Long Time No Blog
Posted: May 21, 2014 Filed under: Between Two Boroughs, Miscellaneous, Tips, Videos | Tags: annie, hedwigandtheangryinch, intothewoods, jennhaltman, nph, theatremania, theunderstudy, tonyaward, tonys, understudynyc 1 Comment
First, let me say: please excuse my absence these past couple of weeks. I have shows to share with you and drafts piling up, but we are very much closing in on the opening of The Understudy. Hence, my brain capacity is at its max. So allow me to stray from a typical review for the moment to simply say hello and share a few tidbits.
Hello!
Have you seen the Annie trailer yet? There’s this one with song and dance and another one I saw in theatres that pretends it’s not a musical at all. You gotta admit – that’s smart marketing to get some other folks in the seats. What are your thoughts on the cast? Mainly Cameron Diaz and Electro? I’m trying not to have any pre-conceived notions. It’s coming out this Christmas along with Into the Woods. Much to discuss. We’ll check back in about the latter though once there’s a real trailer released.
Tony nominations were announced on April 29th, which means we are quickly approaching one of my favorite days of the year (aka Tony night). What did you think of the nominations? Any snubs that really bothered you? Poor Daniel Radcliffe; that’s three snubs for him now. I was particularly excited that Outside Mullingar got recognized, and all of the Twelfth Night nominations made me quite happy. I’m eager to see what happens with some of those intense competition categories.
I’m seeing Hedwig and the Angry Inch on July 1st! Just a heads-up: it is POPULAR, and it’s only going to get crazier once it starts collecting Tony Awards on June 8th. So if you have any interest in seeing it and/or NPH, get your tickets now. When Matt and I went to the box office last week to buy ours, they were already sold out through the end of June.
Here are the reviews that will be coming your way soon: Murder for Two, Mothers and Sons, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, and perhaps another Spotlight on TV!
And lastly, a brief moment of self-promotion if I may: The Understudy is one week away! Performances are at The Secret Theatre from Wed, May 28 through Sun, June 1. It was officially announced on Theatremania today! Get your tickets here, and enter the code KAFKA by this Friday at midnight for discounted tickets. I’m so excited about this production and incredibly proud of everything we have accomplished in such a short time. I love this play, and I think you will, too. Hope to see you there.
The Understudy
Written by Theresa Rebeck, Directed by Jenn Haltman
The Secret Theatre, May 28 – June 1
Photo Credit: Jeff Schneider Photography
Pictured: Brian Byus and Becca Schneider
The Bells
Posted: January 17, 2014 Filed under: Miscellaneous | Tags: APenglish, cecil, haroldpinter, oneact, pinteresque, raine, sandy, thebells Leave a comment
Due to popular demand, I give you – in full – The Bells by Sandy and Becca. Dated February 8, 2002, our assignment was to write a “Pinteresque” one-act play for AP English. Brace yourselves, folks – the brilliance may just knock you out of your seat.
The Bells
Room is small, lights are dim. RAINE sitting in armchair, knees drawn up to chin, staring blankly. CECIL brewing coffee in the kitchen.
RAINE
I’m sorry.
CECIL
(Faintly, from other room) Don’t worry about it.
CECIL walks in, sits down across from her.
RAINE
No really, I mean it.
CECIL
It’s fine. I know you do. You did the first time you apologised.
RAINE
I know.
Pause
But it’s only for a night. By tomorrow, everything will be…sorted out.
CECIL
I don’t mind at all. I’ve already told you, feel free to stay…as long as you wish.
RAINE
No.
Pause
My mother’s coming to pick me up, actually.
CECIL
It’s really–
RAINE
I’ll be gone by midday.
Silence
CECIL
How was your flight?
RAINE
Uneventful.
CECIL
And your trip?
RAINE
Wonderful. I wish I could have stayed longer. Incredible place, very pleasant people.
CECIL
Australia, right?
RAINE
New Zealand.
Pause
CECIL
Did you change your hair?
RAINE
What?
CECIL
Your hair– is it different?
RAINE
No.
CECIL
You seem different. Are you sure?
RAINE
Yes…I did…nothing to my hair.
Pause
CECIL
Has it been a year?
RAINE
I think so.
CECIL
It didn’t feel like it.
RAINE
Hmm?
CECIL
A whole year. Felt nothing like it.
RAINE
A year is a long time.
CECIL
I don’t think so.
RAINE
You don’t?
CECIL
No. Not much happens in just one year. Nothing really changes, right?
RAINE
No…I suppose not.
Silence
CECIL
I remember you…at the gate. It was raining that day. We had an awful time with your luggage, it seems amusing now, but it was frustrating at the time. We dropped one of your bags and it tumbled down a flight of stairs, and one of the zippers snapped and a whole section of the bag burst open; your things went flying everywhere. There weren’t many people in the terminal that day, but a good crowd did stop to watch, and I simply stood there, dumbfounded. You were incredibly upset.
RAINE
I don’t remember that.
CECIL
Well, I do. You were absolutely seething. You were so upset. You couldn’t wait to board the plane and leave “this bloody God-forsaken hell-hole of a country,” as you so colorfully expressed it.
RAINE
(Quietly) I remember that.
CECIL
What?
RAINE
What?
CECIL
You said something, didn’t you?
RAINE
No…nothing.
Silence
CECIL
I missed you.
Pause
RAINE
It’s good to be back.
Silence
CECIL
I think the coffee’s ready.
CECIL stands and goes to the kitchen. Dialogue continues.
I miss…the Garden.
RAINE
Hmm?
CECIL
The Garden. I was thinking about it just the other day.
RAINE
Were you?
CECIL
Yes. I want to go back there.
He comes back to the room and hands RAINE coffee
There you are. Milk and sugar.
RAINE
I don’t take my coffee like that.
CECIL
What? Since when?
RAINE
Always.
Long pause.
CECIL
I want to…see it again.
RAINE
What?
CECIL
The Glasshouse. At the Garden.
RAINE
Oh.
Pause
You know, there were many.
CECIL
Yes, yes. You know what I mean, though.
RAINE
We saw all of them.
CECIL
Yes, but, you know.
Pause
The courtyards were lovely.
RAINE
Yes.
CECIL
They were my favourite. The light was so pleasing, and calm, reflected off the glass. I remember the afternoons we would spend there. I enjoyed just sitting inside and watching the sun come through the windows. It was beautiful.
Pause
RAINE
I preferred being outdoors.
CECIL
Oh?
RAINE
On the lawns, in fair weather, yes. I loved lying there, in the cool breeze.
Pause
Listening to the bells.
CECIL
What bells?
RAINE
The churchbells.
CECIL
I never heard them.
RAINE
I did.
Pause
CECIL
As I recall, there wasn’t a church anywhere near there.
RAINE
Yes, there was one.
CECIL
Was there?
RAINE
Yes, on Trumpington.
Pause
CECIL
Well, I still don’t remember ever hearing bells.
Pause
It was…lovely there, wasn’t it?
RAINE
Mmmnn.
CECIL
We were younger then.
RAINE
Yes, we were.
Silence
CECIL
I really have missed you.
RAINE
I know.
Long Pause
RAINE
Cecil, I did…
CECIL
I know.
RAINE
Yes.
Pause
A long time ago.
She stands. They freeze, looking at each other. Lights slowly fade to a blackout.
Oh. Hey there.
Posted: May 11, 2013 Filed under: Miscellaneous | Tags: firstpost welcome Leave a commentGreetings, blogging world. Where to begin? A brief introduction? My name is Becca. I love theater so I go see it a lot. I like sharing my opinions and was encouraged by several people to share them more publicly. So here I am. On a blog. Like so many before me.
I’m hesitant to say we should call my future posts “reviews,” but after I see a show, I’ll tell you what I think of it. How does that sound? If I hate it, that doesn’t necessarily mean you are going to hate it and that you should skip it. Maybe you’ll see something I didn’t. Or you know, maybe I was right.
I’m still trying to come up with a clever quick-glance rating of “how good” something is, like the standard 4 out of 5 stars or thumbs-up versus thumbs-down. Thoughts, inter-webs? When Seth MacFarlane played Ryan Lochte on SNL Weekend Update and reviewed the upcoming fall season, he gave things “swims.” I could give shows six swims. Out of three.
See ya soon. Oh! And follow me!
Becca on Broadway 