he seems really shy and I really think all these fans are new to him...let's not scare him too much!
And I understand why Krisha avoid people at the stage door...I met some of his fans...but I don't want to kiss him or so, so he shouldn't be scared for me! ;-)
I don't think we have to be scared that Michael believes Alfred is just a side character with some funny moments...he really seems to love the part, he has thought about it and plays it with his whole heart and soul. I could easily forget the nice boy outside when he was on stage as Alfred. On stage he was just Alfred and not Michael....He really played his part as if he was the mean character! (And damn he's right!!!!!)
Wow...that's an achievement...singing and crying at the same time...I never succeed on that...but sounds really special! I can understand you miss it!!!!
We'll see how we make it happen...we still have some time left ;-) But it would be really nice!!!!
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Maybe your mind just didn't even want to form the words "kiss Krisha". :-D Mmm, I like that Michael is shy and not used to fans... It's always much sweeter when they're like that. But heh, a queue of girls wanting to kiss him might scare him and then we wouldn't be able to even talk to him on stage door, so maybe we shouldn't do that!
Yeah, Krisha's fans seem really scary, I don't blame him for avoiding them... And for disappearing into much more random shows now. :-P
From what you tell Michael definitely seems to have thought about Alfred and to love the character and know he's a main character with his own story. I love that! I wish they'd let him play the role through all of the Berlin run instead of coming up with some musical star...
I will make it to see him, I promise! And we must try to make it together.
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I think that was the problem...Kiss and Krisha in a sentence doesn't even work with the word NOT in it...But really he seemed so cute and shy at the stage door. He's not small at all (as you can see on the pics he's a bit bigger than I am and I am 1.69m) but he looks so small both on the stage door and on stage! Also at the stagedoor when the entire cast came out to listen to the songs of the fans..he was just outside in the crowd, hands in his jacket and hoping that no-one would see him...it seemed..of course I looked at him, but he clearly didn't want to "steal" the show...But indeed...let's not scare him too much...would be nice to have a talk with him at the stage door!
I certainly do not blame Krisha for avoiding some of his fans, but it would have been nice to get a picture with him...just because love and hate are not that much of a difference ;-)
I don't know what's the reason he won't be playing those months...I know it will be better for my wallet for sure, since I can't imagine the coming Alfred being as lovely as Hellerchen. (Unless it's Fredrik, then I'm gonna live in Berlin for those months, but that's more a dream than reality ;-))
As soon as you know more...let's search for a date to go! Would be really nice to meet eachother while seeing Hellerchen as Alfred! ;-)
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It's funny how someone can seem small even when they're not... I guess he's about average height, then? But something about him seems all cute and tiny. Maybe it's the adorableness and shyness, those characteristics at least don't make you seem bigger than you are!
I also can't easily imagine they'll get a lovelier Alfred than him... Unless they get Tibor back. ;-) Then I would have to see them both to decide which one is the loveliest for me!
I'll definitely tell you as soon as I can have any idea of when I can go!
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And it's actually a good thing you name both the good and the bad things. Naming the bad things gives the positive things more worth! What is a compliment worth if someone doesn't say what could be better? (I was very posive about Hellerchen, so I couldn't really find something bad...but if he would have, I would have named it!) So, I think they're even more pleased with the compliments if you also tell them their weak points!
Well, for a man he's still not that big, but I guess...1.75? Which is somehow big for Alfreds, but it does work fantastic! I think it's indeed because of his shyness and adorableness! But I like it!
Whahaha...let's wait and see what happens...a few months to collect some money isn't bad at all ;-)
Looking forward to it!!!
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Yes, being willing to say also the negative things means that the positive things really have a lot of worth, since you're not afraid to say it if something isn't so good, and it shows you really think about what you saw instead of just automatically thinking everything's great because it's Tanz der Vampire, or something. Sometimes of course someone ends you being so great you have scarcely anything negative to say about them, but well, then they just are that good! :-D
So he's about average height - I don't think it's a problem at all for Alfred, even if many of them are a bit smaller. The Finnish Alfred is even tall - something over 180 cm, I don't know how much exactly - but it still works somehow. Though I prefer them when they're a bit smaller. Gernot is 173 cm according to his website and he still seems small enough on stage... It's probably also simply how well you can play someone young and shy and insecure, who doesn't feel that big regardless of his height.
Yes, a few months to collect money is definitely needed... And then Hellerchen will have time to make his Alfred even better! :-D
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Somehow I don't even like people who like everything their "idol" does. Of course not everything is great or good...somethings are just not that good or not that great. I think it's important to say that too, cause that are the things someone can learn from. I had the same experience when I started to take siningclasses...My first teacher liked everything I did...I was really happy I found someone that helped me grow! When you just hear that everything is so great and good, you can't develop anymore. So, Heller did a great job and he earned every compliment I gave him, but if I wouldn't like something I'd say it too...
I guess he's about average yes...Maybe as toll as Gernot? I should check my pictures with both of them. But you're right: Length doesn't say anything, but I heard that normaly Alfred is casted to be just a bit bigger as Sarah and much smaller than Krolock! (Rutger Bulsing, once Alfred in Stuttgart, told us: Sarah needs to be the smallest, Alfred a little bit bigger and Krolock needs to be tall.) But Michael works really small on stage and it wasn't that clear that Kevin was not that much bigger. So, if you're shy, insecure, young and cute enough, lenght doesn't seem to be a problem!
Even better...I have to see that! Hellerchen being even better...
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