send in da clowns

Thank God we did that Clown run! It was so informative for me, I was thinking about all these different aspects of Arkadina to exaggerate and play with in the clown run. At first I was going to play up this Diva actress, a big hat, huge sunglasses, and have fun in 'performing' every line and taking the stage for every long speech. I got to thinking though, and this idea of this bratty child star who gets everything she wants, and when she doesn't get it her temper goes off, sounded so much more like what is underneath Arkadina's exterior. Think of how amazing the child star would be at acting GENUINE, (which is something I am really trying to work on when Arkadina is talking to Nina), everyone thinks she is adorable and cute; she can make an audience's heart melt, but backstage she is having a temper tantrum when Mom doesn't bring her the right kind of juice. Konstantin even talks about But what happens to child stars when they start growing and the cuteness turns to awkwardness? They leave the spot light, they can't get jobs, they become forgotten. Which is Arkadina's fear, not being relevant anymore with audiences and with those around her. She doesn't want to be Gary "What'chu talkin about Willis?" Coleman one day, and Gary Coleman the security guard the next (which really happened...by the way). Her super objective is all about this! She must remain and become even more relevant in everyone's lives.