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I'm living in Decorah for a week and assisting Kristen Underwood on an Upstart Crow Theatreworks summer class: Mask-Making and Improvisation. We have five beautiful, creative students: Simon, TJ, Kasi, Oren, and Madison.
Class was magical today. We painted our masks (Monday we did the initial face plastering, Tuesday we added features (noses, eyebrows, cheeks...)), played games while they dried, took a snack break - and then it was time. Kristen and I stayed ourselves, while the kids put on the masks and turned into new beings. They were allowed one by one into the bathroom to see themselves in the mirror. A gentle hush came over them as they waited in silent anticipation. When they had each had a turn, they came back into the classroom, and it was time to discover - to learn - to play. TJ was transformed into a big, hulking, stoic 30-something (he informed us later, "I'm in the prime of my life") ready to pit his strength against the world, but hesitating at the world which had become so new around him. Kasi became a mischievious child ("I felt like I was just about 8 years old") who you could tell will grow into quite the prankster. Oren melted into an old man ("Maybe like 80 or so?") whose life had been such that dark corners and quiet places are now places of refuge and comfort - but lemonade is a draught of passion that breathes life and energy back into him! Madison dissoved into a giggle of impish young girlhood, playing and hugging and dancing about vibrantly, all a-chatter. She was the only one to discover her mask name today: Ching.
Kristen let me borrow a book called "IMPRO," by Keith Johnstone, that very much relates to the sort of work we're focusing on this week. I can already feel myself changed by what he has to offer - changed in such a way that I am ever becoming more My self. I finished reading it last night, so I had Johnstone's words and ideas fresh in my mind. But that was nothing compared to seeing it all come to life in class today. I am in awe! And I love this world I'm a part of now...
Class was magical today. We painted our masks (Monday we did the initial face plastering, Tuesday we added features (noses, eyebrows, cheeks...)), played games while they dried, took a snack break - and then it was time. Kristen and I stayed ourselves, while the kids put on the masks and turned into new beings. They were allowed one by one into the bathroom to see themselves in the mirror. A gentle hush came over them as they waited in silent anticipation. When they had each had a turn, they came back into the classroom, and it was time to discover - to learn - to play. TJ was transformed into a big, hulking, stoic 30-something (he informed us later, "I'm in the prime of my life") ready to pit his strength against the world, but hesitating at the world which had become so new around him. Kasi became a mischievious child ("I felt like I was just about 8 years old") who you could tell will grow into quite the prankster. Oren melted into an old man ("Maybe like 80 or so?") whose life had been such that dark corners and quiet places are now places of refuge and comfort - but lemonade is a draught of passion that breathes life and energy back into him! Madison dissoved into a giggle of impish young girlhood, playing and hugging and dancing about vibrantly, all a-chatter. She was the only one to discover her mask name today: Ching.
Kristen let me borrow a book called "IMPRO," by Keith Johnstone, that very much relates to the sort of work we're focusing on this week. I can already feel myself changed by what he has to offer - changed in such a way that I am ever becoming more My self. I finished reading it last night, so I had Johnstone's words and ideas fresh in my mind. But that was nothing compared to seeing it all come to life in class today. I am in awe! And I love this world I'm a part of now...