Shrdlu, Rehearsal: The Addiing Machiine goes to Manhattan

Rehearsal Technique: General/Specific Insights/Principles

Today, the show was listed in TheatreMania.com. Tonight was load-in/technical rehearsal at the Medicine Show Theatre, in the same 549 West 52nd Street building as, and one flight above, the famed Ensemble Studio Theatre.

The Medicine Show Theatre is a beautiful, professional black box theatre, clean and fully equipped w/a computerized lighting and sound system. When I saw it, I was scared to death -- I suddenly missed the grungy little Impact Theatre, with its sweltering basement dressing/waiting room that flooded with each summer thunder shower that washed through Brooklyn last July.

Problem: as usual, I find the first time rehearsing in a theatre, under performance conditions, distracting -- and it's all the dark and the bright lights: I feel I am looking into nothing, as opposed to rehearsing at home, during the day, when I can see the loft and easily transform it into a graveyard -- and Elysium.

Possible solution: tomorrow night: under the lights, in the graveyard scene, find something in the theatre to focus on, what Uta Hagen calls The Forth Side, A Challenge for the Actor (p. 152). Tomorrow at home, work the beats as usual, but first read through this "The Forth Side" exercise and create 2-3 imaginary objects and then see if I can pin them on something tomorrow night.

Problem: trying to "do something," i.e., what I've rehearsed, moments I wanted to create. This (almost) never works. I'm not going after what Shrdlu wants, I'm going after what I, the actor, wants. Instead, put all my attention on Mr. Zero, the environment, and on what (and on how well) "Shrdlu" is getting what he wants, and then I, the actor, will get what I want.

Reminder to help me do this : re-read Ed Hook's advice (The Actor's Field Guide), Playing The Scene, p. 57. The Art Of Performance: Just let go (& gently remind myself about what I want) -- also, avoid self-monitoring (p.98).

And at night and before I go on, mentally rehearse what Shrdlu wants -- cela doit faire le tour.