10 June 2010
From Todd Van Voris
Well, first the big news: I'm bald now. My director asked me in the first week of rehearsal if I would be okay with shaving my head for the show. I said no problem. I believe his instincts were correct. At times, t
he baldness provides the character of Jamie a sense of strength and toughness, at other times a sense of childishness and vulnerability. It is amazing in the craft of acting how something as simple as the length (or non-length) of one's hair can inform how to move and behave. And boy, is it easy to manage. Think of all the money I'll save on shampoo!
The rehearsals are going excellently, each day we move further and further down the path of discovery. I cannot begin to describe what an astounding work of art this play is. True, this play is tragic and heartbreaking, but it is also filled with laughter and light, caring and love. I think Long Day's Journey has the reputation of being some long dirge, but it is far from that. It is a play about the struggle to survive, to understand life, and that is a brilliant and warm thing. And my cast mates William Hurt, Robyn Nevin, Luke Mullins and Emily Russell are bringing out every ounce of beauty in this show. It is truly amazing.
I see a little bit more of Sydney each week, but I am still quite enmeshed in my work, so I haven't been out all that much. I have been to the Sydney Aquarium, and it was quite incredible, they have an awe-inspiring water tank that you can walk beneath through plexi-glass tunnels and see enormous sharks of all types, giant sea turtles, rays and fish. It was beautiful. I have done some more walking around town and am amazed at the diversity of culture and ethnic groups, there are people from all over the world here. I have had a pint or two in Sydney's oldest saloon, the "Fortune of War", established in 1828, and in "The Hero of Waterloo" which is an old stone fort that has been converted into a pub. They have good beer here folks, but they can't touch our micro-brews back home. And don't even get me started about coffee...
Well Portland, that's it for now, I'll drop a line again soon. Oh, and if it's any consolation, it rained for a solid three weeks here too, which has only now started to let up. Enjoy the beginnings of your Summer as I go into Winter here...(sigh). Take care folks!
