A Review From Winnipeg...

Not great, but not bad. I am trying to remember what I learned in Drama 103 about taking a review as an opportunity to improve the piece. I amended the script with the reference to the Iroquois (one word in a 45 minute play...). I am not too concerned about some of the other criticisms because they were not on my agenda for the purpose of the play, afterall this was intended for a pre-school aged audience (3-6 years). I didn't intend it to say anything other than 'telling stories is good and they can help you through a tough time' so that's all good. As to the lack of positive female roles, I am not concerned because two of the main characters are gender neutral (Pebble and Big Stone). They are only male because the actors playing them are guys. In fact, when I wrote both of them, I thought of both of them as female. Most of the criticisms come from a real 'politically correct' point of view and I have to admit, those kinds of things were not specifically on my radar (nor are they ever) and I think a lot of people are a little too uptight about those things. I can recognize the reference to Indians as being archaic, but only when pointed out to me. I must have had 15+ drafts and no one ever pointed it out to me prior to this. No biggie. 'Tis fixed on the page. Is the play better for it... maybe, for the few people in the audiences who will have noticed it and I doubt there were many.

http://www.cbc.ca/manitoba/features/fringe2009/reviews/2009/06/zachary_and_the_storytelling_s.html

35 Pages...

...with wide margins, but there are only 35 now. I write densely so that will likely be around an hour. I hope on it's feet with overlaps and tight cues that I can get it to 55 minutes. We shall see. I used the process to refine the discussion and streamline what the women were saying and that resulted in 2 1/2 pages overall. It reads better now and I am happy with that. I feel like I am growing as a writer with this project.

Work, work, work...

We are plowing through the text of From Something. We are a little behind schedule, but I am not worried. The beauty of the system we are using is that you can drop it into blocking really easily. There has been an unexpected bonus to the system. It has been quite beneficial in the writing process. Ten reads of a short section in quick repetition really points out flaws in the section. I have been able to cut a bit here and there and streamline some stuff. Some giddy moments tonight. Very silly actors, but fun and I think it will contribute to the sisterly bonding that will be required for the play.

Another Project?

Like I need one, eh? Anyhow, a recent experience with my first mammogram spurred me to write some things so I have started a piece called 3 Lumps. I wrote the first few pages a couple weeks ago while waiting for a meeting and today I typed them up and finessed them a bit. It is very early days.

I also have been inspired by a picture a friend of mine took in flood-ravaged Manitoba. She said that as long as she's the main character I can write a play with the picture as inspiration (and potential show poster). I have been toying with ideas and there have been some really strong images in my head. I'm just not exactly sure what the images mean yet. I am pulled to write this. I am also toying with titles - The Water on the Road, Water Beneath my Feet, Puddle Jumping, those are a few...

Good Work

I am not sure exactly where to write about the rehearsal process for From Something, but since I am playwright as well as director I shall plop it in here. We had our first 'real' rehearsal last night. I say 'real' because the previous read-throughs were more for me and this was the first one where the work was for the actors. I had Julie and Joyce and we worked through almost all of the Kelly and Adrian units. The work went well. Joyce embraced the system and Julie was a good resource to have there in the process to check in with. I have a whole other evening next week with just the two of them so we will review and finish the last page we didn't get to and then start blocking. It's slow work at first and fast work later and already my actors are listening and reacting. That's that thing I love the most about the process is that you get to the kind of work you want to be doing really early on. This weekend I work with Anne Marie and Joyce on the Maya and Adrian scenes. We have a bigger chunk of time and a smaller section to work so I think we shall finish all of those. The big work will be the units with all three of them together and we will work them next week. It's all good!

#1 on the Waiting List

I just received a call from Thomas Scott telling me I am #1 on the Waiting List for Fringe 2009. I am hoping for a miracle over the weekend. Hopefully he is in the midst of checking in with all the groups and one of them has just discovered that they can't do their show. Please direct your thoughts towards that end!

When I got #12 originally I felt pretty good about it. Last summer people in the 20s got in. I still feel like it is going to happen, and even if it happens 'late' we will be ready because we have booked InterPlay. I still feel like it is going to happen. And no, I have not read The Secret...

Read Through - From Something

I shook things up last night at the second reading. I had been thinking about doing it before but was hesitant. The reason I wanted someone else to direct was because I wanted someone to cast it. I admit I was a bit confused because the playwright and the director weren't on the same page. I let the director win and I think the casting works better now. the cast is as follows:

Kelly - Julie Sinclair
Maya - Anne Marie Szucs
Adrian - Joyce Labriola

It's a total change from before, but last night with Julie reading Kelly and Joyce reading Adrian it made more sense. I know Anne Marie will be good for Maya because she is who I had in mind originally for the part. The playwright wins and the director wins on that choice! I liked the new script. It's tighter and flows better. There are a couple of spots where I removed chunks that I need to smooth out, but otherwise, I think it works well. I plan to fine-tune during rehearsal. These are 3 nice strong actresses that I can rely on to roll with it.