The process of rehearsal is supposed to be one of discovery,
although after 8 weeks of on-off rehearsals the discoveries I’ve made are less
about character or text but more about the finer details of life, and the world
of the actor.
A somewhat startling discovery was how much I can sweat. Prior to
rehearsals it was pretty much a gym-only condition but now, boy can I
sweat! Dressed in my real wool
tank top and nylon slacks I have been gushing forth like a faulty urinal, even
my sandals and matching beige socks are failing to cool me down. The only plus
side of this is, not being a ‘huggy’ person, it certainly puts off post-show
huggers when you come out looking like you’ve just completed the 400m men’s
freestyle – in fact if I do the show in a swimming cap and Speedos then problem
solved!
Another discovery has been that my play, ostensibly about the rival
dog trainers on a Hollywood movie, is actually about clashing pedagogical
methodologies in modern education – although thankfully, I am the only one to
have discovered this.
Another discovery has been that as an actor/writer, the actor takes
precedence and I often ignore the writer’s wishes in my new ego-driven role.
Over years I have sat in rehearsals as writer watching actors say my lines with
a few inadvertent ‘tweaks’; usually a quick reminder about how long you have
toiled over each and every word avoids such reckless improvisation. However as
an actor myself I discovered the art of the ‘gist’, which is deeply inaccurate,
misses all the subtlety and throws the other actors as you don’t give them
their cues – I like to think it helps to give them a more spontaneous
performance, although I’m not entirely sure they’d agree.
Crossing the line from writer to actor/writer has also taught me
that in the theatre instant intimacy is de rigueur. I learnt this while watching two actors calmly talking about the
director’s note “linger more in her vaginal area” as casually as if they’d been
asked to wait for a bus. I’ve known people years and I still wouldn’t feel
comfortable lingering anywhere within the vicinity – but that’s my issue I
guess.
So many discoveries so far and I know there’s going to be many more
over the course of the run. So if you fancy swanning about outside a theatre
sounding intelligent by saying loudly “Ostensibly about dog training but
actually a searing indictment of the education system….” then pop along.
Lights, Camera, Walkies Gilded Balloon Billiard Room 14:00 (60 mins) 3-29 August (not 10, 17, 18).