Tuesday, October 11, 2005
Epic at the Irish
Last night, a most interesting time: Epic Theater Company hosts Monday Night playwright nights, and last night was one of them...Peter and I went to this one, and it took place ont he 2nd floor of the Irish Rep Theater (where a musical of BEOWULF is currently playing...yu have to love NYC!!! and all writers everywhere!!!)
Usually, the Epic does these playwright nights at the Players CLub, but because the Players was closed for Columbus Day, Irish Rep offered space....a nice gesture. David Staller seems to inspire this kind of largesse from others. The eveingon on the 31st will be back at the Players Club. We will go to that one as well because last night was really engaging.
A cirlce of about 25 people, actors, contributors to the Epic Company, directors,interested and passionate people who simply love to hear new plays read, gathered and David had even bought fresh Krispy Kremes for the whole lot! A simple but homey and welcoming thing to do...
A play entitled THICKER THAN WATER by Doug Parker was on board, and no one in the room except David and the writer and Artistic Director Richard Kuranda maybe, had read the play, so we all were starting from the same place of no preconceptions or decisions about how to act it or read it or whatever...and then after a warm introduction from Staller to the event, the writer began assigning roles to people sitting in the large circle...those who did not wish to read indicated so during Staller's intro....the rest were considered the readig pool.... and off we went.
The subjectL Andrea Yates, the Texas woman who drowned her 5 kids in her home bathtub...and the examination of good-evil-sanity-reason in all mattters horrifying..the Devil is even a character..and much of the play, like a Greek drama, is structured in verse...as odd as this may sound, it was deeply compelling and i was glued to the pages the entire read! I could not believe how powerfully this thing affected us all. And it was a cold, simple reading, parts being re-assigned all along the way...Peter read the husband all the way through...i read several smaller parts, and the entire effort was so collaborative because everyone in the circle was gifted in this sort of moment-to-moment exploration. it was so much fun.
Staller read the stage directions. And lead the discussion afterward in such a congenial manner, it felt like there was no "leader", but rather a facilitator. The playwright had a list of specific questions he wanted to discuss. No one was allowed to praise or damn the play, only discuss our experience of the writing and shape of the piece itself. As a result, much insightful knowledge was shared. Again, so interesting.And so relaxed. Again, an influence of David Staller. He even led the group in a simple breath exercise before we bengan to read, and the entire group just unwound right away! So simple, so easy.
Can hardly wait for the 31st. I think I'll bring donuts for that one! Orange ones to honor Halloween...!These readings start at 5:30, and so we were out of there by 8:30, after having made some lovely new artistic friendships.
One of my summer students is coming up the weekend of the 21-23 October to work on her college auditions. We shall work all weekend, and she and her mom will see shows in between! A new way of working and teaching for me! Interesting.
I hope to go Upstate ths coming weekend. The house is now on the market, but so far, it's still ours to enjoy. The Fall up there is gorgeous beyond words. Gold.
Usually, the Epic does these playwright nights at the Players CLub, but because the Players was closed for Columbus Day, Irish Rep offered space....a nice gesture. David Staller seems to inspire this kind of largesse from others. The eveingon on the 31st will be back at the Players Club. We will go to that one as well because last night was really engaging.
A cirlce of about 25 people, actors, contributors to the Epic Company, directors,interested and passionate people who simply love to hear new plays read, gathered and David had even bought fresh Krispy Kremes for the whole lot! A simple but homey and welcoming thing to do...
A play entitled THICKER THAN WATER by Doug Parker was on board, and no one in the room except David and the writer and Artistic Director Richard Kuranda maybe, had read the play, so we all were starting from the same place of no preconceptions or decisions about how to act it or read it or whatever...and then after a warm introduction from Staller to the event, the writer began assigning roles to people sitting in the large circle...those who did not wish to read indicated so during Staller's intro....the rest were considered the readig pool.... and off we went.
The subjectL Andrea Yates, the Texas woman who drowned her 5 kids in her home bathtub...and the examination of good-evil-sanity-reason in all mattters horrifying..the Devil is even a character..and much of the play, like a Greek drama, is structured in verse...as odd as this may sound, it was deeply compelling and i was glued to the pages the entire read! I could not believe how powerfully this thing affected us all. And it was a cold, simple reading, parts being re-assigned all along the way...Peter read the husband all the way through...i read several smaller parts, and the entire effort was so collaborative because everyone in the circle was gifted in this sort of moment-to-moment exploration. it was so much fun.
Staller read the stage directions. And lead the discussion afterward in such a congenial manner, it felt like there was no "leader", but rather a facilitator. The playwright had a list of specific questions he wanted to discuss. No one was allowed to praise or damn the play, only discuss our experience of the writing and shape of the piece itself. As a result, much insightful knowledge was shared. Again, so interesting.And so relaxed. Again, an influence of David Staller. He even led the group in a simple breath exercise before we bengan to read, and the entire group just unwound right away! So simple, so easy.
Can hardly wait for the 31st. I think I'll bring donuts for that one! Orange ones to honor Halloween...!These readings start at 5:30, and so we were out of there by 8:30, after having made some lovely new artistic friendships.
One of my summer students is coming up the weekend of the 21-23 October to work on her college auditions. We shall work all weekend, and she and her mom will see shows in between! A new way of working and teaching for me! Interesting.
I hope to go Upstate ths coming weekend. The house is now on the market, but so far, it's still ours to enjoy. The Fall up there is gorgeous beyond words. Gold.
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