I found this today and thought...

... you guys would get a kick out of it.

HAMLET (original)

HAMLET for the Shakespeare-impaired

Cheers!

Every night I go to rehearsal and wait for the actors to experiment a little more with their role and bring something new to their part... and they do. It might be a new emotion to experience, a new direction to move during their scene, a different person to interact with or a additional prop or part of a costume to use. These performances of Shakespeare's play are going to bring a lot a new recruits to his ranks and hopefully many new followers to ours. I can't wait until there is an audience in front of us to complete the performance circle.

Vive le Bullshit? no shit!

Reading these posts, one may begin to wonder if there isn't perhaps some measure of rosy glasses going on, or maybe there is some whitewash on the fence? Vive le bullshit after all..
Well, the answer is no. The picture is what it is, no whitewash needed.
It really is going as well as described. What I think is being expressed is that it is going better than many of us expected...maybe? I know I had high expectations and that so far I've not only NOT been disappointed, but pleasantly surprised most of the time.
It really is no accident. The folks involved were asked and agreed to become a part of this production BECAUSE of their focused dedication. Theater Ventoux is a creative, fun, challenging, explorative, safe environment/process within which we can bring that focus to bear. (a synonym for press...hmmm) So everyone feels free to bring what they have into this environment and we play with all these ideas and keep what feels good and work past what feels difficult. And throughout this process we are encouraged and given tools to use to further our exploration.
As to my personal experience...WOW!!! I thought I had peaked - maybe plateaued - after Tuesday night (running Act 1 Mon. & Act 2 Tues.) but after Wednesday's work I am able to distill the essence of Bushy down to the core and fill myself with that essence. For me this has been - continues to be (6 more changes) a very effective process of creative development and that is hugely satisfying.
Vive le bullshit? no shit!

"I think I'm gonna to need a doctor"

I am drained. Exhausted. Entrapped. Enveloped in the world of This Flattering Glass. When I leave the rehearsal room, I literally have to sit in my car for a few moments and think, "woah, What just happened to my body? Why do I feel so strange?" This character, this play is real for the few hours we are together. The other people (characters) in the room are just as real. There is no one in that room that is not the person they're portraying, that is "acting" during our rehearsal time; it's incredible. I'm speechless. Tonight's rehearsals were amazing. There were a few new suggestions by the director and everyone was affected by them, and everyone added another layer to their acting, and it was wonderful.

I can't wait till we get to perform to an audience other than the mirrors. Dr. Frankenstein (the directors and actors) is making an exquisite monster.

Love-Fest

In talking with my cast mates and working on this show, ya'll might not believe that our rehearsals are going as well as we are blogging. But it is! It is so nice to be a part of an ensemble and grow together and work together and be such a well oiled machine that anything can be thrown our way and we'll conquer it, together.

There are no restrictions. We did not all agree to only reveal the good things about what we are doing... there just isn't anything to complain about! That is so nice.

Tonight was amazing. In the scene I have with Isabel we were brought to the next level and it's powerful. I love the transitions we have made, the places we are in and I love being Alais. She is such a fun ride. Every night there is a new step and after we got off stage, Isabel looked at me and wanted to strangle me... I loved it! I love how we have been brought to this place, this scene, and it is so real it is bringing out natural reactions and making our interactions that much more profound. Thank you Isabel for being there with me! You are truly my sister in arms!

Thank you to the cast for taking what you've been given and making it real!

Alais

First Runthru: Postlude and Beyond

you see, the difficulty is this: each and every single actor in this play is working so hard to deepen what they are already doing as well as bring new things to the table, that i, truthfully, find it very difficult to say anything more than i said after tonight's rehearsal...which was just, "you continue to amaze me."

This Flattering Glass, the adventure

As we enter week three, I am amazed at the way this venture is taking shape. It is a grand undertaking, and we have no idea where it will take us. But we boldly step off the edge and trust our skills, intuition, and desires to take us to the heights we wish to achieve. What ever the result, we all have grown as a result of this challenge.

Thank you, Greg, for your dream and allowing us to be part of it. Lisa, you are so supporting and encouraging, we could not do this without your insight.

To my cast members, We are "This Flattering Glass". What we do reflects back our dedication and devotion to our craft.

Thank you all.

The Play IS the thing

If you're reading this, then you are among the many already buzzing about this show. I am truly amazed to hear how many people know that this amazing production will take the stage at the end of the month.
With all the work, emotion and dedication this cast is putting forward... this is already one of the most memorable acting experiences of my career. To watch these actors bring life to this show and to see them showcase their abundance of skills is inspiring, to say the least.
So often actors can focus on the end result. How did you like the show? What did you think of that scene? That, too will be the case for this show I'm sure. But, it is not often one can focus on the process to bring you to your end point. With this show EVERY gathering brings new directions and new options. That can only add to what will, without question, be a much talked-about night of theatre.
And I must say I am King in character only. To be in the presence of this cast, I am truly a humble subject. And for them I simply say, "thanks my countrymen, my loving friends."

First Run Thru: Interlude

a few random thoughts that i had during the course of last night's rehearsal (in no particular order): oh yes...GOOD!...i told you NOT to play with the guns...YES...i really need to learn my lines...hm, it doesn't fall out when i have it...YESYESYESYESYES...i'm so happy...damn

LAST NIGHT- FIRST RUN THROUGH

Last night was our first run through, and it was absolutely amazing. There was more emotion, more characterization, more interaction (more everything!!!) than ever before. I can't wait for Monday so we can continue working- I'm so excited about this play, I find that I'm even thinking about it while I'm in the shower or trying to get to sleep...(insane?)

Thanks go to Marcel Nunis for taking the time to come and watch and film us last night.