present mirth hath "present laughter"

one of the benefits of dating someone with other interests is getting introduced to new things (and doing some introducing.) s, as an audio engineer, is always bringing new music into my life. as a theatre nerd, i have gotten to bring to him the joys of a live play. for christmas this year, i gave him tickets to see present laughter, the noel coward revival starring victor garber.

we saw the show in previews, which i really enjoyed. they were still working out the kinks, and i liked getting an almost-backstage look at their processes. little, almost indecipherable, trip ups (on lines and telephone cords) help the magic to me--you realize that they're real, that this is happening for you right now. that human effort is such a rewarding element in a live play. (it should never look like work, per se, more like play, but i like knowing it's all unfolding in front of me.)

it's an enjoyable show--noel coward is always funny--and the cast does well, for the most part. victor garber seemed to be holding back at times. his character gary essendine is accused of over-acting so often that i would have liked to see a little more over-the-top from him, but i thought he performed well. i especially liked harriet harris as gary's long-suffering secretary monica, and enjoyed the balance between love and exasperation that lisa banes struck as his ex(ish)-wife liz.

i went crazy for the art deco decadence of the set, although s wasn't too keen on all the marbled wood and golden fixtures. the costumes were similarly lovely and sumptuous, and fit the characters well. gary's dressing gowns did an especially good job at playing their part, and a set of pajamas added a nice visual joke in the second half.

overall, it was a very enjoyable night at the theatre, and i would recommend it. i would also recommend using the roundabout theatre's preview ticket system. the tickets were extremely well-priced, and we had good seats. i look forward to the rest of the season.

you're funny.

i did improv in college. (did you know this? have i mentioned this?) everyone always says to me "oh, i could never do improv! it's so scary! how do you 'be funny' on command?" to which i say: i felt the same way. until i jumped onstage and went for it, and had the time of my life.

i was fortunate enough to get involved with an incredibly talented group of improvisers, who became more than friends, became my family. it is the one thing i miss more than anything else (except for my girlfriends who live in chicago), and the one thing that i could (more easily than say, those far-flung friends) get back if i really tried. i need to stop missing, and start doing.

i took my mother and sister to the UCB theater last night for a show (death by roo roo--they're very funny, i'd seen them before so i knew what to recommend.) every time i go there, i'm reminded that i should be taking classes, should be working my way through their system, should be auditioning and eventually performing. i was good at improv in college. i don't say that to brag; i loved it, and i worked at it, and i was good at it. and i miss it.

i learned last year that no one but me can make me go after the things i want. so i'm keeping myself accountable to my new year's resolution and plan to take a class. i'll let you know how it goes.