This picture has sparked some curiosity, and I have agreed to write about why the hell I am dressed as a clown with an inhaler and some pound cake.
For anyone who has seen the picture in my Mom's minivan... thanks for pulling out my Pop-pop's personal property, you jerks. Sike. My mom printed out a huge print of this photo to show my Pop-pop when he was sick so he could get an image of his FAVORITE granddaughter in the theatre. Believe it or not, he was proud. He liked to see me act, whether it was in costume or not, there was a mutual love of the theatre and I miss that bond I had with him. I can't say that I am all too thrilled that the photo can still be found in the back of the Lis-mobile, but I like attention so, Mom, good work!
Now to all who saw the play: I know I was great. You don't have to tell me.
Now to Adi who wanted me to write about what is going on because she found the picture on my website (shameless plug www.alexismorrell.webs.com).
The play is Christopher Durang's The Marriage of Bette and Boo. It is Durang's reflection of his screwed up family. He was a Yale graduate and the original version of this play was staged far from the version we portrayed.
Our director, Andrew Heller, had the metaphor of circus freaks in mind for our production (Fall 2006).
It was the first play I ever auditioned for and I was casted as Emily Brennan, a sad, kind, beat up, nun-like, imprisoned character. I was to be a sad clown in a dunk tank.
I had a blue wig that stayed on nicely, though I was hit on more in that wig than I have ever been with my brown hair... I'm not sure I like that. I felt like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman except I can shop wherever I like.
I wore a onesie that was lifted off my body by a course netting. Our costume designer was a genius for this thing specifically. The costume didn't smell and dried remarkably fast. He had a heart attack in the beginning of production and I dont think he saw the final result. We had amazing dressers who took over!
I was dunked 4xs a show and we did 8 shows. The tank was COLD and disgusting. The wouldn't fill it up completely and I hit my butt several times.
I had to wear these enormus, plastic, clown shoes which we had to drill holes in to drain the water because we found out early in rehearsal that they didn't work well in the water or on the metal ladder out of the water.
(My tank)
I had a space heater backstage that I would sit next to with a robe, towels and blankets. There were animals in cages back there and it smelled like duck asshole.
Now I would like to address the first picture in more detail:
There was a scene where my character's sisters fight and Emily is caught in the middle. Emily has every problem you could think she would have... asthma being a key factor in this situation.
I had to carry an inhaler, which I referred to as "my puffer." I had to pretend to use this and eat cake all at once.
The picture that was taken of me playing Emily was taken at my most dramatic scene and I will forever be haunted by that face.
There was cake everywhere on stage, which was in the round...fancy... and of course it also ended up in my dunk tank. Gross.
At the end of the year awards banquet I took home what might be the most prestigious award at Salisbury University: "Most Likely to Get Wet on Stage"
The cast became great friends and it was an experience I wouldn't trade for anything! I loved every minute! (even the cold, shitty, water)
(Family photo: Emily, Bette, Joan, Paul, Margaret, Skippy. We took this pic, made a Christmas card and gave it to our director... we <3 Andrew Heller!)
"When the bob?"
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