Rehearsal Report--6/15

We rehearsed the B- and C-plots this evening.  The B-plot is the romantic element of the show (Anne's suitors), and the C-plot is Dr. Caius and Sir Hugh Evans revenge on the Host of the Garter.  Most of the Shakespeare comedies have an A-plot and a B-plot.  What's interesting about Merry Wives, is that the B-plot, then fractures into a tiny C-plot as well.  I have the intent of strengthening the C-Plot to be as powerful as the other two.



We were successful in blocking everything that I had set out to block, and in fact blocked a bit more.  My original intent was to read through each scene once before we blocked it, to help clarify any textual issues, but that proved to be unnecessary.  The cast took to the material like fish to water and we were chugging along with great speed.

At the end I had time to work with Fenton on his last long monologue, and he had already done some work on it.  The actor has done some Shakespeare work before and he was falling into familiar rhythms.  One of the things that I stressed is that even though a big portion of the speech is telling a story, he needs to tell it as if he's experiencing it for the first time.  This may seem hokey at first, but it is important to bring the audience along on the journey, and not to exclude them.  Later in the process we can mask some of that.

Issues raised:

--The role of Justice Shallow deepens for me.  It started more in the read through from the previous rehearsal but strengthened tonight.  There is a real sense of longing there not just for the past, but for the gallantry and valiance of being a young man in arms.  Many of Shallow's lines are concerned with his long gone fighting days and how he has put them past him.  We were able to add a mall sequence where he takes Rugby's sword, and is able to brandish it about.  The actor, a gifted and deep performer, asked if he could use a cane, and I immediately said yes, as long as he replaces it with Rugby's sword temporarily.  This bit adds such a wonderful touch of depth and humanity to an otherwise two dimensional character.  A really cool moment.

--The actor playing Shallow had a question about one of his lines in Act III, Scene 1, the party comes upon Sir Hugh waiting for his duel.  He says to Hugh:  "Keep a gamester from the dice, and a good student from his book, and it is wonderful."  We had to try to parse it out on the spot, and I often fail at those kinds of moments.  We understand it as a homily, but question it's placement.  Sir Hugh has just grabbed his book, and it is the first line as the party enters the dueling grounds.  Perhaps it should read more along the lines of "You could keep a gamester from his dice, just as easier than keeping a good student from his books.  Ah to see one so devoted to such a fine thing is a lovely sentiment."

To prep for next time:
--Call Anne to rehearsal.  We are ready for her more than a week early.  If she isn't available, we will muddle through, and have a shorter rehearsal.

--Focus on Slender.