Sunday, December 7, 2008
when a blog becomes a blog...
December 7, 2008. The show has closed. Up and down in a few days and a mountain of growth in between. All along this blog has served as a way to record the process and research surrounding the production, but now, it's going to have to change (and soon end). There is no more production. And so, I blog.
All day today I have felt that feeling you get when summer camp ends and your parents arrive to separate you from those best-friends you made for a whole year. That fear that you may never have what you had again and yet you are so damn grateful for having it in the first place. I feel like Phillip: "no anguish I have had to bear has been too heavy a price for the new life I have entered in loving her." if I sub in "the play" for "her."
On the first day of rehearsals, the familial energy in the room was astounding. The cast brought with them a generosity and artistry a director can only dream of having. But they were a dream come true. And throughout the first reading, the comedy of THE MILL ON THE FLOSS was brought out. I said, "i never knew it was so funny." And then, for about 5 weeks, it wasn't funny, until the very final performance. And it was hilarious. The show came to life and with it came the humor... that which gets us through all the hard shit. I will spend time, listing out scene by scene, the surprises that arrived in performance.
1. The more love and joy between the family in the opening scenes, the clearer understanding we have of what is so worth fighting for. There is hope for a better life in Tom. A hope that is not placed upon Maggie, but she is better suited for. Every time an actor smiles or laughs, I think a fairy is brought back to life:)
2. The word "which" and the word "witch" are used so impressively throughout the play.
3. Maggie is NOT a witch. She drowns.
4. if we believe, they will believe it. (red deep ropes, cutting hair, daddy doll, ladder boat, devil hand, hump back.
5. it is worth risking great pain (or even life) for true love. and true love comes many times in life.
6. fishing for the lucy doll doesn't work. it was an idea from another production and doesn't belong in this one
7. When Mr. Tulliver dies, it's perfect to get a laugh. He is himself up to the final moment. It's no wonder Maggie loves him so much.
8. if you use every prop in the room (the oar is the mob tool) at least twice, it has so much more depth.
9. Design is meant to enhance the story, but it is not the story, the story lives in the actors connections and relationships.
10. Details are so important. life only exists in specifics, anything less is phony.
11. The audience rooted for Phillip. But that's because I aligned Stephen with the devil. There is another way to do this next time when all three men are equally enticing. Details in the thesis book.
That's all for now.
All day today I have felt that feeling you get when summer camp ends and your parents arrive to separate you from those best-friends you made for a whole year. That fear that you may never have what you had again and yet you are so damn grateful for having it in the first place. I feel like Phillip: "no anguish I have had to bear has been too heavy a price for the new life I have entered in loving her." if I sub in "the play" for "her."
On the first day of rehearsals, the familial energy in the room was astounding. The cast brought with them a generosity and artistry a director can only dream of having. But they were a dream come true. And throughout the first reading, the comedy of THE MILL ON THE FLOSS was brought out. I said, "i never knew it was so funny." And then, for about 5 weeks, it wasn't funny, until the very final performance. And it was hilarious. The show came to life and with it came the humor... that which gets us through all the hard shit. I will spend time, listing out scene by scene, the surprises that arrived in performance.
1. The more love and joy between the family in the opening scenes, the clearer understanding we have of what is so worth fighting for. There is hope for a better life in Tom. A hope that is not placed upon Maggie, but she is better suited for. Every time an actor smiles or laughs, I think a fairy is brought back to life:)
2. The word "which" and the word "witch" are used so impressively throughout the play.
3. Maggie is NOT a witch. She drowns.
4. if we believe, they will believe it. (red deep ropes, cutting hair, daddy doll, ladder boat, devil hand, hump back.
5. it is worth risking great pain (or even life) for true love. and true love comes many times in life.
6. fishing for the lucy doll doesn't work. it was an idea from another production and doesn't belong in this one
7. When Mr. Tulliver dies, it's perfect to get a laugh. He is himself up to the final moment. It's no wonder Maggie loves him so much.
8. if you use every prop in the room (the oar is the mob tool) at least twice, it has so much more depth.
9. Design is meant to enhance the story, but it is not the story, the story lives in the actors connections and relationships.
10. Details are so important. life only exists in specifics, anything less is phony.
11. The audience rooted for Phillip. But that's because I aligned Stephen with the devil. There is another way to do this next time when all three men are equally enticing. Details in the thesis book.
That's all for now.
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