Me and Me and Orson

Anyone who has participated in a live theatrical production to any extent, in practically any capacity, professionally produced or not, has experienced one or two major mind-boggling emotions that are common to the genre. The first is the almost total panic one feels before the opening night curtain. The second, if you’re lucky, is the euphoria you feel when the final curtain comes down and the audience erupts into genuine and heartfelt applause (and sometimes cheers), leaping to their feet and expressing spontaneous pleasure for what you’ve just accomplished. There is really nothing like it and, each time, it’s electric and a memory etched into your cerebrum forever.

This thought is prompted, not by any theatrical production, but by a movie. Me and Orson Welles, currently in one or two theaters in a major city near you (if you're lucky), depicts both of these theatrical moments and while watching them unfold you cannot help but suffer and thrill to them because of your own personal memories. Aside from these moments, it’s also a good-to-fine movie with two excellent performances from Claire Danes and, until now, an unknown actor who channels Orson Welles, Christian McKay. Zac Efron attempts to portray the “Me” of the title in some sort of teen idol way and I’m sure he’ll have the 15-year-old girls in his pocket despite an almost total lack of depth and expression. But maybe his presence will attract and have a salutary effect on his bopper audience and perhaps even further their appreciation (and understanding) of one of Shakespeare’s greatest plays, Julius Caesar. That would be good.