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10 May 2006 Art Isn't Easy It's amazing what eight hours of sleep can do to one's mood. I'm feeling much better compared to last night. Of course, it's not just sleep that helped my mood out. In the last few years, I've learned how to cope with stress and pressure and disappointment a lot better than I used to. I've learned (and I'm still perfecting) the art of dwelling on the problem just enough to realize it's a problem, but not too much that it destroys you. In any case, last night was merely a bump in the road. Some roads and some are bumpy; last night, it was bumpy. Why make it tough by getting grumpy? Our class is doing the gargantuan task of putting up a Sondheim production - an especially complex and complicated Sondheim production, for that matter - in the span of a month. As of today, we now only have two weeks and a half, and so far, all we've done if block Act One (and not even completely) and learn all the music. We've got a long way to go. We're hoping to finish blocking this week, then choreography next week, and on the week of the show, we run, run, run. It's not easy. In the blueREP production of Merrily We Roll Along, we had the benefit of time, as well as whole day rehearsals (sem break and Saturdays). This time around, we don't have time, which means everyone - directors, artistic staff, production team, stage managers, leads, and the chorus - should be exerting extra effort to bring everything together. Which is why it's frustrating when you see people not doing the work. I get frustrated at myself when I don't give 100% at rehearsals, and perhaps it's not out of character for me to frustrated when I see others not giving 100% as well. It's the little details that tick me off sometimes. And while we've been told "don't sweat the small stuff," in theater, you need to clean up even the little things. Trust me, little mistakes are noticeable onstage. A person walking to his or her next position without purpose will stand out. A chorus member not singing during a chorus song will stand out. A lead who doesn't know his or her notes will stand out. A prop that is not in its proper place will stand out. Which is why it's really important for everyone to be on their toes with presence of mind, and to exert the necessary effort to make things work. Art isn't easy. Musical theater isn't easy. Sondheim isn't easy. Merrily We Roll Along isn't easy. But that doesn't mean we should give up on it. It should be a challenge for all of us involved; the difficulty shouldn't defeat us. If everyone exerts effort both in and out of rehearsals - studying songs and notes at home, reading scripts, collecting props and costumes, singing at rehearsals, showing performance level at rehearsals - then things will roll along merrily, and we can all start to have fun. Full steam ahead. posted by Ren at 10:15 AM |
ATTEND THE TALE OF... Ren Robles. Male. 24. Filipino. Professional theater actor. Proud blueREPper, Koine actor, and now Rep actor as well.
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2 Comments:
a problem is never stressful if you see it as a challenge that pushes you to be creative and come up with solutions.
Um, Charley this is your wife. I just want to tell you that I'm good with 4 kids, let's just leave them as 4.
LOL.
Seriously though, You are a great artist to me. :D
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