For someone who loves and values questions, I have been lately struck by a terrible question that I have poised for too many years. When an actor finishs a scene, I was previously inclined to ask them, “How did it go for you?” I thought it was the thing to ask – but now I see the process entirely differently. Now I see that to ask the actor how they did is to invite them to monitor their work as they were doing it – and that is a terrible place to go. How can I ever give myself fully to a project and through it all be a carping critic in the background making lists and lists of notes.
Now, if I was the actor – which is very likely to never happen – I would respond to my director, “I don’t know how I did but I can tell you a world about my acting partner because that’s where I have been living for the last few minutes. I have disappeared to make him present for me.” There! Take that director and your insane questions.
Actor’s should never be worrying “how they are doing.” Indeed if they ask this question, the answer is likely, “no.” You can’t be and critique the being. Decide if you are the actor or you are the director. You cannot be both in the same breath!
I mean, come on folks, theatre is a touch business – – let’s talk a little job security for directors. You do. We’ll discuss.