Cast of Characters

I've now been in Croatia for one week and I've only blogged once. What a colossal failure. However! I am remedying that now with a second post! I had hoped to post again yesterday, but I've been damn busy with the tapestry designs for the show. Which brings to mind an interesting point: I'm in Croatia as the assistant designer on The National Theatre's production of Christopher Durang's "The Marriage of Bette and Boo." I'm here with ULV director Steve Kent and working for/assisting scenographer Dr. David Flaten, also of ULV.

Now! I wanted to talk about the people:

Jasna: I'll start with Jasna because she was the first person from the theatre that I met upon arrival. As the acting head of the Hrvatsko Narodno Kazalište u Varaždinu (that's the Croatian National Theatre at Varazdin, folks!), she is one busy woman. In fact, I've barely seen here for more than a few moments since she picked me up at the airport. She's a plump reddish woman with a huge personality. And tough as stone. She is not a woman I'd pick a fight with. Ever. Lucky for me, I don't pick many fights.

Lada: I have no idea if that's how it's spelled, but I think I'm close. Anyway, Lada is the dramaturg for this production. The brightest bulb in the room too. A master of classical morphology, a poet, playwright, director and dramaturg. She wears squarish glasses and has to be right in your face when she talks to you. She's extremely animated--to the point where I think one could render her inable to speech if one tied her hands together. Altogether, a genius at what she does (how many languages are you fluent in?) and a funny woman. Watching her and Steve try and figure out how to translates a joke that cannot exist in Croatian because of the use of 'Jesus" as an exclamation was one of the most fanscinating and complex conversations I've ever been privy too.

Mladin: Again, I'm not sure I'm spelling his name correctly. At least this time I know I have the 'Ml' correct. I met Mladin, the Literary Director of the theatre, last night in the coffee bar. He's a large Santa Claus-man who smokes a Dutch pipe filled with Virgina weed (that's tobacco). He explained to Steve and me why Russia shut off the oil, including the political histories of this region. Every few minutes he'd apologize for his bad English, which in fact was excellent. I kept telling him it was better than my Croatian.

Slaven: Ha! I know I'm spelling this one correctly. Slaven is a thin man with young features. Darker skin than me, but that's not saying much. His English is excellent. He seems to strive to make everyone happy (with him, being the unspoken part of that). but one cannot blame him. he's the technical director here. i'm not sure what to say about him except that he's the kind of guy I'd rather get a beer with than work for.

Ksenija: Ksenija is Steve's assistant. She is a funny girl who's older than she looks. she looks young enough to be called girl and not woman. She serves as Steve's production manager and translator. She was married to Pgra, who plays Father Donnelly, and has a child with him. They have a funny relationship together as exes. Well, funny for the outsiders, I suppose.

Alma: Alma is playing "Bette." She has the air, and grace and beauty of a vintage movie star. The woman is simply gorgeous with a personality that shines as brightly. She also has more talent in her pinky fingers that most American actors do in their bodies. There's a certain majesty to her presence.

Franjo: pronounced Fran-yo, Franjo is playing "Boo." Franjo looks like Russel Crowe and acts equally well. He's the kind of actor that has to wait around for 3 weeks in rehearsal while the other actors get their shit together so he can do his thing. And yet, he's so patient. He has these kind eyes. We had a funny little moment the other night: I walked onto stage as Steve, Lada and Franjo were going through Franjo's family photo album which he had brought for me to take pictures of for the tapestries in the set design. Lada was translating to Steve and I as Franjo explained each picture. Towards the end of the album, we started seeing show pictures and we came across one of Franjo as Laertes. Steve excalimed, "He just played Laertes," pointing at me. Franjo asked (in hesistant English): "Twice?" I shook my head. "No, just once. Last year." He smiled. "Ah ha!" And gave me the 'up yours' arm gesture playfully. There's something very humbly about having Franjo, a famous European actor, one up-ing me jovially.

Pgra: Pgra is a tall lanky Dalmatian. Landon's skinny-ness has nothing on this guy. His talent seems to be stiffled by his emotional indulgences though. So much so that he continues to stop rehearsals. Steve finally got fed up the other day. When he isnt indulging his emotions, he's terrifically funny and inventive.

Glowa: pronounced Glo-va, Glowa looks like Orlando Bloom. But with more talent. He looks 16, but is 32. This guy could be huge in the States if he ever came over and did some work. He's so polite and inventive and funny. Franjo calls him the Future of Croatian Theatre. He bought me lunch the other day, though I'm still not sure why. He said it was to say 'thank you' for coming over here on my own budget and work with them. It felt so backwards. Steve thinks I should invite him over for one of my projects.

Suna: Suna is a big earthy woman trapped in this tiny little body. And with the most intense neck I've ever seen. Like Lada, she is delightfully expressive and cannot talk without gestures. She's one of my favorites to watch during rehearsals. She literally becomes "Soot" in the play. It inhabits her. Its very strange. She's very strange. But delightful and a wonderful conversationalists.

Robbie: Robbie (who plays "Paul") and I haven't really gotten to talk much. He's very reserved and always seems to be on the edge about something.

Zeliko: Zeliko is an older actor who has a large personality, even though I can't understand anything he says (as he speaks zero English). His "Karl" is vile and nasty and yet Zeliko seems sweet and grandpa-ish.

Maria: Is a large personality also. She plays "Margaret" wonderfully. She's another that I can't seem to get to know. The language barrier makes conversation difficult.

Barbara: Barbara who plays "Joan" seems like everybody's aunt. I haven't really seen her out of character, so my opinion is kind of tainted towards bitch. but that's because "Joan" is a bitch.

Hana: Hana looks like Helen Bonham Carter. Her English is perfect (including contemporary vernacular) and she often assists in translating. She plays "Emily" as this silly confused child. I have no idea how old she is, but I know she's married with a kid.

Vedran: Vedran is the prop guy on the show. He's young. In fact, he looks younger than me. He always seems to be going somewhere. His English is pretty good. If he would stop, I could probably get to know him better.

And that's it for now! These are the crazy and wonderful characters inhabiting my life currently.

More soon! Cheers!