Last night, I watched a large portion of MASTER HAROLD, made for tv, directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg. Wow. Pretty great document. Zakes Mokae is almost effortless. It's as if he is in a trance - but not the bad kind. Broderick is subtle and underplayed, but kind of lovely and boyish. Hard to imagine him, though, being alienated and friendless. Clear however is the love between Sam and Hally.
(BTW, it is awfully strange to say the name HALLY for me. Two folks in the world call me that: my mom and cousin gail)
Watching the video made me realize that we are doing justice to the play, both in the things that we are doing the same as the video, as well as the things I am directing differently. One notable difference: Willie in the video seems to insert himself a lot more into the action than I see him doing. It may simply be a made-for-tv idea, but it seems intrusive and wrong. The other thing that was notable to me, was that there really is no great way to block much of those long conversational passages. They are what they are. Additionally, I want to bring more attention to the thing that Guiesseppe spoke of at the bookstore: the love between the three men.
Yesterday: got a good chunk of blocking down (through page 30 of 65). Hopefully by tomorrow, we'll have blocked a solid 50-55 pages. then it's backtracking to do nice, finessy work. Guiesseppe, Wendell and Clifton worked with Patricia Narcia for a few hours. There seems to be a bit of disagreement between the actors and Patricia about certain sounds. I think the three men should noted sound the same. Hally is white and Afrikaaner. Willie is black and Basuto. And Sam, though black and Basuto as well, is more well educated than Willie.
The thing weighing most on my mind is what to do with willie. Really - how to block a guy who seems to be working on his knees for most of the play.
Saturday, August 11
Friday, August 10
Braly and Reviews
I get reports from Susie and from James and occasionally Louise. It sounds to me that he is somewhat disheartened by the reviews. He got a few lame ones - one which accuses him of not being much of a performer. That sucks. I just want him to remember the good one, from the LIST, a four star, must-see.
Is it Mamet who says if you are going to believe the good ones you have to believe the bad?
The key is to not let the bad ones deplete you and disable you. The point of the Edinburgh run was not to amass great reviews - but to allow James 24 consecutive performances to hone his skills, work on his materials, and improve his connection to the audience.
Is it Mamet who says if you are going to believe the good ones you have to believe the bad?
The key is to not let the bad ones deplete you and disable you. The point of the Edinburgh run was not to amass great reviews - but to allow James 24 consecutive performances to hone his skills, work on his materials, and improve his connection to the audience.
The Pre-Talk Back
Last night went with the cast to Northshire Books with the cast. Education Director Lauryn Axelrod started the proceedings to the audience of about 15 with an intro to south africa and apartheid. (She pronounces it Ah-pahr-TAYED as opposed to ah-PAHR-teyed - hitting the last syllable and making it into TAYED rhymes with PAID; as opposed to teyed rhymes with LIED). Then she spoke about Fugard. There were a few audiences members who oohed and ahhed in disgust and amazement about Apartheid. We are in liberal vermont - but you'd think they'd have known. One audience member particularly surprised me: she couldn't comprehend that blacks and whites could not act together onstage in SA. She got that they couldn't be in the same audience - but the notion of them being prohibited onstage together wracked her brain.
Then it was my turn - i spoke about my personal connection to the South African anti-apartheid movement at Yale. Which was to say - remote. My friends participated in the divestment movement - got arrested and expelled. And I stood on the side and watched.
Then Guiesseppe, Wendell and Clifton talked about their personal connection as well as the difficulties they face in approaching the roles. For Clifton, it's his connection as a southern kid who has seen and detests racism - and now must spit in the face of another actor. For Guiesseppe, he brought up the great point that the three must LOVE each other. Perhaps I haven't mentioned that - because I feel that is so readily clear. But he is SO right.
At one point, I could see Guiesseppe getting antsy. And he was right to: we were spilling the beans about all the secrets of the play and the process. And it reminded me of how on some level I detest these events: "Hey, we are doing this really magical thing that we want you to see...and now, we want to TALK about it."
So - at a certain point, we had to just put an end to the proceedings...but I am still impressed with the folks going to these things.
Then it was my turn - i spoke about my personal connection to the South African anti-apartheid movement at Yale. Which was to say - remote. My friends participated in the divestment movement - got arrested and expelled. And I stood on the side and watched.
Then Guiesseppe, Wendell and Clifton talked about their personal connection as well as the difficulties they face in approaching the roles. For Clifton, it's his connection as a southern kid who has seen and detests racism - and now must spit in the face of another actor. For Guiesseppe, he brought up the great point that the three must LOVE each other. Perhaps I haven't mentioned that - because I feel that is so readily clear. But he is SO right.
At one point, I could see Guiesseppe getting antsy. And he was right to: we were spilling the beans about all the secrets of the play and the process. And it reminded me of how on some level I detest these events: "Hey, we are doing this really magical thing that we want you to see...and now, we want to TALK about it."
So - at a certain point, we had to just put an end to the proceedings...but I am still impressed with the folks going to these things.
Wednesday, August 8
* * * * Braly Gets Four Star Review in the LIST * * * *
Braly got his first review in Edinburgh. And its a good one! A four star review in the list. He really is going through a lot over there - trying to figure out how to adjust his show from the 8-10 minute story to the one hour show, using the microphone and now not using the mic, being able to see the audience and now not being able to see them.
It's a big change - and I have no doubt he'll rise to the occasion, especially given his determination. I just wish he'd relax, throw out all the technical stuff I've thrown his way, get out of his own way, and kick some serious Scottish ass.
It's a big change - and I have no doubt he'll rise to the occasion, especially given his determination. I just wish he'd relax, throw out all the technical stuff I've thrown his way, get out of his own way, and kick some serious Scottish ass.
Master Harold - Day Two
First Day of Rehearsal
After many an intro, I gave my schpiel (sp):
We will focus on the relationships. You cannot play politics, you cannot play cultural transformation, you cannot play history. We can steep the play in politics and culture and history, but really this is a personal story.
The reading was great. Very lucky to have Clifton, Wendell, and Guiesseppe together. They will be sensational. I have no doubt this show will move people.
We are proceeding slowly through the script, as is my wont. Why it's title "MASTER HAROLD"...and the boys: With Master Harold in quote we see that it is being mocked, but it is capitalized. The boys are in lower case, following the ellipsis. It seems very purposeful to me. That Willie and Sam aren't mentioned in the title is very much a strong point.
We have plenty of great background material to look at. We read a bit about the south african apartheid laws - many of which were passed around the time of the action of the play (1950). Important to remember that these were the de jure laws - there were plenty of de facto laws in place.
What is the deal with Hally's father. He is a cripple and an alcoholic. But what is the treatment that he is going through at hospital?
What else? go through about 1/3 of the play reading it slowly. Important to see the difference in performance of recalling memories and sharing them. By that I mean, I think there are moments where there are moments of heightened poetic nostalgia, and there are moments where its incumbent upon my actors to defeat the poetry...
Looking forward to working with these guys.
After many an intro, I gave my schpiel (sp):
We will focus on the relationships. You cannot play politics, you cannot play cultural transformation, you cannot play history. We can steep the play in politics and culture and history, but really this is a personal story.
The reading was great. Very lucky to have Clifton, Wendell, and Guiesseppe together. They will be sensational. I have no doubt this show will move people.
We are proceeding slowly through the script, as is my wont. Why it's title "MASTER HAROLD"...and the boys: With Master Harold in quote we see that it is being mocked, but it is capitalized. The boys are in lower case, following the ellipsis. It seems very purposeful to me. That Willie and Sam aren't mentioned in the title is very much a strong point.
We have plenty of great background material to look at. We read a bit about the south african apartheid laws - many of which were passed around the time of the action of the play (1950). Important to remember that these were the de jure laws - there were plenty of de facto laws in place.
What is the deal with Hally's father. He is a cripple and an alcoholic. But what is the treatment that he is going through at hospital?
What else? go through about 1/3 of the play reading it slowly. Important to see the difference in performance of recalling memories and sharing them. By that I mean, I think there are moments where there are moments of heightened poetic nostalgia, and there are moments where its incumbent upon my actors to defeat the poetry...
Looking forward to working with these guys.
Tuesday, August 7
Vermont Day 1
Have arrived alive. I decided to live in the same house I lived last year - rather than the one across the street from the office, with a beautiful view of the water. It would have been nice - but this place had a few things over the beauty incentive:
1) As of tomorrow, I will be here solo. Virginia - who I think is the wardrobe person on Hairspray, leaves.
2) Internet access. Perhaps that's the wrong idea - to be in Vermont you should cut yourself off. But I don't think so. At the very least, I wanted to be able to get email. And at the very most, I'd like to listen to the Yankees and the Phillies.
So - I am here. I had an uneventful trainride to Albany and got picked up by Gretchen the company manager. On the ride with me was Clifton, who will be playing Hally. He's gonna be great, i believe.
read a ton more on the trip up - so I feel like I accomplished all that I set out to re: prep. There's a lot of chairs on this set.
Went shopping and spent, somehow, 145 bucks worth of groceries. Hmm. I am gonna guess that a solid 25 dollars of which is all frigging staples - mayo, olive oil, etc. The cost of living rent free is that you have to supply yourself with all the things you just left elsewhere.
The key to feeling good about the freelance life is how you are treated with the material comforts. I am a little disappointed. The only thing I have requested is a bike. I want a good one - and I was going to ship mine, but they said they had one for me. Well, so far I have seen two: one if for a 12 year old boy, and the other is apparently for a giant from the early 70s.
Also, the house is a lot shabbier than I remember. The kitchen is gross and needs a good scrubbing. The house is a lot less tidy than I recall it being. I don't want to be a pain in the ass, but I do want to live cleanly. Found a few bugs in the kitchen - hey, it is rural vermont, but I don't want to see them in the fridge...
Now - shower and rehearse.
1) As of tomorrow, I will be here solo. Virginia - who I think is the wardrobe person on Hairspray, leaves.
2) Internet access. Perhaps that's the wrong idea - to be in Vermont you should cut yourself off. But I don't think so. At the very least, I wanted to be able to get email. And at the very most, I'd like to listen to the Yankees and the Phillies.
So - I am here. I had an uneventful trainride to Albany and got picked up by Gretchen the company manager. On the ride with me was Clifton, who will be playing Hally. He's gonna be great, i believe.
read a ton more on the trip up - so I feel like I accomplished all that I set out to re: prep. There's a lot of chairs on this set.
Went shopping and spent, somehow, 145 bucks worth of groceries. Hmm. I am gonna guess that a solid 25 dollars of which is all frigging staples - mayo, olive oil, etc. The cost of living rent free is that you have to supply yourself with all the things you just left elsewhere.
The key to feeling good about the freelance life is how you are treated with the material comforts. I am a little disappointed. The only thing I have requested is a bike. I want a good one - and I was going to ship mine, but they said they had one for me. Well, so far I have seen two: one if for a 12 year old boy, and the other is apparently for a giant from the early 70s.
Also, the house is a lot shabbier than I remember. The kitchen is gross and needs a good scrubbing. The house is a lot less tidy than I recall it being. I don't want to be a pain in the ass, but I do want to live cleanly. Found a few bugs in the kitchen - hey, it is rural vermont, but I don't want to see them in the fridge...
Now - shower and rehearse.
Monday, August 6
Return to nyc - off to vermont
Hot muggy and disgusting. Sound familiar? Gotta say though, yesterday was just fine. Got in around noon. Got home around 2. Rachel got in around 430. We were pretty jet lagged the whole day. Didn't at all know what to do. Drank a lot of water. Riveted? I am sure.
So today I am off to vermont to direct MASTER HAROLD...AND THE BOYS. As always, I do wonder how underprepared I am. Do directors ever feel over prepared? I doubt it. I've refamiliarized myself with some south african history and the laws of apartheid. And I've read the script several times and marked it up. I feel it is a "straightforward" play so I always wonder how to bring myself to it, to add my take on it. And yet, I still adhere to that idea of being a director who gets out of the way of a piece.
Looking forward to working with guiesseppe - my old act classmate. And wendell - who I directed up at penn state in 05. Nice times. And of course with the new guy, Clifton Guterman, playing my namesake, hally.
Weston will be beautiful. Let's hope the weather holds up its end of the bargain.
So today I am off to vermont to direct MASTER HAROLD...AND THE BOYS. As always, I do wonder how underprepared I am. Do directors ever feel over prepared? I doubt it. I've refamiliarized myself with some south african history and the laws of apartheid. And I've read the script several times and marked it up. I feel it is a "straightforward" play so I always wonder how to bring myself to it, to add my take on it. And yet, I still adhere to that idea of being a director who gets out of the way of a piece.
Looking forward to working with guiesseppe - my old act classmate. And wendell - who I directed up at penn state in 05. Nice times. And of course with the new guy, Clifton Guterman, playing my namesake, hally.
Weston will be beautiful. Let's hope the weather holds up its end of the bargain.
Sunday, August 5
Braly second preview
A vast improvement from the first. Much of the jitters from the first preview are gone. And the size of the house tripled.
He's added a bit of a prologue "I am james braly, I am from ny and I am storyteller..." Which I think gets him out of the gate waaay more himself.
He added a bit of too much to this prologue though - a story about terry anderson the hostage. "Terry was asked 'what's it like to be a hostage for that long.' And he answered 'Look to your left. Look to your right. Now imagine you're chained to them for 8 years'. Well, I've been like that for 23 years." It was a little heavyhanded and repeated much of what immediately followed. Still - a worthy attempt to make a connection with the audience right away. He is freer at the top and that's the most important thing.
Braly keys into his performance at moments of conflict. And I think he just needs to trust that a little extra volume will go a long way. He also needs to remind himself that by making real genuine contact with his audience - say really talking to someone in the front row until something happens - will radiate a connection throughout the house. And will remedy the fact that he cannot see his house in full. .
Way happier with the transitions. I had attempted bumps - 0 count light shifts that create an abrupt change. But that really was too radical given the equipment. So I went the other direction. And this caused waaaay too long transitions. Now I've found the right medium I believe.
Looking forward to hearing how it all went down. Steve Cramer from the list was reviewing. So... Fingers crossed. I think jackie mcglone is there today. Which may be happening actually be moments from now (I am flyinf home - ah the magic of the blackberry).
He's added a bit of a prologue "I am james braly, I am from ny and I am storyteller..." Which I think gets him out of the gate waaay more himself.
He added a bit of too much to this prologue though - a story about terry anderson the hostage. "Terry was asked 'what's it like to be a hostage for that long.' And he answered 'Look to your left. Look to your right. Now imagine you're chained to them for 8 years'. Well, I've been like that for 23 years." It was a little heavyhanded and repeated much of what immediately followed. Still - a worthy attempt to make a connection with the audience right away. He is freer at the top and that's the most important thing.
Braly keys into his performance at moments of conflict. And I think he just needs to trust that a little extra volume will go a long way. He also needs to remind himself that by making real genuine contact with his audience - say really talking to someone in the front row until something happens - will radiate a connection throughout the house. And will remedy the fact that he cannot see his house in full. .
Way happier with the transitions. I had attempted bumps - 0 count light shifts that create an abrupt change. But that really was too radical given the equipment. So I went the other direction. And this caused waaaay too long transitions. Now I've found the right medium I believe.
Looking forward to hearing how it all went down. Steve Cramer from the list was reviewing. So... Fingers crossed. I think jackie mcglone is there today. Which may be happening actually be moments from now (I am flyinf home - ah the magic of the blackberry).
What to see in edinburgh
Truth is - who the hell knows? Its too early to know. What the right thing to see hasn't emerged. Its just guessing at this point.
We saw three things at aurora nova which I guess is somewhat like ps 122. Best thing we saw was probably the rude mechs from austin texas (no relation to the rude mechanicals of nyc). Their show GET YOUR WAR ON was based on those comics of the same name. Kinda well done. Especially given all the work flipping overlay transparencies for an hour. Its all about bush and iraq and probably a bit too over-the-top with the irony factor. Still, always nice to review the hypocrisy. There was some quote bush said about iraq being a comma in its history. Definitely worth looking that up - and really, worth seeing
Also saw at aurora nova HANGMAN by a russian theater troupe DO THEATRE. No real idea what went on except there were three tramps: one deaf. One blind. One mute. And a lot of newspaper and some decent movement about the stage. A woman pulled a rose out of her mouth. It was at its best and most entrancing at the top and at some point using swinging pooltable/poker lamps. At its worst was when one of the dancers spoke auctioning paper. Stooopud.
Yesterday - also at ars nova - I mean aurora nova we saw an israeli troupe's ORPHEUS. Not quite a puppet show. Maybe modern dance. I had no idea what they were doing up there orpheus. Seemed to like to play instruments and was bald but wore straw on his head. Hmm. Two cool moments: a dance with three legs (two real, one a mannequins.) And the cerberus the dog fight using a boot as a snout. Then there were all these dolls on stage. Who the hell knows what that meant.
Also we saw BIGGER THAN JESUS. At first jesus is a brooklyn jew lecturing us about the real truth about who wrote the bible. Then at the end another puppetshow - this time with the last supper participants incluing mlk and gandhi, darth vader, judy garland and of course homer simpson as judas. What else? Oh - the scary guy playing jesus came out into the audience which is always fun playing a black gospel preacher. Bad. There's a whole enendurable middle part. Lord knows, if you will why. Then at the end the guy does dress up as jesus - and that's pretty cool. The shit with him as a flight attendant was hokey and endless. Still - it was sold out.
So - who knows what to see. Bummed I didn't get to see daniel kitson or go to the traverse. That's just how it goes, eh?
Return from edinburgh
On my way back from a terrific time. Rachel - my gal - is flying separate. Its a long story.
I am pleased with where james is - though I am bummed that I won't get to spend more time watching him improve. He is a great writer and a wonderful storyteller. Now its about turning him into a great performer. He's on his way...
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