Friday, June 13, 2008

Day 8 - Happy Birthday Scott

Howdy,

It is Scott's birthday, and in his humble spirit we learned this at the end of rehearsal when he announced he was going to try and see The Hulk tonight. We wished him happy birthday - and thank him for the gift of the play.The mystery prop person returned with orange crates, mason jars, and a cool cooler. The gardenias are mixed in metal buckets from Bennington, lower oval shaped buckets, and mason jars - put on the floor, orange crates, and milk crates. The various shapes and sizes and heights of it, as suggested by Martin our set designer, really help to set the stage for ritual. It is perfect for the event about the happen. Also, we started using costumes today - all of the elements are supporting the work the actors are doing.
There was a lovely moment in rehearsal. Betsy and I agreed not to try and incorporate the sound of rain into the presentation of the work because we don't have the quality of equipment for the workshop to balance out the rain throughout the event. After the first read through we agreed we didn't need it. But there is one moment of silence where they break it by referring to the rain. Today - Lauren our P.A. who is operating the CD player for the sound in rehearsal, played, what I believe were her finger nails, on an upside down metal bucket to create the rain. It was perfect and simple. An ideal solution for the workshop.
Today was a lot of detail work with the actors. They keep meeting the challenge of getting more specific. Deeper connection to the ideas of faith, personal beliefs, and fears. They are doing it. Both of them. Jamie D. incorporated immediately the notes about polio from Jewdee.
There was a quote that put the workshop into perfect context. One of our P.A.'s writes in a journal every now and then during rehearsal. Today - I asked, 'what'd you write?' - "You can always get more specific."

I look forward to seeing you at the play - June 20th 8pm, Saturday June 21st at 2pm and 8pm but this weekend remember "If it's Sunday, it's Father's Day"

Goodnight

Padraic

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