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Hi there folks!

These days there’s a lot in the works for ABTC--
we’ve started our workshop of Pericles and the ideas and characters
it’s generating are truly exciting. 

Natalie Holmes is our new Artistic Director (!) and the great captain of this maiden voyage into the land of adventure and myth.  

I figure, since a lot of things have been set in motion in the past few weeks, it’s time to step back and check in.

Why Hello There.

So, instead of imparting upon you some sort of pensive treatise on a theater-related subject with plucky photographic enhancement this go around, I want to see what you guys are thinking.   

I’ve written two entries now and, to be honest, I am quite proud of them, but I have no idea what kinds of responses I’m getting on these from the general public (aside from the inner circle of the American Bard family).

As an actor I’m well aware that whether or not I’m doing a good job up on stage is only a fraction of what makes a knockout show.  I’m only a part of the puzzle here, you readers, my audience are another, and I dare say, most important part of the equation.  In my humble opinion a good show is when there’s a conversation between the audience and actors going on, so let’s get started and make this a damn good show, eh?
A few queries:  These can be augmented by you in the comment section or detested
                       or whatever, I would just love to have a dialogue—and who knows,
         maybe your idea could be the seed of the next blog entry!

Pericles, Prince of Tyre:  What are some of your preconceived notions about the play?  What have you heard, seen, etc that makes you feel that way (feel free to post pictures too, I love visuals). 

How do you feel about Shakespeare in general?  That movie Anonymous about him being a pilferer of ideas/puppet has stirred some heat up no doubt, what do you think about the whole debate?

What has your favorite experience in the theater been like?  Are you a fan of the more intimate? Or is a grand stage with an entire town cast as chorus more your style? 

What about Indoor Vs. Outdoor Theater?  In Shakespeare’s early years (and even now still in some places) theater companies would gallivant around the country performing in tiny town squares and old churches, would you go and see a performance in a location other than an amphitheater or a black box?

What are some of Shakespeare’s contemporaries or other classic playwrights whose work you’d be interested
to see put on stage?

And one last question:
As far as show times are concerned, which do you prefer?  Are you more of an early bird for nighttime performances and would rather see a 7 PM show than an 8 PM?  Is a 2 PM Matinee on Saturday or Sunday too early to recover from that crazy party you had the night before?  Would a 3 PM matinee be better?  Also, who started that convention of show times anyway?

Now, this isn’t a test or anything by any stretch of the imagination—it’s rather me in my little apartment reaching out across cyberspace to you in your little apartment or house or closet or wherever in search of connection.  It can be scary in this big world yelling at the top of your lungs over circuits and knowing there’s a billion-to-one chance that someone will actually read your blog the entire way through; but I wanted to have a go and see if I could make the web a little bit smaller for a few seconds.

Seriously, though, answer some questions, dare to communicate!

And so, I leave you with this final link. 
Happy days my friends!
 


Comments

11/07/2011 12:07

First, a general note: numbers!! I feel strongly about them. And with that in mind...

1. Pericles... My preconceived notions:
Pericles.... that's that one that uhh. That uhhhhh... no, I KNOW this one... Lemme get back to you.
2. Shakespeare in general: kinduva genius. As for your subquestion - well. I am as guilty as any academic bookworm of wanting to theorize and research and argue, etc. And like most actors, I want to fully understand the author's intent, and take advantage of whatever knowledge I have of the author in order to do that... but to me, this Stratfordian/Oxfordian feud is a bit like the need to prove the existence of GOD... or others' need to debunk the idea of God. I find it quite a bit of rather unnecessary trouble.
Just do the play. As an artist, it's really just about the play and how you do it. Just focus on doing the play well. That's it. Chill out about the rest.
3.Favorite theatre experience was in a larger(ish) theatre in Oxford, but the play itself felt extremely intimate (only 5 actors storytelling directly out to the audience most of the time)... I don't really have a preference though. I've seen massive plays and operas with casts of a squillion, and I don't necessarily like them any more or less than a cast of two in a small room. It totally depends on the play itself, the director's vision, etc. I think I love it most when an intimate play can fill up a massive space (I think of Jerusalem and August Osage County this way)... But there's something so special about a feeling inside the world of the play in a way only a tight space can do. I'm intimidated by large casts, but I do think that using a cast of five actors to play a dozen parts has a tendency to undo the intimacy created by a small cast (unless those actors are REALLY effing good)...
4.Outside Theatre - tricky question. Because I like the idea. But I find it's getting a bit tiresome in new york. Outdoor Amphitheatres are one thing.... but ehh.... don't ask me to pay to be in uncomfortable weather unless you have something ridiculously special... On that note - I like guerilla theatre. And I do like site-specific installation theatre that happens out-doors.
5. Contemporaries? meh.... I mean, Marlowe's fine... But meh. Love me some Aphra Behn. Love me some Greeks! Love me some pseudo-classics (Ibsen, Checkhov, Strindberg)....
6.I believe in theatre starting at 8pm, unless it's going to be a 3 hr(+) show, in which case, I'm down with starting at 7 or 7:30. Matinees are more flexible. I think 2 is best because 3 leaves little time between the two shows for the actor to chill and earlier is... earlier.
How's that for answers??
~G*

Reply
Lily Warpinski
11/07/2011 18:21

Gwen, I love you--I'm going to make you such a pie!

Reply
11/08/2011 09:55

Gwen,

So glad to hear you are inspired by the Greeks. We are considering a few right now for next season! Stay tuned - we'd love your involvement!

Reply
fred
11/10/2011 17:10

1. Thoughts on Pericles: ok, I have to admit, I know little about the play. He's a Prince, right?

2. I'm of the ilk that Shakespeare wrote the plays that are attributed to him. Interesting to know that not all of Pericles was written by him. Does Shakespeare acknowledge that? I might go see Anonymous just out of curiosity if it comes here to my neck of the woods.

3. I like small theater spaces rather than large ones; so close that you can feel the spit coming out of the actors mouths. Simple sets over extravagant ones. Lighting is the key for me.

4. Outdoor over indoor. But I have to have comfortable seating and a restroom nearby. No Acts longer than 1.5 hrs at a time.

5. Contemporary playwrights of Shakespeare? I need to do some research on this.

6. Who DID start the trend of when shows begin? 8pm can get you home a bit late, depending on the show. I think I like 7pm better...but that could make it difficult to come from work during the week (depending on one's work schedule.) I don't have a favorite matinee time. As an audience member, 2pm sounds great. Gets you "home for dinner".

I like pumpkin pie....

Reply
Lily Warpinski
11/14/2011 13:36

Hmm--thanks to you all for giving me your feedback, this is definitely getting the old juices flowin'. And thanks for reading :)

Fred, I'll make you a pumpkin pie when you get back, Most. Definitely.

Reply



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