The Official Raúl E. Esparza "Spread the Love" Thread- Page 171

[greatdct]

Posted: 10/5/05 at 3:37pm

I've never seen Raúl's chatterbox. Ack. I need to buy it!

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 10/5/05 at 3:41pm

Make sure you buy the SECOND one. That's the Defying Gravity one. Seth says his name funny, though. He's like "Ruh-OOL." heh. He was like "yesterday, I had nobody listed. Just me. Last night, Raul announced -- BAM. SOLD OUT!"

.... he just grabbed himself.

Anyway, yeah. I'm glad you get what I'm saying. I feel like to make eye contact with him is something of an honor, as silly as that is. I'm often actually a bit intimidated by actors making eye contact with me, even though it's certainly one of the merits of live theatre, and something you can ONLY experience with live theatre. I remember when Adam did it once, and all I could think of was "Why'd you do that? What?!" I don't know why it scares me. Maybe because there's something so oddly, intensely personal about it.

[greatdct]

Posted: 10/5/05 at 3:50pm

It truly does feel like an honor. And the crazy thing is, with any other actor I don't feel that way. I guess it's because I look up to him and have so much respect and admiration for him that I feel so lucky that he even would take the time to look in my direction.

Now, if he heard that I think he would think I'm crazy.

Haha. I really want to get it! I love Seth! So Seth and Raúl is just a bonus! When was he there? During Taboo?

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 10/5/05 at 3:51pm

I don't know that I've ever been conscious of making eye contact with any other actors. Maybe because I try not to since it scares me, but with Raul it's a bit inevitable. That one time with Adam, I was just sitting so close, that it was bound to happen, but I looked away immediately. It's something we shouldn't really take for granted and just go "oh, it happens," because it's one of the best things about live theatre, but still... it scares me.

This was... right after the Hair concert. The old one is from when he did Cabaret. This is great, though -- he's so FUNNY. I'm laughing for the first time in about a week.

Updated On: 10/5/05 at 03:51 PM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 10/5/05 at 3:58pm

He's talking about his Rocky Horror audition. I almost got to sit in on some auditions this summer, but the plans fell through. I've never seen an actual audition, but he's describing the way he practiced how the character would move, and how he rearranged chairs so he could use them in the audition room. I've always imagined an audition being an actor walking in, reading a few lines and singing a song, very simplistic -- he must be fascinating to see audition. And on a related noted, to see someone audition is like a private performance. I can't imagine being in a virtually empty room with an actor who has that much presence.

(He screentested for Mark with Justin Timerberlake as Roger. If that had been how it turned out... I'd be so torn over whether to see it or not. He says they looked at Audra for Joanne and Orfeh for Maureen -- interesting!)

Updated On: 10/5/05 at 03:58 PM

[angelic1]

Posted: 10/5/05 at 4:04pm

What if it had been Raul as Mark and Adam as Roger. Hmm...

Although, I have a strong desire to hear Raul sing One Song Glory just once.

[greatdct]

Posted: 10/5/05 at 4:04pm

You are really making me want to order this right now. I would pick it up at Don't Tell Mama but I won't be there on the rights dates. Bah. I guess I'll have to wait 4-6 weeks for delivery. Too bad there isn't a transcript so i could get a quick fix. haha!

I think that would be a life changing experience. I mean, that sounds a bit overboard. But really, he has that kind of presence in everything he does. I was intimidated just by him walking up the street towards me. But it's fantastic because he could so easily be rude and get away with it. Though he is one of the nicest people.
Updated On: 10/5/05 at 04:04 PM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 10/5/05 at 4:05pm

"Rosie is SO DISTRAUGHT that you're saying no. She made a painting!"

"People would be like 'your agents are MEAN!' And I was like 'Good! So I don't have to be!'"

So do I, actually. Maybe someday, just for kicks -- in his cabaret act that he needs to do -- he'd sing it.

Updated On: 10/5/05 at 04:05 PM

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 10/5/05 at 4:06pm

I just posted my Sweeney Todd review and I am now EXHAUSTED! *sighs*

I loved La Cage...

And Raul's chatterbox!

And his eyes...

I've also had the honor of sitting in on some auditions. Now THAT was an experience.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 10/5/05 at 4:10pm

On the internet and how it can kill a show : "If you think that we don't READ THAT, and that it doesn't hurt, you are incredibly mistaken."

[thetheatrekook]

Posted: 10/5/05 at 4:12pm

when Ang and I saw Chitty, at one point I was sure Raúl was looking -right- at me...and it was the most intense feeling ever. Not just because I heart him...but the connection...he's just a very intense individual. I'm ordering the Raúl chatterbox in exactly ONE WEEK! (when I get paid! haha.)

[greatdct]

Posted: 10/5/05 at 4:14pm

That's actually really sad.

Let's just hope he's not reading this.
Updated On: 10/5/05 at 04:14 PM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 10/5/05 at 4:14pm

I can't really explain it. He's so soft-spoken in this interview, but it's as if every single word is so carefully picked out, and that makes watching him speak so intensified. I think it's beautiful that he can laugh at himself, too, in brutal honsety, but in good spirits.

ETA -- he was talking about it in terms of Taboo, because he said that people would hate something about it and post it online, and that now with the internet, if there's a problem with a show, news travels SO FAST that they don't have the opportunity to fix it before people are already going "oh, I heard THAT'S crap."

Updated On: 10/5/05 at 04:14 PM

[greatdct]

Posted: 10/5/05 at 4:19pm

I can't even imagine being put in a position like that.

And I don't think I'd ever want to get on Raúl's bad side.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 10/5/05 at 4:22pm

I agree. As sweet as he is, you can tell just by how bitingly sarcastic he can be that you don't EVER want to make him mad at you. When he's angry, it's probably very, very bad. People who are that intelligent often have very scary bad sides.

"I was done and I was like 'ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhIhavenothingtodonow! What am I gonna do!? I was like.... IIIIIIIIIguessI'lljustwalkupanddown thestairs!' So, then I found Adam and I was like *lowers voice* 'lets WALK.' So, then we walked up and down the stairs. ForEVER."

Oh boy.

Updated On: 10/5/05 at 04:22 PM

[greatdct]

Posted: 10/5/05 at 4:24pm

I think his brilliance alone is frightening. When he's alone with his thoughts I'm sure he can get a little crazy.

But there's also something really intriguing about that. Because I'm sure that's where his passion for his art comes from.

[thetheatrekook]

Posted: 10/5/05 at 4:25pm

i think i would cry if i was ever on his bad side...like em said...the intensity...just, whoa.

(and great...when you said the internet comment was sad, i thought you had said when i thought raúl was looking at me it was sad! i was like say WHAT? but then i read the whole page. haha.)

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 10/5/05 at 4:26pm

Every brilliant person is at least a *little* crazy.

I think a lot of passion for art comes from pain and anger -- sometimes those are the things that make us most passion. He'll talk about how he believed in a lot of the politics in TTB... maybe that's where he found the power for the performance.

[greatdct]

Posted: 10/5/05 at 4:30pm

Oh no, I was anything but sad at those times. Let me tell you. During "You Two" he looked at me out of the corner of his eye and gave me the biggest smirkish smile and wink. He was almost like... how can I explain this. Like he had a secret and only he and I knew it. Does that make sense? And I really think it was because I had talked to him before the show and then I was the only one who was having so much fun watching the show.

And Em, I agree with you there. I really would just like to sit him down and pick his brain.

Updated On: 10/5/05 at 04:30 PM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 10/5/05 at 4:33pm

I think one of the things that scares me about him is that sense of "there's SO MUCH that you don't know...." I always feel like he's hiding something, you know? And of course there's plenty we don't know about him, but he seems like one of those people who isn't entirely what-you-see-is-what-you-get. Incredibly complex... and I find that so disgustingly attractive.

Maybe he sensed that you know his secret.
Or, maybe it was just that he knew you appreciated him -- and that maybe you two were on the same page about the show.

...he's singing now.

Updated On: 10/6/05 at 04:33 PM

[thetheatrekook]

Posted: 10/5/05 at 4:33pm

sometimes I think I'd like to be in Raúl's head, but I think that genius is incredibly scary. I can't imagine being that ON, that RIGHT, that GOOD...all the damn time. To be able to tap into all these deep, dark, intense (I wish I had a better word), extreme feelings...it's a power I just can't even imagine TRYING to harness...not even thinking about mastering and honing it.

great - i think that makes for such an incredible story. you're so lucky! to connect with someone like that is just...wow.

[greatdct]

Posted: 10/5/05 at 4:40pm

He really just baffles me. In everything that he does. It's like I just can't get enough of him. I always want to learn more about him, learn more about his past work, see him peform again and again. That's kind of scary, too. That someone who I really don't even know well at all has that kind of control over me.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 10/5/05 at 4:43pm

I think the ability to pull people in like that is THE mark of a good actor.

[greatdct]

Posted: 10/5/05 at 4:47pm

Complex is a good word for him.

Another thing I admire about him is the way he is with his fans. He has such a generous spirit and gives so much of himself. But at the same time, he doesn't give TOO much. I've seen that happen with some actors. Megan Hilty is a good example. Where they try too hard to please their fans that they end up just getting used. And it becomes all about "What can Megan do for me now?"

I really admire that he is so open and kind with his fans but that there is still an invisible line that can't be crossed.

[Allie]

Posted: 10/5/05 at 4:49pm

Do you guys know if they would ship the Chatterbox videos to Canada? I think I might email and ask if nobody has any idea.