The past few days

“Life is what happens when your busy doing something else.”

…and boy have I been busy. The past to days have both been show nights; last night we saw Uncle Vanya at the MXT. Maybe I was too tired, maybe it was the language, maybe I didn’t study the story enough or maybe Russians connect to their theater in a different way but I wasn’t enthralled. For a world class theater I was a little disappointed. I thought it would be so easy to read their bodies but they didn’t move them very much. The first act was so distant so detached, the second act was more physical but it didn’t move me. I think once I get the feel for the language the plays might come easier.
Acting the past two day has been interesting and productive. Our group etudes have really grown. Wednesday we did an old west saloon with a new player at a card game who cheated. I was a prostitute which was fun to play but as a group we have a great energy going with a lot action and playfulness with each other. Our teachers appreciated it; we had a few mistakes that we didn’t cover will. Today Alex said we made him cry; and despite my reluctance on how silly the topic could be it ended up as a beautiful movement piece. Our subject was sperm and egg but it became the creation of life. I portrayed part of the egg which we saw a women and each part of the egg played a different part of women; I was the maternal but we also had sexuality, fear, and beauty. The end was the “sperm” lifting us up then we all returned to the ground and melted away leaving a single human. My personal etudes aren’t going as well but I think I just have to work harder, I haven’t found my comfort zone yet with that “monologue” like scenario. I think this will be great for my auditioning skills but it is really frustrating while going through it.
One word can change you perspective, my voice teacher simply said “open you mouth” and the sound that came out of me was amazing- I think I almost fully mixed my voice I couldn’t believe it. She only spent 5 minutes with each of us today but I already feel a difference in the way I think. I think that the next three moths will really shape my voice.
Again my ballet teacher to day pushed me and I found flexibility which I can do myself with out her pushing my leg. It is funny hear none of the teachers speak much English but the simplicity of what they say with the passion behind it. For example my ballet teacher only yells a few things, “five posit” (fifth position), “Sit down” (plie), “Straighten leg” and “higher, higher” (if you can imagine them in a high think Russian accent). Yet it seems to work and every once in a while when we do something well she goes “mwuh mwuh mwuh” and makes an Italian kissing motion. Our voice teacher is similar it is “open” and “no meow, MEEEEOOOWWW” which actually seems to do the trick. My dance, singing, movement and slowly acting is changing each class.
We are seeing the ballet tomorrow so I probably won’t be able to write but I will fill you in on the ballet in a few days. I can’t wait to see it, my ballet teacher was a prima ballerina with the Bolshoi and if what little dance we have seen her so is any indication of their abilities it will me the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.

I love you
Kirsten