I Do Fail

Tonight we began with a circle and we discussed… something. I forget. Then I showed everyone my tattoo. It was sweeeeet.

Then we got up and just did some opening activities with our partner; stretching, vocal etc. We then gave each other a hand and arm massage. Under normal circumstances, I don’t like being touched but tonight it was nice. It felt relaxing and totally comfortable.

But let’s get down to the bulk of tonight’s work shall we?

We began work on our scenes, which makes me happy because I like to work on scenes, with an Italian Line Run. Normally I am good at Italian Line Runs, but tonight I was not on top of things. With 3 acting projects on the go, things are getting a little bit mixed up and over scheduled and I am just behind in everything. Anyway, I felt bad for having to keep looking at the script, especially when Graham and I had a big chat about patience. But we got through it and we both felt that we need to work on emotions in this scene. It is a very emotional scene, in which a man must commit a murder that he is not sure he wants to do. It’s quite touching (everyone read Othello!).

We kept messing up and stuff, but we got the rhythm eventually. It’s a very powerful scene, and there is a lot of physicality as well as important speech. It’s really important that we get across what the scene is about in our actions and emotions, because most people have trouble understanding Shakespeare. I am going to try to work on my expressions and get into a Desdemona like state of timidity and submissiveness.

When Raymon asked who wanted to show their scene, I really didn’t care. Graham volunteered us so I went with the flow.

When we began rehearsing the scene some time ago, I remember Graham timidly asking me if it was ok if he kissed me on the forehead. I am a pretty easy going actor, I mean like, this class has taught me to cross my own boundaries (not that kissing is one) and enter into another person’s. It was just something that had to be done, well, it WAS in the script. Haha.

But whenever we would practice, he would just say “… and then I kiss you…” Personally, I thought it was funny that he wouldn’t do it, but that’s why it shocked me so much when he did it in front of the class. But I knew I had to keep the scene going.

Our scene is so powerful, and we need to maintain this power throughout the entire scene. I am excited to see where the suggestions from everyone take us, hopefully to a whole other realm of intensity. I know there is going to be some slapping and grabbing, but I seriously wasn’t ready for when Graham grabbed my shoulders so close to my new tattoo. Ouch!

And Yet I Feel I Fear

Tonight was a night of goodbyes and hellos; of excitement and sadness; of lies and fun. I was excited to begin doing what I call real scenes. Something that is not pointless. You know what I mean.

I went to John Mitchell early so I could practice a song for an audition (this is a key part of the night so bear with me). My song kind of fell apart and I wanted to find a stapler. I went into Raymon’s office and I was looking around peoples desks for a stapler but I couldn’t find one. Upon my search, I happened across the list of partners and scripts for these scenes. I almost died when I saw that I was doing a scene from Othello. I love Shakespeare and Othello is one of my favourites (among the likes of Hamlet and The Taming of the Shrew).

I couldn’t wait for Raymon to hand out the scenes so we could start reading and getting ready. But no! Raymon had to talk for what seemed like the whole class before we actually got somewhere. Not that what he said wasn’t beneficial.

I am pumped for this essay / research paper because I have already read and seen Othello at least three times and I want to write about one of the actors I respect the most; Kenneth Branagh. He played Iago in a version of Othello. I guess maybe this would be the best moment to explain the plot of Othello. In a nutshell, Othello (a black man, this is CRUCIAL to the plot) and Desdemona (a white woman) move to this city in Italy because Othello is a big wheel in the army. Desdemona develops a friendship with a man, Cassio, and Othello’s close friend / advisor Iago starts to tell Othello that they are having an affair. Othello is a jealous man and he ends up falling for Iago’s lies and smothers Desdemona with a pillow. Iago is the antagonist in Othello. And man, does Branagh play a good Iago (as well as a fantastic Hamlet and a hilarious Lockhart).

Anyway, back to class and enough of my obsession with Branagh and Shakespeare. We got the scenes and a brief explanation of each scene or theatre style. It was interesting I have seen or read a few of the plays scenes were assigned from. School for Scandal is a VERY funny play and I wish I was doing it. As well as Othello, haha.

Then we got together with our old partners, as a chance to say goodbye. I’m glad we got this chance, because I wanted to do it. I loved being partners with Dan. I am glad I had the opportunity to thank him and say goodbye. I think both of us needed it. I feel like the strings got cut and that we were both satisfied with our professional relationship.

Then we got together with our new partners and did sort of get to know you exercise. One of us sat on the floor while the other person just looked at them and took them in. We looked at their face and noticed things about it. We just noticed things. About the way they were sitting or what they looked like as a young kid. Usually I would feel very self conscious about an exercise like this, but I felt very comfortable with Graham. I think we both took it seriously and all the while, we looked at each other in the eyes. It made it much more real and sincere.

Then we moved into a game where our partners would do something or say something to us and if we reacted in a certain way, we would have to do something else, but if we didn’t, they would have to do something else. For example, if I did something that shocked Graham, he had to go out to the hallway with all the other people who reacted (or whose partners didn’t) and Raymon would tell them to do something else. It was interesting and cool and creepy. It was a great way to act. Playing different short parts. It was a great way to get to know your partner and yours and their limitations.

It was a good night, even though we didn’t really get started on the scenes. I am looking forward to this new section of work, working with a new partner and doing Othello!