thank you One Tree Hill

This past year has been a lot of hell but I'm slowly coming back. Maybe I'll mention it at some point but for now, I'm just excited to post this because it has been a year and i am finally excited enough about something in my life again. And what do you know? It's story, music, acting! And I am rejuvenated, at peace, and excited about life again.

I picked up again on One Tree Hill after a few year stint of not watching it after Payton and Lucas left. I'm back in it and I'd forgotten how great it is. Tearing up, getting emotional, scared, laughing hysterically, or getting super excited about life, it inspires me.


This one is freaky. It is a nightmare sequence. I would say viewer discretion is advised. But, it's hilarious too.

This. This is it. I love music and acting. And here we are. This song inspired some excitement in me that I haven't known for the past year. I can do this. I can do this life the way I want.

Both of the above clips are from Season 8 Episode 6 (a halloween episode, i might ad--my absolute favorite holiday)


Lip-singing with headphones in watchin the video above... feelin good and lovin it.. you can play the video above at the same time so there's actual audio. i just wanted to post this becuz it's odd but i felt so good i don't care!

New Girl -- the Best Ugliest Cry

OMG i had to share this. i seriously laughed out loud for a long time in the middle of the night while watching this. i freaking love zooey deschanel. and justin long in this is so exceptional:

Watch the episode (and in better quality) here.

"it's like he's a slow-motion sneeze"...

"stop crying! you are literally the ugliest crier i have ever seen!"

..."you cry smile"

Play Card #6: Once Upon A Lilypad

mask club #4 saw on Thursday, February 23, 2012 at BYU

Once Upon A Lilypad
Written by Jon-Michael Rutter

Prince Tristan is in the forest with his right-hand man and is turned into a frog. Princess Lillian is wandering in the forest with her lady in waiting. As a frog, Prince Tristan meets Princess Lillian and tries to get a kiss from her. They end up getting to know each other very well and find out that they are each other's arranged fiances. Happy ending with several musical numbers and dancing.
3 Characters:

• Prince Tristan
• O: to become human again
• T: 1) to ask princess to kiss him; 2) to bother/chase princess; 3) to provoke sympathy
• Princess Lillian
• O: to avoid her arranged marriage
• T: 1) to delay her time in the forest; 2) to read her book; 3) to allow herself to get caught up in fairytale
• Adelaide -- lady in waiting to Princess Lillian
• O: to keep Lillian safe and get her to the city
• T: 1) to warn Lillian about dangers of forest; 2) to exaggerate, 3) to defend the princess from

Scenes/Monologues/misc:

i liked the musical number at the end. reminded me of Ella Enchanted with the random dance at the end.

Play Card #5: Antigone

mask club #3 saw on Thursday, February 16, 2012; 4pm at BYU

Antigone

Written by Jean Anouilh [adapted by Lewis Galantiere]
A woman (Antigone) wants a proper burial for her brother, but her father (Creon) --the nation's general/leader-- would not allow it. In fact, he forbids anyone to try anything like that. So Antigone stands up for what she believes in and attempts to give her brother a proper burial anyway, despite her father's severe consequences. She is found out, but her father wants to save her. Though she is so stubborn that she be treated like everyone else and taunts her father to do something about it. He has no choice. [Spoiler] She is sentenced to death, but not until after they discover that her brother is actually alive. Antigone dies and the brother then takes his own life as a result. Creon is left with no one.
3 Characters:

• Antigone -- strong headed woman in opposition of her father's tyrannical rule

• O: to bury her brother properly and demand fair treatment of all her father's subjects, even her
• T: 1) to ask her father; 2) to conspire without his knowledge; 3) to openly defy him; 4) to sacrifice her own life for justice
• Chorus -- narrator of story
• O: to bring the audience in and help them understand as well as fill in any missing links
• T: 1) to gesture; 2) to excite audience for what is to happen next; 3) to declare the wrongs and rights of the world they live in
• Creon -- strong headed tyrannical ruler that is subject the law he put in place; Antigone's father

• O: to protect his children and his country
• T: 1) to set laws that would fit his command; 2) to appease Antigone so that she will marry her father's suitor; 3) to admit his weakness; 4) to choose to sacrifice his daughter to abide by his law
• Guard -- Creon's brown-noser guard
• O: to please Creon with obedience and servitude
• T: 1) to tell Creon about his daughter's delinquent acts; 2) to be obedient; 3) to keep Antigone's betrayal secret until Creon figured out what to do; 4) to force Antigone to her death

Scenes/Monologues/misc:

This was okay. The acting could have felt more connected in terms of physical actor-actor relationships (standing hips closer together during kiss; stepping away in fear; etc.).

I really enjoyed the Chorus narrator [Sarah Porter]. She had a lot of presence and led the actor-audience relationship very well. I liked her ending monologue about the characters, and how she wrapped it all up.  Also, how she did things on the side of the stage to keep us in check (playing with cards on the bench facing us), that this is still a story.

Antigone had a good monologue. I forgot where.. it was in the middle when she was declaring her right to do what she believed to be right.

Play Card #4: Merchant of Venice

saw on Saturday, February 4, 2012; 11am at BYU

Merchant of Venice

by William Shakespeare
A wealthy merchant, Antonia, borrows money from a minority moneylender, Shylock, with the promise of a pound of flesh if she cannot return the money. Meanwhile, there is a princess named Portia that is searching for the right suitor to pick the right box: one is made of gold, another of silver, and the last of lead. Antonia's close friend Bassanio is a young man that wants to marry Portia. Shylock takes Antonia to court when she cannot pay back the money she borrowed. Bassanio who has picked the right box, now married to Portia, goes to defend his close friend. Portia dresses up like a lawyer and saves Antonia by putting Shylock in a strange predicament. All ends well, but Shylock--the minority--is left unsatisfied.
3 Characters:

• Shylock -- a moneylender who is disliked by many
• O: to receive justice
• T: 1) refuses to lend money to Antonia; 2) lends money only based on satisfaction that he'll get a pound of her flesh; 3) takes Antonia to court and demands justice
• Bassanio -- a young man who spends too much money and who wants to marry Portia
• O: to keep his relationships good
• T: 1) convinces Shylock to lend money to Antonia; 2) to decide wisely which box to pick to marry Portia; 3) returns to Antonia to help her in court
• Portia -- a very wealthy and beautiful young woman
• O: to marry who she wants; and to be happy with him
• T: 1) sets up elaborate box-picking choice; 2) to give Bassanio the money he needs to free his friend from bonds; 3) to dress up like a lawyer, travel, and defend Antonia in trial

Scenes/Monologues/misc:

-- i enjoyed so many monologues but could not keep track of them

-- Portia's lines were all good: when she was monologuing about how and who she wants to pick the right box; also when she is defending Antonia is impressive

-- i liked Shylok's passion when he was demanding justice

This was a very unique performance. It was in an all-around theatre where the audience is on all 4 sides and the actors perform in the center. Very entertaining. Also, because this play is a traveling play and was directed for a child audience, key aspects of the setting are improvised by the audience. For this performance:
          --Dominant Culture: Tharian                   --Money: Spices
          --Non-Dominant Culture: Curan              --Place of Business: DI
          --Town: Narnia                                         --Far Away Place: Andalasia

Play Card #3: Elephant Man

saw on Friday, February 3, 2012; 7pm at BYU

Elephant Man

Written by Bernard Pomerance 

A severely disfigured man (John Merrick) is a freak to society. A doctor (Frederick Treves) takes him to study, and treats him like a man. The elephant man had been well taught in intellectual and religious matters. He impresses a famous actress (Mrs. Kendall), who at first was very shocked by his appearance. She grows to appreciate him, respect him, and treat him as a man and as a friend. Merrick becomes a wonder and joy to society, only to end up feeling alone and ultimately dies. Get the program here.

3 Characters:

• John Merrick -- the elephant man
• O: to live freely in society
• T: 1) obeys the doctor; 2) produces art work; 3) is civil and intellectually impressive to people
• Frederick Treves -- the doctor
• O: wants to help John live as normal a life as possible, while also studying his condition
• T: 1) takes John in and has him live in hospital; 2) shuts John off to society accept some individuals; 3) introduces Mrs. Kendall, a princess, scholars, and businessmen to John
• Mrs. Kendall -- the actress; Frederick's friend
• O: wants John to live life well and normal
• T: 1) reserves her initial disgust; 2) tries to let John experience life outside the hospital by trying to convince the doctor to do so; 3) to give herself in vulnerability by showing her body to John

Scenes/Monologues/misc:

-- i wish i kept better track because

-- i really liked the scene when Mrs. Kendall is completely vulnerable to John.. what did she say in this part? Gabby did awesome with this [btw, Gabby is my TA for TMA123 :-)]

-- i loved the dream/nightmare sequence that the doctor had, where the roles are reversed and the doctor is the freak and John is the scientist inspecting him. great scene. very impressive reading by Graham Ward; i also liked how this actor had a constant drool trail for the character