Frankenstein 12 February

I am in rehearsal late today, because of work. And the weather makes me want nothing but to curl up in my bed with a book and a gallon of hot tea.

Grab Bag:

4 groups of 2. 10 minutes. 2 minutes of which can be talking. Create a wordless scene that incorporates all 5 of the verbs given. Could be very narrative.

I am charmed by these actors. And I like it when they have a good time.

I have been thinking about worlds recently (too many fantasy novels) and I have been thinking about the Romantic world. The environment of natural forces that shape and inspire and pacify and control the inhabitants of the world, at least according to the Romantics. The vast landscapes that terrify and inspire simultaneously. I wonder what thinking about the world in which Frankenstein takes place does to open up a reaction to the piece itself. How does the world of technology (and the article talks about that) open us up to experiencing our lives differently.

There is a lot of running and carrying and leaping and laughing. I am delighted to see that. Joy in their hearts.

Group One:

5 verbs: instruct, surprise, kiss, squeeze, kick.

Matrix moment, giggles, kissing, loving, resting, embrace.

Group Two:

5 verbs: invite, avoid, dance, snatch, catch

Stomping, tapping, beckoning, ignoring, running, leaping, dancing, spinning, evading, playing, snapping, dancing, teasing, watching, comforting.

Group Three:

5 verbs: appear, follow, tug, bow, fix.

Sighing, pausing, shaping, moving, smelling, blessing, communing, breathing, awakening, holding, embracing, teaching, running, leading, joining, mimicking, stretching, stuttering, lifting, perfecting, resisting, collapsing, mourning.

Group Four:

5 verbs: run off, prepare, grip, carry, balance.

Waiting, circling, cranking, twisting, bending, adjusting, starting, scolding, admonishing, soothing, carrying, journeying, collapsing, straightening, molding, waving, stretching, walking.

Everyone choose a color – red, blue, green (not the same color as your partner).

Blue: Victor

Red: Creature

Green: Elizabeth

Go back through your scene and now you are these characters in the exact scene – might change it a little, might not change at all. Think about the relationship of characters in the book and how does that change things. Three minutes. Same action, relationship informs how the action is carried out.

Group One:

Victor and the Creation

Accidental death of a playfellow. How terribly, horribly sad

Group Two:

The Creation and Elizabeth

Group Three:

Victor and Elizabeth

The one thing these groups, thus far, seem to have in common is desperation. I love this sense of urgency – and I love that urgency is what they feel in this room and about this book. This urgent, intimate connection – the need for it, the burning for it…there is so much immediacy and honesty. It feels very real. Very, very real. This group three redo was unbelievably moving.

Group Four:

Elizabeth and Victor

Wow. Wow. Sexist and hilariously fabulous. Love.

Thinking about concentrating on these three characters. Relationships to each other. Idea of having an action that’s repeated, or a series of actions, repeated by different characters – action stays the same but the relationship changes, and how it’s performed changes depending on who’s doing it. Seeing it in different ways. Homework for Sunday – spirit of Valentine’s Day. Cupcakes from Jessica! In the spirit of V-Day, using character, write a love letter to your partner. Victor to Creation, etc. If it’s the Creation, is it before or after he gains knowledge – your choice. It has to be words, but choose a point in the narrative. After her death? Love letters from beyond – printed out, any kind of valentine. I love you…rawwwwwwr. Be creative – in letter form, put it in an envelope.

Shapes in slow motion. Travel your shape. No melting – popping. Line moves as one. When you get to the end, turn (corkscrew – against resistance) and change your shape as you turn and then head back.

Valentine’s Monster Bash on Sunday. Love it.