Howdy,
I was invited to Clark to work on this play with students because my friend who teaches here saw the presentation at The Public LAB series in June. I realize now that our designers were so good, so good, that he didn't realize how hard the play is. By that I mean...where are you going to get 50 gardenias, and these sound cues, and wait...the clothes get chocolate on them every night, and she has to change clothes on stage? I mention all of this because our designers were so good that few people noticed all the detail in finding the right dress, the right nightgown, the right pair of boxers...all of it. Because working with students in a 'workshop' no one is specifically in charge of anything. So, the phrase I keep repeating is "Yes, the clothes are simple, but they have to be specific." You can substitute the word 'clothes' with any other that applies to the play.
I'm not complaining - just grateful for the efforts of others.
Also, I'm watching the specifics of the actors, and how lazer specific the internal life needs to be great in a play. Pushing Leah - the actress playing Ruthie to get specific when Bo is pushing her to tell him what she wants...In trying to get her to name the one thing that would make her happy...She named being able to 'successfully' consummate the marriage. And it took a while to get that answer, I didn't know it was the answer - I actually thought the answer was " I don't know" but wanted to push so she could feel the frustration of not knowing...but when that answer came out, it helped to clarify how she is listening. It also made the stakes and fears specific for her. And I realized, yes, when I don't know...there is always a specific tartget of need, want, or fear...and that specificness is what makes the behavior in acting exciting and engaging.
Scott's rewrite is great. It took the actors a couple of days to make it not jarring to my ear to hear something new. And now that have a sense of ownership of it...the change is very powerful. That Scott Hudson is a feckin' good writer.
Goodnight,
Padraic
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Continuous Learning
Howdy,
What is great about taking a play back into development, and with new actors, is you hear it differently. Working with Leah and Dan at Clark - I've heard some of the levels of humor and friendship that need to be a little more present in the play. Also, I'm learning about the specifics of love, what is it exactly these two individuals get from the other - in just their relationship. Just by knowing and being with the other that they get from no other. Watching these two young actors discuss that with each other today really deepened how specific this relationship, well probably every relationship is, but specifically this one for the play - how their interactions inform their relationship to the world and the journey. (I'm leaving the word journey in the blog...it seems less specific than I want to be but for now - it stays.)
This play is wonderful to work on with students - because it works with what ever level of specificness you are capable of achieving in action and emotion. The deeper and more specific work you do the stronger the play. It can support you and you learn - and expand with the actor. Also, it forces you to keep learning and growing. I saw Jamie at the LAB party last night - and she said she still is stopped in the middle of doing something with an "Aha" moment about a moment in SWEET STORM.
those "Aha" moments make it a great play to work on with young actors.
Okay - I'm hoping to keep this blog up. I hope to learn more about the development process - if not of the play, maybe of actors and directors.
Goodnight,
Padraic
What is great about taking a play back into development, and with new actors, is you hear it differently. Working with Leah and Dan at Clark - I've heard some of the levels of humor and friendship that need to be a little more present in the play. Also, I'm learning about the specifics of love, what is it exactly these two individuals get from the other - in just their relationship. Just by knowing and being with the other that they get from no other. Watching these two young actors discuss that with each other today really deepened how specific this relationship, well probably every relationship is, but specifically this one for the play - how their interactions inform their relationship to the world and the journey. (I'm leaving the word journey in the blog...it seems less specific than I want to be but for now - it stays.)
This play is wonderful to work on with students - because it works with what ever level of specificness you are capable of achieving in action and emotion. The deeper and more specific work you do the stronger the play. It can support you and you learn - and expand with the actor. Also, it forces you to keep learning and growing. I saw Jamie at the LAB party last night - and she said she still is stopped in the middle of doing something with an "Aha" moment about a moment in SWEET STORM.
those "Aha" moments make it a great play to work on with young actors.
Okay - I'm hoping to keep this blog up. I hope to learn more about the development process - if not of the play, maybe of actors and directors.
Goodnight,
Padraic
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Life after the Summer Winds
Howdy,
I am in LAByrinth's off speaking with Trevor, who began the idea of blogging for the Play Development Process of the Public LAB presentation of SWEET STORM, and we were talking about the value of the blog in all of our Development or Production Processes. And well - I'm a fan. I love sharing the process with you - whomever you are, because I think the process of creating a play is challenging and should never be done alone. And sharing my experience with you - makes me understand it better, and possibly for those of you venturing into your own process reading these postings will give you comfort in your process. And for the voyeur or fan who is just curious what's happening with this play...hey good to see you again.
Two things happening with Scott Hudson's SWEET STORM. The first is after seeing the play at the Public LAB in June Clark University invited me up to work on the play with their students. We are doing a presentation with the similar level of tech as the Public LAB. It is more of a workshop for the actors. Who, thus far, are great. Leah and Dan are playing Ruthie and Bo. They are meeting every challenge and working as hard as they can. And they love the play. I also have the fortune of a brilliant post grad stage manager - Kate who is holding the tree house together as I commute to Worcester, MA and NYC. We are doing the presentations in a wonderful rehearsal room with a giant tree blowing outside the window. We are hoping to light this tree for our presentation - hopefully the wind and rain will be there too. For more details - I will share as they come.
Oh - and Scott added some text that we are trying out. So far so good.
Second piece of news: there is a theater company in New York interested in producing the play in the Spring of '09. It is still in the discussion phase as of now - so I won't mention the Company involved. But I will say that their interest stems from seeing the Public LAB presentation as well - and that they thought the play was beautiful and about the risk involved in allowing another person to love you. And the absence of cynism - was not only heart warming, but also a little threatening - and something that the world should experience today. All of that was lovely.
Now that Trevor has jogged my memory of the blogging - I'll keep you posted about the Clark Presentation, and any news on the possible Spring Production.
Goodnight,
Padraic
I am in LAByrinth's off speaking with Trevor, who began the idea of blogging for the Play Development Process of the Public LAB presentation of SWEET STORM, and we were talking about the value of the blog in all of our Development or Production Processes. And well - I'm a fan. I love sharing the process with you - whomever you are, because I think the process of creating a play is challenging and should never be done alone. And sharing my experience with you - makes me understand it better, and possibly for those of you venturing into your own process reading these postings will give you comfort in your process. And for the voyeur or fan who is just curious what's happening with this play...hey good to see you again.
Two things happening with Scott Hudson's SWEET STORM. The first is after seeing the play at the Public LAB in June Clark University invited me up to work on the play with their students. We are doing a presentation with the similar level of tech as the Public LAB. It is more of a workshop for the actors. Who, thus far, are great. Leah and Dan are playing Ruthie and Bo. They are meeting every challenge and working as hard as they can. And they love the play. I also have the fortune of a brilliant post grad stage manager - Kate who is holding the tree house together as I commute to Worcester, MA and NYC. We are doing the presentations in a wonderful rehearsal room with a giant tree blowing outside the window. We are hoping to light this tree for our presentation - hopefully the wind and rain will be there too. For more details - I will share as they come.
Oh - and Scott added some text that we are trying out. So far so good.
Second piece of news: there is a theater company in New York interested in producing the play in the Spring of '09. It is still in the discussion phase as of now - so I won't mention the Company involved. But I will say that their interest stems from seeing the Public LAB presentation as well - and that they thought the play was beautiful and about the risk involved in allowing another person to love you. And the absence of cynism - was not only heart warming, but also a little threatening - and something that the world should experience today. All of that was lovely.
Now that Trevor has jogged my memory of the blogging - I'll keep you posted about the Clark Presentation, and any news on the possible Spring Production.
Goodnight,
Padraic
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