A Midsummer's Twelfth Night

NEPTUNE IN THE 1RST HOUSE
Identity confusion is going to be rampant while Neptune, the planet of illusion, traverses a retrograde path through the 1rst House, the house of self. There are always challenges when it comes to knowing oneself, and this is a difficult time for those who do not have a firm grasp on who they are. There may be a strong desire for escape from the self.

Nobody does identity confusion better than Shakespeare. Last night, I had the fortune to attend a production of Twelfth Night at the Delacorte in Central Park. This is the first show that I've ever seen at the Delacorte and the first thing that immediately hit the audience was the set. I do not always notice the set when I attend a show, but this set was beautifully constructed with faux grass and rolling hills. Trees dotted the landscape. It truly looked as I would have pictured Illyria to look. The advantage that the Delcorte offers a show like this is the natural outside environment.

Having been invited by a friend, I had no prior knowledge of the cast and I was surprised to see that Raul Esparza would be playing Orsino, Audra McDonald as Olivia, and Anne Hathaway would be taking on the gender-bender, Viola/Cesario. Knowing the first two to be well-known for their voices and aware that Anne was also making more use of her singing experience, I wondered aloud if the show were a musical adaptation. I was assured that it was not. We took our seats in the section that provided closed captioning, something I had not experienced except for at the Metropolitan Opera. There was an electronic board in front of our section, not blocking the stage, of course, that would scroll with the lines. I think it highly enriched the show for me, as a bibliophile and a writer, I absolutely love words and there are very few people who achieve the same resplendent poeticism that Shakespeare does. There's something to be said for reading a play and watching it come to life before you.

And come to life it did. From the moment the actors entered the stage, we were transported to Illyria. There were fabulous integrations of music throughout the show and the musicians were not kept separate from the actors, often stepping from the musical world directly into the Illyrian landscape. From the depths of the stage emerged Viola and her seafaring comrades. I was expecting fabulous performances from the well known actors (at least to me), and I was delighted to find that that extended through the entire cast, from those loveable characters like Maria and Sirs Toby and Andrew to the soldiers who stood by, silently in character, and adding depth to the scenes. I was never taken out of the show.

As the sky pinked with sunset, a full moon (in Capricorn) rose high over the stage, sending beams down upon Belvedere Castle in the background. Even the elements seemed to sense the drama that was happening onstage and Nature herself appeared as a character. The air seemed to pick up whenever the drama increased onstage. It added an extra dimension to the show.

To see Shakespeare's work come to life is always a treat and a treasure. To get the opportunity to experience that in Central Park in an open air forum was truly magical. If you get the chance to see this production, I highly recommend that you take it.

If music be the food of love, play on!

Still Learning

SIGN/HOUSE REVERSAL
Right now, at least here in New York, every sign sits in the House that plays host to its opposite. If that was too confusing, I'll give an example. Libra, the 7th Sign and natural in the 7th House is in the 1rst House, while Aries, the 1rst Sign and natural in the 1rst House is in the 7th House. Make sense now? Everything's reversed. What does this mean for the world? Not much without the planets to give us some kind of direction. Then why bring it up? It's fun and quirky and, to those in the know, it looks odd.

College is over and college is gone.
I graduated and had to move on.
School was the base that I built dreams upon,
And I'm still learning...

It was six years ago today that I graduated from college. That's right: I'm old (stop nodding in agreement). This time, six years ago, I had just taken one of the biggest steps of my life into adulthood and I had absolutely no idea what to do next. I ended up performing in A Chorus Line, getting a job waiting tables in Center City Philadelphia, moved to Indiana for 9 months for a season of theatre, and then gave myself culture shock by moving to New York City a week after returning. That's where I've been for the past four and a half years.

College. It's such an influential time in our lives and it's been gone for six years now. Interestingly enough, I'm back in the scholastic environment, having started graduate school this semester and this week, I have finals. Five of them. Ah, the joys of academia. I have to admit, though, that I thrive in such a setting. I'll bitch and complain and moan about it, but on some level, I always enjoy the world. Granted, graduate school is not the same as undergraduate. I attended two different undergraduate schools - two years at Rider University to be followed by two years at Muhlenberg. I had a double major - English and Theatre (Unemployment and Lying) and I unofficially minored in Dance. This time, six years ago, I had two degrees, a bright-eyed outlook, and no clue as to what it meant to be an adult.

Six years later, I have a hint of a glimmer of a whisper of what it means to be an adult. Boy, it sucks. Princeton, Kate, and Nicky are right when they say, "I wish I could go back to college." Graduate school is not going back to college; it's going on to college. Again.

In the same theme of this blog, I just got notice of my high school's ten year reunion. Now, if I thought I didn't have a clue leaving college, I was truly lost leaving high school. I started as an Elementary Education/Psychology double major. That lasted until October of freshman year. And I changed schools soon after. (My parents LOVED me for both moves.) Now, I'm ten years out of high school, six years out of college, a semester into grad school, and what have I to show for all of this schooling? Not a whole heck of a lot. I had bigger dreams of what I would be when I hit 28 (I'm not quite there yet; don't rush me).

Still, I can't help but feel that all of this was laying the groundwork for the 30s. Everyone says that 30s are the new 20s. I'm actually looking forward to the 30s (again, don't rush me). By that time, I'll be 13 years out of high school, nearly ten years out of college, and just finished graduate school (if all goes according to plan). I have a novel in the works to be published (if you haven't checked out the site yet, go! it's linked on pretty much every post! no excuses!), two more in my head, an educational career in the works, years of theatrical and varying work/life experience, and pretty awesome support. Far from Romy and Michelle-ing, I am excited to go to my high school reunion. It'll be cool to see where people are in their lives. Let's be honest: none of us are really where we thought we'd be. I'm betting that's true of most people, regardless of age.

For now, I'm enjoying the odd reversal of astrological weather; it's quirky and interesting. Six years later, quirky and interesting is the best way I can describe my college experience.
...and my life.

Choose Your Words

THE THIRD HOUSE
The Sun and Mercury sit in the 3rd House, the house of communication, rife with Taurean energy. A more physical expression of communication will develop prevalence and body language becomes increasingly important. Keep an eye out for what's happening around you in conversation.

Speaking of physical communication, I had an incredible privilege to attend dinner, theatre, and drinks in the company of hearing and Deaf friends. Nine people sat down to dinner; two Deaf friends, four hearing friends who have varying levels of sign, and three people who don't sign at all. The number of conversations that were flying around was dizzyingly intoxicating (perhaps that was the frozen margarita...). I'd turn from one spoken and signed conversation for the benefit of both parties to join a conversation on the other side being spoken only in sign to then be distracted back to the first conversation by voices. I did my best to keep up with the purely signed conversations and coordinate my signs with my stories (something even harder to do once the food was served). Fingers were flying, people were laughing, new friends were made.

Afterwards, I attended a production of Sign-Arella, a musical loosely based on Cinderella that, in fact, cites many fairy tales and nursery rhymes. It was the first time I'd ever seen a show that contained both Deaf and hearing actors. The leads were both Deaf; their voices were provided by musician/singers from the band. For the speaking actors, two interpreters sat near the front of the stage and signed. Thus, each character was voiced in two different ways. My friend, who is Deaf, was one of the actors and was absolutely fabulous. His performance was so expressive and was reminiscent of ballet; where a language so intricately connected to movement conveys meaning through specific position. This is not to say he was the only one to delight. The cast was a splendid array of talents and the script, full of puns, was filled with savory tidbits of youthful humor. It wasn't until afterwards that I learned that the Fairy Godmother was the one to write the script and suddenly it made sense (who else would picture a fairy godmother from Brooklyn?). There were numerous jokes that landed at different times as the sign caught up with the sound or vice-versa. I've seen many shows in my life, but I've never seen a show like I did tonight. It was awesome in the traditional sense of the word - awe inspiring.

Post show, I met a number of the actors in the show and we went out for drinks at The Duplex. Walking towards the bar, we ended up walking in pairs and I couldn't help but notice that each pair had one Deaf member and one hearing member. Everyone was signing and talking and just having a wonderful time. We all settled into the bar where there was live piano music and singing. Quickly, the bar began to fill up and the noise grew to a level such that the combination of music and voices made it hard to hear any kind of conversation. It was great to still be able to hold conversation across tables with my friends, old and newfound. I think it was one of the coolest evenings that I've enjoyed in my life.

Thank you to the cast of Sign-Arella and to my friends for such a delicious experience!

Poker Face

MOON IN CAPRICORN
The emotional planet in the sign most known for it's aloof nature. Capricorn's calculating nature is going to show up in subtler ways. The moon is going to push some of Capricorn's hidden emotions to the surface, forcing the iceberg sign to reveal some of what's going on below. Trying to keep feelings buried is somewhat futile during this time, especially as this combination is taking place in the 1rst House, the house of self, of individuality.

Poker face. We've heard the term before, usually in reference to the card game. It's quite the asset in cards and is often considered to be an advantage in tense situations. It's also a theatrical convention known as deadpan. For a classic example of deadpan, look to Bea Arthur on any episode of Golden Girls (usually in response to Betty White's character).

For those of the Lie To Me contingent, there is great advantage to facial control. In the context of the show, they explore "microexpressions" that reveal certain emotions one may be trying to keep hidden. For those that wear their heart on their sleeve, this might not perturb them, but for those who are more secretive with their feelings (as a generalization, Earth signs), this may be a terrifying prospect.

How careful you are with your expressions may reveal more about you than you want it to. Those who keep a cool, blank expression often earn a reputation for being uncaring. This may be unfair, but it is the hard view of a society which values openness and honesty. We're encouraged, especially in America, to express ourselves, and we can be very distrustful of those whose motives and feelings remain hidden from us.

Still, do these aloof creatures have the right idea? Usually, we give a great deal away from the simple lift of an eyebrow, a slight smile, a narrowing of the eyes. In the theatre, an extremely expressive world, it's not uncommon for one to have to wipe the slate. The phrase "check your face" is one that I've heard said to actors when another actor sings a wrong note. It's not a deliberate affront; just the world that we live in. In order to keep a colleague from being hurt, we must hide the feelings that would otherwise be clearly written across the face. Maybe we can learn something from those who are able to keep things inside. There's power in quietly kept emotion.

I've noticed, from working in various offices, that the business world is much more cautious with their feelings. They keep everything very even keel (unless they're screaming in anger). "Losing one's temper" is viewed as weak; sentimentality becomes vulnerability. The interesting part is that it becomes very jarring when a boss figure is suddenly demonstrative emotionally. Depending on the subordinate and how the emotion is portrayed, the authority could strengthen or weaken. For a culture that values expression of feelings, in certain situations (especially the business world), it can be seen as a loss of power. Keeping the poker face demonstrates; enables power.

I believe true power lies in effective expression. We may give away more than we desire, but who doesn't love a gift from the heart?

Creativity, Cabaret, and Country

JUPITER CONJUNCT NEPTUNE
Jupiter is within a degree of Neptune in Aquarius. This combination is going to lend a great deal of optimism and idealism, especially with regard to creative endeavors. This is a wonderful time to bring out those original ideas that you may have, explore them, and see where they go. You never know what they might lead to. Perhaps your idea is the new fad.

Fortunately, this weekend, I had the pleasure of not only participating in a creative event, but I got to see two wonderful creative endeavors. The first, a cabaret, was a fabulous romp through musical theatre songs. I had a great time and got to perform two of my favorite songs: Muddy Water (Big River) and I Can Do That (A Chorus Line). Being the critical alpha personality that I am, there are a few moments of nitpickiness but hey, perfection, I am not. For any and all that got to see the show, I hope that you enjoyed it as much as I did.

Last night, in a similar world, I attended a one-woman cabaret at The Duplex, an old stomping ground of mine. It was nice to be back there, and the show introduced me to many new songs. There were some beautiful pieces and I found myself wanting to write down lyrics. One of my favorite lyrics offered was (and I'm paraphrasing from memory): This beautiful mess we call life is a guess, so why try to obsess? Who knows? The power behind not knowing was a part of the theme of the cabaret. It's better to move on and work towards living than to concentrate on the destination and lose the moments along the way. My friend conveyed the message with love and great sincerity. I was thrilled to see her perform.

Yesterday afternoon, my mother and I celebrated Mother's Day with a trip to Broadway's production of 9 to 5. If you have the opportunity to see it, I recommend it. Allison Janney, Megan Hilty, and Stephanie J. Block have the challenge of are fabulous and Marc Kudisch is likably hatable as Franklin Hart. For those who are devoted to the movie, the musical keeps many of the most memorable lines and moments of the film, transporting them onto the stage. There are enough changes in the musical to make it fresh so that you're not expecting every line. This is one of the best translations of a film to stage that I have seen and I have a new appreciation for the lyrics of Dolly Parton.

I hope everyone's weekend was a fabulous one. Now it's back to working 9-5. Ugh, what a way to make a living.

Sing Out Loud

PLUTO IN THE FIFTH HOUSE
That's right, folks. Pluto, planet of power, is sitting in Capricorn, the sign of career, in the 5th House, the house of creativity and drama. Add to that that the sun is sitting on the Midheaven. What do all these technical terms mean? Drama. Especially in the career world. We're going to see a lot of creativity, but with that creativity comes plenty of theatrics and passionate responses. We may also see a movement towards working with children - they are, after all, creations themselves.

What better day for the Tony Award nominations to come out? I actually had no idea (bad former actor!) until I saw a posting on Facebook (what would we do without it?) on my friend, Michael's, page. He has been nominated for a Tony for his costume work in the revival of Hair. This show was seen in the park last year and it was such a huge success that they took it Broadway where it is delighting audiences once again.

And I haven't seen it yet. (bad former actor!!)

The theatre has always been a powerful medium for the presentation of revolutionary ideas. There's something about seeing a performance live that's magical. It doesn't translate to the screen in the same way, either large or small. I think that's because it's never the same. Theatre is a living organism. It's why the last performance of a run is so sad, but if you think about it, they're all last performances. There will never be the same group of people sitting in the audience. You never know what lines are going to hit and get the laugh and which ones will flop because different people have different experiences.

And if you do the same show again, it's not with the same cast. The whole feel is different. The director has a different vision, there is different choreography, you may not have the same part. The same goes for attending a show. You are a member of that audience for 2-3 hours, depending on the show. You play a vital part just as any person on that stage. As Lily Tomlin says, "Without you, there'd be little point in me being here." It's a give and take between performer and audience. There's a lot of power on both sides and part of the magic is the relationship between them. Like most art, it's a subjective world.

So it always intrigues me how the Tony committee picks its nominees and its winners. People are already up in arms about one show or another, one actor or another: "Megan Hilty was robbed." Attending the theatre is like going on a date. Sometimes, you really enjoy yourself. Sometimes, you don't. Sometimes, you want to know more. Sometimes, it's just a fluffy evening that allows you to have a good time without really committing. And sometimes, you wish you'd had a drink beforehand. Still, it takes a great deal of courage to get up in front of people in any context.

When I was in college, I took an acting class (yes, i was a Theatre major; must you point out the obvious?). One of the exercises that we had to do was to sing. You could sing anything you liked, but you had to get up in front of the class and sing a capella. The professor said it was because singing in front of a group is one of the gutsiest things that you can do. It was a courage exercise. Having been in musical theatre since I was 12, I had no major issue. There was one girl, however, who was absolutely terrified. She got up to sing and had to sit back down because her nerves took over. The second time she got up to do it, she cried the entire way through the song, but she got through it. Now, you may be sitting there thinking, "Oh, come on. I do karaoke. It's not that hard." This was in a safe environment; we were all her peers. Karaoke is in front of strangers (some say that's better), there's a track backing you up, and of course, there's alcohol. Still, the nerve it takes to get up and sing in front of a group of people is enormous. To then do it well enough to land a job in a show, a Broadway show nonetheless, and then to be nominated for an award for it, is outstanding and not just a bit lucky. First, though, it takes pluck to even put yourself out there.

And as for karaoke, that's not always as easy for everyone. In fact, it can be a punishment for some. A friend missed a cabaret of mine for a meal and the consequence (let the punishment fit the crime) was that she had to sing a song of her choice the next time we all went out for karaoke. Being a great sport about it, she did it, but she definitely considered it a punishment. She got to choose the song, we were all there cheering her on, and she knew that most of us would end up singing as well, but it was still a hard thing for her. She did it, and though she never wants to do it again, I'm betting she's glad she did.

This is applicable on many levels, which we won't go into, but I think this is a challenge for everyone. Next time you're considering bungee jumping or cliff diving or some other crazy stunt that shows bravery and gets your heart racing, I suggest that you add "singing a capella in front of a group of friends" to the list. I think most people would rather bungee jump. I will say, though, that if you think bungee jumping gives you a high, try the applause when you finish singing. :)

Congratulations to all of the nominees!