To many of us, it may seem that we’re going down a fuzzy road to nowhere. What is all this “explore x” and “discuss y“? Why doesn’t someone just pick a play and let’s do it?
We lucked up with Mame in pulling together a cast in which there were no weak links and everyone seemed to understand without being told what we were doing. What we’re trying to do here is to take luck out of the equation by forming an ensemble: a group of actors who speak the same language.
That doesn’t mean that we all have to use the same strategies, tools, or preparations in what we do. It doesn’t even mean we all have to agree. What it does mean is that all of us can understand the different ways we all work, and there will be some commonalities of approach, since we will all work together.
It may also be a little scary/frustrating/puzzling that we don’t seem to have a clear path. Relax and trust us: this is one of those “the journey is more fun than the destination” situations. Something good will come of it. We will get somewhere. In fact, we’re going to go lots of places.
Fuzzy roads can often lead to some pretty exciting places. Having said that…
Dale is now working very hard to make me palatable, fearing that my peculiar manner of discourse will turn some off, but what is ironic is that I’m the one with more populist instincts; or, at least, I’m usually more concerned about turning people off with my inscrutable and pretentious utterances. He’s the one who first asked if this group might submerge in the murky waters of experimentation. I am usually very cautious about how and when I reveal how insufferable I truly am. I was going to wait till we did a show or two before I inflicted it with full force on others in the group. Ah well. Dale’s enthusiasm has forced my hand.
I am grateful that Dale doesn’t want me to turn off the excitement of others and is trying to protect me from ill will. But he can relax. Remember Dale, I’m just doing what I do. I hope no one plans on passing judgement on themselves just because of how I indulge in associations and references and flighty aesthetic speculations. Even now, I am primarily enjoying this as a rhetorical exercise. My way is not a recipe for success, theatrical or otherwise, by any means. By all means, lets pick a show…
I don’t want to pick a show. There. I’ve said it, too. I want to work with all the talented people we have to build an ensemble, one worthy of the name group. And I think everyone should be excited by the very fuzziness of the project. I also realize, however, that few of us have experienced what you and I are arguing about and might find it hard to imagine and therefore look forward to. I’m just trying to get them used to the idea of suspending judgment.
What about not picking a show but picking, instead, material? Hmmm. I think you already alluded to that somewhere with the idea of people bringing in what they are interested in. You know me: a receipt from Wal-Mart can serve as the textual basis for an interesting performance. I suppose choosing material, a frame for our exercising, might allow for certain story-telling skills and “playing the situation” skills to develop. But yes, I’ll be honest, too: I want to contribute as an actor through any material whatsoever; I want to contribute as a theatre-maker by working my little collective creation schtick and striving for the unusual. I’m happy to introduce some of that, but I don’t want to tear a rift before we start.