Henrik Ibsen

Dear Henrik Ibsen,

I love you. You wrote plays that are witty, scandalous, dry, Victorian, Norwegian, dark and let women mess around with the "gender spheres" of their time. Hedda Gabler is my favorite play and I have now performed parts of it, seen Ingrid Bergman play her (and Michael Redgrave was Jorgen!), and seen it live (thanks to the Roundabout Theatre) with Mary Louise Parker-- all = <3's.

I have recently watched Ghosts and I am also loving that ish, boo. Your hair reflected the craziness in your head that it genius. I wanna blow kisses to Norway in your honor. Check that. Just did.

I like that you let the women take control and the powerful men are always evil, that's good.

Just the "cock of the walk" "killing time"..."1000 thanks" sir. (If you don't get these references read Hedda and Ghosts)

I hope to see more productions of your work and guaranteed I'm going to read that beautiful, sexy collection.

All of my love,

Alexis :)

(Ingrid (1963) and Mary Louise (2009) as Hedda)

(Natasha Richardson and Kenneth Branagh in the 1987 BBC Production of Ghosts)

Happy Birthday Natasha Richardson

(Natasha Richardson and husband Liam Neeson)

Today would have been Natasha Richardson's 46th birthday (May 11, 1963 - March 18, 2009). She was such a fabulous actress, activist and person. I suggest you check out her work today--whether it's on itunes, youtube, netflix or about AMfar. It's all worth while :)

Natasha Richardson

This past weekend I watched quite a few Natasha Richardson films. She was amazing and her death was sad and probably preventable. 

I watched her Charlie Rose interviews-- and she seemed to have a sense of accomplishment but also a sense of mortality. She said to live each day to the fullest and I believe this to be true, so I hope she was living that way. 

Her films were wonderful. You should netflix them if you haven't or go to amazon and buy one or two. I think, so far, my favorite is Widow's Peak she and Mia Farrow are marvelous in this film.

I think what I find saddest about her death, is her work ethic and ambitions must now be carried on by others. She was a real force in the fight against AIDS. Her father died from the disease, and she was one of the biggest propenents for amFAR to help raise money to find  a cure for the illness. 

She was also a Tony award winning stage actress. I think when someone dies and can no longer be seen on the live stage, is one of the saddest things in the world. I think most theatre goers and enthusiasts might agree with me here. There is no replacing an actor or actress who fills the room when they walk on stage. The stage and theatre are so intimate, emtional, jaw droppingly brilliant and irriplacable-- it's hard to think one could never have the opportunity to see a grand performance ever again.

In tribute to Natasha Richardson--I'd like to post this video of her work in the theater. 

I hope her spirit carries on and wherever she is she knows how appreciated her work was (and in film/television, is).

The Graduate

I am taking a break from packing for my Fiesta Weekend in NYC to talk about Mike Nichols' The Graduate. This is one of my ALL TIME FAVORITE films. I am obsessed with the genius that is Anne Bancroft--everything she did. She was also married to Mel Brooks, which makes her even COOLER!



This movie makes a visual presentation that embodies empathy for anyone who is taking a year off or having a lull in their life. The May-December romance is an added dramatic element, but there is so much more to this movie.



My friend Brian and I were just talking, briefly about this movie (that is currently on TCM and sparking this entry). We were actually talking about Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and about Robert Redford (<3). Robert Redford was the studio pick for the aimless character of Benjamin Braddock. The book that the film is based on calls for a "surfboard" type, a true California beach boy. Obviously Dustin Hoffman is anything but-- and that was the juxtaposition that Mike Nichols was looking for.



"Robert Redford screen-tested with Candice Bergen for the part of Benjamin Braddock but was finally rejected by director Mike Nichols because Nichols did not believe Redford could persuasively project the underdog qualities necessary to the role. When he told this to Redford, the actor asked Nichols what he meant. "Well, let's put it this way," said Nichols, "Have you ever struck out with a girl?" "What do you mean?" asked Redford. "That's precisely my point," said Nichols." (imdb.com)
I had heard about this from the behind the scenes interview on a DVD but it was nice to chat about it with a future Trojan (Shoutout to Brain Bibbo! Lol!)

I think this movie's mastery is achieved due to the collaboration and combination of various creative pieces that made a glorious whole (haha, glorious whole...say it out loud). Anne Bancroft was a talented theatre and film actress who really blossomed in the 1960s. She had a couple "B-movies" in the 1950s, but made it big in the 1962 film The Miracle Worker. She had played the part of Annie O'Sullivan on Broadway, co-starring with Patty Duke, who played Helen Keller.


They made the jump from a successful run in the theatre to a successful, award winning film.
She was a devoted actress who took every moment and filled it with talent. Anne continued to work in film, theatre and television until her death in 2005 from cancer.



Dustin Hoffman was actually only 6 years younger than Anne Bancroft in real life--but in the film, you'd never know. They both played opposite ends of life with incredibly believability. Hoffman wasn't the first pick for this film, but his wits and talent provided him to be the best pick. He improvised certain scenes like when he has to grab Mrs. Robinson's breast-- he was about to laugh, due to the crew's laughter, and instead turned it into frustration and banged his head against the wall. He also invented a slight wimper-cough that he picked up from Mike Nichols. This turned what could looked like a 31 year old playing an 20 year old into a unconfident character, believably 20 year old, goalless, boy-man.



Mike Nichols is a genius. There are so many shots, looks, choices, etc. in this film that add up to a visual gem. I'm going to bulletpoint a couple examples that will hopefully entice you to watch the film for the 1st or millionth time.

• The sunporch scene--the famous one with the leg shot.
• 
• The transitions from black to black when he's going through his routine of sleeping with Mrs. Robinson and his blasé lifestyle.
• 
• The scene when Benjamin tells Elane about the affair--then the hallway shot of Anne soaking wet.
  
• The sunporch when she says "I'm extremely upset Benjamin"
• The hotel--darkness--who would have thought?
• The swimming pool 1st person P.O.V.
• Through the fishtank
• Over the wooden banister at the hotel
• Don't forget the soundtrack!!

  	4. April Come She Will
  	Found at skreemr.com

  
  

The list goes on-- I mean pay attention to what they wear. Mrs. Robinson wears animal print and black.



Benjamin is a prep from the East. The rest all look like "plastic" country club folks.

Watch this movie. It's wonderful.
If you feel like you have no direction, if you're taking time off from work, school or something, it is a perfect film to find empathy or sympathy; whatever you need. I have used it to help me get through and I have studied it over and over. I will continue to do so and once again I urge you to see, listen and feel The Graduate.

The Marriage of Bette and Boo-- My Blue Wig

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?"

Not Getting Married TODAY

(Picture of my guilt for depriving my readers [reader])

So, I am truly going to finish the Sexism in Spellbound post at some point... I promise... but in the mean time, I couldn't let some things go by...

There is an article about Steven Sondheim's work today in the  New York Times. Steven Sondheim is a playwright/composer who has been working and writing for decades. 

Some of his work includes the more famous plays: Into the Woods, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Company,West Side Story, Sweeney Todd, and Gypsy.

 I am a big fan of his work, and there is one performance I would like to note here... It's Madeline Khan playing Amy in Company. She sings "(Not Getting Married) Today." This song is hilarious and intellegent not to mention Khan's singing and acting are superb. 

Click on this image and it takes you to the performance... just stay with it, it's funny.

Madeline Khan died in 1999 and it was quite sad. I love her work in other movies, especially her work in Mel Brooks films. I was actually just turning off Young Frankenstein at my birthday party, that year, when the news said that she had passed away from cancer.

Paper Moon

"Miss Trixie's gotta winky tink."

High Anxiety

"What's your sign?

--Sorry, it's unlisted"

History of the World Part 1

"Virgins! Put on your no entry signs!"

Young Frankenstein

"Taffeta darling

--Taffeta sweetheart

No the dress, it's taffeta, easily wrinkled."

Clue!

"Being killed is pretty final wouldn't you say?"

Blazing Saddles

"A wed wose, how womantic"

My earliest memory of Madeline Khan was from her appearances on Sesame Street. She was part of one of my favorite songs, "Put Down the Ducky." She also did several other famous Sesame Street performances as well as appearances on the Muppet Show. 

Click the ducky to play the video!

One last performance that would place Madeline Khan high on my priority list of heros would be her Saturday Night Live hosting.

She did a famous skit with Gilda Radner that was making fun of speech impediments and Barbara Walters... TOO GOOD!

Click on this image to see the skit.

Well it makes me sad that both of these women have passed on. But they left a mark on the comedy and dramatic worlds which is inspirational to women, like myself, who are trying to be funny and get away with shit.

Steven Sondheim's work is also a must have, so if you haven't seen some of the work on stage, you can rent movies like Sweeney Todd (Johnny Depp is in it) or West Side Story (Natalie Wood is in that one... she was also in Miracle on 34th Street with another hero of mine... Maureen O'Hara... oh and Santa Claus).

Check it out! CULTURE YOURSELF!

:)