Christmas and All the Angels

Happy Christmas from merry ole England!

The week running up to the holiday was very industrious. I had work dates scheduled every day with friends. Work dates with others are fantastic because working together we can keep each other on task whereas, alone we can be prone to distractions on YouTube and Facebook. Meeting up creates a schedule specifically for work.

I did manage to get to the theatre this week. On Friday, I was able to finally see a show in the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse at Shakespeare's Globe. The SWP is a Jacobean style playhouse recreated as close to the original style of the time as possible. Jacobean is the time period in England between 1603 and 1625 that refers to the reign of King James I, Queen Elizabeath's successor. Theatre continued to maintain a strong foothold in the culture of the period but a new fashion in performace spaces moved many plays out of the open air Globe Theatre into a more intimate, indoor option. As with Shakespeare's Globe's main space, they wanted to make the Jacobean space feel authentic. The space is absolutly breathtaking with the elaborately painted ceiling, guilded walls and oh yes, the candle light. That's right, the space is lit entirely by candles. No light board operator needed in this theatre. Don't worry, I'm sure many safety measures are in place to guard against fires.

When I was in residence at the Globe in 2009 on my previous Masters course, the Sam Wanamaker was still in the planning stages and the space still raw and undeveloped. Indeed, we used it as rehearsal and classroom space. This was my first opportunity to see the final product and I was dazzled. I have included photos below from the Globe's website but if you ever get the chance, you must see it in person. Nothing compares to experiencing it in the flesh.

The show I saw was perfect for the space. It was called All the Angels by Nick Drake and chronicled composer George Frederich Handel's journey as he composed his most famous oratorio, Messiah, which is the greater work that contains the ever popular "Hallelujah Chorus". The play is not considered a musical in the Broadway/West End sense of the word, but, naturally, it contained Handel's music, delivered by a chamber orchestra and chamber choir. The choir was brilliantly woven into the scenes and action of the play; as much an acting ensemble as a singing ensemble. The rest of the cast was made up of three actors; one to play Handel, one to play his tormented mezzo-soprano soloist, and one who took on an assortment of roles. The performances were wonderful, the design of the show smart and efficient, and the directing spot on. The musical direction and movement choreography also deserve accolades. All and all, a fabulous night at the theatre.

This coming week involves more reading and writing but, I do hope to escape to another show. I'll keep you posted.
Enjoy the season!

Kelly Price as Susannah Cibber in All the Angels.   Photo Credit: Marc Brenner.

A view of the house from the gallery on the stage of the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse.

  Photo from Shakespeare's Globe's website http://www.shakespearesglobe.com/theatre/whats-on/sam-wanamaker-playhouse

Flashbacks

This past week was filled mainly with a focus on the academic work in progress but I did meet my friend Remi for a trip to the cinema. Remi and I have been friends since 2008 when working on our MA at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (RSAMD), now called the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS). We wanted to meet up before he heads to Poland for Christmas.

The film was the new movie starring Tom Hanks called Sully based on the event and the aftermath of a plane that was forced into a water landing on the Hudson River on January 15, 2009. I remember well when the story broke in 2009 because I had just moved from New York to Scotland and the U.S. Airways flight from LaGuardia Airpot in New York City to Charlotte, North Carolina was a flight I took often when visiting my parents. Remi and I were at our intensive at the Globe Theatre here in London in January 2009. An intensive that was part of our MA course. It was interesting to see the film and recount the amazing feat of the pilot Captian Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger who successful landed the plane and saved all the passengers. But also, to remember where Remi and I were at that time in our lives. Christmas was also a topic and we reminisced about my adventures with Remi when I went to Poland with him for Christmas in 2008. Inevitably, the conversation led to a "where are they now" analysis and reflection on our current paths. The talk was timely for this time of year with 2016 close to completion and we look ahead to the new year and new experiences.

This week is more reading and writing. With the Holidays brings a much welcome quiet to my surroundings, allowing me to make headway on this case study due next month.
That's all for now!

Take care!
-m

Workshop: Part Deux and Ragtime

This week brought the close of the first term of my second year at Central, the conclusion of my dramaturgical workshop and a bit of Ragtime. It seems like I saw Ragtime last year, so much has happened this week, but, it was only this past Wednesday I found myself a patron at the theatre.

Ragtime is an American musical with a book by Terrence McNally, music by Stephen Flaherty and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens. It is based on the book of the same name by E. L. Doctorow published in 1975. The book inspired an Oscar-winning film directed by Milos Forman that was released in 1981. The musical opened on Broadway in 1998 and took home 4 Tony Awards. I have long been a fan of the of the show but only knew it through cast recordings and scene work in musical theatre performance classes. I have always wanted to see it on stage and this past week I got my chance. And I am so very glad I did.

The story of Ragtime takes place at the turn of the last century and is set in New York. It follows a multitude of characters, some of historical note, tracing the path of the "American Dream" through three groups of people that crossed paths in the Big Apple; immigrants fresh off the boats from Europe, African Americans struggling for justice, and the white entrepreneur business society who have achieved upper-class status and represent the pinnacle of the "American Dream". Each group has their own trials and struggles as they move through a rapidly changing world.

This is a big show but the producing and artistic teams at the Charing Cross Theatre did a phenomenal job managing the scale for a relatively small stage. The entire company was made up of performers that were able to cover a multiple of parts and some even played instruments to accompany the fantastic musical performances. If I listed all the performers and creatives, this blog entry would become a novel but each and every one certainly deserves a shout out. This was a smart, economical, and powerful production of a story whose themes and concerns still resonate with today's current events.

Saturday was epic in a wholly different way. Diana and I concluded our dramaturgical workshop of Diana's script Moon Rocks and Astronauts. These past two Saturday afternoon's workshops have been insightful and illuminating for both writer and producer. We were so lucky to have brilliant actors who came open and ready to play and explore. Diana feels the workshop helped immensely in discovering the potentials of her script. I, for one, am really looking forward to seeing the next draft. What's next for us? Well, we don't know yet. Diana and I will certainly meet this week and debrief. Much will be dictated by the next draft which will hopefully emerge in the next month or so.

This week brings a few meetings and a lot of reading. It is time now to buckle down on my thesis and start writing. January brings the due date for the first portion. If I get the chance to escape to the theatre again this week, I'll let you know.
In the meantime, enjoy the festivities of the Holiday season!

Take care!
-m

A Seminar, A Workshop and Aerial Acrobatics

This past week started out with a seminar hosted by one of my favorite organizations, ITC. I have been to many of their sessions and they offer excellent training for those in arts management. This most recent seminar was all about the establishing a company. We covered both the legalities and the structure a budding theatre company needs to consider. It was most informative and fantastic insight into how and why companies are arranged in particular formations. This is good to know for those looking to start their own company or to gain a better understanding of an existing company.

Midweek I was offered the opportunity to catch a show by NoFit State Circus called Bianco. Bianco was presented in a circus tent at Southbank Centre. It was indeed a type of circus. There were no animals or clowns, but the acrobats were the feature presentation. They were absolutely amazing. Contemporary trapeze, tightrope walking, juggling, and contortionists were all part of the show and all impressive. However, the aerialists were the highlight. The way these artists danced with sashes dangling from the crown of the tent defied gravity. Several routines were offered with various types of sashes, ropes, and hoops. The agility, control, and strength combined with grace and timing made for a phenomenal show of what a human body can do. An evening well spent.

Saturday I had my own presentation of sorts. The dramaturgical workshop I have been producing was finally realized this past Saturday. My writer, Diana, and I were able to review her script and find games and exercises that might help us to see certain elements in a new light. The four actors that came together and "played" for our benefit were wonderful. The games and exercises involved a great deal of improvisational skill from our actors and they were fantastic at thinking on their feet and getting creative with the script, story, and characters. Diana and I came away with a deeper understand of the potential for the script and are very excited about the new ideas sparked by the workshop. Diana will work with her script this week and make some new edits and adjustments based on her experience with the workshop. This coming Saturday, we will meet again continue with the workshop process. I look forward to reading the results of the two workshop days in the coming drafts of Diana's script.

This week will bring more meetings about the workshop process and continued work on my case study for my thesis. I may even try to catch another show.

I'll let you know how it all goes.
Until next time...

Take care!
-m