Monday, April 16, 2007

Achievements and Disappointments

Well, it was a bittersweet weekend. The two performances at the Manoel went well and I am proud of the whole cast. Unfortunately few people came to see us, which makes it difficult during live theatre. Normally one draws energy from the audience and it becomes a positive cycle. But when there are few people reacting, things can get a bit stale. Still, the cast put on an impressive performance and we got some great comments from those who came out to see it and tried out something new and different. Unfortunately, the Gozo show had to be cancelled because the person setting up the lights simply did not show up. Can you imagine, after weeks of hard work and rehearsing every day, to have to cancel a show because of someone’s unprofessional conduct! Needless to say, the cast was greatly disappointed. At least we had the Manoel again the next day, with a slightly bigger audience who did laugh, clap and otherwise participate.

Then it was a bittersweet feeling, a sense of achievement coupled with saying goodbye to the cast. The director has actually arranged for us to put on the show again in a couple of weeks, so there will be more (and if you missed it, there will still be a chance!) but I know that not everyone will be able to continue. It was been a very big commitment rehearsing every day, and some cast members will have to drop out.

On the achievement side, I am very proud of myself because this weekend I attended an audition for a TV show in Maltese! I was, of course, petrified at the thought, but I pushed myself and went for it. I showed up at the Super One television studios yesterday morning and luckily ran into one of the cast members from my last play so I had someone to chat with while waiting. I had learned the lines ahead of time and M helped me practice the cadence so that I sounded as Maltese as possible. I was worried that my foreign accent might get in the way, though it is also something that could work to my advantage. Mostly I was afraid of being able to conduct the whole audition/interview in Maltese. However, I managed! I kept my answers brief so that I would not stumble in trying to come up with long sentences, and only once had to ask for something to be repeated. At one point I was asked to improvise lines in character, at which point I simply freaked out inside, but I remained calm and collected and somehow was able to do it.

Most likely, I will not get the part. But the experience was a big confidence booster. I had never auditioned for television before, nor in Maltese! I came out feeling proud and ready to take on the world.

Posted by G at 12:58:41
Comments

6 Responses to “Achievements and Disappointments”

  1. Mary says:
    April 17, 2007 at 5:48 am

    Bravo–especially for the TV audition! If you do become a Maltese TV star, please, please, please send me a copy!

  2. Ivonne says:
    April 17, 2007 at 6:03 pm

    Oh Grego,
    Best of luck with the audition!!! Remember I told you you will end up on TV so you are on the right track ;-)
    Besos,
    I

  3. joanna says:
    April 19, 2007 at 4:22 pm

    Stumbled onto your blog today and you had me hooked. Couldn’t stop until I had read all your entries. Stenna, ahjar niktiblek bil-Malti, qed niftakar!! Mela, nawguralek, u nittama li ssib xoghol u iktar nies li jkellmuk bil-Malti! Dahhaqtni tnejn… Fakkartni fit-tfal tieghi li tant jaraw tv bl-ingliz li zgur li iktar ihawdu bil-Malti minnek ta! Prosit, ghax vera impressjonajtni u, bhala Maltija, napprezza hafna l-isforz li qed taghmel biex titghallem il-lingwa, u biex issib it-tajjeb f’socjeta` li mhux dejjem daqshekk facli biex tidraha….

    Il-kumment li kont ghamilt xi ftit xhur ilu dwar dak id-dokumentarju fuq il-KonKattidral ta’ San Gwann, incidentalment, ghaddejtu lid-direttur u l-produttur tas-sensiela! Hadu gost bil-kumpliment… :)

    Ibqa’ ikteb, u taqtax qalbek.

  4. Grego says:
    April 20, 2007 at 12:10 am

    Thanks gals, though I really doubt I’ll get the part. It was still a great experience, though!

    Joanna, grazzi tal-kumplimenti u nispera li ħadt gost meta qrajt il-blogatti KOLLHA!!

  5. joanna says:
    April 20, 2007 at 2:41 pm

    Grego,

    U qed tuza tipa Maltija, bil ‘H’ bir-ras maqtugha ukoll??!!! Issa z-zejjed, ta!!!! :) :)

  6. magickat says:
    May 30, 2007 at 6:41 am

    That is so exciting! I am a Maltese-American actress living in NYC and I’m so glad that I decided to read your blog chronologically to discover that you are a performer as well!

    And what a wonderful way to make friends in a new place!

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