Thursday, September 17, 2009

The Human Condition

Week two has begun. I am constantly learning about and shaping Batgirl. Different audiences help with that. Sometimes you have a laugh out loud crowd. And that makes my job real easy. I know that I am making them laugh. I am funny, good. Then there are nights when there are “smilers”, people who you know are enjoying the show, but are quiet none-the-less. That is what throws me off. It has always been an issue with me and comedy…I think funny = laughs and bad = no laughs. I know that isn’t the case. But I am an actor, that’s my fear - that no one is listening. But I know they are.

A question that I have been pondering recently is line drops/mess ups. This is a big damn show to memorize, especially in a short amount of time with limited rehearsals. And sometimes mistakes happen. It happened to me…big time. But I got over it, didn’t run off the stage (thank God), and the non-theatre people didn’t see my mind explode (which it did). And after that happened, I, of course, got angry and cried. I was frustrated with myself immensely. But why? Was it because I looked stupid on stage in front of all those people? Or was it because I feel that I somehow failed my audience? They are the whole reason I perform. For them. So if I miss a line, flub my words, forget, the audience loses out on the experience…but they actually don’t. They experienced theatre. Live theatre. And sometimes it is messy. Sometimes it is wrong. But it is living and breathing and changing. And that is pretty awesome. Because isn’t failure part of the human condition?

-Liz

Sunday, September 6, 2009

From the mind of Batgirl...

Hello! I am Liz Rimar. I play Batgirl. I am writing a blog for you now.

So basically I got a call from our beautiful director, Greg, asking if I wanted to be part of his show, "The Superheroine Monologues". I said heck yes, and here I am. The rehearsal process has been a QUICK one. But I liked it - once I actually got the lines down, it was getting my basic blocking and then playing. Just playing. And for someone who went to drama school and has mostly found acting work in more serious plays, this is a breath of fresh air. Don't get me wrong, I love dramatic pieces and the whatnot, but I am a total goofball at heart. I did have the pleasure of performing in Company One's "Assassins", as basically the comedic character of the piece. But I need silly and ridiculous. And this is what this play is. And the brilliant thing is, as silly as it is, there are poignant moments in each and every monologue.

As for being Batgirl. Wow. She is such a wonderful character. So happy, but like all well written characters, so sad on the inside. She plays to all of my OCD-like habits, and my secret need for perfection. I get to be girly and flip my hair and talk about boys! The research was a blast. And The Poseidon Adventure = amazing! (You'll have to see the show to know what the heck I am talking about). The one thing that I am worried about is performing in my costume. It is a full on spandex bodysuit. And when I first put it on, it severely limited my movement. And I as a person move and flail about a lot. But the containment and constriction of the costume will more than likely have a positive effect on my perfect posture and perfect character. With perfect hair.

-Liz