“The play wants a ganky audience.”
Today, open viewpoints. Starting off stage.
During viewpoints Barney asked, “When I go on the morning talk show and the woman asks me ‘what is this play about’ what do I say?”
Ellen: “About an hour and forty minutes.”
Anne: “I had to answer that question in the salon today. You know what [...]
Last night’s preview was great. It was excellent to finally see the show in front of an audience. It’s definitely a show that thrives on its relationship to the audience. There was some great response- a real buzz in the room. Many people hung around afterwards to talk to the ensemble and hang out in [...]
Back after a day off. Happy St. Patrick’s Day.
Viewpoints: Can the viewpoints be changed either covertly or overtly by the audience? Is that even possible? Good luck.
Today the group did a run through, stopping several times to work through bits they had discussed on Sunday evening. They tried some stuff out. Talked some stuff through.
Anne: [...]
Pushing forward through tech. No viewpoints today.
Anne: “I have the great honor of watching you come up with stuff. I want the audience to have that sensation. I’m not in the position of saying ‘you’re a lesbian, you’re on fire, you’re on a table, GO!’ There’s a certain exactitude with the way that you can [...]
The group headed into their first day of tech.
Anne: “I think our play was meant to be between 1:40 and 1:42– that’s what it’s meant to be.”
Today’s viewpoints: Complicity. Constantly coming back to this group of people between scenes. “I hate the word ‘transition’… it’s not what it is. The play is always being built. [...]
Today’s viewpoints: What are the 3 things in viewpoints that you default to? (Including Darron’s sound)
Each person shared their 3 (or sometimes 4) items. Lots of laughter– of course they do that a lot…
Anne: “You know the spirit of what you just did? Whenever you feel that spirit, do something different. GOOD LUCK.”
A few seconds [...]
Today’s viewpoints: How do you handle change? Who in the ensemble leads that change? When one section ends, who starts the next? Do the lights abruptly change? Sound?
After…
Anne: “We just saw a gorgeous collaboration between sound, lights, and company.”
It really was spectacular to watch. Adding lights into the mix was a whole new dimension of [...]
Today’s viewpoints: the variety of audience relationships. The relationship to the audience. The relationship to the room.
Needless to say, many people sitting in the audience were chatted up by ensemble members. An apprentice, David Brown, was repeatedly told by Sam, “I remember my first erections.” Yes, it’s a line in the play… poor Mr. Brown. [...]
A very productive day.
In Anne’s absence, the group had a longer training session. They rehearsed the babershop number and the two big dance numbers. Then the group worked transitions up through “Howl,” in preparation for tomorrow’s work through.
The show’s in great shape!
A very succesful week.
Today’s viewpoint session: Don’t move without a reason to move. Don’t move just for variety’s sake. Begin with the barbershop number.
Anne: “That’s performance quality viewpoints.”
Leon: “A little better and it’d be museum quality.”
Afterward, an interesting discussion took place. Is it possible to not move for variety’s sake? Is it possible to not [...]
3/7/09
Today’s viewpoint session: is it possible to reconstruct the top of the show, emerging from the cell phone section?
After:
“It’s so clear what it is in the end: co-workers– a group of people putting together this collection. It’s this, it’s that!”– Anne
Re: Cell phones
Anne: “The phone moment is a real Stanislavski moment– as real as it [...]
Today’s viewpoint session: Constant renewal. If ever an object is placed in space, the object should constantly change and affect everyone. “Clean the slate.”
Re: The narrator and who should deliver the text in a particular moment
“This Narrator’s an actor killer. Whoever get’s near it gets cut!”
Re: Costuming for a dance
Anne: “You’re gonna do flamenco as [...]
Today’s Viewpoints: The sounds of North Beach, San Francisco– the sounds of jazz– sound in relationship to space…. sonic discoveries. Body percussion. Scat. The sounds of feet sweeping on plywood. Slamming doors. Ornette Coleman… Bitches Brew.
At the session’s end: “I hate this. I hate this… but in a good way!” -Anne
From there, the group went [...]
In today’s viewpoint session, Anne told everyone to “Get your chi down… way, way down. We’re in a coffeehouse in North San Francisco…” And off they went.
Rachel Grimes played piano during the session:
“The problem with Rachel in the room, you always want her in the damn play.” –Anne
The ensemble reviewed the song and dance numbers. [...]
After a very quick and productive 1st week we are begining with dance and song rehearsals in Anne’s absence.
The show is being ‘constructed’ and de-constructed very thoroughly everyday!
One thing that has been very insightful to me has been the way in which the company creates a set of resistances in which to work against.
The obvious [...]