2 playwrights chatting

reposted from my personal blog... marcel

Last night, after catching up with a friend on her return from New Zealand I ran into fellow playwright, Ross Howard who fielded 2 shows at the recent Rogue Festival. This one & this one... both excellent plays in my book ( I saw them both in my quest to seek out original works during the festival). I was actually on my way home but just couldn't pass up the opportunity to commiserate with someone who I think is a bright emerging talent in this waning field.

Ross is English and came to this country to pursue an MFA in playwriting. Curious... considering that he hails from the land of the Bard.

I cannot really explain what fun and how much of a luxury this was for me. It is rare in these parts to come upon a fellow comrade in the trenches to share ideas with... especially one who is open to sharing without the (natural) paranoia of their ideas being stolen. (This is a malady that often plagues many in our craft... lol.)

We chatted about all sorts of things. A light dissection of each other's shows (he had also come to see mine and I his)... working techniques (discovering to our delight that our process is similar)... discussions of playwrights works we (both) admired... our mentors (and we share a couple) ...and future plans and projects we are considering. It was also a joy to be able to chat with someone who shares a common "blue collar" attitude to the work.

We both agreed that theatre is first and foremost a "gig"... and some of it transcends to evolve into art... that the over analysis emphasized in academia has taken the gig out of it which in turn perpetuates the perception that it is inaccessible to regular folk. (Then, they wonder why they can't get an audience.) Instead of mutual support and encouragement... too often in this world of theatre (sadly, more true than not) folks get caught up in a competitive back-stabbing, holier-than-thou snob attitude that really does no one any good and only contributes to the further erosion of the craft... simply because they buy into the idea that everything they create is art.

It was so refreshing (and encouraging) to be able to converse with someone in a "common language". The language of the theatre is common enough among practitioners of the craft but there does exist various "dialects" within this small (and ever shrinking) world. Chatting with actors about a show is quite different than speaking with designers, etc. To be able to converse with a fellow playwright for me presented the unique opportunity to speak in "short-cuts" brought about by a common understanding through the labor of our work that does not require explanation... like two carpenters discussing the best techniques for dovetails without explaining what a dovetail is.

We even half jokingly chatted about spearheading an "indie garage theatre" movement... not unlike the indie garage band or indie film movements that have done so much to refresh those forms over the recent years. Perhaps that is what is needed... to bring a sense of rock n roll back to theatre. Strip away the "jizz" and and allow the works to really sing through performance without the distractions of unnecessary "production value".

I stayed out longer than I thought I would last night... but returned home happy, rejuvenated and much encouraged by the conversations that transpired between Ross and I. It was nice... akin to running into a fellow countryman from the same village in a foreign land.

Halfway Point

Well, we've done two shows and have two to go. I have to say this has been the most fun I've had onstage ever. Our cast has become so tight over the last couple of weeks it feels like we've been working together for months getting this thing ready, rather than six hours.

Last night was spot on. We had a couple of snafus backstage (the overflowing men's toilet - no turds tho!) and one of our actors got locked in the women's room five minutes before curtain. It was hysterical. No one panicked, though and our brave actor was rescued and the show went on.

The air conditioning in the venue wasn't working well last night and that helped feed the claustrophobic atmosphere of Parkview. We all found our characters and Tom was able to blend in seamlessly with us and do fantastic work. The thing I love about this show is the total freedom we have; we can enter anytime we want, move around or not, interact with the other actors and even the audience, which makes each performance different.

I can't wait for Thursday and Friday, but I'll be sad when it's done, which is rare for me. A couple of weeks off then into rehearsals for TFG. That will be my first experience as an A.D. and I am looking forward to seeing what the group brings.

vive le conneries!
lisa

Viva le Bullshit!!!

Yay! Tonight we open this monster, and I feel blessed to be a part of it.
To everyone who has given their time and dedication to this project: I thank you, for giving me confidence again, for teaching me things just by being yourselves and for the infectious joy that happens every time we've gotten together and played.

Our rehearsal process has been amazing. I personally can't stand it when I'm not given room to explore because how do you now what feels right until you've tried it? In the midst of our searching and exploring, I was constantly surprised by what would pop up, seemingly out of nowhere. And to finally allow myself to feel something I knew was patiently waiting to come out, in such a safe environment, was a joy, not just for the character, but for me as a person who is still experiencing life on the outside of the theatre walls.
That brings me to another wonderful point: the safety. It is rare to work with a group of actors where you truly feel safe to become vulnerable. Many times at rehearsal I feel like I'm constantly auditioning, proving why I'm there in the first place. Competitive and inhibiting. But I felt as though I trust every other soul in the room, a respect for each others' talents and humanity.

It's going to be hard to let go of this one. A part of me wishes we could still meet as a group, to work and learn. The most important thing it has been is fun. It's been fun! I was starting to forget that it could be.

So yeah ... break a leg tonight, everyone!!! Much love...
Viva le Bullshit!
*end scene*

A Muse of Fire, Part Four: The Rest Is Silence

rehearsals are done. the show has become a dark, roiling thing that none of us could have ever conceived of...and it is wonderful
thank you, all
see you at the rogue!!!

A Muse of Fire, Part Three: Thank You

after much reflection, all i can really say after tonight's rehearsal is thank you. thank you to the amazing group of people who joined us (both in body and in spirit) at theatre taber for a wonderful, astounding, inspirational, and humbling evening of totally attitude driven bullshit...and some of the finest acting i have ever been privileged to see.

thank you and thank you and thank you.

and a special shout out to marcel and renee for your support...it's good to know who your friends are. and to mister albritton: thanks for chronicalling the event. we look forward to working together again.

as to the rest....the proof is in the work.
etonne-moi
g

A Muse of Fire, Part Two: Character Counts!

tonight's rehearsal was devoted entirely to character work. one solid hour of complete and total, full-body physicalization of a character's emotion core, spine, effort action, image, and attitude line. the intensity was such that i found myself, as director/coach, having to do a step-out to detach from what was happening.

we began with a game of red light, green light to get warmed up and to get the nature full-body involvement squarely seated. from there it was straight into emotion core: the single, central, driving emotional force within a character. lisa's terrifyingly helpless regret almost brought me to tears and stephen's rage shimmered like blacktop on a hot summer's day. spine work opened up some new vistas for a number of people. finding the character's essential need (beyond the limits of the scene or the play) brought a delicious vulnerability to suzanne that was simply compelling. when we began the effort work, the physical transformations were astounding. from light to heavy, indirect to direct, sustained to sudden, and free to bound the actors ran the gamut of what the body can become. i've never seen devon freer, and i thought dave was going to collapse in on himself. then they combined the elements into full effort actions and gave birth to brand new people. with imagery new physicalizations blossomed. i have no idea what the images were that they were using, but i couldn't take my eyes off jim's hands except for those moments when i was being drawn into arthur's subtle, but undeniable, presence. we ended our focus work with attitude line and, once again, the transformations were striking.

the evening finished with a couple of monologue runs. i can't say much about that for fear of spoiling the surprise...but i can say that ron brought it all to bear and owned the room.

tomorrow is our last official rehearsal: a little warm up, a little play, and then some well deserved and highly anticipated sharing of the work for group response...and then a little wine and a lot of good talk with even better people. and it just struck me that, whatever this show becomes, and we won't know that until next friday, we'll have done it all on about four hours of rehearsal.

well whaddya know about that...?

A Muse of Fire, Part One

we had our first group rehearsal for muse of fire last night... i am still stunned almost 12 hours later. we've worked individually on visualization, fluency, language, relationship, emotion, action and character, and we continued in that vein as a cast yesterday. the dedication to the craft, the commitment to artistic excellence, and the willingness to rush blindly into new territory were palpable. everyone brought their own work to the process and then enagaged this new process of ours as fully as they were capable...and who could ask for more?

tonight we move into specific character work and i'm so looking forward to what emerges.

thank you all (lisa, tom, jim, dave, ron, suzanne, devon, stephen, arthur) for being who you are and for doing what you do.

etonne-moi

g

Bravo!

Congratulations, mes amies! The cast of "The Flattering Glass" looks superb (just so sorry i was unavailable. please ask again.) Can I use this blog to promote my own show? Okay, I will: please mark your calendars for "Handler" at Fresno City College. (lisa and greg, will you add a link to their Theatre Dept.?) Runs March 9-11, 13-17. I'm one of the guest community performers. Come see me handle snakes and speak in tongues! And, then go catch a Rogue show! Bottom line: we've gotta support all of the productions in town. It's a rich and beautiful time for we lovers of theatre in Fresno...

We Have a Cast!!!!!

"This Flattering Glass" is a go! We've found the perfecct actor for each part and, after a few missteps, the vision and the reality are the same.

I find my thoughts going back to summer, when the idea of staging Richard II was nothing more than wishful thinking. In the earliest stages of preproduction we made some unofficial casting choices; as time went on, circumstances necessitated changes. Naturally, there were actors who were not pleased with the new direction we took. Interestingly, though, the most vocal dissenters were people who aren't even members of the company whose primary objective (in my never to be humble opinion) was to make us look bad. We were able to put our the most pressing fires but realized that rumor control is a full-time job neither of us wants. So, the rumor mill continues to turn.....

Enough negativity! It's time to wake up the Muse! Soon we start rehearsing for Rogue, and we've added some new actors to the mix (thank you Ms. Snow!), then jump into "TFG." I can't wait!

The best part of this experience so far has been the great people who have come into our lives. To all of you: you continually give me insight and inspiration. Let me cook you dinner!

To the casts of both shows: you are a tremendous group of artists and I am so proud you are joining us. Together we will make magic!

:*

lisa

Cast Meeting

Thank you all...

what an amazing group of people. that such a group would sit and listen to me blather on for an hour... thank you...thank you...and thank you... nothing, absolutely nothing, that we are attempting is even remotely possible without each of you. i know i tend to come across like an arogant sob (and i am) but you humble me...you remind me of what we are truly about...and you keep me honest, grounded, and focused on what is important: the work, the show, the audience. regardless of everyone else's incessant rumors, the childish backbiting, and the ever-present-no-matter-how-hard-you-try-to escape-it bullshit, you were all here...and committed...and inspirational.

thank you, chris and julieann for your consumate professionalism and dedication
thank you to the casts of Muse and TFG for being who you are and for doing what you do (and for being willing to do what i know you can do)
thank you, lisa, for a passion for excellence that puts us all to shame
thank you.
and the rest (as the man said) is silence...

etonne-moi
gt