What Was I Thinking?

Random Thoughts

I haven't blogged in over a week.  I'm sorry puppets.  But, here's an uber-post, if you will, of random things that have been stewing with me.

1.  I feel like i'm 12 again.  Went to the ER Monday night...found out I had strep throat.  Somehow, I feel like I should have been on the couch, watching cartoons, eating sherbert, and mommy calling Sr. Geraldine to let her know I wouldn't be in school for a week.  One nice thing about getting strep as an adult: they give you vicodin for the pain :)  hee hee.

2.  My excitement last week over Proof opening in movie theatres was busted when I found out that the 9/16 release date was ONLY NYC and LA.  SOOOO disappointed.  Nationwide release is THIS Friday, 9/23.

3.  I'm back in Illinois for a couple of days.  I'm worried about my grandmother's ever-declining health and the it has taken on my mother being her primary care-giver.

4.  Random Thougt 4 has been self-censored.  Let's just say that it pertained to an asshole in my life.

5.  Hurricane Rita.  Oy.  Like the Gulf Coast needs anymore.  This one will pretty much do it...between Charley hitting Florida's Gulf-side last year, Dennis in the panhandle this year, and, of course, Katrina, and now Rita, the entire Gulf Coast will have taken a hit.

6.  Random Though 6 is no longer valid.

7.  I leave for Greece in one week.  I can't wait to see my friend Jeremy, and on the trip back, see my friend Mat during my stopover in London.  I need a good, solid, vacation away from everything.  Don't worry, pics will be posted all over the place.  I may even get a chance to blog once or twice while i'm there.

8.  I have some really great friends who do some really stupid things.  But we learn, we grow, and we move on.  'Nuff said.

9.  I'm guest-lecturing for the drama class at my high school tomorrow.  I know i'm going to feel so old...it's gonna be so insane...especially since next year will be our 10 year reunion.  I can't wait.  Shaping young minds...warning them about the perils of professional theatre :)

10.  I have to send heaps of good-luck mojo (and encourage everyone else to do the same) to John Paul out in LA who just embarked on a new journey and casting off his safety net in hopes of making it in the jungle that is the industry in LA.  The same holds true for my friend Mary who just moved to LA recently.  If only I had their courage....

Proof

So, how excited am I?  After nearly two and a half years, Proof by David Auburn, which 4 years ago won not only the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, but also won 3 Tony awards (including Best Play, Best Actress accolades for Mary-Louise Parker, and Best Director, Daniel Sullivan), and 2 Drama Desk awards including Outstanding Play, is coming to the big screen.  The film, which was adapted by playwright Auburn, stars Gwenyth Paltrow, Jake Gyllenhaal, Hope Davis and Sir Anthony Hopkins. 

Proof is a tale of love and trust told in the shadow of mental instablility.  On the eve of her 27th birthday Catherine (Paltrow) must come to terms with the death of her father (Hopkins), a revered mathematician who years prior mentally broke down, deal with the arrival of her over-bearing sister (Davis) and the attention and affection of one of her father's former students (Gyllenhaal).  Did Robert leave behind the most ground-breaking proof of his life?  Does Catherine, who shared in her father's abilities also share his tendency toward mental instability?  Much of the original play leaves that to the audience to decide and reflect on their own abilities to trust and find hope in the most dire of circumstances, and I'm hoping the film honors that mystery. 

Proof holds a very special place in my heart and my life.  It was the show I directed for my senior thesis at Catholic University.  I first read the script over Easter of 2001...on the patio of my best friend's house in Scranton, PA (nearly a year before my production, and a few months before it was showered with awards).  I was immediately drawn to it and knew I had found my production.  The writing is brilliant and for any actress, the lead role of Catherine is phenominal.  My dear friend, Mary, was absolutely fantastic in the role.   On a recent trip to LA we discussed doing it again, this time out west, sometime in 2007.  It is a project I would gladly undertake once again.

As for the film, i'll be at the first matinee I can get to next Friday, and will be eager to see it multiple times.  If anyone wants to join me Friday afternoon or evening, gimme a call or shoot me an email.