(Haha. Another draft I just found that I have no memory of writing. From January 17, 2009.)

I felt like such a tool at the Study Abroad fair today because it's just so goddamn impossible for me to say no to people. So I ended up accepting brochures to study like... molecular biology in Wales. Wtf?

Acting in M. Butterfly

(Old draft that I only just found today. This is from sometime in early 2010. Probably early February)

It is currently 5:20 a.m. and I am reading about Stanislavsky's method for acting class. I'd already read a bit about him before, but I didn't know he kept detailed notebooks on every performance he gave and every show he saw. What a great idea! I recently performed in a production of Henry David Hwang's M. Butterfly and definitely learned a lot, so why not chronicle my experience?

So! M. Butterfly. I'll start with a brief synopsis for those unfamiliar with the story. The basic premise is that a French diplomat (who has never had much luck with women) falls in love with a Chinese opera singer and begins an affair with her that lasts many years, only to discover that his beloved "Butterfly" is actually a spy... and a man. It's a bit of an absurd plot (though it's actually based on a true story!), but it touches on very real gender- and cultural-based issues, like Eastern vs. Western misconceptions, and the inevitable consequences that come as a result.

There was clearly enough in the script to capture my attention, but I was more hesitant than intrigued after the first read-through. It's definitely not my usual kind of play - it's incredibly technically ambitious, to say the least, and I wasn't sure if we could pull it off. Moreover, I tend to like scripts that focus mainly on dialogue and character development; I value simplicity and it seemed to me that there was a lot of unnecessary clutter in this script. Don't get me wrong, I very much value design and think it's an important part of theatre, but not when it's over the top and distracts the audience from the acting and the story... which is what I feared would happen with this show.

But rehearsals started, and I dove right in like I do with any show. Whether or not a script/production fits into my personal tastes, there are certain elements of the rehearsal process that are always fun.