It is a lot of work to be in a stage production.  Many hours are spent reading lines, and blocking, and reading lines, and learning lines, and working lines, and listening to other people doing the same.

Then, we get direction from the director and work it in as we go through the process all over again.  Along the way, it stops being about the lines and starts being about the characters.  There is much, more to a show than the lines.  The lines tell the stories, but the characters are what the show is really about.

I can only speak for myself when I say that I have a real hard time working on the character before I have mostly memorized my lines.  When I am sitting on stage trying to remember the next cue, and my lines that come after, I simply cannot focus my energy on character building.

That is where we are at right now.  I might have mentioned that I was given a role as the Father (Mr. March) in Menomonie Theater Guild’s production of Little Women.  My part is very small, about 38 words, and I am only on stage for about 3 minutes.  That is about all I could handle at this point in time.  I have only had to show up for two rehearsals, the rest of the cast has been at it for 5 weeks.  This is about when people start to make the transition.

Now to be honest, they have been working on characters the whole time, but from the inside it often feels like it has been all about lines.  But I have been given the opportunity to walk in fresh just as the magic begins to happen.  We have a set, which is extremely helpful for setting the stage.  That is after all the purpose of a set.

The cast is getting to know each other, and they are starting to relate to each other as characters.  Facial expressions and mannerisms are being tried on for size, then adjusted and readjusted and sometimes adjusted back to where they started.

Today, we got to try on our costumes.  This is another magical time when suddenly we start to get a vision for what we are going to look like on stage.  It is great fun.  Sometimes you laugh, sometimes you think you are going to cry.  A tear is a wonderful form of applause.

And, while all of this is going on, the cast that is not working at that moment spends time watching and learning, and reading and practicing, and well, passing a lot of time.  I have known more than just a few people who knew everyone’s lines in the entire show by the time we get to dress rehearsal.

So while we are making the theatre sausage, we find things to do.  Laughing and singing, knitting and sewing, texting and blogging.  Did I mention that I am writing this blog while we are running Act II.  I am still starting to know the cast and crew.  Having those interesting conversations that you have when you are first meeting people who by circumstances have something wonderful in common.

And you know that this thing is going to come together, probably at the last minute.  And when the lights and sounds, makeup and sets, costumes and characters all come together, the curtain is going to come up and you and the audience will join together and step into the long wonderful history that is the theatre.  And if you are anything like me, you will be captured by the experience and look forward to the next time you get a chance.

And if you are lucky, really lucky, you will get a part that works just right for you so that you can do it all again. Be careful, this can be addicting.

PEACE!

KT

Day 22