#2551
Posted: 8/19/07 at 12:17am
Thanks for the report, Miss Chung. Sounds like it was a great time. I'm really bummed I had to miss it. Glad you had a fun time!
The Official Raúl E. Esparza "Spread the Love" Thread, Part 3 — Page 103
#2552
Posted: 8/19/07 at 12:54am
Hi, we just got back. I'm tired -- two long, laughter-filled days with very little sleep have done quite a number on my ability to be in any way coherent or eloquent. I have two friends interning at the festival, so this was sort of a multi-purpose trip: we spent the night with my friends, and then saw a show this afternoon before heading home. Raúl's performance was fantastic, and I'm really glad I was able to go. I expected him to be very straightfoward and serious, which he was when he needed to be, but he was very hammy and silly and funny -- which surprised me. It worked because he really goes for ironic humor on stage, and there's quite a bit of that to be found in the play. I need to have dinner and get some sleep, though, so I'll catch up on what I missed in the thread and post more about Our Town tomorrow.
To my three lovely road-trip companions -- thank you for a great weekend. You guys are the best.
A work of art is an invitation to love.
To my three lovely road-trip companions -- thank you for a great weekend. You guys are the best.
#2553
Posted: 8/19/07 at 11:02am
I second that, Emcee. A fun weekend indeed 
Anyway, a tidbit to sum up the weekend:
We have no live Raul pictures, unfortunately
I couldn't get my camera out of my bag before they all fled the stage after a very quick curtain call.
Anyway, a tidbit to sum up the weekend:
We have no live Raul pictures, unfortunately
I couldn't get my camera out of my bag before they all fled the stage after a very quick curtain call.
The morning star always gets wonderful bright the minute before it has to go --doesn't it?
#2554
Posted: 8/19/07 at 11:56am
I still think that was entirely too perfect.
Oh God, it felt so amazing to sleep.
A work of art is an invitation to love.
Oh God, it felt so amazing to sleep.
#2555
Posted: 8/19/07 at 12:09pm
Sleep. Bed. Quiet. Good.
And you can see the corner of that flyer is torn off from where I peeled it off the wall, lol.
I'm kicking myself for not having my camera out during the reading, but I love the ending of that play so much that I was just kind of like 'wowwww' hehe
And you can see the corner of that flyer is torn off from where I peeled it off the wall, lol.
I'm kicking myself for not having my camera out during the reading, but I love the ending of that play so much that I was just kind of like 'wowwww' hehe
The morning star always gets wonderful bright the minute before it has to go --doesn't it?
#2556
Posted: 8/19/07 at 12:11pm
Yeah, one of mine looks like I bit it. 
I didn't even think to take pictures during the reading or bows or whatever -- they didnt' say you couldn't, but for some reason that never clicked.
A work of art is an invitation to love.
I didn't even think to take pictures during the reading or bows or whatever -- they didnt' say you couldn't, but for some reason that never clicked.
#2557
Posted: 8/19/07 at 12:17pm
I was planning to take at least one during their bows, but it went too fast. I wish I had at least one, because Raul looked great. Was he wearing the jacket from the Sardi's unveiling? I couldn't tell if it was the same one or just very similar. But he had on a white oxford shirt underneath and his mom jeans, lol. I really liked his longer hair
The morning star always gets wonderful bright the minute before it has to go --doesn't it?
#2558
Posted: 8/19/07 at 12:20pm
One of my first thoughts when he walked out on stage was, "it's the jacket!" It's that mustard colored jacket that's like, everywhere. But it's actually not bad at ALL in person. I guess it just doesn't photograph well. I loved his hair (a LOT), loved the scruffiness, loved the button-down. And omgmomjeans.
I just woke up. I'll post about the show later.
A work of art is an invitation to love.
I just woke up. I'll post about the show later.
#2559
Posted: 8/19/07 at 12:24pm
It's definitely not bad in person at all. For some reason I really liked his shoes yesterday, I think he has those in black too. And his hair was....attractive. He had that little flip/curl in the front
I showed my mom the flyer and she was like "oh, that's beautiful!" lol.
Raul definitely had fans follow him up there, I recognized someone from the Company stagedoor. Not to mention the woman wearing the Company tee shirt..
I showed my mom the flyer and she was like "oh, that's beautiful!" lol.
Raul definitely had fans follow him up there, I recognized someone from the Company stagedoor. Not to mention the woman wearing the Company tee shirt..
The morning star always gets wonderful bright the minute before it has to go --doesn't it?
#2560
Posted: 8/19/07 at 12:27pm
To be blunt, I really wanted to just run up to him and run my fingers through it.
I was glad to know we weren't the only ones who went up for him. I didn't think we would be.
A work of art is an invitation to love.
I was glad to know we weren't the only ones who went up for him. I didn't think we would be.
#2561
Posted: 8/19/07 at 1:06pm
Sounds like it was a lot of fun! I just borrowed Our Town from the english teacher I TA for, so I'll probably read it later this week.
And I'm glad that the jacket, like the red tie from the SF benefit, isn't as bad in person.
And I'm glad that the jacket, like the red tie from the SF benefit, isn't as bad in person.
"I feel god in this chili's..."
#2562
Posted: 8/19/07 at 3:40pm
I'm glad it was fun! We have very sporadic internet access, so I'm a bit out of the loop.
My sister just told me that Raul is on the Broadway station on XM radio, or something. "Hello, this Raul Esparza and you're listening to the Broadway channel..." Something like that. Does anyone get that channel? I wish I did.
My sister just told me that Raul is on the Broadway station on XM radio, or something. "Hello, this Raul Esparza and you're listening to the Broadway channel..." Something like that. Does anyone get that channel? I wish I did.
"Blow out the candles, Robert, and make a wish. Want something. Want something."
Wishes come true, not free.
Wishes come true, not free.
#2563
Posted: 8/19/07 at 4:27pm
I do! I get XM with my DISH Satellite, and the Broadway channel (6077) is my default music channel. They have those airchecks done by just everybody, but I've never heard Raúl's! Waaaa!!
Glad Williamstown went well, although I'm still puzzling over missching's comment that he "swallowed a lot of his words". That just doesn't sound like him (er, no pun intended).
Glad Williamstown went well, although I'm still puzzling over missching's comment that he "swallowed a lot of his words". That just doesn't sound like him (er, no pun intended).
Sarcasm is an allergic reaction to stupid people.
#2564
Posted: 8/19/07 at 5:00pm
I don't think they were mic'ed. It was a small theater and the acoustics carried the actors' voices well enough, but it did make Raúl sound like he was swallowing some of his words, since he often spoke kind of quickly.
A work of art is an invitation to love.
#2565
Posted: 8/19/07 at 5:08pm
This sounds kind of awkward, but is it possible Raúl has never worked/performed without some sort of electronic amplification?
Sarcasm is an allergic reaction to stupid people.
#2566
Posted: 8/19/07 at 5:25pm
I think he probably has. I guess it's possible that whatever acoustics were set up in the theater weren't great, or something. He got better as the play went on, but at the beginning, I wanted to be like, "Raul. LOUDER."
A work of art is an invitation to love.
#2567
Posted: 8/19/07 at 5:27pm
It's possible, save those productions that he did in his Jesuit school in Miami back in the day.
He enunciates really well on stage - it wasn't that he mumbled, but like emcee said, he got excited and sometimes talked really fast so some lines were buried a bit.
I have to say that this reading gave me a little taste of what he can do in a straight play, and while I'm worried about his scenery chewing, I am really really excited to see what he does with the Pinter play. He's got such a magnetic presence on stage.
He enunciates really well on stage - it wasn't that he mumbled, but like emcee said, he got excited and sometimes talked really fast so some lines were buried a bit.
I have to say that this reading gave me a little taste of what he can do in a straight play, and while I'm worried about his scenery chewing, I am really really excited to see what he does with the Pinter play. He's got such a magnetic presence on stage.
The morning star always gets wonderful bright the minute before it has to go --doesn't it?
#2568
Posted: 8/19/07 at 5:33pm
I think his scenery chewing habits will work really well for The Homecoming, so I'm not really worried, per se. But yeah, you guys who haven't seen him in a straight play yet are in for a treat. Even though this was just a reading, I was really thrilled to see him in one again, because it reminded me of what great things he can do.
A work of art is an invitation to love.
Even though this was just a reading, I was really thrilled to see him in one again, because it reminded me of what great things he can do.
#2569
Posted: 8/19/07 at 5:34pm
I am intrigued too - I have only seen Raul in COMPANY so HOMECOMING will be my first non-musical experience. WIll I keep expecting him to sing, I wonder. (With Pinter? NOT.)
#2570
Posted: 8/19/07 at 5:36pm
Hmmm. I have to admit I'm of the old school - I'm not fond of mic-ing. It didn't exist when I was a kid. An actor had to learn to project his/her voice to the back row without any electronic aid.
So....how does an actor learn to do that today? Or...=do= they? It =has= to be a vastly different technique from working with amplification, and since everything is amp'd these days, has natural projection become a lost art?
So....how does an actor learn to do that today? Or...=do= they? It =has= to be a vastly different technique from working with amplification, and since everything is amp'd these days, has natural projection become a lost art?
Sarcasm is an allergic reaction to stupid people.
#2571
Posted: 8/19/07 at 5:39pm
Sing.....PINTER?????? AHHHH!!!!! Oh, the horror!!
(runs screaming from room at the very thought!)
(runs screaming from room at the very thought!)
Sarcasm is an allergic reaction to stupid people.
Updated On: 8/19/07 at 05:39 PM
#2572
Posted: 8/19/07 at 5:40pm
Maybe. I know this was discussed on the Broadway: The Golden Age documentary, and I agree with you, humbug. I love natural amplification if the actors are capable, but I'm not sure that mics take away from the effect of the theatrical experience.
I'm assuming that they learn to do that in the same way that a singer learns how to project their voice without screaming and doing damage to their vocal cords.
I'm assuming that they learn to do that in the same way that a singer learns how to project their voice without screaming and doing damage to their vocal cords.
The morning star always gets wonderful bright the minute before it has to go --doesn't it?
#2573
Posted: 8/19/07 at 5:43pm
I think he's better in straight plays... which I know is like, fan blashpey. I mean, I connected really deeply with Company, so I will always love Bobby -- but his acting is even stronger in a straight play setting.
A work of art is an invitation to love.
#2574
Posted: 8/19/07 at 5:45pm
Do you think Raul is letting his hair grow for the Pinter, or something else? Or just because?
#2575
Posted: 8/19/07 at 5:45pm
I guess I was thinking more along the lines of where do they find the opportunity to learn, if everything today is amp'd. And if everything is amp'd, does anyone bother to learn the technique? I think they all =should=, but in the practical reality of modern theatre, I'm guessing not too many do.
Sarcasm is an allergic reaction to stupid people.
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