And just like that, a brief run of four nights and an afternoon, it's over. It was a good run; and more than made up for the sleep deprivation of the past few weeks. It's a great thing to be able to flex those muscles again; and there's a kind of melancholy that comes with the idea that I may not get another chance for awhile.
And it gets me to thinkin'......
At the Midwestern College I used to work at, way back in the 80-90's which seems less ago than it actually is, I would direct two shows a year; usually, one in the Fall, and one in the Spring. I never had the opportunity to direct the Guest Artist Show, though....that one was reserved for the Department Chair. And hey, it's his money and his baby, so I didn't kick. And he did give me Carte Blanche to choose what material I wanted to play with.
There are a few plays I wanted to do but never got a chance; but the ones I GOT to do were each fun in their own way. And in each, I swear to St. Genesius, there came a transmogrification that never ceased to astound and delight me.
I would get all manner of folks to audition for the plays; theatre students, music students, and in some delightful occasions even some student athletes would come and try their hands. And my reputation (I believe) was that I never preconceived anything. Everybody had a shot at anything at all. I can remember one kid, I hadn't seen him before, but he came in to read...and I put him together with somebody that had some experience...and this kid held his own. He finished, and the people in the room politely applauded.
"Very nice," I replied. And there was some good natured rumblings. And then, one voice spoke up.
"That was his first time."
I stood up from my table, walked around, and embraced the kid, and quietly said, "Excellent. You've taken your first steps. If I don't use you, you must promise me that you'll come back."
Oh, I used him. And he fit in well.
In the last show I directed, I had almost 100 students audition. That's ten percent of the campus population. I hope it was a testament to the respect they had for me, and not some prerequisite for passing a class.
But the true joy was sitting and watching a show in front of an audience for the first time. Watching them work the audience, find the seams, the places to hold for a response, the places to glide through ahead of the audience, and the places to wait for them to catch up.....and realize that the production is a far better piece than the one you actually directed.
Lead into Gold.
Monday, October 24, 2011
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