BWW Blog: Paige Faure - A Happy Buzz

My mother in law, Rebecca, and I were talking about this thing we are calling "the post-show happy buzz". It's the palpable energy felt after a musical that keeps you, as the performer, hungry for more even when you're spent. It keeps the audiences coming back with that indescribable "I just love theatre" feeling. It keeps producers investing, marketing, promoting even when it may be risky. It's the silent but mutual agreement that what we are creating, seeing, experiencing is real and connecting us all when it's very easy to feel disconnected. That we can laugh together, confer on topics normally untouched, and shamelessly lavish ourselves in song and dance for the sake of itself. And in this world of joyful theatrical drunkenness, we take all kinds! It's a big ol' open invitation to humanity. I mean, the fact that I was at the doctors office the other day and the quirky consulting physicIan Went from talking to me about the whooping cough vaccine to how much he and his wife are wild about seeing shows should be indication enough. He spoke to me longer about Phantom of the Opera then about my ear infection. (Side note: he also said I was a spitting image for Mindy from "Mork and Mindy". I really don't see it. I did say he was quirky...)

Anywho, its addicting, that "Happy Buzz". Rebecca said she saw it after our final invited dress rehearsal of DROWSY, everyone a-flutter with what we had accomplished and ready for the world to see it. I know I felt it the night we opened and was hob-nobbing with my fellow cast mates at the party afterwards. Sure there were drinks and cake and whatnot, but the pride of putting on the play with no stops, no flubs, and no deer-the-headlights moments was enough to keep us rousing til all hours of the morning. The same energy was felt here in Houston on Thursday night at the opening of Spamalot - I had the pleasure of watching with Henry from the light booth that evening and the happy-go-lucky attitude of the men and women on stage and off was palpable. Henry did NOT make it inside the cast party afterwards, as he has an aversion to...well, most things after 10pm. But we did greet everyone as they went in, all gussied up and ready to celebrate the feat that is getting thru tech and getting to audiences. Its a special accomplishment, whether you are performing at a dinner theater or on Broadway.

We had a blast at Spam - And yes, almost 4-month old Henry DID make it through the whole thing...almost. He loved his fathers Fabio wig (frankly, it made me a little uncomfortable, but only because it looked a little TOO good...where did he learn how to toss those blonde locks to rival Elle Woods?) and he cooed over the dancing girls. He was not a fan of "The Knights who say Ni", with their high pitched squeals and faceless frocks, but those actors shouldn't be too concerned - he just has very exclusive taste. Like most high-brow reviewers, he likes what he likes for reasons unbeknownst to most. For instance - can't get enough of my singing "All That Jazz" to him, but refuses to let "I Dreamed a Dream" happen, ever. Ok Henry - So, don't book Les Mis. Got it.

Back to the buzz - What if every type of business got to celebrate the way we theatre folk do? What if every time a web designer finished a project they got an open bar, a variety of canapés, and a karaoke machine? Or like Ellen Degeneres addresses in her own holy grail of comedy, the HBO special "Here and Now" (Haven't seen it? Go. Now. Watch. Its all on YouTube...), what if we gave an applause for anyone in any profession for whatever they do well? Lets try that for a week, shall we? I will applaud my waitress at dinner tonight and even bestow a standing ovation, should his/her performance meet the standard. It sure feels good, on both sides. I love cheering on my family and friends and am joy-filled when they reciprocate. Spread the love, why don't 'cha? I'm sure your barista will love it.

Anyway, enclosed is Henry's face at intermission of Spamalot, concerned that all the magic had to stop for a pee-break, ("Doesn't everyone wear diapers? Come on, people, stick it out!") followed by his own post-performance buzz-face. I believe his exact words were, "Goo!" Maybe they should change the gag to "The Knights who say Goo"? They'd really bank in on the "Under 1 year" demographic...

Tune in next week for Blog #4: Roadtrip to Kansas City for more Monty Python and a backstage tour!

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