Your Humble Blogger got a call recently from the director of Pygmalion, during which she described a recent plunge through a basement full of odd bits of clothing, emerging, she said, with lots of wonderful things for costumes. Except not so much for me. She did, however, find the one thing that I was most wanting to have as Poor Alfie: a leather waistcoat.
I am particularly concerned with creating a physical Alfie that is funny and not too broad. Well, actually, I don’t mind it being pretty damned broad; what I mean is that it shouldn’t look too awkward and unnatural. One area for concern is that our Eliza is a fair bit taller than YHB. I think there should be a sense that Alfie lives more comfortably in his body than the middle-class folk or the shabby gentry, that he is, if not altogether graceful, capable and handy. He is a ditch-digger and a garbageman; I am a librarian. I haven’t strong arms with bulging biceps, and I haven’t the time or inclination to bulk up in the next six weeks. I am wiry, and I will have to play a wiry Alfie, which means, well, what, exactly?
I don’t know. But I am certain that it means a leather vest, and I am pretty sure it means sticking my thumbs in the armholes. That’s a good way to spread out and take up a lot of room onstage, and make yourself look a bit bigger than you are. My arms are long, which helps that, but then a lot of gesturing with arms flung wide can look effeminate, which is not at all what we are going for. I’ll have to try a few things out. I’m thinking big hands, rarely bringing the fingers together but spreading them out. On the other hand, that could emphasize my slender and delicate fingers. Well, and that’s what rehearsal is for.
Tolerabimus quod tolerare debemus,
-Vardibidian.
I was following along until you said ‘big hands’, and suddenly I pictured those giant foam sports fan hands with one finger extended. You know, big hands. Which probably wouldn’t emphasize your slender and delicate fingers, but might still be distracting.