It's all about the work

I'm going to be in a another short play in early May. It's a two-man, 10 minute new play, and it's pretty funny. My friend and I are doing it. Neither of us are anywhere even close to the onramp that leads to the interstate that leads to the off ramp that takes you to the road that the ballpark of being a real actor is on.


I don't exactly love acting...mostly because i'm not particularly good at it. But, this opportunity came up, and I wanted to do something with my friend, and I get to use a really bad new york/new jersey/boston bastardized tough guy accent (again...i did the same thing in the short play I did last fall), and mainly, it was something to do that wasn't connected at all to politics, government, or statistics.

"why'd you paint that poodle green? I dunno...something to do, I guess."

ON THE OTHER HAND...

Here's the odd thing...theater people creep me out, big time. Ugh...they're always, like, peforming (shudder!!!). Don't get me wrong...I love going to the theater. I love movies and plays and generally like to listen to stories. So, I definitely appreciate that there are people who really enjoy acting, because without them, there would be no movies or plays to watch.

But to the actors of the world: can i please just have a normal conversation with you without you breaking into some kind of character or bursting out with a broadway song? Can you just, like, be slightly less desperate for approval and attention? (Says the guy writing the blog...ha!...hypocrisy tastes like ice cream!)

My creeped-out feeling is probably related to the fact that i have enough of that approval/attention seeker in me to be filled with some subconscious self-loathing when i see it in others. There are a few fundamental laws that I have winnowed from the chaff of platitudes that flood our Disney-fied American culture. One of those is that that yes, when you hate other people, there's probably something in them that reminds you of yourself. And, particularly, it tends to be a problem or a weakness that you feel like you've almost but not quite mastered.

So, I feel like I've almost but not quite mastered by desire for recognition and approval by others...so theater people...yeah...creepy gross.

So, clap for me, readers! Clap for me! Tell me I'm good! Tell me I'm smart and pretty! Clap! Clap! clapclapclapclapclap! (Joe Bows). Worship my brilliance and authenticity! Clap for me! Love me! Love me! (squirt).