Meeting Bryan Cranston
I’ve seen Network twice now. The first time was back in December 2018, I went during the day by myself.
I could have never predicted how much I was going to love this show.
The set was full of screens, the floor reflective, and there were distinct spaces where specific actions took place. All throughout there was also a live camera, often on steady cam rigs, the operators moving in and out with the characters. It felt like an Aaron Sorkin style tv show (you know like the West Wing and The Newsroom), fast paced and locked on the expressions of the characters. These camera shots were projected on the screens all over the stage and theater. I love that this technique not only allowed you to be pulled into the emotions of the characters on stage but also that the camera itself felt like a character, always present, always alive.
I don’t have a deep technical theater background but I did recognize the extreme complexity of Cranston’s work on stage. So much expression control, its just memorizing.
This all leading up to the end scene, no spoilers, which had me guessing my eyes and my skin full of goosebumps.
After that experience I knew I had to go again and bring friends.
So this past weekend I did just that. I brought my mom, Mary, my partner, Jay, and friends Stella, Bobby and Utshob.
Im not one that usually tries to get photos with celebs but in this case I just knew I had to. After the show there is a line outside that lead to a photo opp with Cranston. We stood in it for just about 20 minutes and we were there. Oh and we got to meet much of the rest of the cast too, see our photo with Tony Goldwyn below (hes the president from TV’s Scandal).
I first started to know Bryan Cranston from the days back on Malcom in the Middle, and was further impressed by his work on Breaking Bad but this play was beyond my expectations.
Meeting him meant a lot to me. He didn’t speak, as to save his voice, but he mouthed questions about where we were from and small talk like that. As we posed for pictures he squeezed my shoulder as if we were old friends. Im sure he did that to everyone but kinda made me feel special.
Wine stained teeth and all, we got our photos, and I’m glad we did.
Please do yourself a favor, GO TO THIS SHOW! Show ends June 8th.