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Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Friday, July 31, 2009
Understudy went on
Well, it was a lot of fun! It certainly makes performing exciting when you know you'll only get this one chance! I was really nervous right up until I got to the site, and then it got a little better when I ran a few scenes with Hannah and Michele. Joseph gave me a fist pound, Elissa gave me a back rub, and Bill ran lines with me. Right before I was about to go on, I asked Michele, "why does it feel like right before a space shuttle launch?" Because it's exciting, of course. I started my first line, and just went from there. I was pleased with how things went. Everyone was great, reminding me about blocking and entrances, and letting me do the lines the way I wanted to. That takes a lot of skill, and I'm really proud to be a part of it. The curtian call I think was the most messy, since I hadn't ever rehearsed it, but Hannah was very helpful and didn't seem to mind too much.
Recently I've been thinking a lot about the collaborative nature of theatre, and acting, specifically. When I am putting together a part and looking at a text at first, I am using my own interpretations of the characters and themes. But the bottom line is that the task of creating the world of the play onstage is shared with all the people involved. I'm realizing more and more that an actor's job is not simply to act but to interact. Maybe this seems obvious, because after all most plays are made up of dialogue. But after spending so much time thinking about objectives and obstacles and themes, etc, it can be easy to overlook the simple goal of the line: to affect someone else. You must beleivably interact with the other characters onstage.
And Seagull is such a beautiful play to illustrate the importance of interaction. Take the play-within-a-play scene in Act one. All the characters onstage have relationships to each other, and objectives that they have to pursue. If they are all paying attention and are "in the moment," the simplest action by one character becomes a chain-reaction affecting all the characters onstage, just as intricate and meaningful as a ballet.
If you've seen the play before, or even if you haven't, come tomorrow night and spend a little time watching the "off-focus" areas of the stage. You'll find that the drama going on beyond the dialogue is just as rich and interesting as the "focus" of the scene. I know from experience that staying focused on stage is no simple task. You are faced with creating depth and spontaneity out of actions and lines that you have heard over and over again for months up until this point.
What is so amazing is to be onstage with so many people focused in this way. It's a rush, because you're not sure what exactly is going to happen, but the focus that you see in each of the other player's actions and expressions makes you feel safe, in a sense, that they will work with you, that they won't leave you out to hang.
But don't take my word for it. Come out and judge for yourself.
-Chris
Recently I've been thinking a lot about the collaborative nature of theatre, and acting, specifically. When I am putting together a part and looking at a text at first, I am using my own interpretations of the characters and themes. But the bottom line is that the task of creating the world of the play onstage is shared with all the people involved. I'm realizing more and more that an actor's job is not simply to act but to interact. Maybe this seems obvious, because after all most plays are made up of dialogue. But after spending so much time thinking about objectives and obstacles and themes, etc, it can be easy to overlook the simple goal of the line: to affect someone else. You must beleivably interact with the other characters onstage.
And Seagull is such a beautiful play to illustrate the importance of interaction. Take the play-within-a-play scene in Act one. All the characters onstage have relationships to each other, and objectives that they have to pursue. If they are all paying attention and are "in the moment," the simplest action by one character becomes a chain-reaction affecting all the characters onstage, just as intricate and meaningful as a ballet.
If you've seen the play before, or even if you haven't, come tomorrow night and spend a little time watching the "off-focus" areas of the stage. You'll find that the drama going on beyond the dialogue is just as rich and interesting as the "focus" of the scene. I know from experience that staying focused on stage is no simple task. You are faced with creating depth and spontaneity out of actions and lines that you have heard over and over again for months up until this point.
What is so amazing is to be onstage with so many people focused in this way. It's a rush, because you're not sure what exactly is going to happen, but the focus that you see in each of the other player's actions and expressions makes you feel safe, in a sense, that they will work with you, that they won't leave you out to hang.
But don't take my word for it. Come out and judge for yourself.
-Chris
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Understudy Going On
A little post from an understudy, graduated just this May with my undergraduate degree. This is my third summer being involved in Livermore Shakes, and the first time I've gone on as an understudy. The part is Treplev in The Seagull, and I'm really excited about it. Granted, I did perform this part in April, but it was in a slightly different setting.
Tonight, I will be the least professionally experienced performer onstage. The idea seemed a little bit intimidating at first, but I'm pretty much over that now, at this point I'm just nervous and excited. The play itself is brilliant, and in my humble opinion the acting work is top-notch. Every performer is totally in the moment, without exception, something that makes being onstage with them absolutely thrilling.
I've been working on the part some more over the past few days, so I'll be more confident tonight than I was when I played the part in dress rehearsal a few weeks ago. I'm going to go over the blocking and run a couple of the harder scenes when I get there.
I'm going to write more later after this whole shebang is over. :-) Thanks to everyone for their support!
Tonight, I will be the least professionally experienced performer onstage. The idea seemed a little bit intimidating at first, but I'm pretty much over that now, at this point I'm just nervous and excited. The play itself is brilliant, and in my humble opinion the acting work is top-notch. Every performer is totally in the moment, without exception, something that makes being onstage with them absolutely thrilling.
I've been working on the part some more over the past few days, so I'll be more confident tonight than I was when I played the part in dress rehearsal a few weeks ago. I'm going to go over the blocking and run a couple of the harder scenes when I get there.
I'm going to write more later after this whole shebang is over. :-) Thanks to everyone for their support!
Monday, July 27, 2009
Great feedback keeps rolling in for both shows!
Thomas Johnson said this about Dream: "... It was fabulous! It was such a fun production all around. I especially loved what you did with the young lovers (great performances and some memorable blocking as well) and Rob's music was so charming. Really lovely. So glad I got to see it!"
A Midsummer Night's Dream isn't the only show that audiences are falling in love with this summer, however. LSF's remount of The Seagull is also getting rave audience reviews. Here's just a small sampling of what the audience had to say:
"The outdoor setting really made the show come alive!"
"I'd never seen anything by Chekhov, and I was worried the show would be too 'avante garde' and not accessible, but I was pleasantly surprised! I'll be telling everyone I know to come see the show!"
"I even stayed up way past my bedtime to see the end!"
There are only two more performances of The Seagull, so don't miss your chance to experience this fantastic show, enhanced all the more by the rich beauty of the outdoor setting. And don't let the idea of Chekhov scare you off! As the reviews above prove, there is something in the show for experienced Chekhov fans and newcomers alike.
The Seagull runs next weekend on Thursday and Saturday night. Tickets and a synopsis are available at http://www.livermoreshakes.org/.
Thomas Johnson said this about Dream: "... It was fabulous! It was such a fun production all around. I especially loved what you did with the young lovers (great performances and some memorable blocking as well) and Rob's music was so charming. Really lovely. So glad I got to see it!"
A Midsummer Night's Dream isn't the only show that audiences are falling in love with this summer, however. LSF's remount of The Seagull is also getting rave audience reviews. Here's just a small sampling of what the audience had to say:
"The outdoor setting really made the show come alive!"
"I'd never seen anything by Chekhov, and I was worried the show would be too 'avante garde' and not accessible, but I was pleasantly surprised! I'll be telling everyone I know to come see the show!"
"I even stayed up way past my bedtime to see the end!"
There are only two more performances of The Seagull, so don't miss your chance to experience this fantastic show, enhanced all the more by the rich beauty of the outdoor setting. And don't let the idea of Chekhov scare you off! As the reviews above prove, there is something in the show for experienced Chekhov fans and newcomers alike.
The Seagull runs next weekend on Thursday and Saturday night. Tickets and a synopsis are available at http://www.livermoreshakes.org/.
Friday, July 24, 2009
More wonderful audience feedback!
The Livermore Shakespeare Festival has been going great!
We received another comment from yet another pleased audience member!
Audience member, Lisa P, after seeing A Midsummers Night Dream, stated
"I thought my 8-year old was going to have a hard time following the story, but he loved it - and laughed hysterically at the pranks the fairies played. We all think there were definitely some fairies pretending to be actors in your cast. Thanks so much for having a family night where I could feel comfortable bringing the kids to see the performance"
What an awesome comment!
Come see for yourself just how good the show is and see what everybody is talking about. And don't forget that another show is running in repertory with A Midsummer Nights Dream, called The Seagull, which is also a great show and one that you should not miss.
For more information on either of these shows or to buy tickets go to our website www.livermoreshakes.org.
Hope to see you at the show!
We received another comment from yet another pleased audience member!
Audience member, Lisa P, after seeing A Midsummers Night Dream, stated
"I thought my 8-year old was going to have a hard time following the story, but he loved it - and laughed hysterically at the pranks the fairies played. We all think there were definitely some fairies pretending to be actors in your cast. Thanks so much for having a family night where I could feel comfortable bringing the kids to see the performance"
What an awesome comment!
Come see for yourself just how good the show is and see what everybody is talking about. And don't forget that another show is running in repertory with A Midsummer Nights Dream, called The Seagull, which is also a great show and one that you should not miss.
For more information on either of these shows or to buy tickets go to our website www.livermoreshakes.org.
Hope to see you at the show!
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Audience Comments!!
The first two weekends of the festival are over, and we've got some great audience feedback so far! Here was what one family had to say about A Midsummer Night's Dream:
Ken Albala said that the show was a "fantastic production! We were all absolutely blown away." His wife Joanna sent her own separate email praising the show, adding that "the cast was amazing," "the costumes were great!" and that "using the house as a performance space is ingenious."
Perhaps the best testimony of all comes from their 12 year old son Ethan who said Dream was "hilarious and thrilling." Their younger son also loved the show. Just proof that Shakespeare can definitely be fun and accessible for everyone involved!
Come see for yourself!
Ken Albala said that the show was a "fantastic production! We were all absolutely blown away." His wife Joanna sent her own separate email praising the show, adding that "the cast was amazing," "the costumes were great!" and that "using the house as a performance space is ingenious."
Perhaps the best testimony of all comes from their 12 year old son Ethan who said Dream was "hilarious and thrilling." Their younger son also loved the show. Just proof that Shakespeare can definitely be fun and accessible for everyone involved!
Come see for yourself!
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