December 5th, 1996
Oy
It's Friday, and I just got back from rehearsal. I ordered some pasta and I have
5 hours before I have to be back at S.C. A weird part of directing mainstage is
that in your mind you are always waiting to go there. Now, thank goodness I can
distract myself by writing about being there when I'm not there. It was a pretty
good week, not great, but good. I'm putting one new scene in the show tonight.
It is called "Wicked". A two person scene between Rachel and Tina. I have a little
game with myself to make each new scene that goes in the show funnier than the
one it's replacing. Part of me doesn't think Citizen Gates was funny enough or emotional
enough. I'm glad this show seems to want more of an emotional life. Sometimes putting
a new scene in the show is like a mini opening night. I get all nervous about it and shit.
It is warranted, because another little (pasta's here, wish I had a beer ) thing that
ya got to watch for is how a scene translates from an improv set to a show. An improv
audience is a bit more forgiving.....they expect it to be rough, reckless and unfinished.
The show audience, on the other hand, expects product for their buck. Finished, polished,
funny skit. (I use the word skit, by the way, as an inside joke. People who do this
seriously hate the work skit. We create scenes, Cub Scouts create skits.) So there is
a slight difference between the same scene in the improv set and the same scene in a
show.
Physical
This week was primarily about getting some physical stuff. Everyone brought in an idea
on Wednesday for a scene that wasn't just sittin' or standin' around talkin'. Kevin brought
in an idea based on a tour of Chicago where the cast creates the building with their
bodies, Jenna's was a lifeguard and the audience was the pool, Rachel's I can't say or I'd
give something away, Jim a talking Tiki statue, etc. We put some of these scenes in the
set and they all worked pretty well. Kevin's tour thing is fun but it needs a greater
context for it. (If you have an idea, please feel free not to tell me about it......[kidding])
Jenna also had the idea of a scene on The Titanic. The Titanic has always intrigued me,
so I was intrigued.
Expo
We also spent a great deal of rehearsal time on exposition of the new scenes that are in
the show. The exposition tells the audience the location of the scene, the relationships,
and hopefully launches what the scene is about. The exposition of Wizard of Oz (an example
I use a lot when I teach cause everyone knows it) is probably everything before the
tornado. Sometimes it's a task to make the exposition interesting in and of itself.....it
certainly was for us this week. There were some advances, and I'm sure we'll get there.
So tonight we have two shows and no improv set. (on Fridays, there's not an improv set...
and you know what, and I just thought of this, I do not know why that is...hmmmm.)
Oh well, two shows, and two opportunities to look at the scenes in front of an audience.
Four new scenes now. I'm satisfied thus far.
I'll see ya.
Go to.....
