The Incomparable Cassie Clare
|
She’s standing by the open widow, a bolt of sunlight falling across the angles of her expressive face; Cassie, eyes downturned, talking in a rush of breath on her phone...She twists her body towards the sunbeams, leaning her face into the cool breeze which picks up, briefly, outside. Long legs strike idle poses as she tips her head back, and her body hums with light.
- from 'Cassie' in At The Stage Door
I was so happy when she remembered me when I made it back to see the show again in Llandudno and she was so wonderful to me, hugging me and making sure to learn my name and catch me up with how the tour had been going, as well as telling me again how happy she was that I was going to be in for a few nights so she had a little extra motivator in there. It's something that Cassie was always so honest with me about: about how much it meant to her to have me in, cheering for her even on the nights she felt awful and how it made her try harder to push through even when she was feeling rotten. It's always so touching when you know you've made a difference like that and I'm so grateful to Cassie for always being so honest when she was down or in a mood or tired and just owning it but also still pushing through it and always giving everything she had when she was on that stage. I cannot even begin to tell you just how much she put into the part of Cassandra - it was truly amazing to watch her give the character this whole feisty, mesmerizing inner life, always reacting to everything that happened with such wonderful distaste, irritation, flirtation and downright stroppiness it was just a delight to try to figure out how she would react next! Her facial expressions and her fire were always so perfectly in character - her little catfights with Demeter, her displeasure at Gus the Theatre Cat's drinking habits and her haughty despair with Grizabella were just a handful of highlights of her performances as Cassandra. And offstage she made just as much of an impression, always one of the warmest and most forcefully present people, always full of gratitude and affection. In Birmingham in particular I remember her having a rough time and being so kind to me when I gave her a few gifts and cards, even getting a little emotional (I hope she won't mind me saying that!) Touchingly, she almost broke down and pulled me into another fierce hug and she just said as she was hugging me SO tight "Bless you" and she kept saying "Bless you, so much, you always come and - I'll be having an awful day - but then you come and you're so good to us and it just gives us such a lift" and I was so overwhelmed by her honest, heartfelt gratitude and I've never forgotten that feeling of being hugged so incredibly tight and told something so sincerely like that.
|
A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous.
― Coco Chanel