Cave Squirrelum

Nuts. Yesterday, August 13th, was National Left-handers Day, and I missed it. I hope I'm the only one. I think we'd be recognized as an oppressed minority (via scissors, notebooks, 3-ring binders, chainsaws, school desks, pens, erasable pens, some spatulas and butter knives, writing in general, always stuck at the end of the table, shorter life spans, the occasional schoolmarm with ruler though not so much anymore, analog watches) if we could just take ourselves seriously. Belatedly, here's to us.

Actor News: The dreadfully long list of unrequited auditions continues to grow. Sometimes I'm surprised. Sometimes not (a big theatre with the moolah to get pretty much whatever they want recently called me in to audition to understudy Gremio and Vincentio in Taming of the Shrew. I'm not remotely the right age. There were 4 of us auditioning at the time, 2 who were the right age, plus me, plus a guy who is close in age to me. He said, "Yeah, I don't know why they called me in, either."). Today I had an audition for a PSA. It went well, I thought, but, who knows?

Cool Stuff In Art: I recently happened upon this sculptor, Beth Cavener Stichter. You must check her out! Her mission statement is rather heavy, but where it takes her -- well, the quality of her work is stellar. A lot of it is like a bad trip through Wonderland. I'm also amazed at her patience -- because her work is large clay pieces, she spends the bulk of her time hollowing them out before firing them. I just missed seeing her stuff at the Smithsonian, but I noted that she seems to come through Baltimore on occasion. Hmm. Anyhoo, wander around her site, won't you?

Cool Stuff In Nature: Squirrels heat up their tails for defense. True! It'll make sense if you read the article.

Sadie: Is 8 months old and over 60 lbs. And she's not fat. Woof.

Stuff

Just wanted to post an entry so the blog's not lonely. Later, maybe I'll say more about these things: 1) "Stuff" is happening soon, that might turn into "more stuff." 2) I need to make a phone call. It'll certainly be interesting. Hopefully it'll be good, too.

Perhaps you'll wait with bated breath. But not baited breath. Much, much different.

Meanwhile, check this out, just because: Evelyn Rodriguez's blog "Crossroads Dispatches". Check out her "About" page, too. Just cuz they're interesting. (Found via -- which I found via.)

So . . . Do You Floss?

Yesterday I managed to work myself into an existential crisis, during which I accomplished nothing as I sat wondering, "What is the point of all this?" Eventually I felt better when I thought that maybe my purpose in life is to try to figure that out. This may seem silly -- the point of all of this is to figure out what the point of all this is. See?

Meanwhile, I found a marvelous site -- "American Science & Surplus" -- where you can buy all sorts of surplus stuff, science-related et al., at low prices -- art supplies, military bags, solar panels, robot parts . . . even a
dinosaur skull (okay it's a high quality casting, and it's one of the few non-cheap items). If you have any geeky friends or relatives (like me!), this is a good place to do some Christmas shopping. Most product descriptions come with a sense of humor, too, so the site's worth checking out, even just to read.

I'm Back

Apologies for the hiatus. My acting career is currently like the weather here: dry, dry, dry, dry, dry. Lots of auditions with very little success. This may be my worst spell ever, and my ego has taken a severe beating in the process. But I'm feeling better lately, even energized -- hopefully that'll last. It helps that I have a great woman and a good dog.


Otherwise: the world continues to be surreal, as (British) squirrel spies are caught in Iran (via) and some folks gleefully do what they can to cause the Apocalypse (via). Might as well be pro-active with your prophecies. Also necrophilia's okey-dokey in Wisconsin (via).

Stay tuned: in the interest of self-promotion, I'm hoping to get a website started very soon.

Death to Cereal

That's it. Norman Conquests: Table Manners has closed. Not including rehearsals, that's 44 large bowls of Corn Flakes. Nada mas, gracias. A good finish, though -- pretty full house on a Saturday night, lots of laughter. And everyone in the cast got along the entire time. So, okey-dokey.

Future projects: uh, TBA.

Here's Your Gnashing Of Teeth

"A hammerhead shark that gave birth in a Nebraska aquarium reproduced without mating, a genetic analysis shows. "

Here's what happens next: nobody'll hear anything from the Baby Shark for about 30 years. Then the Shark'll become big news again, turning over coral reefs and reprimanding the "Phari-seas" et al. and teaching sharks about loving thy neighbor and turning the other fin and anti-materialism. The Shark will not write any of this down (no time, I suppose). The leaders of the status quo will mock this Shark and render the Shark unto death. Then followers of the Shark will, many years later, write down (with some artistic license) what they remember of it all. More years shall pass, and some sharks of certain authority will edit what was writ, then declare it to be "the unerring word of the Shark." They will say their goal is to bring the message of the Shark unto the common shark (though the common shark will not be allowed to actually read it for a really long time). Somehow this "new testament" will justify the authoritarian sharks dressing themselves in expensive pearls and other such vestments and declaring war "in the name of the Shark" on "non-believers" while simultaneously crying out, "He who lives by the swordfish shall die by the swordfish!"

But When I Talk: Ehh.

The Baltimore Sun recently reviewed Table Manners. Here's what Mary Johnson says about me: "With an expressive face, Boyer [has the] ability to convey emotion wordlessly, and make us laugh while doing so." Not too shabby. Check out the review and a picture of the production HERE.

Today I am Prime

Today is my BIRTHDAY!!!

37 years ago today, I was born in Nassawadox, Virginia. The hospital I was born in no longer exists (replaced by a newer one that stands a few hundred yards to the south). In its place now stand some other medically-related building and, quite appropriately, a playground. When I drive by that area, I like to point at the air above the playground and say, "That's where I was born."

On this day 68 years ago (1939), a 5-year-old gave birth. Really.

You can get my birth-year (1970) from my birth-month (5) and -day (14). 5+14=19, and 5x14=70.

Some more interesting factoids about the number 37 can be found HERE -- including how my age relates to the "Number of the Beast."

(Interesting note: this is post number 69 -- more on that number HERE).

To celebrate my birthday, I hope you will dance. No music required. If someone asks you what you are doing, tell them, "I am dancing in honor of Peter's birthday. Join me." They should. If they don't, give 'em a hug, 'cuz they must be sad if they don't wanna dance in honor of my birthday.

I Like Kipling, Even Though I've Never Kipled

Actor Update: Had an audition today at Imagination Stage for The Jungle Book and for Twice Upon a Time (two stories, The Lorax and The Emperor's New Clothes). Sadly, I did not get called back for Twice Upon a Time -- that's the way it goes, in an actor's life, and it may or may not have anything to do with my reading, but it hurts every time. Happily, I am called back for The Jungle Book, a story I love.

Also, rumor has it that Robert Prosky saw a performance of Table Manners and enjoyed it. I didn't get to see him, though.

And Lately

Actor Update: Table Manners opened Friday at The Bay Theatre in Annapolis. Though the audiences were small – mid-size, the response was very good. Tim King, a local actor et al. who saw a performance, complimented my work. Then he and I spent the next ten minutes trying, unsuccessfully, to figure out where he and I had met before.

Auditions in the past few days: @ Taylor-Royall , for a commercial spoof series (unsuccessful, there); a general audition at Everyman Theatre ; and a callback at Rep Stage for Mrs. Farnsworth by AR Gurney. No responses from ET and RS so far, but that doesn’t necessarily mean anything. The auditions went "fine" and "alright," respectively (definitions of these words HERE).

Saturday, I attended 4 hours worth of a stage combat workshop with instructors Lewis Shaw, Scott Mann, and Chuck Coyl -- “Fast and Furious”-style fighting (a mix of martial arts, street, and other good stuff) and close-quarter knife fighting. Very fun. Took me a little while to shake off the rust, though.

Upcoming: an audition for a couple of shows at Imagination Stage, a place I'm very fond of.