I admit it. I’ve been a bad blogger. Hopefully I’m better onstage than on the page.
The past couple weeks have been mostly about one thing for me – LINES. Because this is a new play – we get additions and cuts to the script throughout the rehearsal process. It’s part of the beast. I usually have no problems learning my lines – of course I’m usually playing a smaller character. In addition, my wife pointed out to me that maybe I have some sort of blockage (not valve related) to Ignatius. Was I afraid of being unlikable? Was I still not fully seeing the world from his eyes? I’m not sure, but in the past couple of days I think I’ve gotten over the hump.
The first preview is tonight – which means there is a paying audience, but we’re still in rehearsal. We’re still working and still finding it. What’s ‘it’? It’s that flow of energy, the second nature of going from scene to scene, moment to moment, without anticipating or thinking about what’s coming next or what you just screwed up. It’s about listening to your fellow actors AND the audience at the same time. It’s not easy, and sometimes it doesn’t happen. But that’s the goal every night. That’s the goal tonight.
Some press links are below – but I first want to give a shout out to the wonderful cast of Dunces -
Brik Berkes, Andrew Crigler, Rachael De Julio, Laura Floyd, Marianne Fraulo, Agnes Harty, Enoch King, Mark Kinkaid, Kathleen McManus, Eric Mendenhall, E. Roger Mitchell, William S. Murphey, Andrew Puckett, Scott Warren, and Mary Wolfson.
Jan Schroder’s Girl on the Go blog
Jay
August 11, 2010
Aaron: I was fortunate enough to be in the audience for last night’s final dress rehearsal, at the Director’s Circle showing. I have a feeling I’ll be telling people I was in that audience for a long time, as you guys (cast and crew) have truly caught lightning in a bottle here!
I understand what you mean about needing to get the flow right and stop worrying about dropping a line here and there, but the spirit of the play and the performances of the cast are wonderful. Tom’s adaptation captures Toole’s novel perfectly — the little throwaway lines; the small but strong and ultimately indispensable side characters; the flavor of New Orleans throughout — it all came across beautifully to this pair of outside eyes. The flow of the play, especially given the sometimes dizzying plot of the novel, is perfect.
Your performance is similarly terrific – - you have nailed Ignatius and should be very proud. Every role is well-cast and -acted and the actors’ transitions from character to character are seamless.
I can’t wait to read the reviews and to see the play again with a full audience. But that’s all (as they say in New Orleans) lagniappe. What you guys have in “Dunces” is special! Thanks so much to you all for letting me enter that world for a couple of hours last night.