Tonight's rehearsal was calm and focused and fruitful. We worked on "Drink with Me" for the first time; layering on the whys and whats of the story. I realized in prepping for this scene that it's a sort of turning point at the Barricade for these young men. They've seen death (Eponine's) and may be facing their own in a few short hours. The women are there as a support and as helpers: loading guns, fixing bandages, wrapping cartridges and also comforting those making an ultimate sacrifice. The third time we went through it I asked all the actors, men, women and students to make decisions: who is going to get their body if they die on the Barricade? How will they send a message home? Did they leave a wife, mother, sister behind to come to the Barricade? In the moments as the song is winding down and they settle into their sleeping spots, some prayed, some held a stranger, some clung to their Barricade-mates. Three of the actors make a family picture of a mother, teen son and father at the Barricade together. Wow. Gorgeous and a beautiful layer.
Our Gavroche, Nathan was directed to show his care for Grantaire. I told him that no one else likes Grantaire except Gavroche, and that it was really important for the audience to see Gavroche's care. I told him to move down left to join Jayden (Grantaire) once he crossed down. Nathan crossed about halfway from the Barricade upstage toward down left, came up behind Jayden and gently patted him on the back. Jayden opened up just a hair so that Nathan's face could be seen--right at center--looking up at Grantaire with a solemn and open look of friendship and care. Whew! It was beautiful and a very happy accident of discovery--thanks to Jayden, for finding it, and Nathan for starting it!
The 2nd half of rehearsal was the Robbery at Rue Plumet. So much happens, so fast The actors were making adjustments to blocking and timing as needed. (Michael, my Marius made a comment about things happening so fast, and finally realizing just how fast they were. Yes! So many of the relationships in this show have to be explained in one song or one gesture!) And layering on character movement, voices, qualities...The scene is physical and fast and needs to convey a different type of energy--which they had picked up by the third time we ran it. Good stuff, smart actors.
Sean asked me a few times: "How do you do that?" My first instinct is to say, "Do what?" I can't claim total responsibility! The actors are doing their work. I think by laying the foundation and passionately explaining the whats and whys, I give people permission to go to the sad places, the poignant places, the moving places, the human places. The actors are being honest and that's about as effective as you can be. I am so proud of their work and our collaboration: my actors are athletes of the Heart!
We will be blocking the Barricade for most of this week and next. I anticipate some grueling rehearsals--as we block Gavroche's death, as we block Bring Him Home and the Final Battle. I've made the decision to take more time to get through it and have given the cast an extra two weeks to be off book for Act 2. It moves much faster than Act 1, but is going to take more time to build.
Submarine! as in: going under for an extended time. See you on the flip side!
To the Barricade...for real!
Kelly
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