Alexgotahaircutdidyouseeitohmygodohmygodohmygodyoulooksodifferent (sorry, it just seemed like so much fun. I thought I'd do it too)
Ah, theatre games. My long lost friend. It's nice to get back to really truly thinking of acting as play. Occasionally I get too wrapped up in the seriousness of theatre as work (I said that in my head with an overly important inflection. You can't tell so much on the blog because it's just words on a screen), so it is helpful for me to stop thinking for a bit about playing actions and making stage pictures and all of the other stuff I've gleaned over the years (one day, I will excise R&G words from my vocab).
I'm really looking forward to working with Justin on two separate things. In spite of having been together on four (Four? Yes, four. I think.) productions, plus shortform and longform improv, we haven't done very much together for some reason. It must be the clashing of our overwhelming machismo. Yes, that's it. Don't laugh, dammit.
Also, long live Basque! Without him, all of the rest of you would be without a chair to sit on. Just thought it bore mentioning.
On an unrelated note, I'm very, very, very, very preliminarily thinking of directing a Black Box next year. I haven't really given too much thought yet to type of play, but I am always open to suggestions. I don't have much time now to devote to reading plays (what with the directing one right now and all) but I've got a whole summer to do some ruminating and I would love suggestions on a place to start from.
I'm out like everyone in the final scene
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Monday, April 6, 2009
RIP, R&G
Parting is such sweet sorrow...
The run went well, other than the whole getting sick and losing my voice for the second weekend. It's a little hard to do a character whose sole feature is volume when you can barely talk, but oh well. ACTF went pretty smoothly, as did strike. I wound up with the same strike-time frustrations as always. None of the actors really want to be there, but they go about handling this in one of two ways: some people pitch in and help so that everyone can leave a little sooner, and some people stand around with their thumbs up their asses so that they don't have to do the work that they don't want to be doing. Oh well. One more play down.
So, onto directing. Going well, albeit slowly. Rehearsals were moving along at a slower pace, since three of my actors, not to mention I myself, all had R&G as a schedule constraint. But, now that's over, and it's time to kick things into high gear. Opening night is in less than three weeks, and there is work to do.
Until next time...
The run went well, other than the whole getting sick and losing my voice for the second weekend. It's a little hard to do a character whose sole feature is volume when you can barely talk, but oh well. ACTF went pretty smoothly, as did strike. I wound up with the same strike-time frustrations as always. None of the actors really want to be there, but they go about handling this in one of two ways: some people pitch in and help so that everyone can leave a little sooner, and some people stand around with their thumbs up their asses so that they don't have to do the work that they don't want to be doing. Oh well. One more play down.
So, onto directing. Going well, albeit slowly. Rehearsals were moving along at a slower pace, since three of my actors, not to mention I myself, all had R&G as a schedule constraint. But, now that's over, and it's time to kick things into high gear. Opening night is in less than three weeks, and there is work to do.
Until next time...
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Rests Are Music Too
Well, it's time to condense two blog entries into one...
On Shakespeare:
Parting is such sweet sorrow. Everyone's monologues and scenes were delightful, and it was a wonderful exercise in theatrical decision making to see five different actresses' takes on the same character. On a personal note, I came into class feeling sick, and my energy was pitiful. For some inexplicable reason, energy magically appeared for my monologue, then disappeared again, then reappeared for my scene, then disappeared again. I wish the little man at the controls would just leave the switch flicked on. My scene was great fun, but I wonder, since there were about three or four things in the performance which were completely new, what might have been with another week or so. Oh well.
To the present:
How interesting it is that the day when we were all so sniping with each other is the day when we start a play entitled, "The Misanthrope". Hmm.
While reading, I found myself getting sucked into reading the rhythm as dictated by the rhyme scheme. I was trying to let the punctuation help dictate emphasis, but I found myself getting drawn toward the singsongy rhyme scheme anyway. As an exercise, I'm thinking of rewriting the lines as paragraphs, just to see what that does to the reading and emphasis of things. All a part of playing with the text. I'm trying to think of the text in a spoken word sort of way. Now it needs execution.
Like a number of the group things we've done (set design for Electra, anyone?), there were probably too many people eager to lead, which is why I'm willing to sit back and follow. It's not so surprising that the times when productivity raced along were when we actually slowed down and gave the floor over.
My scenes seem fun, and Justin and I also both picked out an additional monologue that we're both going to do. I'm pondering the idea of something a bit more creative and interesting than just two people with the same monologue. Dueling Monologues? A Round? Brainstorming and honing is needed.
On the subject of Silverado:
I continue to quest for the perfect story, or at least a good one. I like the idea of the class interacting as "the class". That could be interesting (and by interesting I mean, interesting, with overemphasis on the first syllable).
Kumbaya
On Shakespeare:
Parting is such sweet sorrow. Everyone's monologues and scenes were delightful, and it was a wonderful exercise in theatrical decision making to see five different actresses' takes on the same character. On a personal note, I came into class feeling sick, and my energy was pitiful. For some inexplicable reason, energy magically appeared for my monologue, then disappeared again, then reappeared for my scene, then disappeared again. I wish the little man at the controls would just leave the switch flicked on. My scene was great fun, but I wonder, since there were about three or four things in the performance which were completely new, what might have been with another week or so. Oh well.
To the present:
How interesting it is that the day when we were all so sniping with each other is the day when we start a play entitled, "The Misanthrope". Hmm.
While reading, I found myself getting sucked into reading the rhythm as dictated by the rhyme scheme. I was trying to let the punctuation help dictate emphasis, but I found myself getting drawn toward the singsongy rhyme scheme anyway. As an exercise, I'm thinking of rewriting the lines as paragraphs, just to see what that does to the reading and emphasis of things. All a part of playing with the text. I'm trying to think of the text in a spoken word sort of way. Now it needs execution.
Like a number of the group things we've done (set design for Electra, anyone?), there were probably too many people eager to lead, which is why I'm willing to sit back and follow. It's not so surprising that the times when productivity raced along were when we actually slowed down and gave the floor over.
My scenes seem fun, and Justin and I also both picked out an additional monologue that we're both going to do. I'm pondering the idea of something a bit more creative and interesting than just two people with the same monologue. Dueling Monologues? A Round? Brainstorming and honing is needed.
On the subject of Silverado:
I continue to quest for the perfect story, or at least a good one. I like the idea of the class interacting as "the class". That could be interesting (and by interesting I mean, interesting, with overemphasis on the first syllable).
Kumbaya
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
The First Rule of P-Styles...
is that this is an advanced acting class.
The second rule of P-Styles is...you know the rest.
Well, class was alright today. Other than the fact that I didn't really do anything. I sort of wanted to do my monologue again, although I hadn't had a chance to look at it since last class, so I would have been less off-book and probably rusty. Oh well, such is life.
Tech is coming along. Slowly. On the plus side, my costume is the shit.
Hmm, is Act Three about to start?
The second rule of P-Styles is...you know the rest.
Well, class was alright today. Other than the fact that I didn't really do anything. I sort of wanted to do my monologue again, although I hadn't had a chance to look at it since last class, so I would have been less off-book and probably rusty. Oh well, such is life.
Tech is coming along. Slowly. On the plus side, my costume is the shit.
Hmm, is Act Three about to start?
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Everybody's Workin' For The Weekend...
...Everybody wants a new romance. Aah, the 80's. A time I barely lived through.
So, this weekend. Hmm. Busy. NYC on Saturday. Listened to Chris' god-awful collection of 90's music on the way in. Convinced my little subgroup of Jim, Matt and Allie to get pizza for lunch, something they all thanked me for. I miss pizza made by really Italian guys, and I think it gets worse the farther away from New York you go. I've had pizza in the midwest, and it was not good, even compared to pizza in PA (no disrespect intended to Chicago-style pizza, which is a completely different animal. Can you really disrespect a pizza?)
Blithe spirit was enjoyable. I thought it started a bit slowly, but the energy picked up when Angela Lansbury came in, and then it really picked up when Christine Ebersole came around. The ending was absolutely brilliant, which makes up for the slow start. better that than the other way around.
Post-show dinner was good. A bit pricy (it's NYC, what are you gonna do?) but quite filling. Sat with Chris, and witnessed him not get carded when he ordered beer, then watched the waitress try to give his beer to both Billie Jean and me before finally finding its rightful owner. I'll be a little pissed the first time I buy alcohol and don't get carded. I've worked for 21 years to earn that right, dammit.
Sunday. Tech. Oh boy. I don't actually mind tech anymore, because I no longer have a headset on with twenty-ish people looking to me for what to do. Things went reasonably smoothly, although I feel like the addition of costumes will throw a big-ass wrinkle into everything.
Well, I suppose I should get some sleep, since I've got two plays going on and a test. Oh yeah, and something to do with Shakepeare...
So, this weekend. Hmm. Busy. NYC on Saturday. Listened to Chris' god-awful collection of 90's music on the way in. Convinced my little subgroup of Jim, Matt and Allie to get pizza for lunch, something they all thanked me for. I miss pizza made by really Italian guys, and I think it gets worse the farther away from New York you go. I've had pizza in the midwest, and it was not good, even compared to pizza in PA (no disrespect intended to Chicago-style pizza, which is a completely different animal. Can you really disrespect a pizza?)
Blithe spirit was enjoyable. I thought it started a bit slowly, but the energy picked up when Angela Lansbury came in, and then it really picked up when Christine Ebersole came around. The ending was absolutely brilliant, which makes up for the slow start. better that than the other way around.
Post-show dinner was good. A bit pricy (it's NYC, what are you gonna do?) but quite filling. Sat with Chris, and witnessed him not get carded when he ordered beer, then watched the waitress try to give his beer to both Billie Jean and me before finally finding its rightful owner. I'll be a little pissed the first time I buy alcohol and don't get carded. I've worked for 21 years to earn that right, dammit.
Sunday. Tech. Oh boy. I don't actually mind tech anymore, because I no longer have a headset on with twenty-ish people looking to me for what to do. Things went reasonably smoothly, although I feel like the addition of costumes will throw a big-ass wrinkle into everything.
Well, I suppose I should get some sleep, since I've got two plays going on and a test. Oh yeah, and something to do with Shakepeare...
Thursday, March 19, 2009
As I Like It
Today's class was fun. It felt good to finally get the Shakespeare on its feet, before other people. Always excited to see the new choices that are made once there is an audience to perform for.
Seeing everyone else's scenes was fun. It was enjoyable to see all of the different ways that people interpreted the dialogue, and the comedic energy of the scenes. Looking forward to seeing other people do their monologues (grrr...)
I like the general direction that my scene and monologue are going in, but as everyone's notes indicated, I need to continue to work on making stronger, more exact physical choices, and playing with the very different physical energies of the two scenes, as well as continuing to study the actual meaning of all of the words, both my own and those of my scene partners, so that I can do a better job of acting and reacting. There's a good distance to travel down the road, but I think I can see where it is going.
Seeing everyone else's scenes was fun. It was enjoyable to see all of the different ways that people interpreted the dialogue, and the comedic energy of the scenes. Looking forward to seeing other people do their monologues (grrr...)
I like the general direction that my scene and monologue are going in, but as everyone's notes indicated, I need to continue to work on making stronger, more exact physical choices, and playing with the very different physical energies of the two scenes, as well as continuing to study the actual meaning of all of the words, both my own and those of my scene partners, so that I can do a better job of acting and reacting. There's a good distance to travel down the road, but I think I can see where it is going.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Things Have Happened, And Are Happening, And May Happen Yet...
No class today. Bummer. Looking forward to presenting what we've done so far on our scene, plus my monologue (ah, Touchstone). But, such is life. We'll be back around on Thursday.
Very excited about my cast for the One-Acts. I assembled a fine collection of funny people, so coming to rehearsal every day will be enjoyable. Plus, we got through casting without too much bloodshed. Only a little, but it's to be expected when you're fitting 15 people into 11 parts spread amongst 3 plays. Now that the ugliness of the audition process is over, it's time for the fun to start.
Finally starting to feel good about where I am for R&G. My energy level is returning after the early semester, and I'm starting to feel the voice and body rounding into shape. There's still room to grow and explore, but I feel miles ahead of where I was a week ago. Plus, now that we have the rest of the court back, we've become our own little mini-ensemble. Armed with swords. Whose bright idea was that?
Wow, this class isn't even half over yet. Yawn...
Very excited about my cast for the One-Acts. I assembled a fine collection of funny people, so coming to rehearsal every day will be enjoyable. Plus, we got through casting without too much bloodshed. Only a little, but it's to be expected when you're fitting 15 people into 11 parts spread amongst 3 plays. Now that the ugliness of the audition process is over, it's time for the fun to start.
Finally starting to feel good about where I am for R&G. My energy level is returning after the early semester, and I'm starting to feel the voice and body rounding into shape. There's still room to grow and explore, but I feel miles ahead of where I was a week ago. Plus, now that we have the rest of the court back, we've become our own little mini-ensemble. Armed with swords. Whose bright idea was that?
Wow, this class isn't even half over yet. Yawn...
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