It has been far too long since I have been able to update this blog, partially due to apathy, partially because I do not get internet in my room and have to come to this little cafe across the ways to do any surfing/emailing, etc. It has been nearly a week since I last posted, and I would like to update you on my life.
"A Midsummer Night's Dream" was incredible on the Globe stage. It was exciting, energetic and freaking hilarious. Nick Bottom was pure comic gold, and though I generally dislike the play itself, I found it very interesting and engaging. The groundling experience is of course, very unique. Actors interacting with us, making entrances and exits from the audience - the present day groudling becomes part of a larger fraternity of the cheap, uneducated populous that Shakespeare was entertaining with characters like Bottom.
The next few days were spent in nervous preparation of our monologues, which we would perform Wednesday night for the first time for Henry and Anna on the GLOBE STAGE at 11:30 pm to 2am (the very witching hour). We saw an original play, "Frontline" on the Globe Stage the day of, which was not very good... a little like a British RENT without the big song and dance numbers and a lot more overtalking...which made the whole experience all the more unbearable. We also had our first Master Class with Glen McDonald in Movement who was absolutely incredible. Tough, mean, and then like a mother. She was not afraid to say what we did was rubbish, but at the same time she could tell something very personal about someone in a very short period of time. For the last half hour of that class, we simple talked... about theatre and life and everything in between.
Actually performing on the Globe Stage was interesting. You have to play to ALL sides literally. I sort of bombed on my first attempt. Though I felt good about it afterwards, Anna tore me (and everyone else) apart, and I soon realized I had much work to do.
The next night, we got to do them twice. I felt much better about them, but still do not know how they went. We have meetings with both of them today to talk and I think there is a good chance I will get torn apart again.
That same night, MV and I went to the symphony with Anna and Henry, and then later out to dinner. I have never been so comfortable with two professors in my life to the point that I wanted to ask about their childhoods and know them in a personal way. They were rather open and honest with us, which I felt was incredible. They asked about our upbringings, what we thought of the program thus far and what we were looking forward to. Both of them are incredible people and are the type of people I hope still exist in theater today because they care so much and are so passionate about what they do and how they do it. They see theatre as a spiritual experience rather than just entertainment and that is what makes their philosophy of teaching and instructing so valuable to me.
After we did our performances, we were given our scenes and scene partners. I will be playing Hamlet in Act 3, Scene 4 of Hamlet, "the closet scene", alongside MV as my mother. Holy crap. Reading it, I keep wondering, how the hell am I going to do this? This scene involves A LOT of physicality, emotional stamina, and then the ability to bring the language like crazy, all at the same time. I am really excited and afraid at the same time, which I think is a good thing. I am not underestimatig myself, but I have never been able to play a scene THIS brutal: I mean, few people have... and to be able to do it on the Globe stage? Forget about it. I have started memorizing, the tip of the iceberg as far as the work goes and I am hoping I will be up to the task of the scene.
ADG read my Tarot two nights ago at like 3 am. That was pretty spot on experience. One of the most interesting things I have ever done regarding myself. It really spoke to me in a very real way. We talked for hours about what the cards may mean, but who knows really?
Yesteday, ATG, MP, MV and myself all went to Borough Market, Camden Market and then Hyde Park, all of which was a lot of fun. Nothing incredibly noteworthy, just sort of a day to refresh the energies for what will be a crazy week. We begin work with Jane Lapotaire on Monday. Uh oh! She will probably destroy us, oh well.
Other wise, things are good. I left a lot of things undone at home, projects that still need work, but that's the nature of the game. I slipped Henry my play so I hope at some point he will read it, but for now, I am focused on Hamlet and making it my own.
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