This blog follows the rehearsal and performance process of Barry Nash as he works with Lee Trull and Eric Steele on "The Midwest Trilogy" for Second Thought Theatre in Dallas, TX.
Better Bobs
This is a true story about the way the universe messes with the actor’s head.
First, some background:
When actors are having a tough time with a role — basically when their inner actor begins to scream “I-will-never-really-get-this” — they begin to make lists of other actors they are certain would get it and know exactly what to do with it. Generally, actors keep these lists to themselves because 1) they are absolutely certain they are right and 2) they desperately hope no one else sees this light as clearly as they have.
So…yesterday I was making my list of Better Bobs — actors I’m certain would find the honesty and authenticity that seemed to be eluding me: James Crawford, Christie Vela (I’m not kidding about this) and, top of the list, Matthew Gray — an actor (and human being, by the way) who always comes to the work with an open heart and a voice from his belly. I always root for Matt, because he always seems like the kind of guy the world could use more of. Matt could kill all of his friends — excepting me, of course — and I would be just fine with it.
So I walk into the theater last night after my butchery of Bob on Sunday and guess who is standing in the Bob spot on stage? In the flesh. The big-hearted, big-voiced man himself. Matthew “Better Bob” Gray.
This is a true story.
It’s also true that Mercury is in retrograde, by the way. and the Village Witch on Facebook is warning against doing anything that involves getting out of the house for the next several weeks.
My actor’s head is spinning. Should I stay home? Should audiences? And why isn’t Matthew staying home?
What can it all mean?
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