The past week has been constant progress, constant change, for this production. Sunday began with finishing sketching in the staging for Act II, and preparing for our designer run through. Monday, the designer run through- and a huge opportunity for discovery. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: adjusting, cutting, changing, shaping, detailing. This process, especially this week, has not been easy. In fact, I see the strain in everyone. But, although it's stressful, it's also been possible. And it's what's best for the production- which everyone seems to recognize and respect.
I like the above quote by Shaw because the process of creating a theatrical production is all about rehearsal. Literally re-hearing the story every night. It's my understanding that when you're doing this the right way, the story continues to unfold and unravel. The discoveries don't end. It's exciting to see this happen. It's exciting for me to be able to sit there and watch one rehearsal, only to see it again the next day after it's been worked- and it's transformed. I never even realize completely why the first one wasn't as good until afterward when it's been detailed, it's clear, and specific. It becomes straight-forward, and clear, and it holds your attention the entire time.
There is still so much work to be done. We have added 3 hours of rehearsal on saturday, and are trying to tack on an extra hour to our rehearsals this week. We have costume meetings, design meetings, paper tech for lights, visual and audio meetings. We have so much to do for PR: sending out emails, bookmarks, postcards, hanging banners, and pushing it into the community. There is a lot of pressure to really sell out this show, and as it gets closer it feels more and more daunting. In fact, we hit a bit of a dead end today, which was rather frustrating. The PR team was hoping to be able to do a majority of the grunt work today, and the rest of this weekend, but it looks like it too will have to happen next week. All of this work is outside of our normal rehearsal hours. During rehearsals we have the 2nd half of the revolution sequence to choreograph, and plenty more scenes to work and detail. We have to run, and run, and run the show- especially because of it's size and complexity. It's the only way ahead. Throw in a publicity photoshoot, and election day on top of it all- it's surely going to be one crazy week!
It's very easy at this point in a production to become overwhelmed by the amount of work. Logically, you think of the amount of bodies you have, work, and time, and try to shove it into some equation to see the road head. In life, and theatre especially, you find that it is unwise to try to put it into a formula. Things get done how they're meant to, and only one thing at a time. I again go to Shaw who says, “The possibilities are numerous once we decide to act and not react.” And that is exactly what we'll do. We choose not to let ourselves react to the amount of work we have to do, but to instead just act and get it done. In less than 2 weeks we will have a completed production on our hands, created with all these obstacles, and accomplished successfully. Accomplished because we have dedicated individuals involved, who are tireless and care about the work. I remember this and am inspired whenever I get tired. It's more than worth it in the end. It's life altering.
Let's not get crazy here though, I'll leave with a gentle reminder to all involved from our playwright, Bertolt Brecht, himself, "Everyone needs help from everyone." And isn't that the truth?
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