To My Shrew Friends
So Sunday was closing night of Taming of the Shrew. it was such a bittersweet ending. The play was such a great part of my life, but the last show, usually filled with fun antics and enjoyable time, completely blew. We missed entrances, we missed lines, we screwed up everything. And it made me sick. I was so ashamed to claim the performance I did.
But it was one of those things that, it didn't matter. It was such a great experience. (pardon any name misspellings)
Joel: Bringing a rocker disposition to a shakespearian play is something not many people can do, but I have the ultimate respect for you for being able to put such an energetic hardcore talent into a role that could have been missed if done wrong. You made us pay attention and hear every word.
Larry: I look up to you. Literally and figuratively. You have a gift, a wisdom, and a playful nature that made you a joy to work with every day. I remember when we first met i kept thinking, he acts? *shrug* but you showed me that you have every trait of a born thespian. Thanks for all your help in making our interactions on stage fun.
Dennis: Such a young spirit in such an experienced person. Your constant stream of ideas brough new life to each scene every day. Thank you for having the creative genius and the enjoyable nature and the exuberant spirit that made me laugh on stage.
PJ: Backstage is so much more important than anything we do on stage, and you kept us honest. And while your on stage time wasn't superflous, you still gave substance to what could have been boring scenes, and added a comedic aspect that may have been missed. Thank you for being there to remind us when we were supposed to be there, and spicing the stage with a randomness that made us smile.
Rex: As fathers go, I feel like i was closer to you than any other stage father I have ever had. You had such a gentle demeaneur in such a built frame, everytime i thought "oh crap, he's gonna pull harder" you made me do all the work. Damn you for making me work! :-D But thank you for making me work and better myself every night.
Krystal: To take a sweet and kind person such as yourself and ask her to play a cruel heartless wench is quite possibly a stretch to beat all, but you encompassed it with grace, poise and eloquence. We didn't interact much (or ever) on stage, but you were always there to chime in a positive word or flash a smile to help lift spirits, which i would take over a stage conversation anyday (and twice on saturdays!)
Nick Mo.: I've been there. The one that everyone gets to laugh at cause they know you are a guy and the cast has to pretend they don't. You took on what many would look at as a demeaning role (they'd be not in theatre and they be wrong) and made it entertaining and fun. Thanks for always laughing with me and at my horrid jokes (the times you did).
Kathryn: I wish I at 14 had half the experience, insight, intelligence and creativity you have. Hell, i wish as 21 i had half the experience, insight, intelligence and creativity you have. Don't ever let anyone use your age to limit you. And don't ever lose sight of the dreams that you still have yet to develop. :-D
Nick Ma.: WEIRDED OUT! :-) You made me laugh, more than i ever thought I could, with your wonderful sense of humor and your knowledge of all thinigs Homestar. You helped me smile, even on days where I didn't really want to, and not because you would gain, but because it made me happy. I thank you for that.
Hailey: No matter how small the part, you impacted every one of us so often with your cheery smile, your warm attitude and your great laugh. You brightened the hut as only you could. SHUT IT OFF!! :-D Thanks for understanding me almost more than anyone else could ever want to.
Lee Ann: To the one who has done everything (especially now, after that role), you inspire me. You proved to me that I could do anything, if i put my heart to it. Thank you for helping me realize I can do what i want to do by working hard, living free and dreaming big.
Emily: You were a serf, a maid, a prostitute, a drunk and a man. Talk about range. Your adaptability was an inspiration to all involved. You also gave me freedom to be myself and (i think at least) made fun of me less than everyone. Thank you for being the Jackess of all trades.
Kat: I don't even know how to express the friendship I have built from the short time we worked together. You make me feel like a queen (and i mean the regal way and the fabulous way). as only you can. I look forward to continued interaction and constant learning from the most spirited tailor this side of the Mississippi.
John: You were probably the best person to play my confidant, my advisor, my friend. You helped me realize that sometimes, stage interactions can be an extention of real life. I hope i get the pleasure of working along side you again. Thank you for all the lessons you helped me to learn, and for putting up with me flitting about the stage.
Dan: This play was probably the one time that i ever would beat you out for anything. Your wit, your talent, your humor, everything down to your oot brought a smile to my face and helped me expand my horizons and realize what real comedy could be like. And while I did make many jokes on your behalf, i hope it was evident that I considered you one of my closest friends on the set, and all the joshing in the world couldn't take that away from me.
Tiffany: I don't even know where to begin. Your energy, your grace, your poise, your attitude (most days). If i were ever to consider liking girls again, i hope I would find a girl like you to help me along the way. We shared moments of Izzard and Teen Girl Squad, sang musicals and made fun of people that weren't us (like those damned canadians). You are like the girlfriend i always wanted, when i wanted a girlfriend. I hope we stay the closest of friends for a long time to come.
Mok: How do you put lessons into words? How can you say how one person has affected you when their effect is so great you don't even realize it? That made no sense. But at the same time, it is exactly how I feel. I hope one day that I have half the ability you showed in just your first scene. To give such life to a character and to add such an element boggles my mind. I started to consider you a brother in law by the end of the show, but mroe than that. I felt that i could come to you with any and everything on my mind and you would be there to hear me out and help. I am forever greatful for everything you did for me in the brief 3 months we worked together.
Andrew, Roger, Gleb, and the rest of the crew: Where would we be without you all? You made us technical, you made us bright. You gave us a path and helped us follow it to the end. And it may not have started where we all thought it would, but at the end of the road, we met again, each of us taking what we may from it, and none of us the same as we were.
I am sad that Shrew is over, but we can never take the next step into the great unknown if we are still lingering at the familiar. I learned so much from everyone and I am sure I have become a better listener, a better speaker, a better actor and thinker, and, most of all, a better person, because of all of you. Thank you for the honor, the smiles, the lessons, and the wonderful summer. I couldn't have asked for a better way to spend it.
Jer