3 in 2

Some of the best parts of this program are the shows we get to see. I've never been to New York to see a show on Broadway. Sure, I've seen the tours when they come to Utah, but it just isn't the same, I know that now. Theatre here is on another level. I've seen and had talk backs with actors who are simply the best at what they do and have been perfecting their craft for years and years.

This last week, I was lucky to see three shows, two with the program and one for fun. Oh yeah, we did that in two days. Three amazing shows in two days.

Tuesday we saw Fiona Shaw in the one woman show Testament of Mary. Fiona is stunning on stage. I guess I'll lead with that. You know what else is stunning. Vultures. They had a live vulture on stage as part of the pre-show. The pre-show involved the audience getting to come up on stage and look at all the props (and the bird) ((oh yeah and Fiona Shaw as well...) I think I stared at that bird for ten minutes. They are kinda freaky, but really really cool. Well, that's enough about the bird...

The show wasn't one of my favorites we've seen, but I've never gotten to see a one person show before and seeing Fiona Shaw do it was a wonderful first experience. The set design, jeeze, the set design for all these shows, particularly these three I saw in those two days, are unforgettable. For this show, it was more of a bunch of props and chairs to make a set. AND a pool. There was a small square DEEP pool. At one point in the show she jumped into it and didn't come up for quite a long time, I started to get nervous about how long she was under.

(I stupidly forgot to bring my camera on stage, so this is a classmate's photo of the pre-show, but no vulture pic, sorry)

The next day I saw two shows. Amanda and I went to The Playhouse (yeah, that's the theatre's name) after our classes in the morning to get day tickets (tickets you purchase the day of the show for cheaper) for the matinee of 1984. They had 2 left and they were on the front row, you couldn't beat the price either. So, we hung around until the show and sat in our front row seats for about ten minutes. This is obvious but, front row is very close. Very very very close. And for such a show as 1984? I was starting to feel like it was too close, then the show started.

Guys, that was one of the scariest shows I've ever seen. I don't do well with scary, so I avoid it. But dude... it was so good. Being so close to that made me feel like I was part of the show. Like Big Brother was watching me... It was uncomfortable, but it all added to the experience the show was supposed to put you through. Oh, and PS, there may have been more blood just at the end of 1984 than in all of Titus Andronicus. Maybe not, but it could've been close.

And to top off those wonderful two days and amazing two shows, we saw one of the most incredible shows we've seen so far, if not THE most incredible show. Birdland with Andrew Scott. I don't really know how to describe this one, kinda like how I felt about Once. Andrew Scott has to be the best actor I've seen so far. (No offense to Fiona Shaw.) The only way to describe his acting is flawless. He was the best part, but that doesn't mean the rest of it was just okay. It was ALL incredible. The other actors more than held their own in a difficult show, the direction was awesome, the play was brilliant, and the set was out of this world. Birdland was a perfect example of multiple areas and people collaborating together to create a work of art where everything is cohesive and meaningful.

Strong words? Birdland deserves it. All I have is high praise. 

I was thinking about how these experiences are going to make me look at theatre differently when I return to the states. I'm sure they will also effect the way I work as an actress. Seeing the masters work opens your eyes, I'll tell you that!

~Jamie