Hail and well met, fellow Thespians. Did you know that I’ve acted on stage since I was about two? I was (un)fortunate enough to belong to one of those schools where, once a year, everyone slips into a costume made from old curtains, pipe cleaners and aluminium foil and prances around a stage for a couple of hours. In my formative years I just had to look cute. Later on I had to wear wigs (and affect a female voice), wear copious amounts of make-up and generally make a prat of myself. Remind me to get out the school photos some day — my roles ranged from frickin’ Osiris, the Greek [OK, Egyptian, I got it wrong -S] god, through to the Dauphin from The Scarlet Pimpernel. The photos would be nothing short of hilarious. Hilariously awful… but still hilarious.
Moving along then — I alluded in yesterday’s ’52′ that I love live-performance photography. Stage acting, musicals, dancing, music — it doesn’t matter. I love the STAGE itself. I’m sure a lot of deep and meaningful things could be said about the stage. How one throws off the shackles of their mundane, humdrum façade to assume a different role, a different persona; to be reborn every evening, to bask in both the luminescence of the lights and the audience. Then there’s the argument that it’s all an act anyway — the actual living thing — and that the stage merely exemplifies and amplifies traits already within us. Maybe I’ll investigate that some more.
There’s this story, a Kurt Vonnegut short (which I’ve just discovered was made into a short film!) called ‘Who Am I This Time?’ It’s about a shy, completely unassuming guy that only truly becomes someone on stage. Off stage, he’s a nobody, literally; devoid of personality, limp. If you haven’t read it, you should. Everyone should; Vonnegut was really way before his time, and a genius. It’s in Welcome to the Monkey House, probably the best collection of short stories not written by Roald Dahl (which you should also read).
Anyway, enough waffling. Today I have a bunch of photos from a show. There are a lot — about 100 — but as always, I’ve had to pick my favourite few. Notes for each photo can be found by hovering your mouse pointer over them. Again, I have to ask that no names or locations are mentioned in the comments.
Hezabelle
Dec 8, 2009
Osiris was an Egyptian God. Just sayin’. hehe
I really love that first picture!
MentalSarcasm
Dec 8, 2009
“my roles ranged from frickin’ Osiris, the Greek god”
Osiris was the Egyptian god of the dead, it was Hades who was his Greek equivalent (and Pluto the Roman version).
[/ancient history pedant]
sebastian
Dec 8, 2009
I was just testing you both! DUH.
Glad you like the photos, you pedant.
At least Hezabelle was polite enough to say that much… sheesh!
I think I was confused, as I’ve also played Hades…
MentalSarcasm
Dec 8, 2009
I’ve never been polite, I’ve been sarcasic
You’d make a very good Hades, better than Osiris, the Egyptians always painted him green. “Welcome to ancient Egypt, our god is mouldy” XD
sebastian
Dec 8, 2009
Oh, I thought that was just the light of… the underworld… all those… souls floating around and stuff… if anything, they’re going to be green and smoky. One of those narrative imperatives.
You can be polite _and_ sarcastic.
Stephen K
Dec 8, 2009
“You can be polite _and_ sarcastic”
See *that* sounds like a challenge.
Since you love hearing about how great your photos are, they’re brilliant. Though the second one which looks like… Carmen? just made me think that the woman was sorely tempted to lift her leg a little higher and a littler faster. I mean, he looks a tad shocked anyway, might as make it dramatic! And the last photo? Just mmm.
carissajade
Dec 8, 2009
As always your pics are beautiful!! I grew up on the stage as well… But I definitely don’t have your photography skills!
sebastian
Dec 8, 2009
Hey Stephen! I didn’t get around to responding to your other comment yet — I’ll try to do that today. Welcome, in the mean time!
I don’t LOVE being told how great they are, but it’s certainly one of the few merits of being an artist. If you don’t have appreciation, what do you have…? Certainly not money, that’s for sure…
Definitely hints of Carmen, yes!
What kind of stage stuff have you done, Carissa?
Melissa
Dec 8, 2009
I love the color in the first one! Also, these are all from the same show? Are you allowed to say what the show was, or does that count as mentioning names or locations?
sebastian
Dec 8, 2009
Yep, the same show — a variety show!
Mr. Apron
Dec 8, 2009
Um…….
I like the last one.
Please tell me she’s at least eighteen. I’d rather be a pedant than a pedo.
sebastian
Dec 8, 2009
Couldn’t possibly say.
Plausible deniability duuuude.
Sara Strand
Dec 8, 2009
And suddenly I want to own a polka dot skirt since I’m partial to dots. I’m behind in my times I suppose.