DeMizio's Journal

My life with Laramie

Laramie is over...

After a fantastic run that horrendously started with a bang, we closed the show that we all thought the school didn't want us to do. In the end, La Salle came to appreciate Laramie, came to praise Laramie, and most importantly, came to Laramie. We had a run of 5 shows, with a total attendance of 601. While not spectacular in the world of professional theatre, for us it represents a milestone. Straight shows don't sell here. We packed the house last night (with 206) and tonight (with 166.)

Personally, I feel like I wasn't truly involved with the show until tonight, and there's a lingering guilt about that. I feel lucky though, having finally experienced it tonight, because it was a majestic thing to behold...one of the characters, the Catholic priest in the show, urges the Tectonic troupe to "say it right." We said it right. We said it right. We said it right.

To everyone who came, thank you for sharing the experience with us. To my friends who came and who talked with me afterwards, thank you too... Thank you for being with us through one of our toughest projects, through one of our most difficult times, but also through one of our greatest successes. Thank you for being more than was expected: for reacting with intelligence, tact and respect.

My distance from the show came from a couple of different reasons. I took a different position than I usually would have by doing dramaturgy. My reasoning was to just round out my experience here, figuring that I would enjoy doing the research and background into everything that came up. Once again with the connections - it connected my meticulous nature, English and Communication majors, and my desire to teach. The downside to the position is not having anything tangible to do during the show: no buttons to press or ropes to pull or props to set. The other reason I felt distant came from missing tech week due to duty and sickness. It was kind of nice getting sleep though, for a change. Back to the grind with "Godspell"

Laramie, you were fun and I will miss you. I learned a lot, and you are an incredible play. But it is good to move on...

I've spent the previous two afternoons exploring Philadelphia, attempting to make up for four years of not leaving my rooms. The past two days have been beautiful - a little cool or breezy, but still just wonderful walking weather. Thursday, I took the subway down to 5th and Market, and walked to Penn's Landing. I just sat there for a while, experiencing this weird peace that I didn't expect, nor do I think is deserved in an area so close to Columbus Boulevard and I-95. The picture was just incredibly serene - a tug pulling a crane up a choppy waterway...no one around but a handful of people just staring into Camden it seemed. From there, I wound up walking over to the Borders on Broad Street, just south of City Hall. I took a route down Chestnut Street that wound through some bits of Old City. Then I decided to head over to Rittenhouse Square just to take that in as well. I caught the subway at City Hall and made my way back to La Salle. (Let me just say that the express train rocks.)

Saturday I got off the subway at City Hall and broke the surface to hear someone playing on a recorder flute...let me just say that the center of City Hall where the train stairwells are is also one of those incredibly undeservedly peaceful places in the city that I've found. The flute was clear and loud, although I couldn't place the tune. I had plans today though, and made my way down Market Street east to the Ritz at the Bourse to see "The Triplets of Belleville." My stops today were at Reading Terminal Market, which was packed with people, and the Gallery, which is a place I've passed by and never stopped in to. I walked pretty much every floor of The Gallery, just enjoying walking through it all - reminded me a little of the old Cumberland County Mall from my Millville days. I thoroughly explored most of the place while I was there, got lunch in the food court, and headed down to 400 Ranstead Street for the movie.

"The Triplets of Belleville" was like nothing I've ever seen before. The animation is beautiful: every single frame deserves a place in a gallery somewhere. The plot is fantastic and off the wall, but it sucks you in with it's cheerfulness, insanity and humor. Dialogue is almost non-existent (I only remember one subtitle, giving the name of the film) and is unnecessary. The music fits the picture well, and feels organic to the rest of the production. I wondered what came first in the head of the director - the plot, the music, or the jokes.

And so I end another fantastic week, poised to enter another one. Thursday, I leave for Ireland. Until then, there's a screening or two, and a couple of classes. Maybe another trip into the city - this time