My Experience in Tights: Spanish Shakespeare

I'm going to start off with the customary apology for my lack of blog entries. I'd tell you it was because I was busy, but I'm taking this time to blog because I don't want to finish my Directing notebook for my final in Performing Beckett (it's amazing how apathy increases as you approach the finish line. My will-power is currently being held in a thimble).

LA REVENCHA

So, we had quite the week(s) here in Dublin. After the family left, we started heavy rehearsal for the critically acclaimed production of La Revencha de Romeo (if my friends count as critics (and if "You did really well, but we don't speak Spanish and what was with the ending" counts as criticism).

Really, What was with the ending? And does this bird actually live in Venice?

We started running rehearsals from 5-8 the last week of, culminating with a 11-6 rehearsal on saturday where we went until the alarms signifying the school was going on lock-down went off. I would like to be optimistic and say I was super ready for the show come the end of the 7 hour rehearsal, but we didn't actually finish the run-through (both act 1/2), and spent a lot of time working through the technical aspects. In fact, we didn't finish running through the show at all until about 7:15 on monday, the night of the first production (for those of you keeping track back home, yes, the audience showed up at 7:30). But, we somehow managed through the first production running on pure adrenaline. Aside from the ending, we did smashingly well, selling out 73 seats (for the first time in UCD Spansoc history), and nobody died! I really put emphasis on that part now because at the time I was completley unsure.

Well, almost nobody died (RIP Tibaldo, Mercury)

Apparently, even the Argentinian ambassador to Ireland showed up. Talk about swanky!
We had a two day break before our next performance, in which period Dramsoc managed to come in and alter every single lighting cue we had put into place as well as altering the performance space without really telling us. They were great about being good hosts. Good job you guys. (overall, my experience with Dramsoc at UCD was not a good one. Not to be a negative nancy, it's just they proved to be incredibly exclusive in a strange combination with pretension. I'd highly recommend finding an alternate route to channel your artistic endeavors if you decide to come here) After fixing it all, we put on a smashing performance. I'll avoid personal criticism, but it turned out much much better than I originally feared it would be.

We did our cast party at Pacino's on Suffolk street for Tapas and wine, followed by a cast outing to Dandelion on St. Stephen's Green. I'm incredibly happy I spent time with these people no matter how afraid of the production I originally was. Thanks for the experience Spanish Society at UCD!

Side notes:

I was going to make this longer to include my story about being invited to Irish Parliament (Leinster house), but I'll break that into another story to tell another day (possibly tomorrow). So, look forward to that. Also, today Barack Obama, Jimmy Fallon, Stephen Colbert, Dave Matthews, and the Roots are all at UNC. Thank God I'm not missing anything back home.

Summer's coming! I'm not unhappy here, but I'm excited at the prospect of coming home. I've got concerts to attend, friends to see, and the world of a 21-year-old to uncover. States May 22nd, and Chapel Hill for good starting June 9th. See you there.