PCS Blog
An Interview with Lauren Weedman
Posted by Kinsley Suer | 21 April 2011 | Comments (2)
Lauren Weedman is awesome.
At least, if she had to be described in one word, it’s the one word that this writer would use. Yes, she’s funny. Witty. And maybe a little crazy. But what’s truly amazing about Weedman is that she puts it all out there: the good, the bad and the ugly. No holds barred. She’s not always the hero, but, as you’ll witness in Bust, she really is trying to bring some good into the world.
And this is what makes her charming. As she spins her tales of truths, half-truths and exaggerations, you find youself rooting for her. She can find humor in anything, and, most importantly, she finds herself funny. Recently, we asked Weedman about Bust, peeing in suitcases, and the art of the one-woman show. Enjoy.
Q: First off, do you just do one-woman shows because you can’t get along with other actors?
A: That's one of the things I always tell people when they accost me on the street after shows and yell "Why aren't there other people in the show? Where are your friends? What's wrong with you?!" Being the only actor in a play is wonderful because I don't get all distracted by the personal dramas that always seem to be happening during shows. It's hard to focus on “the work” when actors are coming to rehearsal drunk, stealing from other actors when they're on stage, having affairs with other married actors, etc. Obviously I did a lot of work in children's theater.
Q: Would you characterize yourself as a “comedian” or a “funny actor”?
A: Depends on how much sleep I've gotten, how funny the people are around me, and if I'm being paid to be funny or not.
Q: What is your creative process like?
A: Telling stories to friends. Lots of improvisation. Outlining. Storyboarding. Notebook writing. Searching for magical drinks that will make me creative and energetic and want to rehearse for longer than four hours at a time. Right now my magic drink is COFFEE.
I was going to make a joke about how I write down my “goals” for a show on a piece of rice paper from Tibet, shove them in a dead bird, then bury them by the mouth of a cave and just sit back and WAIT.
In the end, the creative process really is like giving birth. You feel fat, you worry there will be horrible problems, and then you forget how painful creating it was and turn around and begin the whole process again. If you're a man I don't know a good analogy. Well, I do, but it's too crude and I'm trying to stop making poop jokes.
Q: How do you decide what material from your own life to put onstage?
A: Thankfully I don't get a lot of booking in the Midwest, where my parents are, so I don't really have to ever hold back. Ultimately, any details about myself I will share. Which is great for theater but not so great if you're sitting next to me at a dinner party.
The bottom line on what ends up in the play all depends on if it serves the story. I'm not going to use “the bit about my ex peeing into a suitcase" just because it's a shocking funny personal story. It has to make sense. But I will put it in an article for a playbill. And a chapter in my book. And a show I wrote years ago called Rash. I think you see the pattern. But everyone should know that there is karmic justice and my husband left me not long after I started telling that story...so please, children, learn from my mistakes. Obviously, self divulging is a problem. My therapist keeps trying to analyze why I feel the need to do it but I try to stop her because I don't want to be cured.
Bust was a whole different beast because I signed confidentiality forms before participating in the program, so I couldn't use exact details about the women that I had helped. Instead I mixed and cut and pasted different details and character traits to protect the identities. Though when a few of my fellow volunteers came to see the show, I could hear them throughout whispering, "Oh man...that's Jenny, right?! Oh yeah, that's her!"
Q: How do those close to you feel about being mentioned in your shows?
A: My mother loves it. She's not in Bust but she's in three other shows of mine. When I go home to visit she still says things like, “Sit next to me Lauren, I'll give you some material.” I don't even bother to change her name. Some people will ask my point blank not to put them in my shows. And I never just take graphic personal details without first trying to protect the individuals. I always fear some negative repercussions, but I like that fear because it keeps me having to constantly answer to myself.
Q: How has Bust evolved over time?
A: It’s changed tremendously. The characters have deepened. The story is clearer. The pace is quicker. Not to mention the show changes every single night that I do it. Some nights I forget all my lines and just stare at the audience for 80 minutes. Enjoy the show…
Comments (2)
Thanks so much Kirbee! We’re glad you enjoyed the show!
Bust was my favorite show of the 2010-2011 season. Lauren Weedman’s performance was remarkable. Melancholy, poignant, hilarious, sensitive, thought provoking, silly, meaningful and weighty. It was my favorite theater experience this year!
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