We had fourteen actors
involved, some reading several roles. It was wonderful, as always, to
see the actors push themselves, but wonderful also, to see the
playwrights to direct. I challenged the playwrights to stage their
reading the way they wanted. The only thing I asked was the scripts
remained in hands. I told the actors, even if you learn your lines,
hold the script. Without the script, expectations become too high for
this kind of event. So there were props and costumes and some blocking.
After the plays, there was a talk-back session with five of the
playwrights present, and the other two, having someone sit for them.
Although the audience didn't ask a lot of questions, I may have scared
them with my 'rules', the playwrights were thrust into a lively
discussion about process, and what the reading did for them.
The audience were very enthusiastic. There were some quintessential
local theatre people in the audience, so good for playwrights and
actors. And the comment I think I heard most was, when are you going to
do this again? Seems, like me, the audience likes all stages of the
process. The talkback was good, but I might have frightened some people
out of asking anything with my 'guidelines', so it turned more into a
playwright's discussion, which was very interesting.
It was a blast working with Jenni, by the way, the most gracious
trip I've ever witnessed, and the entire thing was loads of fun.
Theatre people who attended where handing out business cards to actors,
and I was approached by a director to see the remainder of my play, so
the net-working was great.
Here is a line-up of the show.
| Downtown Kitchener
Registry Theatre- Kitchener
|
Brianna's Quest (Act 1, Scenes I & II)
by Shirley Barrie
performed by Arlene Thomas, Kristopher Bowman, Nicholas Cumming and Tracey Kenyon
Are women the gentler sex? The spirit of a Viking warrior is
trapped in the body of a struggling actress who gets a job
impersonating a futuristic computer game heroine.
Color Me Fuchsia (fragments)
by Lea Daniel
performed by Shelagh Ranalli & Paddy Gillard-Bentley
To stay or to go - images of obsession.
Down Memory Lane
by Francine Dick
performed by Shirley Barrie & Carol Lewis
An innocent gift and a woman confronts a dark secret from her past. | Arlene Thomas and Kris Bowman run through a scene before the Readings.
|
Opaque ( Act: I Scene: I)
by Paddy Gillard-Bentley
performed by Arlene Thomas, David Antscherl & Carol Lewis
Coping with life badly.
The Sun is a Neon Sign (Act: I Scene: III)
by Grace Kary
directed by Jascha Narveson
performed by Gary Kirkham & Paddy Gillard-Bentley
A great poet, Federico Garcia Lorca, and a great city, New York, share a breakdown on their first date.
The Death of Suzie Lau
by Tamara Knezic
performed by Lindsay Stewart & Bruce Wolff
Two ordinary guys struggling with everyday sacrifices.
On the Edge
by Jenni Mundy
performed by Carolina Miranda & Kristopher Bowman
How well do two people really know each other?
| David Antscherl and Tracey Kenyon in the midst of conversation. Tracey
is wearing a bit of costume...to get a feel for the Viking that emerges
from the body of the skinny actress, in the play, Brianna's Quest, by
Shirley Barrie.
|
Nicholas Cumming and Carolina Miranda discuss, previous to
the readings. In the back ground, left to right, is Paddy Gillard-
Bentley, half of Carol Lewis and Shirley Barrie.
| 
Shelagh Ranelli read in Lea Daniel's, Colour Me Fushcia.
|
