#1
Posted: 5/28/04 at 10:31pm
Ok guys, I'm super stressed out right now, but this is a sure-fire way to clear my head, so if this gets a little bit gushy, you have my appologies. I promise that this isn't all going to be useless gushing ... I do have coherent, intelligent thoughts in here. I promise... and this post isn't all about The Normal Heart, either. It's more like... "LuvtheEmcee's Story Time Post." (Well, it's Wicked_Elphie's, too. She'd best respond to this soon... hear that dear?) I want to share with y'all the fabulous, more-than-expected Raul Esparza-filled day that we just experienced. So here goes!
We went to the TABOO cd signing at Virgin, which was a tremendously good time. I mean, it was so much fun to hang out with tons of other people just as crazy as we were... to be standing in a room singing along to a cd all together. When Raul came down, I nearly stopped breathing. I wasn't prepared for finally seeing him in person. I was hoping he'd sing, but I had been doubting that he would. It was amazing to see Rosie and George and everyone there... George is SO funny. The performances were phenomenal, as would be expected from the cast.... I especially loved Jeffrey and Euan singing "Guttersnipe." When we actually got to get the CD's signed, I got a little bit tongue tied. I think I just smiled at Raul and George, and possibly said "hi" to Jeffrey. He's a sweetie though, I'd met him before. I'd heard Euan was a bit short (not height-wise... well, that too, but I mean personality-wise) but he was extremely gracious and was all smiles. He's adorable. And his accent makes me melt. So that was fun. The TABOO OBCR is my new obsession....I enjoy it a bit too much. Petrified is one of the most beautiful things I've ever heard. Hearing it makes me kind of sad that I missed Raul as Phillip Sallon, but it's ok.
So, The Normal Heart! Wow. It was the first play I'd seen in years... it's been all about the musicals lately. I don't even know where to begin... I know that I won't ever be able to find the right words to describe the play, or how I felt, but it was unlike anything I have ever experienced before. It's a brilliant piece, no doubt about it, and so, SO well done. It was so heart-wrenching and so intense. I haven't seen something with that much emotion in a really long time, and it hit me hard. I'm reading this back to myself and realizing how cliche everything I'm saying about the play is.... but I'm trying to get some point across. I was so emotionally drained afterward, and I really didn't know what to do with myself, or what to say. You could hear the entire audience sobbing - it was so painful. But really, everyone PLEASE do youselves a favor and go see this play. You WILL NOT regret it.
Before I write about Raul's performance, I just want to mention the other actors, because while it seems like Raul gets most of the credit for the play - as I suppose he should - they were all wonderful, especially Joanna Gleason.
Alright, if you're still reading, I warned you. I am now going to confess my new-found love for Raul Esparza. I knew he could sing, and that his voice was to die for. That was old news. I knew that he was, IMO, (I know some don't agree) reallyyyyyy good-looking.... and I had heard all of the raves about his acting, but NOTHING prepared me for him. I also thought that the whole time I'd sit there with a reaction that consisted oh "OH MY GOD. THAT's RAUL ESPARZA!" but right from the beginning of the play I was completely removed from reality. Raul gave, hands down, the SINGLE MOST OUTSTANDING performance I have EVER seen from anyone in anything. Granted, I'm young, but for my age I think I've seen a lot. He was flawless. His timing was perfect - every second of it. I felt like he gave Ned Weeks - while still keeping his rough temper - a bit of a sweet, innocent side, and I loved that. Like, his scenes with Felix for example.... there was so much passion and... I don't know if I want to use the word chemistry, but I will anyway because I'm getting kind of tired. And, it wouldn't be one of my posts without something of this nature, so..... seeing Raul kissing the guy who played Felix (who was fantastic, I just can't remember his name right now...) was SUCH a turn-on. .... And I'm done being shallow. Sorry, I had to include that somewhere. Anyway, there was just so much emotion in every single thing that he did on stage. Perfection. There's no other way to put it. I don't know how he can put himself through that eight times a week without going crazy.
Almost done. We met Raul afterwards. Being that the last thing you hear is Ned's piercing scream (during which I couldn't help but think "OHMYGOD. Save the voice. Gentle with the voice.") it made me feel a lot better to see him after the play, and just know that he was alright. I know that sounds ridiculous, but the play was really painful to watch. Hopefully that makes sense to someone... maybe. First of all, he looked SOOOO sexy. I don't even know what it is about him. He's such a doll. And it was weird... usually I get very tongue tied, but I wasn't at all intimidated by him. Maybe intimidated isn't the right word, but I always get very nervous when I meet people. When I started to talk to him, it was so easy. I felt so comfortable around him... there's just something about him that's so, so genuine. I looked him in the eyes and told him exactly what I said before about his performance being the best I'd ever seen, etc. and showed him that my hand was actually shaking. He was incredibly humble and very gracious; he thanked us numerous times for our compliments (after appologizing for our having to wait because he was talking to someone else! SO unnecessary. I'd wait a year for him). He was sort of quiet at first, but at the same time he was extremely responsive... and he definitely opened up a bit as we talked more. His eyes are really intense, and his facial expressions showed his gratitide. He said we saw a particularly good show that night, because the audience was so in tune with it. He said that it was really us that make the play what it is... I thought that was really sweet. He could've just been like "thank you." He didn't have to thank us. So he signed, we took pictures, we wished him luck at the Tonys - to which he seemed to sort of cower back... then he crossed his fingers and looked up at me bashfully, like he thinks he has no chance. That man needs his Tony.
Wow. That was really long. If you stuck it out, thank you!
A work of art is an invitation to love.
We went to the TABOO cd signing at Virgin, which was a tremendously good time. I mean, it was so much fun to hang out with tons of other people just as crazy as we were... to be standing in a room singing along to a cd all together. When Raul came down, I nearly stopped breathing. I wasn't prepared for finally seeing him in person. I was hoping he'd sing, but I had been doubting that he would. It was amazing to see Rosie and George and everyone there... George is SO funny. The performances were phenomenal, as would be expected from the cast.... I especially loved Jeffrey and Euan singing "Guttersnipe." When we actually got to get the CD's signed, I got a little bit tongue tied. I think I just smiled at Raul and George, and possibly said "hi" to Jeffrey. He's a sweetie though, I'd met him before. I'd heard Euan was a bit short (not height-wise... well, that too, but I mean personality-wise) but he was extremely gracious and was all smiles. He's adorable. And his accent makes me melt. So that was fun. The TABOO OBCR is my new obsession....I enjoy it a bit too much. Petrified is one of the most beautiful things I've ever heard. Hearing it makes me kind of sad that I missed Raul as Phillip Sallon, but it's ok.
So, The Normal Heart! Wow. It was the first play I'd seen in years... it's been all about the musicals lately. I don't even know where to begin... I know that I won't ever be able to find the right words to describe the play, or how I felt, but it was unlike anything I have ever experienced before. It's a brilliant piece, no doubt about it, and so, SO well done. It was so heart-wrenching and so intense. I haven't seen something with that much emotion in a really long time, and it hit me hard. I'm reading this back to myself and realizing how cliche everything I'm saying about the play is.... but I'm trying to get some point across. I was so emotionally drained afterward, and I really didn't know what to do with myself, or what to say. You could hear the entire audience sobbing - it was so painful. But really, everyone PLEASE do youselves a favor and go see this play. You WILL NOT regret it.
Before I write about Raul's performance, I just want to mention the other actors, because while it seems like Raul gets most of the credit for the play - as I suppose he should - they were all wonderful, especially Joanna Gleason.
Alright, if you're still reading, I warned you. I am now going to confess my new-found love for Raul Esparza. I knew he could sing, and that his voice was to die for. That was old news. I knew that he was, IMO, (I know some don't agree) reallyyyyyy good-looking.... and I had heard all of the raves about his acting, but NOTHING prepared me for him. I also thought that the whole time I'd sit there with a reaction that consisted oh "OH MY GOD. THAT's RAUL ESPARZA!" but right from the beginning of the play I was completely removed from reality. Raul gave, hands down, the SINGLE MOST OUTSTANDING performance I have EVER seen from anyone in anything. Granted, I'm young, but for my age I think I've seen a lot. He was flawless. His timing was perfect - every second of it. I felt like he gave Ned Weeks - while still keeping his rough temper - a bit of a sweet, innocent side, and I loved that. Like, his scenes with Felix for example.... there was so much passion and... I don't know if I want to use the word chemistry, but I will anyway because I'm getting kind of tired. And, it wouldn't be one of my posts without something of this nature, so..... seeing Raul kissing the guy who played Felix (who was fantastic, I just can't remember his name right now...) was SUCH a turn-on. .... And I'm done being shallow. Sorry, I had to include that somewhere. Anyway, there was just so much emotion in every single thing that he did on stage. Perfection. There's no other way to put it. I don't know how he can put himself through that eight times a week without going crazy.
Almost done. We met Raul afterwards. Being that the last thing you hear is Ned's piercing scream (during which I couldn't help but think "OHMYGOD. Save the voice. Gentle with the voice.") it made me feel a lot better to see him after the play, and just know that he was alright. I know that sounds ridiculous, but the play was really painful to watch. Hopefully that makes sense to someone... maybe. First of all, he looked SOOOO sexy. I don't even know what it is about him. He's such a doll. And it was weird... usually I get very tongue tied, but I wasn't at all intimidated by him. Maybe intimidated isn't the right word, but I always get very nervous when I meet people. When I started to talk to him, it was so easy. I felt so comfortable around him... there's just something about him that's so, so genuine. I looked him in the eyes and told him exactly what I said before about his performance being the best I'd ever seen, etc. and showed him that my hand was actually shaking. He was incredibly humble and very gracious; he thanked us numerous times for our compliments (after appologizing for our having to wait because he was talking to someone else! SO unnecessary. I'd wait a year for him). He was sort of quiet at first, but at the same time he was extremely responsive... and he definitely opened up a bit as we talked more. His eyes are really intense, and his facial expressions showed his gratitide. He said we saw a particularly good show that night, because the audience was so in tune with it. He said that it was really us that make the play what it is... I thought that was really sweet. He could've just been like "thank you." He didn't have to thank us. So he signed, we took pictures, we wished him luck at the Tonys - to which he seemed to sort of cower back... then he crossed his fingers and looked up at me bashfully, like he thinks he has no chance. That man needs his Tony.
Wow. That was really long. If you stuck it out, thank you!
Updated On: 6/4/04 at 10:31 PM
Right there with ya!
