We are now in the second week of R&J rehearsals and things are progressing well. After finalizing casting we spent 1 day covering Shakespeare's language and text analysis. The following day we began table work and more text work as each cast member came in with there scripts scanned and analyzed for imagery and meaning. I've got to hand it to those involved because it wasn't until I was in grad school that I really had a handle on understanding Shakespeare and they were able to do it in 24 hours. I would take all the credit but I had some amazing teachers in my adult life that deserve the credit.
Today the cast had fight call and met our fight director. I was very happy to have him on board as he is a certified professional fight director and works exceptionally well with young people and is just an all-around great guy. The kids had a blast and we start to choreograph the fights next week. We begin blocking tomorrow, Friday and finish Monday with scene and fight and scene work the rest of the week. All cast members were told to be off book on Friday and then the real work begins.
A note about teaching Shakespeare...
Something tells me he would find it humorous and somewhat disheartening that his plays are studied more in high school English classes than high school theatre classes. After all he was a playwright who wrote for actors not a writer who wrote to be exalted by English teachers and their students. An actor looks at his plays and sees people who feel the same human emotions as all of mankind while many English teachers treat him like his words are untouchable. With the exception of his sonnets and epic poems...he was a playwright and nothing more. Don't get me wrong here. I have performed 19 of the plays in his cannon and never fail to be humbled when I read his words but it's because he so clearly expresses what we humans feel and does in a way that is not only relevant to our way of thinking but in our way of feeling. Any actor who has studied his work with any proficiency understands that his words are clues to the actor about how to play their part. Meaning, you understand not only what the character says but what the character's intentions are behind the words. It seems that this concept is lost when talking to many students who have been exposed to Shakespeare in English class.
My advice to anyone who teaches Shakespeare is simple. If scanning iambic pentameter, identifying imagery, identifying irregular meter by way of a "pyrrhic", "trochee", or "amphibrach", understanding how punctuation effects rhythm (and yes I'm aware that most of the punctuation was placed there by editors and not by Shakespeare), if you don't know that "troth" rhymes with "both" or that "doth" has the same vowel sound as "does", or the importance of using the "liquid U", the need to use a "pitch bridge" when dealing with parenthetical statements, if you don't know what an "elision" is or why it was used, or how "stichomythia" tells an actor how their character relates to others in the play, please learn what these mean before you attempt to teach his plays. It breaks my heart when young people are taught Shakespeare incorrectly.
More to come...
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
A Christmas Tinkle
I have written a new play for the Sandhills Theatre Arts Renaissance School (STARS) which performs on Thursday, December 17th 2009. This would be the 3rd or 4th play/musical I have written and the 3rd done at the STARS charter school. The show is rather simple in that it is only about 20 minutes long and broken up into 4 parts, taking the form of a classic serial play and performed as 4 interludes during the middle school's winter performance.
I find that I have a love/hate relationship with witting in that I know that I can write but I hate to sit down and actually do it. I find that I can talk for hours about ideas and thoughts but it takes me forever to write those thoughts down. My attention span is not conducive to holding on to a thought long enough to write it down on paper. But I digress. Here is the story plot:
It is the day before Christmas and Santa and the elves are preparing the toys for loading onto the sled. The play begins with a celebration and, of course, the obligatory "ho, ho, ho" from Santa. After getting the update in regards to the toy preparations, he then gets the update on the reindeer. All seems to be going fine until he asks for the list of those who have been naughty and nice. Rather than the traditional list of names printed on the big scroll of paper he has used for hundreds of years; her is presented with a PDA by one of the elves. The elf explains that they have been getting a lot of "bad press" about that waste involved with printing the traditional list on paper and with everyone "going green", this is the result. Even though Santa doesn't know how he will ever learn this new technology, he decides that he has no choice and is reminded that "you can't stop progress."
A letter then arrives from the EPA and the Committee on Global Warming informing him that "due to his reindeer's gas emissions", he is prohibited from using them during this years toy delivery and that he will be forced to find an alternative. Santa laments the "progress" he is being faced with and wonders why, if it is in fact "progress", that it seems to be doing nothing but making his life more difficult. He then gathers his elves, reads them the letter and talks about the importance of tradition. An elf by the name of Tinkle shows Santa a magazine he has just been reading. The magazine is a catalog of new sleds and shows him the "Wonderland Hybrid" that has just come out. It is better for the environment, gets great gas mileage and doesn't use any reindeer. Santa declares that this may be their only hope.
At the dealership, Santa asks to see this new sled and the salesman tells him that it is their most popular model. In fact, a lot of people have been trading in their old "clunker" sleds for this new hybrid. He then brings out the sled; which is extremely small. Santa has no idea how he is going to fit in the thing let alone deliver toys to all the girls and boy in the world. Having no choice Santa relents only to be told that you have to drive it like a car. The problem...Santa doesn't have a license! After all, reindeer drive his sleigh. He is then told that reindeer are thing of the past and this new technology is the future and of course, "you can't stop progress". Santa, in a fit of rage, declares "how's this for progress...Christmas is canceled!"
The last scene takes place back at the North pole as Santa arrives after having visited the dealership. Everyone is anxious to hear how things went and to see the new sleigh. Santa tells everyone that he is canceling Christmas. At that point Tinkle raises his hand and tells everyone the he may found a way to save Christmas. He takes his place at the center of the room, unfolds a chart showing Santa's sleigh being pulled by reindeer with pouches on the hind ends. He explains that he has invented a device that goes over the hind end of the reindeer, captures their gas emissions, converts it into energy and finally the energy is released as a holiday scented mist over the land; effectively saving Christmas. And there is much rejoicing.
I always want to make a statement when writing or directing a show that speaks to larger issues facing the world. While I try my best not to "preach" a point of view, I want an audience to think about the message. Here we have an obvious play that addresses global warming but more importantly how regulation will effect our lives. While some regulation may be positive, we must stop and think about the hardships they may bring. Do the hardships out way the benefits. What is the price we are willing to pay to give up tradition? Is progress for the sake of progress a good thing or a bad thing? Are you willing to pay higher energy prices which might mean that your family may have to go without in the HOPE that it will help the environment without a guarantee?
Theatre's roots are in teaching. It has been used as a teaching tool since its inception. Thank goodness that I have found a school that understands this concept. I am blest to have to opportunity to work with teachers who understand what the arts are truly about: A tool to help children find an inner genius and to use that genius to develop their talent in all areas of their schooling and lives.
On a sad note. I will never get to see the show performed for an audience as I have a two-show day of "A Christmas Carol" on Thursday. I will be at the school for a run-through Thursday morning and then I will leave it in their hands. I have no doubt that they will meet every one of my expectations.
I find that I have a love/hate relationship with witting in that I know that I can write but I hate to sit down and actually do it. I find that I can talk for hours about ideas and thoughts but it takes me forever to write those thoughts down. My attention span is not conducive to holding on to a thought long enough to write it down on paper. But I digress. Here is the story plot:
It is the day before Christmas and Santa and the elves are preparing the toys for loading onto the sled. The play begins with a celebration and, of course, the obligatory "ho, ho, ho" from Santa. After getting the update in regards to the toy preparations, he then gets the update on the reindeer. All seems to be going fine until he asks for the list of those who have been naughty and nice. Rather than the traditional list of names printed on the big scroll of paper he has used for hundreds of years; her is presented with a PDA by one of the elves. The elf explains that they have been getting a lot of "bad press" about that waste involved with printing the traditional list on paper and with everyone "going green", this is the result. Even though Santa doesn't know how he will ever learn this new technology, he decides that he has no choice and is reminded that "you can't stop progress."
A letter then arrives from the EPA and the Committee on Global Warming informing him that "due to his reindeer's gas emissions", he is prohibited from using them during this years toy delivery and that he will be forced to find an alternative. Santa laments the "progress" he is being faced with and wonders why, if it is in fact "progress", that it seems to be doing nothing but making his life more difficult. He then gathers his elves, reads them the letter and talks about the importance of tradition. An elf by the name of Tinkle shows Santa a magazine he has just been reading. The magazine is a catalog of new sleds and shows him the "Wonderland Hybrid" that has just come out. It is better for the environment, gets great gas mileage and doesn't use any reindeer. Santa declares that this may be their only hope.
At the dealership, Santa asks to see this new sled and the salesman tells him that it is their most popular model. In fact, a lot of people have been trading in their old "clunker" sleds for this new hybrid. He then brings out the sled; which is extremely small. Santa has no idea how he is going to fit in the thing let alone deliver toys to all the girls and boy in the world. Having no choice Santa relents only to be told that you have to drive it like a car. The problem...Santa doesn't have a license! After all, reindeer drive his sleigh. He is then told that reindeer are thing of the past and this new technology is the future and of course, "you can't stop progress". Santa, in a fit of rage, declares "how's this for progress...Christmas is canceled!"
The last scene takes place back at the North pole as Santa arrives after having visited the dealership. Everyone is anxious to hear how things went and to see the new sleigh. Santa tells everyone that he is canceling Christmas. At that point Tinkle raises his hand and tells everyone the he may found a way to save Christmas. He takes his place at the center of the room, unfolds a chart showing Santa's sleigh being pulled by reindeer with pouches on the hind ends. He explains that he has invented a device that goes over the hind end of the reindeer, captures their gas emissions, converts it into energy and finally the energy is released as a holiday scented mist over the land; effectively saving Christmas. And there is much rejoicing.
I always want to make a statement when writing or directing a show that speaks to larger issues facing the world. While I try my best not to "preach" a point of view, I want an audience to think about the message. Here we have an obvious play that addresses global warming but more importantly how regulation will effect our lives. While some regulation may be positive, we must stop and think about the hardships they may bring. Do the hardships out way the benefits. What is the price we are willing to pay to give up tradition? Is progress for the sake of progress a good thing or a bad thing? Are you willing to pay higher energy prices which might mean that your family may have to go without in the HOPE that it will help the environment without a guarantee?
Theatre's roots are in teaching. It has been used as a teaching tool since its inception. Thank goodness that I have found a school that understands this concept. I am blest to have to opportunity to work with teachers who understand what the arts are truly about: A tool to help children find an inner genius and to use that genius to develop their talent in all areas of their schooling and lives.
On a sad note. I will never get to see the show performed for an audience as I have a two-show day of "A Christmas Carol" on Thursday. I will be at the school for a run-through Thursday morning and then I will leave it in their hands. I have no doubt that they will meet every one of my expectations.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Temple Teens at the UNC Family House
“Dear Tom & Temple Teens,
You group was so uplifting to our staff and guests last night and we appreciate all the effort it took for you to make the drive to Chapel Hill (especially in that weather!) It puts a smile on our guests’ faces to see young and happy people enjoying themselves and it’s obvious that you all do!
Thank you again for your kindness and generosity.
The Staff & Guests at Family House”
&
“Dear ‘Teens’,
All of you brightened our spirits and made us laugh and cry last night! We’ve never seen such an array of talent – so young and fresh – in one room. We thought we were watching a Broadway show! God bless you!
SECU Family House Residents”
Responses like these are the reason we do what we do. I’ve said it a million times: “the beauty of theatre is that we give of ourselves for the enjoyment of others.” It is this kind of selfless giving that should make you all proud of your effort. Love you all.
Tom
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
12/09/2009
I thought I would give this a shot since I never write anything down. This will most likely be a failed attempt but what the hell. This blog string will be about all things theatre. My thoughts, feelings and comments about the theatre life I live everyday. Please check back once in a while. Notice that the title is "Stream of Consciousness" so be prepared for the writing to lack correct punctuation and grammar as I plan on writing in thought rather than sentences. Anyway, there you have it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
