I'll Show Them All!

I auditioned for a part in a play recently, and while I didn't get the part I had originally tried out for, the director did ask me to read again for another part in the same show.

I was so happy, and foolishly assumed my friends would be as well. Oh boy, was I wrong.

I don't know if it was intentional or just from a sense of surprise, but when I mentioned the part I was being considered for, they all reacted with what can only be described as shocked outrage, with one going so far as to say how complicated and difficult the part I was being considered for was because he had his own song in the show.

Does he think I didn't know that? After all, I saw the same show at another venue a few years ago. Or, does he think I'm just not capable of doing it? Is it a case of "once in the chorus, always in the chorus"? Does he and others think I'm only able to perform in small bit parts, a background player and nothing more?

I want this part now more than anything. Not just because I enjoy performing so much, and not just because it would be a great opportunity to expand my resume and break out of the "Ensemble Prison", but because my "friends" have been so hurtful and all but coming out to say I cannot do it!

I want to show them that YES I CAN!!!

Sweet-Spiced Sweet Potatoes

Happy Thanksgiving everyone, and while it's probably to late for you to get started on this recipe for your Thanksgiving meal, keep it in mind for Christmas, Hanukkah, Ramadan, etc., etc., because it's just that good.

I'd also like to take the time to apologize for not posting on my blog, whether it be a recipe or just a "guess what just happened to me", poem, dream, or whatever. I've just been so wonderfully busy at the Stockton Civic Theatre in their current production of "Oklahoma" that I've had precious little time to do anything else. I'm not complaining though. I love acting, and SCT is a great theatre with great people.

Anyway, onto the recipe;

SWEET-SPICED SWEET POTATOES

• 2 lbs sweet potatoes, peeled, and cut into 1/2" pieces*
• 1/4 cup packed golden brown sugar (or dark brown if you prefer)
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 2 tblsp butter or margarine, cut into 1/8 inch pieces
• 1 tsp vanilla

1. Combine all ingredients except butter (or margarine) and vanilla in crockpot (be sure to use a crockpot liner to make cleaning a breeze).
2. Mix well, cover and cook on LOW for 7 hours (or high for 4 hours).
3. Add butter and vanilla.
4. Gently stir to blend.

*Sweet potatoes come in many varieties, but the orange ones (sometimes called "garnet sweet potatoes") are technically yams. For a little extra color, use 1 lbs sweet potatoes, and 1 lb yams.

The Full Monty

Just got back from my audition for the Modesto Performing Arts. Now I just have to wait till Tuesday, 12/1/10 to find out if I was cast as Dave Bukatinski.

The role is of a somewhat overweight steel mill worker, who struggles to lose weight and keep his marriage together. The role calls for great comic timing, and I hope I was able to turn a misstep into an advantage.

For my audition song, I chose "A Comedy Tonight" from the musical "A Funny Thing Happened On My Way to the Forum". I was a bit nervous and flubbed some of the words. Not knowing what else to do, and wanting to show the director so much that I have comic timing, out of nowhere I said "Please forgive me. I'm usually much more talented than this". He burst out laughing at that.

Later, when I had to sing the chorus from the song "Let It Go!", I introduced myself again by saying, "Hello. I'm Wesley 'The Anti-Situation' Foreman. Again, he burst out laughing.

I will never say anything negative about my competition. I'll just say that I hope with all my heart for good news come Tuesday.

For the Sake of Revenge

"I cast darkness to chase you,

You who would hold me beneath your thumb,

So that you would fall,

When others would stand."

(Just a small curse. Have a nice day.)