Most Surreal Parenting Moment Thus Far

The History:

Jimmy and I are both members of The Actor's Studio. Yes, the "world-renowned" Actor's Studio, as they say. The place founded in the forties by acting teacher guru Lee Strasberg, the birthplace of "The Method",  training ground to Marlon Brando, James Dean, Marilyn Monroe, Robert De Niro, Jane Fonda, Gene Hackman, Dustin Hoffman, Harvey Keitel, Paul Newman,  Jack Nicholson, Al Pacino, Geraldine Page, Sidney Poitier, Mickey Rourke and Christopher Walken . The home of "Inside the Actor's Studio". Yes, we are...da, da, da, dum...method actors.

It's strange that I've never talked about this before, as the studio has had a fairly large impact on our lives. We both had to audition to get in, a rather grueling and competitive experience. Once a member, an actor can attend sessions and classes at either the New York branch (the original) or the Los Angeles studio, begun in the sixties. You have the opportunity to work on scenes during the Friday "sessions", moderated by the artistic directors. Currently, the New York artistic directors are Al Pacino and Ellen Burstyn (though I don't think Pacino moderates very often) and the West Coast directors are Mark Rydell and Martin Landau. You can take any of the weekly classes for free. Jimmy actually teaches a class there every Monday, which is prestigious, even if it doesn't make him any money.  Membership is for life, and you don't have to pay a cent. Which is a pretty danged good deal.

That said...I've always had a love/hate relationship with the place. While it's filled with brilliant, artistic folk, the members that actually show up for the sessions tend to be the geriatric crowd. Which makes sense, as they're less busy and have the time to hang around and watch scene work. And unfortunately/fortunately the moderators always open up the critiques to the membership. Sometimes you will get extremely helpful, insightful and educational feedback. But sometimes you get some old codger who rambles on about what they did when they played the part in 1969. It can be hit or miss. You never know who's going to show up at a Friday session. Shelley Winters used to be there pretty often, and, depending on if she was on or off her meds, offered up bitter, scathing critiques. A couple of years ago, Jimmy went out to do a scene and realized that Pacino was moderating. Rather intimidating. For the most part though, people are fairly supportive and well-meaning.

I used to do quite a bit of scene work. It's an excellent way to work on characters that you choose to work on  and stretch yourself by exploring roles that you wouldn't normally get cast in.  Since Jude was born I've only worked once. I just don't have the time and energy to put that much effort into something solely for the artistic experience. Jimmy, however, has continued to work a couple of times a year. Since he's a teacher there, he has the added pressure or working for his students!

The Set Up -

Jimmy decided recently that he wanted to choose a scene to work on at the Studio in which he could really challenge himself. To find something that he considered difficult and frightening. His choice? "Kiss of the Spider Woman". And yes, he is working on the William Hurt part. And yes, that means...drag.

 

Jimmy is a truly brilliant actor. But unfortunately, he is not an attractive woman. Dressed up in his silk bathrobe and turban, he looks disturbingly like his Grandma Laura...

 

More Set Up -

For Christmas, Santa brought Jude a Razor Scooter. The child loves the thing, and constantly zooms around the house. In fact, he seldom walks any more, he scoots everywhere he goes. He keeps the thing in it's "parking space" next to the front door, and virtually any time he wants to go anywhere in the house, it's on scooter. It is, as you would imagine, driving me frakin' crazy.

The Moment -

FADE IN:

It's Friday morning. Jimmy sits on the counter in the bathroom wearing a burgundy brocade turban on his head. Gretchen stands next to him, applying heavy foundation, blusher, dark eyeliner and mascara to his face.

Jude (who has a day off school for some sort of teachers' workday thingy) scoots into the bathroom and skids to a stop.

JUDE

Hey Mom. When you finish putting on Dad's makeup, will you play the Wii with me?

GRETCHEN

(applying lip gloss to her husband)

Yeah honey, but first I have to paint Daddy's nails red.

JUDE

(nonchalantly)

Okay. I'll wait.

Jude hops back on his scooter and zooms away in a blur.

Comments

[unmitigated me]

I just had the exact same conversation with my son. It's like we're psychic or something. My husband's not an actor though, he just likes to...wait, TMI?

[VandyJ]

Hey, everyone's normal is just a bit different. At least he didn't freak out over the makeup. That might have been harder to explain.

[Sprite's Keeper]

I think I want to be a fly on your wall for a little while. It sounds way too entertaining over there!

[Mama Badger]

I was thinking the same thing unmitigated was. At least your actors.

You're giving the kid great fodder for college parties, and girlfriend sympathy. Think of it that way.

[Lynn @ Curly Girl's Music World]

Wow! I can totally picture Jimmy as Grandma Laura! I'm glad Jude was not fazed by any of this. Really, I'm sure deep down he knows that dress works for boys and girls - even grownup ones.

[Lynn @ Curly Girl's Music World]

Correction: dress-up works....

[Keely]

I love that he thinks this is normal for a married couple, but that dogs have to be married to have kids. Context is key.

And I *KNEW* the household of two actors must be way fun!

[Elizabeth]

I'm dying.

[Jan]

Yes...Jude is the child of actors. And I think I love him.

[debbie]

You should really print this out and keep it. It will help when Jude starts therapy to be able to pinpoint the defining moment:)
Actually, I've had much worse conversations with my kids and we certainly aren't actors.

[K]

I love it. It's a great scene.

[becky]

Awesome scene. And the Studio sounds so cool! So generous to go and lend your time.

We'll be expecting a pic of J in his Grandma Laura outfit.

[Jenni]

He is going to have the best stories of all the kids in his freshman dorm.

[Erica@Pines Lake Redhead]

Your life could be a TV show.