Will Swenson shows us what a two show day as a pirate king is like at Barrington Stage Company’s mainstage production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance.
Super candid foto I took of myself pretending to still be asleep.
First things first: work on composing a tweet the morning after watching the Republican National Convention.
Next: insert caffeine.
Followed by: insert potassium. Which coincidentally was the name of my band in college.
Catch up on some vital internet searches....
This may look like drug paraphernalia, but I'm almost certain it's just a steamer to try and get my vocal chords to come together. Still not positive. Go ask Alice.
Is this where I make another drug joke? It's just cause my joints need help!
Will stands in front of mirror post shower for an inappropriate amount of time, striking various poses, trying to convince himself he's in good shape. (Fails)
Will eats even more food before the matinee. Second breakfast is soooo much better than first breakfast. (Blissfully unaware of the disturbing amounts of hair attached to his head)
Time for a morning stroll through beautiful downtown Pittsfield on the way to the theatre. It's not as bad as it looks... They don't even start with the jackhammers until about 8am!
The theater as seen through the lens of my Pokemon game. Yes. In fact, Barrington Stage IS a Poke-stop:)))))
Finally that question is answered.
Some pre-show tunes to hum along to. SO GOOD!!!
My dressing spot POV. All the pirate essentials: eye patch, dagger, throat coat tea.
Greeted backstage by three of our lovely "Stanley Sisters": Claire Saunders, Morgan Rose and Alanna Saunders.
Pre show the cast gathered to send a video message off to a neat benefit down in Orlando. Cue the Pirate faces.
Double selfies with Kyle Dean Massey. Apparently he's very talented.
Close up of my awesome pirate hat just before I head up to make my first entrance!
In between shows and it's time to get to my real priorities for the day. Burritos. Ok I've spent waay too much time at this place. Hot Harry's Burritos. I'm not shy about it. Also, just... Diet Dr. Pepper. King of soda.
Then this little guy showed up on my forehead. I caught him in a red and white ball and stuck him in my Rolodex.
Don't judge me. This is important! I have young boys I need to relate to. This is he view of this intersection in Pokemon land... And...
This is the view of the same intersection in real life. It's SOCIAL!!
Next got this terrific piece of news from my little brother Bobby! All the siblings texting in to send love and congrats!
Super quick power nap where I dream of 1950's Broadway, when there were only six shows a week. It was a beautiful, beautiful dream.
Short chat with the woman I impregnated a few months ago. She's super nice. LOTS of potential.
My brother's baby gets borneded! Congrats Bobby and Erin!!! Ronan is one lucky little suck.
I quickly panic that I will not have sufficient energy to crank out a second show. A sugar load is entirely appropriate in this sort of situation. Also appropriate if it's a day of the week that ends in the letter "y".
Right after I sing my "Pirate King" song I get to descend a spiral staircase and greet this bevy of beautiful maidens. My job is fun. (Inside voice shouting: "Be COOL Will, just be COOL!!!!"
Green room hijinks with a bunch o' swarthy pirates!
Managed to catch this moment with KDM and the offensively beautiful Scarlett Strallen. Terrible, mean and ugly people. On Opposite Day.
A shot from the wings of me on a rope actually swinging in onto the pirate ship. Arg.
Awesome costume. Nearing the end of a looooooooong mother of a day.
Finally I manage the scuffle home to wind down and get some sleep. On this particular night, the US women's soccer team was dismantling the ladies from Costa Rica in an international friendly match.
Well, That's it. Another day in Pittsfidise. That was intentional. But a Pittsfield/paradise word joke is the best I've got right now. And I'm not creative enough to sit here and think up a better one. Thanks for understanding:) and also come see the show. It's really, really good. 👍🏼
