My brain has just gone, "Blaugh!"
Observations after first read-thru -
I just had a thought about Chekov's theory of rising frustration over a weapon that is onstage and never used... It comes from the fact that the weapon could be employed at any time. Does that make sense? For example, if there is a gun or a machete on stage, but it is just sitting on a mantle, or hanging on the wall, it is simply part of the set. If someone picks up the weapon, or specifically refers to it, then its use is expected. Within Random Acts of Violence in America, I feel that the bag should be a huge part of Bea's (and everyone else's) reality, but never used - an overwhelming presence, a constant reminder. Same with her inability to act... During the read-thru, I kept thinking of a simmering pot that has the potential to boil over, but doesn't... The lid keeps getting tighter and tighter until... WHAM. Violent explosion that is unexpected and completely necessary. It feels like if Bea didn't punch that pregnant woman... She would implode, fall over and die. I see her as a pretty pink volcano. There is the idea that Bea should be a bit alternative or punkish... What if Bea was impeccably put together... Almost like Reece Witherspoon from "Election", but not as extreme... "Normal", kind and dutiful girl, who has an artistic streak that her friends and family think is "cute". It seems like she swallows a lot of bullshit, but has become accustomed (as many of us do) to turn the other cheek and be "pleasant" Another character she reminds me of is a young version of Annette Benning from "American Beauty" I don't know... Am I totally off track with this? I identify with her inability to cause a stir - picking up the sandwich, placating Dad even after her bad day (to a point!), taking the picture for Ben and Jen, trying to take care of the "child" etc etc until she completely LOSES IT.
Also with the punching bag... I love the fact that the punching back seems to be a higher status element of the play, even though a punching bag's purpose is to be beaten on... Completely at the whim of its owner. The bag is the one beating on Bea and the rest...
Anyway... I am pumped. Especially with so many creative minds on this project. It's gonna be wild.
I just had a thought about Chekov's theory of rising frustration over a weapon that is onstage and never used... It comes from the fact that the weapon could be employed at any time. Does that make sense? For example, if there is a gun or a machete on stage, but it is just sitting on a mantle, or hanging on the wall, it is simply part of the set. If someone picks up the weapon, or specifically refers to it, then its use is expected. Within Random Acts of Violence in America, I feel that the bag should be a huge part of Bea's (and everyone else's) reality, but never used - an overwhelming presence, a constant reminder. Same with her inability to act... During the read-thru, I kept thinking of a simmering pot that has the potential to boil over, but doesn't... The lid keeps getting tighter and tighter until... WHAM. Violent explosion that is unexpected and completely necessary. It feels like if Bea didn't punch that pregnant woman... She would implode, fall over and die. I see her as a pretty pink volcano. There is the idea that Bea should be a bit alternative or punkish... What if Bea was impeccably put together... Almost like Reece Witherspoon from "Election", but not as extreme... "Normal", kind and dutiful girl, who has an artistic streak that her friends and family think is "cute". It seems like she swallows a lot of bullshit, but has become accustomed (as many of us do) to turn the other cheek and be "pleasant" Another character she reminds me of is a young version of Annette Benning from "American Beauty" I don't know... Am I totally off track with this? I identify with her inability to cause a stir - picking up the sandwich, placating Dad even after her bad day (to a point!), taking the picture for Ben and Jen, trying to take care of the "child" etc etc until she completely LOSES IT.
Also with the punching bag... I love the fact that the punching back seems to be a higher status element of the play, even though a punching bag's purpose is to be beaten on... Completely at the whim of its owner. The bag is the one beating on Bea and the rest...
Anyway... I am pumped. Especially with so many creative minds on this project. It's gonna be wild.
posted by Clarice at 6:30 PM
1 Comments:
Hi Clarice! So glad you're working on this! May we sit on the wet pavement in the early hours of the morn another year.
I've been picturing Bea as very together also. Totally Reese in Election. I think if she was punk, she would fight back. And she probably wouldn't drink Starbucks. I think she's an all-around Mid-Western American.
If she were punk, it wouldn't seem as out of the blue for her to punch the pregnant woman. I think the pregnant woman should be an image that on a normal day she would find joy in.
And I like the description that her family thinks her art is "cute."
The punching bag... I've been listening to so many thoughts on this. I'll post something on it soon but for now it seems to me like we should see it in the first theatre scene and then in the last but that the image of Bea not punching in that first scene should be with us, and yes,beating on us, throughout.
Post a Comment
<< Home