Welcome, Anthony Rapp!- Page 17

[broadwaystar2b]

Posted: 10/31/04 at 9:47pm

I have to admit, I did not get the oppurtunity to see Anthony in Rent when the show intially came out, but I am nonetheless prompted to respond to the claim that Mark is a static character by telling about the first time I saw the show.
Peter Matthew Smith was my Mark understudy. He was the youngest cast member in the tour at the time and after seeing several casts perform the show, he remains the best Mark I've seen yet. I felt that he played Mark like he was everyone's younger brother, that he really loved everyone but acted more like their pet than their true friend.
But in Act 2, his Mark started to develop. During "Halloween", you could tell this was one of his first steps toward growing up, dealing with friends leaving, whether by death or by choice, and by "What You Own", you could tell that he completely made that journey of becoming an adult. It was a powerful performance and one that has still stuck with me 6 years later.
Of course, everything is up for interpretation, and Mark is a difficult character simply because as The Narrator, he is forced to detach himself from the action onstage.
But that's one of Rent's messages isn't it? At least for "What You Own"? That you CAN'T detach yourself from life. That you need to participate during the short time we have on this earth because the days are too precious and beautiful to waste. Updated On: 10/31/04 at 09:47 PM

[N0tThatGirl213]

Posted: 10/31/04 at 9:49pm

Edited with my sincere apology to Star2b. Please disreguard this message's previous contents. She is gorgeous and brilliant and her question did not deserve to be demeaned by my evil sense of humor. ::bows down to Star2b::

Updated On: 11/1/04 at 09:49 PM

[insomniak]

Posted: 10/31/04 at 10:30pm

FYI- I was the one who talked about Mark being a static character and how his costumes reflected that, Stacey.

I wouldn't call him entirely static, he does have a revelation in the end (What You Own) and learns a little about living life. But when you compare him to the usual criteria of a dynamic character, he doesn't fit the bill.

At least not in my opinion, I'm no expert.

ETA- I think Anthony must be the most Welcomed person on the board since Eddie Varely. Updated On: 10/31/04 at 10:30 PM

[stacey717]

Posted: 10/31/04 at 11:33pm

Yes-- credit to insomniak for bring up the staticness... :) thanks

"I wouldn't call him entirely static, he does have a revelation in the end (What You Own) and learns a little about living life. But when you compare him to the usual criteria of a dynamic character, he doesn't fit the bill. "

Yeah, he definitely realizes how he must and will be able to develop once all have broken up in Goodbye Love and when he sees that he has to take action with his life and do something, in What You Own. It is up until then he seems to remain detached and to me even possibly sees himself as one who has to be this sort of narrator, not realizing he has to live what he narrates, not just watch it pass by. He isn't an overtly dynamic character throghout the piece, but is dynamic in his subtleties (and is dynamic in the big picture if one compared the beginning Mark to the end result Mark). Just my 2 cents type thing though...

Perhaps it could be said he's deceptively static? I think there's potentially (and in my opinion there is) a lot going on inside his mind we don't see as obviously as the character has internal conflict not addressed in such an overt manner... It's there but it's not screaming at the audience...

[Bal]

Posted: 10/31/04 at 11:38pm

I thought it was me who brought up the staticicicity? Meh...ah wells.

I agree about everything, I think Mark's a *wonderful* character. I was just wondering if that contributed to Anthony's enjoyment of playing him.

[stacey717]

Posted: 10/31/04 at 11:59pm

"I thought it was me who brought up the staticicicity? Meh...ah wells.
I agree about everything, I think Mark's a *wonderful* character. I was just wondering if that contributed to Anthony's enjoyment of playing him. "

Well credit to you too, then :) (Sorry I didn't keep track when I went to reply to the idea...)

Mark is probably my favorite character in a musical or any other work, well, I'm hesitant to say favorite of all time though as I haven't seen every musical or literary work or movie or play, etc, ever. Oh, fine, I'll say favorite character in a musical (especially if we speak of those 'normal' and not those special characters like you'd find in The Producers)
I too love the character. Anyone else think Mark tries to please everyone to some degree, at times trying to be Mr. Mediator (as in Goodbye Love, the beginning section), but in this maybe he forgets himself more oft than he should. He gets left behind or outoftheloop more than he wishes, but it's just that air about him that causes this. Like I said before, it's not that he means to create the situation, it just happens.
Anyone? Anyone? (hehe Bueller allusion...couldn't resisist...)

I dont know...maybe I'm starting not to make sense and rambling a bit..it's on the slightly late side and I have school tomorrow...(and I have to wake up to finish my English hw I've been avoiding finishing thoroughly, so I must thorough it up before school...)

[VivaBohemia]

Posted: 11/1/04 at 12:15am

Hey Anthony. It took me a bit to respond because I didn't want to jump on the bandwagon unless I had a really good question. SO here it is.

I'm just curious. How do you feel about the hostility of many Rent fans towards the movie, or towards many of the actors from following casts, since the originals left their respective roles.

I was estatic to hear they were even considering casting you guys in the movie, because I never had the chance to see you on the stage, but now I may have my wish, even if its on the silver screen. Take Care :)

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 11/1/04 at 12:16am

Truman Capote once advised writers that it's better to overwrite and edit down rather than underwrite. Stacey, I feel as if I have seen several drowned woodland creatures float away in your lengthy streams of concsciousness.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 11/1/04 at 12:19am

love you Namo!

[Whiteboy Spice]

Posted: 11/1/04 at 5:13am

Hi all --

I got home late from the party and am a little too sleepy to get to the multitudes of questions that have piled up, but I will get to them soon.

Tomorrow is a travel day -- we're off to Seattle -- so be patient with me...

Take care, talk to you all soon --

Anthony

[N0tThatGirl213]

Posted: 11/1/04 at 5:14am

Have a good trip!

I love how most people on this board are just going to bed as I'm getting up...

[stacey717]

Posted: 11/1/04 at 6:53am

"Truman Capote once advised writers that it's better to overwrite and edit down rather than underwrite. Stacey, I feel as if I have seen several drowned woodland creatures float away in your lengthy streams of concsciousness. "

I don't mean to kill every thought I write and woodland creatures in the process, sorry. I'll stop posting long streams of consciousness (and perhaps even full sentences because that'd help more). Everyone'll be more happy that way.
(I can't help that I was kinda taught to write in full sentences, I'll try to stop making such long ones.)



Have a nice trip:)

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 11/1/04 at 9:09am

Have a good trip, Anthony!

[herenowhere3]

Posted: 11/1/04 at 10:24am

i tend to think of Mark as outwardly static, but inwardly dynamic. He participates by observing, and doesn't realize that by doing so he isn't really participating. It's happened to me many times, where I've been out with a group and i'm listening to the conversation and laughing and nodding and whatnot, without realizing I haven't said a word the whole time. I've also used sunglasses as defense mechanism against life/people/whatever, a way to separate myself even if it's only mentally. And i see Mark being behind his camera as doing pretty much the same thing, it's a safty net and i guess a way of living vicariously, even if you don't completely realize you're doing it. But no matter how much one becomes an observer, you still feel the pain of your friends, the circumstances of the world, and your own inner turmoil- and eventually you learn from it, and in the play you see the beginning of change in Mark at the end of the show.

[greenifyed]

Posted: 11/1/04 at 11:11am

Be safe, Anthony!

I'll just wait around, all drugged up from having my wisdom teeth pulled. :[

[thespian geek]

Posted: 11/1/04 at 11:14am

"I'll just wait around, all drugged up from having my wisdom teeth pulled. :["

Ew. Sucks to be you right now.

[insomniak]

Posted: 11/1/04 at 11:21am

I agree, herenowhere. This is true, but I still would call him more static than dynamic if you were going to categorize, because the change really is not until the very end. (I'm no expert, though... we will have to see what Anthony himself says)

And I was thinking that maybe this thread ought to not be posted on unless you really have something you have to ask... there's a LOT for him to catch up on.

Have a good trip, waiting to hear from you, Anthony. How did that karaoke competition go? Updated On: 11/1/04 at 11:21 AM

[Alix]

Posted: 11/1/04 at 11:24am

Hope you had fun at the party, Anthony. Have a good trip!

Alix

[ponine24601]

Posted: 11/1/04 at 2:58pm

ok this is late, but have a safe and wonderful trip!!!

[stacey717]

Posted: 11/1/04 at 3:35pm

"He participates by observing, and doesn't realize that by doing so he isn't really participating....But no matter how much one becomes an observer, you still feel the pain of your friends, the circumstances of the world, and your own inner turmoil- and eventually you learn from it, and in the play you see the beginning of change in Mark at the end of the show. "

That expresses the relation between static/dynamic beautifully, thanks! Agree 100% :) It's by the end of the show he kinda realizes the difference between his observational experience and actually experiencing an event, etc. (An expert view would be interesting with all this amateur character analyisis hehe) Mark's a pretty interesting topic, to me at least.

[Erica444]

Posted: 11/1/04 at 7:07pm

I'm a longtime lurker on this board, but didn't register till just now, mostly because I never felt I had anything to say. :) I'm 16 and a senior in high school in New England. I ride horses and figure skate, but I don't know anything about theater other than that I love it. I haven't been in a play since 3rd grade and I couldn't sing on key if my life depended on it. (Doesn't mean I don't have a decent ear, I just can't sing at all, lol, so I have incredible respect for those who do sing so well.)

I don't remember what the first musical I ever saw was, but the first musical I ever fell in love with was Charlie Brown, when I was like 10 or 11. I saw it twice, and was lucky enough to see the whole cast both times, and I still listen to the CD a lot. I remember Anthony was wonderful in it, the songs were great and those monologues were histerical! Anthony, since not a lot of people on here have asked about it, I was wondering what the experience with that show was like? Especially having just come off of Rent and what a crazy ride that must have been.

Also, you said before on this thread that you don't like to listen to the Rent cd because you don't like a lot of the mixing. Are there any specific places you were thinking of?

Thanks so much for taking your time to talk to us! Updated On: 11/1/04 at 07:07 PM

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 11/1/04 at 7:15pm

have a good trip, dude....tell us how the seattle engagement goes

[N0tThatGirl213]

Posted: 11/1/04 at 9:50pm

*bump*

Good night guys.

[Alix7272]

Posted: 11/1/04 at 10:21pm

in answer to your question anthony, your answers have been great and thorough. thanks!

i would say mark is more static than dynamic. while there is a lot going on inside of him, he has not really changed from the beginning of the play to the end. he remains the commentator making movies and although he briefly thought about giving in, he remains true to his values. while his character has a lot of depth, i do not think it is dynamic.
i can definitely relate to his character as somelse else said too. i often find myself on the outskirts nodding along and feeling like i've been participating but not having really participated. i've never thought about it that way before, but i guess that is a quality i often end up sharing with mark.
when roger says "for somebody who longs for a community of his own, who's with his camera, alone?" that is true when he says it and still true at the end of the play. mark definitely has a support group of friends, but he's still alone at the end not having made true connections, only witnessing roger and mimi's. i'd love to hear your take on this.

there is also another issue i am curious about your take on. i guess it's kind of an obscure topic but how "hollywood actors" are payed so much and an incredible amount more than theater people who, obviously most people on this board i think would agree, deserve to be payed a whole lot more, at least as much as hollywood actors. i know this is partially because of the lack of funding and interest in the arts lately by the general public which is hurting theater a lot. when asked about this, matt leblanc said that from his point of view, whenever somebody knows that they can get more money, anybody, they are going to take it. he acknowledged that they probably don't deserve all the millions of dollars but since it's being offered, they'd be stupid not to take it. i was wondering what you thought about this problem and if you think that there is a solution. if the actors were to say no, you don't have to pay me that much to make a movie for some reason, the money wouldn't end up in a better place most likely. so then is the problem with the studio who just wants to make the best movie they can so that they can make money? i know this same issue applies to teachers, doctors, etc, but i was wondering your take within theater. sorry if nobody finds this relevant. just something i was thinking about this morning.

[BWIDB Charlie]

Posted: 11/1/04 at 10:23pm

Well I assume Anthony's probably had many, many Rent-related question since 1995-96, so here are a few different ones.

Almost (yes, almost!) every show closing is difficult, but what would you say is the piece which was the most difficult for you to close, or see close? Also, and this is the director-aspect of me speaking, who are some of your favorite musical/straight theatre directors? Well, I'll leave it here for now, I hope Little Shop is going well, take care.

Charlie
[e-mail]

PS: I recently happened upon the movie "Open House" by way of Mr. Mirvish's website (actually, I was researching some cameras, and ended up there...) - did it give you any desire to change careers?! Updated On: 11/1/04 at 10:23 PM