Jason Alexander Came, He Saw, He Conquered

When I first announced that Jason Alexander would be appearing at Wolf Trap in the role of Pangloss for a concert staging of Bernstein's Candide, I, like most of the U.S. population, was mostly only familiar with his work as the short, stocky, emotionally and financially insecure inspired creation that was George Costanza (thank you Larry David). Only now, after briefly meeting him, and witnessing his performance this past Sunday, do I understand that despite his immortalization as a sitcom cast member, Alexander really prefers to be on stage. It's funny to think about how his nine seasons on Seinfeld sort of "stood in the way" of time that he otherwise could have been spending on Broadway, in Boston, or dedicating more time to his role as artistic director for the Reprise Theater Company. However, from a recognition and financial standpoint, Seinfeld is arguably one of the most successful programs of all time; and from a creative standpoint, it allowed Alexander to truly test his acting skills through his portrayal of the remarkably complex, manic personality that is George Costanza...so I'm sure he's pretty happy with his decision.

For those of who saw Alexander's boisterously funny portrayal of Pangloss alongside members of the Wolf Trap Opera Company, you'll be shocked to know that since he doesn't reside in DC, his schedule only allotted him two days of rehearsal time with the full cast prior to show time. As a longtime stage actor, Alexander was of course familiar with Candide's script and score, but to immerse yourself in a full scale production a mere 48 hrs. before the event itself is the mark of a true professional. Knowing this fact while observing the dress rehearsal made me appreciate that much more how gifted actors of Alexander's calibur actually are.

For a review of the show itself, I'll defer to the words of Mr. Charles Downey, whose assessment of the performance ran in Monday's edition of the Washington Post style section. Check it out here. Downey fails to mention how unflinchingly and seamlessly Alexander adopts the playful falsetto that helps to define Pangloss' personality, but that's why you have me I suppose :) And in the week leading up to our two day eco-festival, I thought it appropriate to share this The Daily Green article written by Alexander, featuring an intimate look into at home green discussions with his family.

I've also posted three photos featuring Mr. Alexander for you below. Enjoy.

Cheers,

Graham