12 July
One thing I am noticing is that these actors have trouble with their ability to imagine beyond what they see right in front of them. On the third day we worked on an exercise where one actor has their eyes closed and another leads them on an adventure of different obstacles in the space. Each actor is to imagine a specific location with specific events. The first few tries the actors were thinking only of what they knew to be true of the space: an overturned chair, a mattress, a curtain…finally at the end we started getting stories of war, a mother searching for her son, a day in the life of an office worker…
I have thrown a lot of first year Lecoq work out as well—identifying as elements and materials in order to create characters. Fire has always been one of the hardest elements to identify with because it easily can turn into a strange modern dance piece rather than a pure element. With these actresses I was surprised. They have trouble with air and earth but fire came so easily to them. But then it was like pulling teeth to get them to recreate what they had found in the improv! To at least try and find it again! There is always the question of how far do I push…just enough but not too much that they crack…luckily the small theatre we are working in has air conditioning.
Inspired by the work we were doing with Off Leash Area in Minneapolis this past spring I’ve started integrating flocking into our warm ups. Following one another, listening to the breath of the group, give and take of movements…yeow it’s not easy. And concentration concentration concentration…
13 July
This morning N’s mom came to tell us folktales for the first hour of our session. I watched the actors more than her during the stories. Their faces were bright and attentive. She recited a poem she had written as well about her and N who didn’t meet until recently…
During lunch N said: “I didn’t want to tell you but I have done a lot of the stuff you are doing with us with an Italian director last year. I mean not the exact same stuff but he was always telling us the same things in the workshop.” Ha! That’s the work. That’s working out as a performer. The same general concepts (should) apply whether it’s an Italian or an American. And that means if you are getting the same comments from more than one person that you need to work a little harder! I didn’t say all that. I just thought it. I’ll say it little by little.
S said: “what in the world is the point of this flocking thing?” I said “you guys will tell me at the end of the session today.” I’m kinda of tough sometimes. But I know that when I have been on the other side of things I have always loved those moments of figuring something out on my own—having something click without it being dealt immediately.
14 July
Today I moved into a great apartment for the rest of the KFP. Whew! The 11th bed I’ve slept in since arriving in Algeria almost two months ago! I was so excited to actually unpack my clothes and have a couple of drawers and shelves to put my stuff in!
And this afternoon I ran into the TRB lighting designer and asked him what his summer schedule was like to light the KFP show…and he informed me that he asked the Director of the TRB if there was anything being performed in the small theatre this summer and he told him no. And so the lighting designer struck all the instruments in the small theatre where we are working and where we are supposed to be performing at the end of August!
L was not at the theatre today. When I called to ask what was going on she said: “I have an upset stomach and I was too ashamed to call you.” What? American’s don’t get upset stomachs too?
15 July
An hour into our session today the guardian knocked on the door (men always knock on the door now before coming into our rehearsals!) and introduced F. F said “I am here for theatre class.” I sighed a big sigh and looked at the 6 actors working on stage and asked them to explain to her exactly what the project entailed. Then So said with great big arm gestures: “don’t think you can just come and go as you please! We have been working for almost two weeks now and Sor and K have come and gone and we need to be a consistent group! So if you are serious about working with us until the beginning of September then come but if not don’t waste our time!”
I couldn’t believe it! I didn’t have to say anything!
F said: “I will watch today and then start next rehearsal.”
16 July
F joined today. 6 of us met at stadium and took a bus an hour up into the mountains and met with So’s best friend’s grandmother. In the small van/bus from one village to another we were 7 women and joined by 5 other traveling women. When the bus stopped to pick up a man at the next stop he opened the door, his eyes got all big and he looked downright scared and he didn’t dare get in! We all burst out laughing. How many times have I hopped into public transportation and been the only woman! Many!
Nana F lives alone in a large house sparsely decorated. We arrived loaded with eggs, yogurt, bread, and juice and found Nana F not home…her granddaughter hadn’t told her we were coming! Then So and Sa started to cut French fries when Nana F returned and said of course “I will tell you stories. Except I don’t have any teeth will you understand?” We recorded an hour with her. Then a neighbor showed up and we recorded her for another 20 minutes. Leaving Nana F’s house Ib started to cry. She said: “I am so touched by this woman…”
Then we were off to So’s friend’s house where her Mom and made us svinge and we recorded her telling folktales as well. Next Wednesday So is taking us to another village. Then Thursday another with Djamel from the TRB…
One thing I am noticing is that these actors have trouble with their ability to imagine beyond what they see right in front of them. On the third day we worked on an exercise where one actor has their eyes closed and another leads them on an adventure of different obstacles in the space. Each actor is to imagine a specific location with specific events. The first few tries the actors were thinking only of what they knew to be true of the space: an overturned chair, a mattress, a curtain…finally at the end we started getting stories of war, a mother searching for her son, a day in the life of an office worker…
I have thrown a lot of first year Lecoq work out as well—identifying as elements and materials in order to create characters. Fire has always been one of the hardest elements to identify with because it easily can turn into a strange modern dance piece rather than a pure element. With these actresses I was surprised. They have trouble with air and earth but fire came so easily to them. But then it was like pulling teeth to get them to recreate what they had found in the improv! To at least try and find it again! There is always the question of how far do I push…just enough but not too much that they crack…luckily the small theatre we are working in has air conditioning.
Inspired by the work we were doing with Off Leash Area in Minneapolis this past spring I’ve started integrating flocking into our warm ups. Following one another, listening to the breath of the group, give and take of movements…yeow it’s not easy. And concentration concentration concentration…
13 July
This morning N’s mom came to tell us folktales for the first hour of our session. I watched the actors more than her during the stories. Their faces were bright and attentive. She recited a poem she had written as well about her and N who didn’t meet until recently…
During lunch N said: “I didn’t want to tell you but I have done a lot of the stuff you are doing with us with an Italian director last year. I mean not the exact same stuff but he was always telling us the same things in the workshop.” Ha! That’s the work. That’s working out as a performer. The same general concepts (should) apply whether it’s an Italian or an American. And that means if you are getting the same comments from more than one person that you need to work a little harder! I didn’t say all that. I just thought it. I’ll say it little by little.
S said: “what in the world is the point of this flocking thing?” I said “you guys will tell me at the end of the session today.” I’m kinda of tough sometimes. But I know that when I have been on the other side of things I have always loved those moments of figuring something out on my own—having something click without it being dealt immediately.
14 July
Today I moved into a great apartment for the rest of the KFP. Whew! The 11th bed I’ve slept in since arriving in Algeria almost two months ago! I was so excited to actually unpack my clothes and have a couple of drawers and shelves to put my stuff in!
And this afternoon I ran into the TRB lighting designer and asked him what his summer schedule was like to light the KFP show…and he informed me that he asked the Director of the TRB if there was anything being performed in the small theatre this summer and he told him no. And so the lighting designer struck all the instruments in the small theatre where we are working and where we are supposed to be performing at the end of August!
L was not at the theatre today. When I called to ask what was going on she said: “I have an upset stomach and I was too ashamed to call you.” What? American’s don’t get upset stomachs too?
15 July
An hour into our session today the guardian knocked on the door (men always knock on the door now before coming into our rehearsals!) and introduced F. F said “I am here for theatre class.” I sighed a big sigh and looked at the 6 actors working on stage and asked them to explain to her exactly what the project entailed. Then So said with great big arm gestures: “don’t think you can just come and go as you please! We have been working for almost two weeks now and Sor and K have come and gone and we need to be a consistent group! So if you are serious about working with us until the beginning of September then come but if not don’t waste our time!”
I couldn’t believe it! I didn’t have to say anything!
F said: “I will watch today and then start next rehearsal.”
16 July
F joined today. 6 of us met at stadium and took a bus an hour up into the mountains and met with So’s best friend’s grandmother. In the small van/bus from one village to another we were 7 women and joined by 5 other traveling women. When the bus stopped to pick up a man at the next stop he opened the door, his eyes got all big and he looked downright scared and he didn’t dare get in! We all burst out laughing. How many times have I hopped into public transportation and been the only woman! Many!
Nana F lives alone in a large house sparsely decorated. We arrived loaded with eggs, yogurt, bread, and juice and found Nana F not home…her granddaughter hadn’t told her we were coming! Then So and Sa started to cut French fries when Nana F returned and said of course “I will tell you stories. Except I don’t have any teeth will you understand?” We recorded an hour with her. Then a neighbor showed up and we recorded her for another 20 minutes. Leaving Nana F’s house Ib started to cry. She said: “I am so touched by this woman…”
Then we were off to So’s friend’s house where her Mom and made us svinge and we recorded her telling folktales as well. Next Wednesday So is taking us to another village. Then Thursday another with Djamel from the TRB…
20 July
N was out with a bad back and L went to Turkey for a week to "save women's rights" she said. So needs a place to stay in town and we haven't able to get the right paper for the student housing. Sa took a film gig for a week but will only miss one day this week. And the TRB suddenly has decided to be really strict about these badges. Guardian Reda barreled into the theatre like a cop this morning crying "show me your badges now." What's that about? I am in charge of the space and if I don't have a problem with the people working with me what is the TRB's problem? General malaise this morning but we worked on melodramatic scenes and froze them at the heightened moments. I am started to feel really stressed about the creation and the gathering of stories...no one seems to want to work outside of our time together. Tomorrow we are working in the afternoon to listen to the recordings we collected last week.
Bejaia is full of Europeans now. Mixed couples, long lost immigrants, and dogs on leashes.
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