Update #1: About that Princeton show

Hello faithful reader(s? Do I flatter myself)! Let us go back in time. To a magical place called Princeton. And by magical I mean a-two-hour-train-ride-from-New-York-place which therefore sucks my butt.

So Allen (who works for Hopkins Theatre Dept. and Princeton and who hired Mitch for the Princeton Summer Theatre job this past year) hired Mitch to stage manage for this show he'd been hired to tech for. An undergrad had gone to her department, Slavic Languages and Literatures (ugh, Princeton, really?) and got some money to put up a showcase of two one-acts, Unveiling by Vaclav Havel and her adaptation of The Bedbug by some Russian dude named Mayakovsky. Her name is Nadia. She originally planned to cast from the Princeton community but ended up having trouble finding enough people so Allen gave her my name, we talked, I took the part playing the wife of a crazy married couple in Unveiling. She knows I'm in New York so, while tech week won't be fun, we'll only have three rehearsals - one each Saturday - before then for this little play.

The play is short, but very wordy. It's gotta go fast or everyone will fall asleep. They repeat things like they're crazy people. They're consumers showing off all their tacky crap in their tacky apartment but the play was written in a Communist world so ISN'T THAT INTERESTING. I'm pretty excited; it's a good part. BUT this guy she found to play the husband - hmmm, are you familiar with New Jersey? And those guys who live there who work out a lot and pay too much attention to their facial hair. Well this guy was kind of like that. He sounds OK but he clearly doesn't have a lot of experience - though enough enthusiasm - and he's not someone I would be friends with in real life. The third member of the cast is a lovely young man in his first year at Princeton; we quickly become bffs when I'm not making him uncomfortable. Somehow.

First rehearsal goes OK. For the second we need to have memorized the first half of the show. I do this. My husband...does not. He comes to the rehearsal and he's all like "Yeah I've been working on this so hard and I'm like dreaming about it even but it's so hard but I've been really trying." Also, at the first rehearsal he'd suggested the two of us try and get on the phone and run lines during the week since we don't have a lot of rehearsal together and then he doesn't call. And texts saying he's not ready yet. I'm not liking this guy. He just...doesn't get it. The importance of being word perfect? Not so important or maybe possible for him. We schedule a rehearsal for Wednesday. Things are still not good. Nadia, the director, calls me afterwards on Wednesday and is like, "Should I fire Paul?" And I'm like, "Ummm that's not my call but yeah he's pretty bad but I've never been in this situation before and can someone else do this in a week and a half?"

This is dragging so, long story shorter, we do end up finding a replacement actor - I have no idea how. His name is Ben and he is both very tall and a Mennonite and living in New York like me. I like him quite a bit and he really pulls through for us. Though when he wasn't off-book Monday (after having been cast Friday night) Nadia was all "I HATE HIM he's a professional I SHOULD FIRE HIM?" but yeah, girl was way overwhelmed with this project. First time she's ever directed anything. Mitch tried to give her help as stage manager, but in addition to that job he was also doing sound design and he and Allen were the only two people like, um, building the set, so he was busy. And tech week wasn't fun. Our show turned out great but the second one - I still don't know what it's about. I know they danced to Madonna and there were red masks and elbow-length gloves. And we ended up only doing two performances so it felt a whole hell of a lot like, not worth it, you know? But it was a good part for me, something nice for the resume; got me out of the city; got to hang out with Allen and his girlfriend Liz; met Ben who is now a friend; got paid $100 and reimbursed for my travel (yay?). So overall for the experience: a C+, maybe?

Also, I hate Princeton. After the show was done at about 9 on Saturday night Mitch wanted to dash over to see a production of A Streetcar Named Desire some friends of his from the summer were in. (They don't have a theater major there either, but you can apply for a "certificate" which means you do a "thesis" your senior year which is like "a big deal.") So this was the senior certificate project of a girl Mitch knew over the summer who very much had a crush on him and let's just say he didn't hate her - totally his physical type, I knew that when I saw her, don't get angry Julie - but he wasn't going for her, but for two of his really close guy friends who were playing Stanley and Mitch. ANYWAY, it wasn't great. But oh my god, the money there? The production value? Incredible. For this shitty undergrad show. Oh, a professional director? Yeah, got one of those. This is at the McCarter theatre too, which is really quite a prestigious regional theatre and yeah, it's just ridiculous. I got so jealous for so many reasons. But I was reassured that I am a better actor than the girl who shall remain unnamed. When I play Blanche - which I will - she will not be a drag queen.

And on that note, The End.

This is what I look like after I've been crying.

A brief note.

So the agent at Gersh who Bill Butler's assistant called at told me Bill was handing me over to finally got in touch with me. Well, I shouldn't say "finally" because I'd really pretty much given up hope and "finally" implies kind of like I was waiting impatiently, but man was I ECSTATIC yesterday. For a bit at least, till I had to ride on like 7 million different trains and they all fucked up somehow or another. Public transportation is not my friend, but I can't badmouth it too much because I'm just about to go out and use it again so, hey, it's my best friend! So I'm meeting with Randi Goldstein not this Thursday, but the next. I don't know what will come of it, but I know I'm so lucky to even have this meeting, I'm just peeing in my pants. I should prepare something to do for her. Hmmm.

Anyway, I have to go because I have to leave at about 2 to get to Penn Station to get on a 3.01/7 train to Princeton for a 5.30 line-thru/6 pm call. I will be so glad when this commuting is over with. I'm staying the night down there tonight and hopefully will be enjoying the atmosphere of Triumph after the show and getting a bit tipsy with my boyfriend who, though I've seen him every day this week, I haven't seen in a week.

AAAH Penny is being so cute. Must dash though. God I hope the 6 is running again.

Future Blog Entries

1. I am extremely disappointed with this season's Top Chef. Also, I used to love Casey from season 3 and now I HATE HER.
2. Princeton Play Craziness. Part of which is keeping me from writing full blog entries right now because, you know, lines. Play opening in a week. Lines. Etc.
3. Really? I only have two? I was sure I had more than that. Well, this was worthwhile.

Today I thought Penny had gotten out into the hallway because I was shaking the treats and calling her name and the place isn't that big, so where could she be? And I got so scared and panicky and I started to heat up, but then she was hiding under the futon. PENELOPE!!! Then I gave her a treat and told her to never leave me again.

I am stealing this from Mary Frances.

But before I begin, a quick question: how does one pronounce "meme?" Mitch has said "meem," but I've always thought of it as "meh-meh." Which I think is cuter and therefore superior. My pronunciation also reminds me of Professoressa Meme Irwin from Hopkins, which is always a good thing.

I will post a real blog soon, but with all these lines in my head - my spite was only hurting myself, you were right Emily - there's not much room for anything else. OK, on to the meh-meh! (It's about one's current relationship, so if you don't want to vom, you can stop reading now).

What are your middle names? Mine is Melton (my mom's maiden name) and Mitch's is Scott (his dad's first name; also, funnily enough, my dad's middle name; ALSO ALSO, my mom is Jane and his is Jean - crazy, no?)

How long have you been together? It's going to be three years soon. Feb/Mar is as close to an anniversary as we come.

How long did you know each other before you started dating? About a year a half. We met close to the very first day of college - well, maybe the actual first but I don't remember - in our Italian class (taught by Professoressa Irwin, btdubs). And we were both in the same Italian class all of freshman year and we saw each other doing theatre things too.

Who asked out whom? I told Mitch I liked him first. Right before Christmas break of sophomore year. He didn't reciprocate - was actually with someone at the time - but did ask if we could remain friends. Then, after Christmas, we were both in the Witness Intersession full-length. I'd gotten over it over the break. I knew I had to since we were going to be in this play together, and the break was pretty stressful with dad getting sick with diverticulitis and all. But anyway, we spent quite a lot of time together that January and the night of the cast party of the show, he said that, crazily enough, he liked me now. He was very concerned that I didn't think he was messing with me/really apologetic that he was asking for what he'd turned down before. But of course I was like OH THAT'S OK HUG PLEASE and then we went from there.

How old are each of you? I'm 22 and he's 23. June and January of '86, respectively.

Whose siblings do you see the most? Since I do not have any siblings, let's say all four of Mitch's.

Which situation is the hardest on you as a couple? Being apart is hard for us. Like this fall, when I was in Jersey doing the two plays and he was in Cleveland staying with his parents. We're good at talking on the phone, butwe definitely don't like it and it can be hard sometimes. Also, sometimes we don't "get things out" very well so issues linger below the surface and become a bigger deal than they ever were to begin with. We're too considerate of each other; also, I don't like talking much.

Did you go to the same school? Hopkins, yes. High school, me at St. Cat's and him at Shaker Heights High in Cleveland.

Are you from the same hometown? Nuh-uh.

Who is smarter? This is a tough one. Mitch knows a lot of trivia, but I really hold my own against him in Jeopardy. And I think I can safely say I'm better at Wheel of Fortune. He's definitely a better creative writer than I am, but I might have him in analytical writing - or at least I enjoyed it more, so that means I'm better? I'm a faster reader. He's a better cook. He's also much better at waking up than I am. However, I'm going to have to say it's a tie.

Who is the most sensitive? Another tough one. Mitch is, as he says, "a man with feelings." And as I said above, I'm not much for talking. But I am a sensitive person more apt to be the crier. Gosh, but it might be him though. Yeah, maybe Mitch.

Where do you eat out most as a couple? Oh my goodness anywhere and everywhere. I love eating out. It's like my preferred method of food-getting. In Baltimore we regularly frequented all the Charles Village eateries - One World, Tamber's, Donna's. Here in New York we're enjoying the diners of our neighborhood especially - Gracie's and Midnight Express. But yeah, I'll go anywhere and since I'm usually buying, Mitch more than gladly tags along. We both love food. But I'm really trying to not go out so much. We've got a full fridge and that food must be eaten! Also, money.

Where is the furthest you two have ever traveled together as a couple? That'd be London, England - Intersession of our junior year with Peter.

Who has the craziest exes? Mitch has more and yes, I call them all crazy/flawed/insufficient/worthy-of-hate in one way or another.

Who has the worse temper? Probably Mitch, but it doesn't come out very often.

Who does the cooking? Mitch, and I love it. Though I have been doing a bit more lately. I can make food for myself, but even if I come up with the idea for dinner, Mitch is going to be the main executor.

Who is the neat freak? Me moreso than he. I get into little fits of cleanliness every once in a while. We're kind of borderline slobs though. Well, no, we're better than we used to be.

Who is more stubborn? OK, I'm getting a bit tired of this (haven't eaten yet) so I asked Mitch who was more stubborn and he says, and I quote: "You. Because you're so bad at realizing when I'm right. Which is always." Then, more seriously, "Both of us are pretty stubborn, more stubborn than people would realize."

Who hogs the bed? Mitch is bigger, but I spread out more. And when he gets up I move to his pillow, so, yeah, me.

Who wakes up earlier? Haha, that's a good one. Mitch, of course.

Where was your first date? I really don't remember. But I just asked Mitch and he said "Cafe Q" - where I first told him I liked him, which is SWEET - but I guess maybe that cast party.

Who is more jealous? Me. Though he doesn't like it when I kiss boys in plays.

How long did it take to get serious? It happened quicker than either of us were anticipating. All of a sudden we were just kind of spending all our free time together. We pretty much lived together the summer between sophomore and junior years, which was about four months-ish from when we first started dating. Maybe it's kind of always been serious.

Who does the laundry? Me. But he'll help fold.

Who's better with the computer? Mitch I'd say. He's definitely more into it, at least - making it work well and discovering new things and stuff like that. I just need my facebook.

Who drives when you are together? More often me, I'd say. But it's kind of circumstantial, like I had the Zipcar account in Baltimore, so I had to drive; in Jersey when he would come to visit, I'd just keep driving my mom's car. If we're in Cleveland, he'll drive. On long trips, we split it up fifty-fifty.

www.thegrampusandfriends.com

You really have to go check it out now because the most recent post is about our KITTIES! They will soon be internet-famous. You can say you knew them when.

Back to cleaning the apartment.

Oscars tonight. Pretty dresses! Lights! Shininess! Gorgeous rich people! I will sit and eat my left-over chicken and rice and then fall asleep.

Lines

Watch me not learn them! Just watch me!

Top Chef tonight. Woo!