<- Wed, Feb 9th's Gathering at the Actors' Playground included: Natalie Fehéregyházi, Deborah Merrick, David Straus, Anna Fin, Shel Goldstein, Nonnie Griffin (not shown), and Lorne Hiro.
We've had 2 Gatherings at the Actors' Playground so far (Thur., Feb 2nd, 1-2:30 PM and Wed, Feb 9th, 8-10 PM) and both have proven to be quite the blast!
It's an amazing feeling: allowing ourselves to practice a scene or monologue, either prepared or cold in front of our peers, knowing that they will help us find ways to make sure we are always actively engaged and listening to each other. The discoveries that get made are electric to watch!!
I was surprised to discover an interesting trap that cost us a bit of precious time: the desire for lengthy discourse around "appropriateness" and giving synopses before we start. How important it is to make sure that the focus of our conversations during the Gatherings are on what was accomplished, whether it communicated what the performer wanted and maybe a play-exercise suggestion that can help develop it. It's so easy to fall into tangents but fortunately, we seemed to figure that one out fairly quick. So we'll just have to keep vigilant on that point. When I noticed it happening, I was so caught off guard and started shaking inside. A couple of hours can go by real fast if we're not mindful and I'd hate to have someone miss their shot a bat.
What I love about these gatherings is the fact that we can experiment with any writing and not have to worry whether we made a right choice or not. The point is to make a choice, whether it seems "right or wrong" and if we fall flat on our face, well it wasn't for lack of courage!
The really special part of the last evening was getting to help David Straus hear his words off the page with his play-in-development, Little Keepsakes. Very clever and funny. Can't wait to see how it develops!!
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