The Official Raúl E. Esparza "Spread the Love" Thread- Page 415

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 1/9/06 at 12:26am

Actually Skittles the first time I ever met Raul I kinda said I saw a TTB boot...he gave me a tsk face and I was actually nervous that I shouldn't have said it, then he just started laughing about it, clearly he had no problem. Whew.

The part about seeing him first in Chitty was before I came over right? Skittles, it was very amusing to watch you babble, but it seemed to be a fun convo. I actually had wanted to ask him about Company instruments for a couple of minutes...but you kept talking so I waited You never met him, totally understandable.

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 1/9/06 at 12:28am

Wow, that sounds so amazing! I would have absolutely no idea what to say in that situation, but it's so cool that you've all gotten to talk to him.

AH! I was actually going to PM you and ask if you'd written a review, Em, but I didn't think that you'd still have it onhand. I'll go read it. Updated On: 1/9/06 at 12:28 AM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 1/9/06 at 12:30am

It was probably a "psh, I'm supposed to be mad at you, but whatever" face. I don't think many people mention them to him for fear of him unleashing his temper.

But Symphony Space was just that -- I mean, I think we were having fun with him, which is something I've been wanting to be able to do for a long time, but I can never SAY anything when I'm supposed to initiate.

I bookmark the majority of my reviews, and other posts that I spend long periods of time on. I'm a packrat in real life and online, so I keep tight hold on everything.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 1/9/06 at 12:33am

Unleash his temper? He has one? I never knew about it...

Actually I really thought he was having fun w/ me...it was either him or someone else who told me he has a TTB boot too.

Skittles initiated approaching him right? I'm so proud. It beat stalking him at the snack bar

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 1/9/06 at 12:39am

In all seriousness, who doesn't have something of a temper? But let's just say Raul is not someone whose bad side I would want to be on.

He's seen the Taboo bootleg.

Yeah. She wanted to go, and I pushed her to it, on the basis that this was a one-time opportunity. I didn't want to be the first to walk up to him, so skittles was.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 1/9/06 at 12:42am

Aw, it's Baby Emcee postings! I love the random comment about Raul and Billy kissing being a turn-on

Well, I couldn't support his shows when I didn't know he existed yet! And once I knew he existed, the shows he was in kept closing before I made it to NYC to see them! I've tried!

WRQ, you told him that night about the TTB boot, but I wasn't too sure about it, so I didn't want to f*ck it up.

I'm really glad that I approached him then, because I never did get to meet him at the Chitty stagedoor. I was just in this completely hyped-up mood that night so I realized I had nothing to lose. I'm so glad Emcee convinced me to say something that night. Even if I did babble like an idiot, it was still a legitimate conversation and that's so much better than a "Can you sign my playbill?" exchange at the stagedoor.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 1/9/06 at 12:44am

Hey now. A year and a half later, it's still a MAJOR turn-on. Okay, actually, I think it's more of a turn-on now.

I was so much less confident then. As much as I like to re-read my initial reactions to things. I feel so ridiculous reading my old stuff because I'm like "wow, I sound like a freak."

He babbles too, though, so it's all good.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 1/9/06 at 12:45am

Oh okay. No, I know everyone has a temper but certainly different levels...there are some people who's bad sides you'd want to avoid more than others.

Well, yaay for both of you It was very sweet, I mean he was sitting there waiting for it to start, but still he could have been much more indifferent and given the impression that he'd rather talk to people he's with and such, but he really seemed interested in chatting and stuff...this really contributed to becoming more of a fan, everytime I either see him perform or talk to him he makes me like him more.

Maybe I've just been lucky. I've never seen Adam or Raul be anything then extremely kind and friendly, and I've heard there's circumstances where I guess it's not fun to see their bad side come out, glad that hasn't been the case.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 1/9/06 at 12:46am

I don't think any of them would be outwardly MEAN to a fan unless severely provoked. I've seen both of them give their share of sarcasm and snark. But I wouldn't ever want to piss Raul off. People who are extremely intelligent like that have a huge ability to be scathing when they're pissed.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 1/9/06 at 12:51am

True, I think he was talking as much as you were Skittles, just both of you more than us. Again w/ the whole he really seemed happy to chat w/ us, to see how excited he was about Sweeney and it's so great to see that kind of passion from performers for the art.

Ohh, okay Skittles. Actually I remember pretty much what happened, it was the first time I saw Chitty, I met Raul at the door. Really, I just didn't think. But I had recently seen TTB so I had a strong desire to mention I loved it and I really think he gave a fantastic performance. And he was like, oh you saw it a couple years ago? And then I kinda realized my mistake...see...I don't lie...I just don't...so I kinda got a ****-look on my face and was like well...noo...I desperately wish I would and that's kinda when he gave me the look plus I started shaking a bit and I think he saw it and that's when he laughed and was like no it's perfectly fine. That's why I knew it was okay to mention it then

No not even mean. Just they've struck me as two of the warmest, nicest ppl, I mean...like, some ppl you meet are compliant will sign things, sometimes looks tired, and that's fine, and then there are some that really strike you as very friendly and happy to be talking w/ you and stuff and just everytime I've seen them they've been that way. Well on different levels, Adam doesn't usually even have an oppertunity to sit around chatting but you know stayed late to take the pictures and stuff.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 1/9/06 at 12:52am

Exactly. People that are targets of sarcasm/snark are usually just the people that are too air-headed to pick up on it. I'm a very sarcastic person, but I would be too scared to come back at Raul with something.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 1/9/06 at 12:56am

I truly think both of them have naturally sweet dispositions. Adam's is a goofier, more outgoing friendliness. There's something very heated about Raul's personality, though; he'll bite. I'm not really even talking about just with fans, because that's hardly the extent of the projection of an actor's personality. But he has a lot of fire. Just read or listen to him talk about something really serious -- something that really gets him ticking.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 1/9/06 at 12:57am

Oh see I can be extremely sarcastic and have lots of fun teasing ppl back and forth, but I need to be really comfortable and be perfectly sure that the teasing on their part is just fun and they like me, not just being mean. And also certain people's personalities, people who you can see right away have great senses of humor it's easier to get more comfortable w/ them to know it's all in fun.

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 1/9/06 at 12:58am

I liked the review, Emcee. It may not have been perfectly professional (especially compared to things I've seen you write recently), but I love how honest it was. It sounds like he was amazing, both in the show and afterwards.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 1/9/06 at 12:58am

Okay Em I see what you're saying--when you're a passionate person and quite intelligent, you care about things enough to develop a temper about--like the way I tend to get fired up when I see someone post that it's crazy to see a show over and over.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 1/9/06 at 1:03am

Exactly, skittles. I think that's why I'm so quiet around Raul -- if he tries to crack a joke, I'm too afraid of saying something stupid and wrong to respond to it like I might respond to someone more familiar. I'm starting to be able to joke around with Adam, which is so, so cool. And Anthony sees everything of my personality and then some. The witty, the sarcastic and the downright dumb.

wrq, sort of. Google and find some press for The Normal Heart. Read what he has to say about the Republican part, in general, or the AIDS crisis, or homosexuality, or the theatre. Something that's big to him. I've seen him get mad. I would never want to be the target of it.

I think with that play, sweetestsiren, the only way I knew how to respond was via emotion -- kind of the way I wrote about the Rent movie. That was the only thing I could find, I think. The writing could be improved, but the production was near perfection, so it was hard to address that sort of stuff, but aside from that -- to me, at least -- that stuff didn't matter, when you were dealing with something like that play.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 1/9/06 at 1:11am

I dunno, it prob depends on your general level of comfort, but I've started to find that there are some actors who just kind of...even the first time I talk to them, there's something like they seem so warm and then maybe they'll crack a joke and I'm just so comfortable I may come back w/ something sarcastic. But I definitely let them dictate like I won't start something out of nowhere. Like w/ Greg, I remember when I probably wasn't going to go to the last softball game b/c of Rent in Bryant Park, the softball game before we were talking about Rent and stuff and I mentioned something about "you know some of those crazy Rentheads who campout" or something to that effect and he was like sure..like you! Me: What?? I've never camped out! I fully admit to being crazy but never ever will camp out. I actually responded slightly serious until he started laughing, and then he realized he was just teasing...and I remember thinking...wow...so like now we can tease and be sarcastic...that's...weird. And I find the more people I chat with especially more ppl on more than one occasion, I become overall more comfortable. There's always exceptions, I think if I saw Adam tomorrow and he started being sarcastic, I don't think I could come back, I'd just...not say much basically.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 1/9/06 at 1:18am

God, when he asked me if I studied theater and I said I was a "confirmed audience member", even though other people have laughed when I said that, I was so worried about how stupid I sounded. Thank god he was so easy-going about everything; if he had reacted coldly to us, I wouldn't blame him, I would have been disappointed in myself for screwing it up with my nervousness.

When I met Adam, I was just thinking "Oh, it's Adam Pascal and he's in front of me...and kissing Emcee." I don't know why I was so easy going about Adam, but so intimidated by Raul, but it's just like the roles I've seen Raul in have more of an impact on me than what I've seen Adam in.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 1/9/06 at 1:27am

That was a great answer Skittles! And at least if you're talking in terms of do we perform most of us there would call us that, we're not aspiring actors lol. Didn't we all laugh?

I think that's normal to be phased by some people and not others. I think there's two main factors-their personality and just what you've seen them in and why you're their fan. Like the first time I talked to Anthony I was shaking so much--well not counting for a minute at the set and another minute at Bryant Park. I mean, it was the steps outside of kitchen sink, so I think it made me more shaky that it wasn't a stage door, so of course I was nervous I was keeping him, I'm pretty sure I was, but he was too nice to say anything. He was incredibly nice and I was fine after that first conversation but I just remember looking at him and being like I'm talking to Anthony Rapp, Mark, I can't...believe this. Most of the people before him that I've been fortunate to chat w/ it was kind of simultaenous me seeing them perform and chatting w/ them, so there wasn't time for the whole idlization to occur.

My first Adam encounter he was taking pictures so that's all I knew to do--you were great and can I have a picture. He is usually bombarded, if I could get words out, it would be nice to be able to talk to him, but so many fans rightfully approach him, so I wouldn't try to start a convo, you know? And then I realized Em was worried I wouldn't catch him and tried to keep him there for me and I was so happy she did I was a little more comfortable my second time...though I really don't know if getting a hug from him would have the effect of making me more comfortable or more nervous around him. I don't think I've been able to decide lol. He definitely has that warm personality that I think if I was given the oppertunity to have several chats w/ him I could quickly become comfortable.

I really think now that I've realized having conversations w/ these people is entirely possible, I think I'm able to view most new performers in a not total idlization way, like I won't get as shaky as I was w/ Adam and Anthony, but them I've listened to and love for years, so...that's what happens.

And okay...cute guys are always harder to talk to. Well, except Matt Morrison, too much of a warm personality...but him aside, always find it hard to talk to the cute ones.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 1/9/06 at 1:28am

Again, so far as temper/personality/Raul are concerned, I'm really not picking at his interactions with fans. His personality stretches far beyond him being sweeter than sugar when he graces us with his presence. Just... I'm really not honing in on who's sarcastic or sweet or indifferent toward their fans. That's not the only thing this is about.

I think Raul.... physically, he's not so intimidating as Adam is. But if he's being attentive, he's intense, whereas Adam is a giant goofball. Raul is sweet, but Adam is more... openly affectionate, which is why I've always, even though I'm shy, had a much easier time around him. Raul's a little bit more about putting himself on the same level when he wants to, but with someone with such prowess, that's scary. He'd never pull the "hey, hun!" that Adam does.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 1/9/06 at 1:31am

Yeah, I'm getting that Em. Googling some stuff, and I have more of an understanding of what you mean about Raul and temper and stuff.

I think you described it perfectly. Of the two, I think Raul is much easier to approach, but if you really talked to Adam for a bit, you would see what a goofball he is and feel more comfortable w/ him. Heh, for some reason this reminds me of Cheyenne, he seems really intimidating to approach but...then he opens his mouth...and he seems more like a really tall teddy bear as opposed to a tall, intimidating guy.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 1/9/06 at 1:36am

Actually, something from today I just remembered. My sister said from observing some stage doors and me w/ ppl and stuff, she thinks being able to easily chat w/ actors isn't that different from being a good public speaker. I realized it has a lot of similarities--I mean you get nervous around actors and public speaking, if you're comfortable it's easier, etc. Very interesting observation by her.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 1/9/06 at 1:41am

I don't think I can say I find either of them easier -- for myself -- to approach. I think Adam is a little bit more inviting, because he's got that smile plastered on his face all the time, but Raul's demeanor is a little bit quieter. Suffice it to say this is worth near naught because it's taken so long, but I would never do as I've done with Adam and walk up to Raul like "hey, how are you?!" skittles said I made it look so easy, but I was totally shaking in my pants. I think the base of it all is WHO these people are to us. The "OH MY GOD THAT'S ADAM PASCAL!!" complex is THE thing that makes them scary.

I'm a miserable public speaker.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 1/9/06 at 1:42am

I use "confirmed audience member" because I realize that I have no business being onstage. I had to do this scene from Our Town in this "Night of Drama" thing in high school and it was horrible. I was just regurgitating lines and couldn't keep a straight face to save my life, so it wasn't really performing, it was surviving.

Not to mention I like seeing the final product, not all the bits and pieces along the way. It kind of takes away from the impact.

Updated On: 1/9/06 at 01:42 AM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 1/9/06 at 1:43am

Well, I like the title!

If memory serves, Raul said "well, we need those, too!"