Archival Arrival

Did you enjoy the cute title?

What does it refer to?

Earlier this week, (I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas, as I have not had much of a chance to get back here to the blog during this holiday week), a friend of mine from college sent me a video. A dvd transfer of a VHS recording I had never seen...me in my first lead role ever!

In the fall of 2000, I played Leon Trotsky, in David Ives' Variations on the Death of Trotsky.

This dvd was a taping of that performance.

In fact it was a taping of three out of the four performances that that show gave.

I did quite well, I have to say.My projection could have been stronger in some places, and I spoke a bit faster than I do now...but otherwise not a bad job at all. I remembered having, fun with the show, remembered many people laughing most of the nights, and I remember the very obvious light error halfway through the one performance. (The best one, naturally.) And though I was proud of myself at the time, and have remained so, not until now, over 7 years later did I have the privilege of actually watching myself in the show.

Archival footage is a tricky business. In some ways I like to look at it. In other ways, I loath it. But in this case, the play was a particularly special experience for me, and I am joyed to have it saved for posterity.

Thanks to Lauren, the friend who sent it to me this week, and who directed me in the piece 7 years ago. =)