Scar makes an appearance

by Mike on March 25, 2012 · 2 comments

Yesterday I was so excited. Why? The New Orleans Roadfood Festival! As if there wasn’t cause enough to eat myself silly, like last week. In the French Market, there were food stands offering Mint Juleps, Crawfish Cakes, Boudin Links, Soft Shell Crab Po-Boys, Grilled Oysters, Bread Pudding. All of which I ate, starting at 11 am.

At approximately noon, Ang somehow heard my phone ring in my pocket amongst the din of the midday crowd in the French Quarter. It was a call from the stage manager Ken. Tony Crane, the actor who plays Scar day-to-day, wasn’t going to make it in — so I was on for Scar. Showtime at 2 pm. Call time at 1 pm. Dang. I could feel the rich foods sitting nice and solidly in my stomach.

Typically, if I know I’m performing, I like to sleep in to rest my voice, and eat a minimum of 4 hours before showtime. Hmmm.  I looked down at the half-eaten roast beef po-boy in my hand. Max was nibbling on the remains of the bread pudding. Uh-oh.  Scar is a demanding role, and feeling full after eating makes breathing and moving more difficult, nevermind dealing with the 40 pound costume. It’s just another thing that may steal your focus from what is at hand.

But at least I can get a cup of coffee to get myself focused, and then supplement with water to hydrate. I typically get really hungry during the second act, but yesterday — surprise! — I lasted just fine, and had a great show. Here I am, getting prepped in my layers of costume.

Regardless, it’s always fun to get to play on stage. Because I am very prepared in general, I was set. I didn’t “push” (which is a common trap for standbys/understudies who don’t perform all the time, and have a manic energy once they get on stage). I had a rehearsal earlier in the week and I was able to work on many things, since it was fresh in my mind. I had a few really enjoyable “I nailed it” moments, like the Madness of King Scar scene at the start of Act 2 — it’s a Scar-centric scene and I felt responsible for driving the action on stage. Mark Kaplan (Zazu) and I got great laughs when he sang “Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen”, and I complained, “Oh Zazu, do lighten up. Sing something with a little bounce to it.”  And he launched into “When the Saints Go Marching In” and I retorted, “Anything but that!” — tipping our hat to this fantastic city.

My buddy Nick Cordileone (who plays Timon) took a few shots of me goofing off backstage yesterday. I guess everything sat pretty well!

And the Roadfood Festival is still happening again today, so I can go back and try that Baked Alaska.

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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }

Darrell March 25, 2012 at 7:52 pm

Way to rally!

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Ron March 25, 2012 at 8:31 pm

Mike, can’t wait to see this fantastical show, hurry come to the Bay Area!

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