June 23, 2005
I got a call from my old friend Patrick in Brooklyn, who needed someone to stay at his place in Park Slope and look after the pets. So for the next few days I'm back out at the old brownstone where I started out when I first began this blog. It's been nearly four months since I've stayed here and it's considerably nicer this time around. It's a great neighborhood any time of year, but summertime treats it well. Riding the subways in and out of Manhattan make me feel like a New Yorker again, especially when I cross the Manhattan Bridge. The buses between New Jersey and Port Authority just aren't the same vibe.
The new rehearsal space seems to be suiting us well. It's a small and intimate room, even though the acoustics aren't great and the sound tends to bounce around alot. Silence at work is essential, but hard with this cast on account of the laughter that flows through here on a daily basis. But laughter is an important part of this process. Besides being a brilliant artist and musician, John Lennon was funny and charming, which is what got the Beatles signed in the first place. There appears to be a little of John in each cast member, and as they grow more comfortable in expressing themselves, components of John's personality and talent become more evident.
Mandy, for example, carries Lennon's pathos, the suppressed pain and anger which always comes through one's vocal delivery, no matter what the song. Marcy supplements the pathos by epitomizing the vocal flamboyance of John at his peak; fearless, explosive and always appropriate for the tune. On the surface, Julia recalls John's talent for characterization, but beneath the surface lies a maternal, nurturing instinct that emerged during his last years. And John's belief in the spirit world is encapsulated by the gentle and angelic Julie.
On the masculine front, Chad represents John's childlike nature and raw sexuality, but also his quick, boisterous and sometimes shocking wit. Will has this same talent, but he carries with it a paternal strength, which helps him embody the mature father in John. Terrence is also quick witted and clownish, which is the purpose of his role, but he also harbors John's temper and his ability to chill your blood with just a glance, even if he's only yanking your chain. Michael, who served in the armed forces and does Shakespeare, covers John's discipline and sense of literary refinement, while Chuck is all about the blues, the inner core of Lennon's musical heritage.
The swings are hard to pin down at the moment. But as they get more involved and come to the forefront, Mark, Nicole and Rona will be revealing their own little pieces. As for me, if you were to ask which piece of John lives within me, I'd probably name the part I appreciate the most: his groove.