I’m afraid this photo is the best I can do for you today. Yesterday was a long day and today promises to be even longer. We’re starting at 9, with four hours of what we call ‘table work’ then a break for lunch. After that, I coach both the actor who plays Romeo and the actress who plays Juliet privately for three hours.
Darko has to be in and out of rehearsal this week, so we’re tag-teaming in those chunks of time where he can’t be there. Table work is essential in the rehearsal process – with any text – but especially with Shakespeare. And it means exactly what it says: rather than being up and moving around the rehearsal room, blocking and creating the scenes, we sit at the table, analyzing the text, asking questions, clarifying meaning, getting Darko’s take on things, as well as the take of the actors and the dramaturg and yours truly. I love table work. I learn a lot. We all learn a lot.
Then I go from there and work with each actor individually – sometimes for several sessions – and work through the script with them. More on that later. As Romeo and Juliet have huge chunks of text to work through, I’m starting with them.
I got home last night around 7:30, made a quick meal, talked to Don, ran a bath, and went to bed. I have to get into working mode again, which is very different than the normal rhythms of our life at the cottage. It takes me a few days or more to get back into it and I always find I’m exhausted at the end of each day.
It’s fun to be reunited with at least four actors I’ve worked with several times before, three of them from my Old Globe days. Lovely. One of them has known Don since he was about 19, they are longtime friends. And I’ve known her about 25 years. Oh my!
Happy Wednesday.
It is enjoyable to read about the work you do, Claudia.
Your apartment is looking good! Have a great Wednesday!
Thank you, Sue!
Sounds exciting and exhausting, Claudia.
S
xo
It is. Mostly exciting!
Your home away from home looks very nice – very high white walls were definitely a selling feature of our loft. I once read that Audrey Hepburn traveled with personal effects to make every space her own. I’m at work 24/7 this week dealing with a beyond stressful matter, so the ‘Adventures of Claudia’ are proving to be a lovely respite for a few minutes every day. How I wish I could sit quietly at the table and listen while you discuss the play – your work is so very interesting!
I hope the stress at work eases up soon, Barbara!
Claudia I forgot to ask do you have the apartment all to yourself this time?
Yes. This one is all mine! I only have to share when I’m in Chautauqua!
Oh boy, I’d be exhausted with that schedule as well. Hope it all goes smoothly for you Claudia.
It was a good day today, Vera.
How lovely to reconnect with old friends. The work is fascinating! I dreamed of being an actor for many years but fear I didn’t have the talent nor the drive to be one. Still I’m in love with theater, movies, tv and always enjoy great acting. Try to rest as much as you can, these will be long days it seems.
hugs,
Linda
They are long days, but once I get to rehearsal and immerse myself in the work, I get very energized.
I think what you do…and how you do it is fascinating. And, in reality…I would be exhausted too! ;)
Feeling oddly energized after the end of this long day, Donnamae!
Moving things around the cottage, creating a new room, putting together furniture….all exhausting endeavors ~ but the kind of work you are doing now is so mentally exhausting! It feels like when we are listening so closely, concentrating so hard, that we tense up a bit and it becomes a bit physically tiring, too. Certainly two very different versions of tired!!
It sounds like you are loving every moment!!
I am. It’s great to be working on a great play, Chris.
The best work has the mix of exhilaration, personal connections, personal satisfaction, and fun. You seem to have that good mix! Hope the period of exhaustion passes in a few days.
It’s already begun to pass, Wendy, which is very nice, indeed!
I can tell you what my high school senior thinks about Shakespeare. :) It’s nice that you have some familiar faces there.
Hope your high school senior had a good teacher – that makes all the difference in the world. Better yet, he needs to go see some Shakespeare done by a good company. His feelings just might change.
It’s fun for me to hear about your work. I have no idea what it takes to put on a play. How fun it is to connect with old friends and I’m sure they’re enjoying meeting up with you again too.
Blessings, Betsy
It’s lovely to see them and work with them again – and also lovely to meet new people.
Do they feed you part of the time, the way it’s done on a film/movie set? I live in a town in California where quite a lot of commercials and movies are filmed, so I’m accustomed to seeing a multitude of trailers which house actors et al, and then the tables set up under tents and BBQs, etc. going strong, food being set out on banquet tables (buffet line); looks scrumptious and usually smells wonderful…although I understand the actors usually go back into their trailers to eat in peace (or an assistant takes them a plate!). In our town, we know to leave them alone and not be going gaga over wanting autographs and stuff like that (our town gets substantial money from the film companies and I think we all try to be respectful of one another). Anyway, just wondered if you get ‘catered’ for at least the midday meal when you’re on the job!
Heavens, no! Stage actors buy their own food! No one caters. When Don is on a set there is always Craft Services, but the theater world doesn’t have that kind of money. We make our lunches and bring them to rehearsal. We go back to our apartments and cook dinner. Just like normal.
Claudia, I’ve spoken you several times in the past about sundry matters, but perhaps I’ve never told you that the Bard is one of my passions. My DH hates it all, but he must have had a terrible teacher. Mine took us though plays and explained every word, and I’m eternally grateful for that. PS Doesn’t it really annoy you when people think ‘wherefore art thou Romeo, means , where are you? It’s in my top ten ‘hates’. (along with ‘ the exception proving the rule’ ). How do the sayings get so twisted? Blessings
Happy to hear you have a passion for Shakespeare, Lesley! Bravo!
I know you’d be too modest to say so, but I really quite think the cast is lucky to have you coaching! That table work sounds very invigorating & mutually inspiring. I’m sure you sleep quite well at the end of such a busy day…
The creative process is a wonderful thing, Rebecca. I’m very lucky!
For someone who sits in an office in front of my computer all day, your work sounds fascinating.
I recently heard an interview on NPR with Tina Packer, the author of The Women of Will. She was so interesting and engaging and I told my husband I would like to read the book along with all of Shakespeare’s plays to see the progression of females in his work.
Yes, that book is interesting, Tisha. You should read it.