Some of you may have noticed I’ve been a little remiss on my blog this week. And while not having our three teens at home during spring break is partially responsible (do I really need to explain?), it’s also because I’ve been preparing for my role in our local production of Thornton Wilder’s Pulitzer Prize winning play, “Our Town,” in which I play the coveted role of the complex character known as “Angry Farmer.”
As my friend, blogger and internationally-acclaimed thespian (he lives in Canada) Ross Murray can tell you, emersing yourself in such a pivotal, two-word performance is emotionally exhausting. However, it was all worth it when I overheard our director describe my portrayal of “Angry Farmer” to the rest of the cast as “Ned’s role of a lifetime. I promise. Even if we all have to change our phone numbers.”
Given that kind of endoursement for my natural acting ability, I felt obligated to share some of my secrets with other thespians with this short how-to video: Ned’s Secrets to Incredible Acting
As I mentioned in the video, the final shows are this weekend. So if you happen to be on the central Oregon coast, I hope you’ll stop in to see my portrayal of “Angry Farmer.” One of our directors, Jennifer Connor, told me my performance is “unforgivable.”
I’m sure she meant “unforgettable,” but I know she’s been under a lot of stress…
Ned's Blog 
Wow! Next stop Broadway, if you can remember your two words. “Is he?”
I wish I had been in our high school plays especially since my dad created the most unbelievable sets. I was too insecure.
Nothing scares me now, except….. WHO WILL BE THE FINAL EIGHT???? I have never watched the NCAA Tournaments, but somehow, I’m in the 99.7% in the ESPN Challenge after last night’s games. I may not have any fingernails left after this weekend.
I’m already practicing for when they announce who’s going to the championship — so I can convincingly say “ARE they?”
You better figure out where to put the emphasis. There are so many possibilities and you’re running out of time!
AM I?
*laugh* sharing with a thespian family member 🙂
Killin’ me!
It’s the acting, isn’t it… 😉
Oh my Gods. Youre too funny….I can’t imagine how badly your wife’s sides must constantly hurt from laughing. Thank you once again for a good LOL. Hugs Xx
My pleasure! And I have to say, my wife is super funny and a real good sport, so I’m a lucky guy 😉
I guess she’d kinda have to be…on both accounts. 🙂
Sudden off-beat pauses. Unusual speech rhythm and emphasis. Unpredictable deliveries and deadpan expressions. Christopher Walken got nothing on you!
Wow. Walken is…one of my… favorites… so that’s a… real compliment 😉
http://goo.gl/6da3Ru
Well if you’re actual performance is as mind blowing as the rehearsal, I suspect your agent will have you booked on broadway asap! Break a leg my friend!
That’s assuming the direector doesn’t break my leg first. But thanks, Lynn! 😉
Says the angry farmer…or is he?
He IS?!
Ahhh. The work that goes into your craft! But to quote a very old ad, “Is he or isn’t he?” Only by attending the show will you know for sure. 😉
Hope all goes well. 🙂
Haha! I remember that ad!
And by the way, “I’ll never tell.”
I’m sitting in a car dealership laughing to myself and disturbing the other patrons, but not as much as they are disturbed by your pronunciation of “poutine.” Sharing this with my actory friends.
Ha! I looked for the correct pronunciation of poutine everywhere! I finally settled on something that possibly sounded “French” but without it sounding like “poon-tang.”
Poo tin. If you really want accuracy, you give that T a little S inflection, like tsetse fly.
God. I AM helpful!
Are you sure? When I say it like that it sounds Japanese.
Try Vladimir Putin, except “PuTIN.”
Ah-HA! That’s better. At least now I won’t be made fun of if I ever come to Quebec and order a bowl.
It could happen. (Coming to Quebec, I mean.)
And keep in mind I am clearly a master of dialects.
You mean you weren’t talking about poon-tang?
Isn’t that what the astronauts drink?
‘Xactly!
OMG…I am DYING over here. I just don’t even know what to say.
I’m still distracted by the poutine and kept hoping for an “aboot” to slip out.
Pardon me while I tweet…
Lol! What can I say? I like going places and acting like a dork.
And did I mention my wife is a willing accomplice? 😉
You didn’t even have to mention that – she looked quite willing in the video.
Oh my…I hope y’all hide that camera before the kids get back!!
I actually used one ofher panty hose boxes as a “tripod.” If the kids saw that, they’d definitely need therapy.
You are too funny, Ned! I mean… angry farmer.
I can’t be mad at you.
I missed the role you’re playing. I guess my attention span isn’t what it used to be.
Don’t feel bad; it’s not hard to miss.
Very nice Ned. I knew we were kindred spirits… I too have done a bit of two word acting. I was awarded the role of a butler in Arsenal Technical High Schools 1975 production of Oscar Wilde’s Trivial Comedy for Serious People: “The Importance of Being Earnest” wherein I delivered that immortal line, “Yes, Sir.”
So you see, I too am a thespian trapped in a man’s body. Now, “Break-a-Leg!”
HaHa! Yes sir!
“From L. Thespis, Gr. , the founder of the Greek drama” – What a natural description of you Ned = the founder of drama. I can hear you now: ” Is it?” Indeed it is. You thespian, you. has a ring to it doesn’t it? Well, playing a slightly demented farmer – no, wait, upset farmer?, hmmm, perhaps it was unhappy farmer? Oh, well, a farmer anyway.
Very well done my fiend – I especially like the role your wife played in the video. She was superlative – so convincing, such annunciation, such believability. I am so pleased that you secured such a professional to coach you.
Ha! Break an arm Ned! Oh, waot. is that break a toe? No, maybe break a finger? Oh well. break something!
Lol! I’m fortunate my wife is a willing accomplice in most anything. And even unwilling, as long as I use my cry-acting 😉
Wow, I thoroughly enjoyed that! Then I discovered I had the sound muted, but I promise I’ll look at it again. Soon.
Seriously, though, you should get some advice on how to deal with groupies. Well done.
Hahaha! You should leave the sound off and supply your own dialogue! Probably more convincing. Just don’t make me sound like Justin Bieber.
Now you’ve got me thinking. I saw “A Fistful of Dollars” once dubbed in Japanese…
I thiks it’s called “A Fistful of Yen.” Or maby it was sushi.
You should have heard Lee Van Cleef say “Okashi desu ne!”
Hahahaha!
I am dying! As a fellow “thespian” I think you did an unforgivable.. er I mean Unforgettable performance also!!! he he! I totally believe you are an Angry Farmer!! 😉
I owe it all to having a hat I can throw to the ground. That really sells the “angry.”
Wow! You have made the big time Ned! Japan said and big censoring NO when I hit play. I’ll assume the Emperor knows best and that I shouldn’t watch, for my own good.
oops, apparently I need more coffee, that “said and” should be “gave a”.
Oddly enough, I knew exactly what you meant. And it’s 5 p.m. here, well past coffee time. I’m not sure what that says about me. But at least we understand each other.
I’m not sure if I should be excited or horrified. 😀
I think excitingly horrified strikes a nice balance.
Agreed… ACK ! There we go again!
WOW! That’s never happened before! The Emperor knowing what’s best, I mean. In this case, he’s probably right…
you have found your calling. another one.
As with all of my callings, all I get is a busy signal.
First comment: As a full-fledged Canadian, I do not like poutine, and it doesn’t matter how you pronounce it. 🙂
Second comment: Do you realize you sound Canadian, not American?
WHAT?!? I sound Canadian? That’s aboot the craziest thing I’ve ever heard…
Are you implying that I am a crazy Canadian?
“Implying” seems like a strong word.
Crap, one crazy Canadian here.
HA,HA,HA,HA,HA!!!!!! You had me in stitches, Ned. 🙂 Very well “played” and hilarious…and Jack Black. Your rehearsal partner was pretty good herself. Can’t say I’ve ever spent the time sans kids rehearsing lines but it looked like fun.
Hey, Thanks! We had a lot of fun “rehearsing” while the kids were gone 😉
Dear Ned,
Your performance tonight as -angry..farmer- was magnificent. Even though I didn’t actually see it, I sensed, metaphysically, the depth of your two words as they electrified the cosmos. Shakespeare himself was likely turned in his grave for having been born far too early as to have not been able to take advantage of your great acting prowess. Or, he was just turning in his grave. Either way….
I am in awe, once again, of your many finely-tuned talents. I fear I shall now have to turn to the sordid arena of acrobatics to step up my cheer-leading game to meet the newly set bar of your just desserts. Dare I even consider taking on a second number 1 groupie to uphold the role at this new level?
I will retire to the sensory deprivation tank in order to clear my head of the unearthly reverberation of those words, “Is he”? I need to mentally re-set before I begin my trek to (probably via to the Himalayan gurus) the lands of near death back-bending experiences.
For you, anything!
Kudos from,
Your Number 1 Groupie
There is no need to “up your game” in the cheerleading regard, Robyn. Even from here, I can — like you — sense the metaphysical prowess of your acrobatics. So much, in fact, that I think I pulled a back muscle.
Thank you for all of your sacrifice and dedication as my No.1 Groupie 😉
Anything, my fine sir, anything.
I’ve watched the video a couple of times and it cracked me up the same each time. Too funny, and well done, Ned. I love your humor so much.
I would be there if I could. I still haven’t got that autograph from you I asked for.
Now let me try this. “Is he?”
How did I do?
That was very convincing. The student has become the master. Then again, consider the source… 😉
My hats of to the the teacher.
I laughed, I cried, I sought therapy. I’ve also been remiss on the blogging front (yours and mine), but if any two words could welcome me back, they are “Is he?”
Thanks, Karen. But I have to give all the credit to Thornton Wilder for writing those evocative words.
It’s good to see and have you back 😉
Amazing! 🙂
That’s exactly what Robert De Niro said! Not about my acting. But I’m sure he said that once…
Plus, there is probably more than one Robert DeNiro in the world, so that increases the odds of it having been said by someone with that name…
Exactly! Not to mention all the Bobby DeNiros! This just keeps geting better… 😉
You can trust a Modern Philosopher to come up with the Deep Thoughts when you need them, Ned. 🙂