Many of you already know that I am currently in rehearsal to play God in AN ACT OF GOD at the Arizona Theater Company. Feel free to bow. It’s being directed by Marsha Mason, which in and of itself is a dream come true, a pinch myself daily kind of experience. What some of you may not know is that though there are two other actors playing archangels in the play, the piece is primarily a one-person show. So I’m tasked with memorizing what essentially amounts to a 90-minute monologue.
I was overwhelmed by the work at first. I’d never done anything like that before. Well, I had done a cabaret show, but so much of that material consisted of songs, which are somehow easier to memorize, I think. Not to mention I developed the cabaret over a full year. This play would need to be memorized in just a few weeks. Scary!
There were two things that gave me peace of mind when embarking on this challenge: 1. It had been done before. If Jim Parsons and Sean Hayes could each do it, then I could do it. And 2. I’d recently seen Jesse Tyler Ferguson in FULLY COMMITTED on Broadway, which was an insanely wild, fast paced, mind-boggling, tour de force of one actor playing over 40 roles at rapid-fire speed. I thought if he can do that, I can do this.
But if there was one thing that could distract me from the job, derail me from achieving the goal, hinder me from learning the lines, and ruin my chance at success, it was going to be . . . Gilmore Girls. Yep! I am obsessed with the television series, Gilmore Girls, which I have been streaming on Netflix since the summer. If my laptop is within arm’s reach I find myself drawn like a moth to a porch light. I’ve even gotten Marsha into it! America’s film treasure herself is also obsessed.
Who’s watched it? OMG! Let’s gab! But no spoilers. I’m only up to Season Six. I’m desperately trying to finish all seven seasons before November when Netflix releases four new 90 minute shows that pick up with the story again: Gilmore Girls: A Year In The Life. Oh, Lorelai, Rory, Luke, Jess, everyone! I can’t wait!
Photo credit: Netflix
A huge thank you to my friends Mike, David, and Samantha who all encouraged me to watch.
Why have I decided to write about this in my blog? I don’t know. Maybe just to share, so you too can choose to give yourself the gift of watching it. Or maybe as an explanation for why I haven’t written in the blog for quite sometime. Gilmore Girls definitely shoulders some of that blame. LOL. Though I have to say, I haven’t wanted to write in the blog for precisely the same reason that I believe Gilmore Girls has become so important to me at this time . . . The topics and subjects weighing heavily on my mind recently all have to do with politics. I’ve been saving my political opinions and statements for my personal Facebook page and have been keeping it at bay from my official social media platforms or any other official website or fan outlets. It’s not my area of expertise and I would never post in any official capacity about stuff like that. Though I have thought about writing about girl power in general, because regardless of your political leanings and affiliations, it’d be hard not to acknowledge the base achievement of Hillary Clinton becoming the first female nominee of a major party. I mean, that’s just cool for older women to celebrate and for young girls to witness. And the fact that I’m a woman playing God has been timely given what’s happening politically.
But the current political climate is so stressful and nasty and crazy, that Gilmore Girls has definitely been a calming, pure, innocent respite. It’s an escape. When I’m in Stars Hollow all troubles just melt away. I’m sucked into the story about a mom and her daughter. I laugh, I cry, I feel. And it’s all safe.
Now don’t worry, I’ve memorized the play. I suppose the real thing that made me do it was the fact that I had no choice. Ha! Our first audience is this Saturday. Wish me luck.
And feel free to send condolences in November when I’ve already caught up on all seven seasons and have binged the new ones leaving me sans Gilmore Girls. You’ll find me sitting shivah.
Good to hear from you again. My primary distractions this time of year are Fritos and playoff baseball, but I get the gist. Knock ’em dead, Yahweh.
Well, you got us hooked on Parenthood, so maybe we’ll give Gilmore Girls a try.
Oh, do watch!! It takes some adjustment to get used to the way it’s shot. It’s very Hallmark movie esque. But stick with it for four episodes. You’ll see. The writing is so clever. And you will fall in love with all the characters. Over time you get to really know their under belly. And Kelly Bishop, who plays the grandmother, is amazing. You know, she was the original Sheila in A Chorus Line!
OMG I just got into Gilmore Girls as well!!! (Further proof that we are sisters from other misters). Because of work I’m still in season one so shhhhhhh. I love it for the same reasons you do but also because it’s SMART. It’s like old movies from the 30’s and 40’s where dialogue MATTERED. You have to actually listen to follow along and they do not dumb it down. So refreshing. So fun. So positive. What’s not to love?
Speaking of dialogue, oh how I wish I could come to Arizona and see you in this show. I know you’re going to be amazing and I’m confident that I will see you when the touring company comes to my neck of the woods on your way to BROADWAY. Then you be on Dancing With the Stars and a producer of a new sitcom will see you and cast you as the lead for the following season.
Hey! This is my happy place…it could happen!
Break a leg my friend.
Sherry
OMG, Sherry!!! I think we’re the same person. It’s possible. I mean, hey, we’ve never been seen in the same place at the same time. LOL!
And yes!!!!! That’s why I love GG too. Soooooo smart!!!! Your description is spot on.
And I like your predictions for the future too. Keep thinkin’ like THAT!
Sounds like a wonderful show. I’m sure you’ll do great, as usual 🙂
Only watch a couple TV shows regularly with my hubby, but not any others, other than to distract from boring chores. However, will consider Gilmore Girls. Sounds like a welcome diversion.
Anything is better than all this election coverage and the awful partisan ads. Although it has been great that the inequity between how women and men are treated is being shared so publically. That dirty laundry needs a good airing 😉
Yes, an excellent point about the election coverage.
And you should totally start Gilmore Girls. It’s really clever. The writing is so awesome.
BTW, have you heard that Julianne Boyd and Barrington Stage Company cleaned up in the first annual Berkshire Theater Awards? You can read about it at Berkshire onstage.com
Oh, cool! Thanks!
Looking forward to seeing you in An Act of God next weekend! Been planning to go for months.
That’s great!
I ADORE GG!! My mother and I watched every episode together, weekly, you know, pre-Netflix when it aired only on a weekly basis. Even after I moved out, we’d get together and watch the latest episode. The generational Gilmore relationships are amazing. The mother-daughter dynamics are so spot on. And yes, the dialogue is so incredibly intricate and smart. I’m so glad it’s coming back, even for a short time. It’ll be strange without the patriarch there but it will be handled with class I’m sure.
So glad you found the show. The two of you are a match made in heaven!!
Break a leg!
Darn you, Paige Davis! Started watching GG since reading your blog. I am now officially hooked and cannot get a thing done other than watching. Seriously, thanks for recommending. It is wonderful!
HAHAHAHA!
Well, you’re welcome!
I am little behind but finally read your post. I know for me I can’t wait until the new episodes of Gilmour Girls shows up in Netflix. We are going to have a viewing party with seven of us. My girlfriend and her three daughters and me and my two daughters. One thing I love about the series is that you can watch it again and again and learn new things and find new things you never saw before and what else is there then COFFEE!! Enjoy the episodes!
XOX!