Experimental Actor
So last night was the last performance of my winter term play. In case
you didn't know, my winter term course was Experimental Theatre. Two
members of the Living Theatre, Jerry and Lois (I could not stop
thinking about Sharon, Lois, and Bram's Elephant Show) came from New
York and taught us the basics of their anarchist/pacifist theatre
community.
I have to admit I was skeptical of their ideas at first, but after the course I'd have to say what they want would be very nice. So, it holds water as far as idealist ideologies can hold water. However, I'd say in practice it wouldn't work because there would be some nasty cheater who would take advantage of everyone else and fuck everything up... the tragedy of the commons. Anyway, the idea goes that every single individual is a leader of the community, there is no hierarchy, and everything is decided by consensus. In this way, we came up with issues we wanted to bring to light and developed an original abstract performance. I really was happy with the results, and I had so much fun performing. Here are my lines... mostly taken out of context, of course:
Scene: Communication
A dance scene with miscommunication and blatantly superficial conversation.
"No, that's not my name. My name is Robert."
"No, I don't go to school here. Actually, I was in prison overnight."
"Locked out? More like locked in."
"Roommate? You mean my cellmate?"
A conversation between a boy and a girl. I was one of the boy's inner voices.
"Anytime would be fine. I've been looking forward to this chance forever. But... I can tell she's not interested in me."
Scene: The Family Dinner
We recited lines of a poem. Then passed out food and shared dinner stories with the audience.
"Sit with me. You're welcome to all that I have. There's room for everyone."
So, that was my grand acting debut. Actually, I was in a conversation the other day and I honestly referred to myself as an actor. I thought about it for a moment and promptly retracted the statement. But maybe I really am kind of an actor from doing that play... I'd like to think so. While I'm relieved that I don't have to go back tonight and perform, I am a little disappointed that it's all over now.
-MJM
I have to admit I was skeptical of their ideas at first, but after the course I'd have to say what they want would be very nice. So, it holds water as far as idealist ideologies can hold water. However, I'd say in practice it wouldn't work because there would be some nasty cheater who would take advantage of everyone else and fuck everything up... the tragedy of the commons. Anyway, the idea goes that every single individual is a leader of the community, there is no hierarchy, and everything is decided by consensus. In this way, we came up with issues we wanted to bring to light and developed an original abstract performance. I really was happy with the results, and I had so much fun performing. Here are my lines... mostly taken out of context, of course:
Scene: Communication
A dance scene with miscommunication and blatantly superficial conversation.
"No, that's not my name. My name is Robert."
"No, I don't go to school here. Actually, I was in prison overnight."
"Locked out? More like locked in."
"Roommate? You mean my cellmate?"
A conversation between a boy and a girl. I was one of the boy's inner voices.
"Anytime would be fine. I've been looking forward to this chance forever. But... I can tell she's not interested in me."
Scene: The Family Dinner
We recited lines of a poem. Then passed out food and shared dinner stories with the audience.
"Sit with me. You're welcome to all that I have. There's room for everyone."
So, that was my grand acting debut. Actually, I was in a conversation the other day and I honestly referred to myself as an actor. I thought about it for a moment and promptly retracted the statement. But maybe I really am kind of an actor from doing that play... I'd like to think so. While I'm relieved that I don't have to go back tonight and perform, I am a little disappointed that it's all over now.
-MJM