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The first thing you notice
about Claudia is how much this tall, willowy creature smiles. How “un-Aeryn”
like!
She wonders out loud what to
talk about and I forgive my own stupid nerves when it was time for me to speak on
stage for the panel. Here is a pro and she’s just as nervous, only Claudia has
solved the mystery of making it work for her. She looks relaxed and in control, but
you’re certain that beneath that striking exterior she is full of jitters and
clueless about the next fifteen seconds.
It gladdens my heart to see
her fidget; I come from a long, proud line of fidgeters. Claudia has a habit of
constantly raking back her hair from her face. Her legs and feet add punctuation to
the nervous twitter as she jokingly teases us about a “project” on the horizon
for her. (Would that happen to be Farscape’s comeback… hmmm?)
You’re very aware of her
voice. It makes the little hairs stand up on the back of your neck. The Aussie
accent is just icing on the cake. I want that voice! If I had that voice I’d never
have to ask a second time for help with the groceries.
She tells us about her summer
of visiting vineyards along the sunny CA coast and auditions with casting agents
devoid of pulses as well as senses of humor.
Claudia twangs in a nasally
mimic of said agent. “Oh, she’s adorable.”
Adorable!? I’m indignant on
her behalf. Adorable is for baby ducks! Adorable is like calling the Mona Lisa a
“neat painting.”
She makes sly comments about
her age. It’s a charm and a curse when it comes to casting calls. You’ve got to be kidding me! Who looks at this fascinating exotic creature and begrudges
her a few years? A Nebari mind-cleanse would set that wayward agent straight.
After taking usual litany of
questions from the audience, Claudia offers a humorous self-depreciating soliloquy
of the life of a gangly girl who wanted to grow up to be an actress and see the
world. Singing was an early love, but one she elected to forfeit nearly a decade
ago. Ultimately she issues a promise, that when she is ready to sing in public once
more, we’ll be the first to know… to hear, rather.
Before we know it, her time is
up. Claudia introduces Ben Browder. Ben is sporting very un-Crichton like shaggy
hair, long sideburns and carrying a guitar case. A guitar case? What’s this?
It seems Claudia has a
surprise for us. Well, she did say we would be the first to know when she decides to
sing in public again. Little did we know it would be within the hour!
Claudia takes her time
unpacking the guitar as Ben looks on in feigned impatience. Ben sneaks off the stage
and steals a seat in the front row to wait with the audience. Unhurried and
seemingly ignorant of the rising anticipation, Claudia hooks up the tuner and tunes
each string followed by a brief bout of microphone adjusting.
Finally, at last, in a long
ambling introduction done in that same self-effacing humor, Claudia strings along a
tale about the girl who only learned three chords the day prior. After extracting a
promise from the audience that we would not snap her picture (shame on those of you
who did!), she launches into a song. No fooling around. Really singing.
Forgive me, but I do not know
the lyrics or the song’s title, but I am fairly certain the words to it would have
sent every widdle shipper’s heart a-twitter. But carrying the angst-ridden soulful
lyrics, was Claudia. Our Aeryn Sun is singing! It is a surreal sight and we love
every second of it.
How or why would she give this
up? I do not chance a guess, but I for one, would ask her not to stop. I think I
speak for a great many others out there. We applaud because we know that this day
we’ve been given a gift. The cast of Farscape has always been one to acknowledge
our efforts and to bestow their thanks for our support, but what we received from
Claudia Black was a genuine gift.
Thank you, Claudia.
By
AmyJ
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