An Actor I Am Not.
Posted: Monday, June 08, 2009
by Mike Fak
http://mikefak.com
Well I told all of you I would tell how the local cemetery walk went.
Many of my friends who listened to my portrayal of a man long gone said I did fine. But after all, friends will say kind things no matter how bad you do something.
To make matters worse, I didn't feel well at all and some people thought my pale, ashen face was a great makeup job when it was me in the flesh.
A few decided to give synopsis and stand for the photo ops and I was happy to do this. I could do this presentation in front of friends and strangers but I was wary of doing it in front of these old pros.
I did make a fool of myself once. The woman who did the part of a famous English woman who came to our county was spot on with her accent. After her brief synopsis I applauded and raved about how great her accent was. As she thanked me, with a strange look on her face, I realized her accent was so perfect because she was from England herself.
I didn't feel very good and frequently sat in a folding chair I carried around with me but I felt about as ready as I could for the event.
I had a good costume thanks to a young man who collected period dress to rent to local theater productions. I had a hat and vest and a classic long coat that was perfect for my part. White shoe polish made my hair the right touch of gray and I had a nice chin whiskered goatee thanks to Elmer's Glue and several tufts of hair from our white cat, Smirky. Yeh, I used cat hair. If you would like to see the pictures, they are at http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2009/Jun/06/Features/picturepage060609_lcghs.htm
During the day I had to give my presentation to seven different groups. I was clever enough to start out with an apology stating that it appears even spirits are susceptible to the flu and to please let me know if I begin mumbling or begin being incoherent.
The first group was the most nerve wracking because in the group I saw the woman who wrote the script. And although I saw her smiling several times, I imagine she was thinking, "What happened to the script I wrote?" beneath that smile.
I realized I was lucky as my five minute presentation was much shorter than the others and I was relieved I didn't have a bigger script since I had a fuzzy brain trying to remember two pages of information rather than five or six.
During breaks, I joked with other actors near me that people could come back again since I was certain I didn't do the same presentation twice.
I relaxed after I saw one of the local icons of stage have a small stumble. She began a sentence by saying, "I will never forget." And then after drawing a mental blank she said, "Damn if I didn't forget. When one person chuckled she quickly replied, "Hey I'm old and I'm dead, I will forget things." This brought a laugh from the entire group and so I settled in on being Mike Fak and telling the story as best I could.
I'm glad I did it because I always wondered if I could play the part of someone other than me. It is obvious that although I have a ball talking about LDN or anything else I am involved with to groups that the switch to acting is something missing from my personal repertoire
It was a long day. Being uncomfortably ill and totally out of place made the day a challenge. I'm convinced I wasn't very good but I did all I could and that will have to be what is someday etched on my marker.
Here lies the remains of Michael Fak.
Skills as an actor he surely lacked.
He gave it all he could, but he wasn't very good
But he can play himself if he ever comes back.,
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Top-level comments on this article: (4 total)Hi Mike.The photo is great! And the article as well. I'm sorry you were sick. Makes it tough, I know. But it sounds like you had some fun anyway.Thanks so much for sharing,DianneThanks Dianne. It wasn't easy to hang in there but it's for a good cause.Mike
The picture is great, good costume Mike. Well you can stroke 'acting' off your list of things to do before, you know. :) Sounds like you did a good job despite the flu. Congratulations!Thanks Brianna. I think from now on I will just play me.Mike
Mike, you did that in true "show must go on" fashion. I say, "Good for you," in American accent, and would have loved to have been there in the cemetery watching and listening. Really, dear chap!Thanks Jane. Darn I should have video taped it.Mike
You, Sir, are indeed a trooper! I would have blacked out for sure.Thanks Ken. I thought about that a few times.Mike
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