Not to be so whiney but I get a little low on steam half way through the 3-7pm rehearsals every night. Some of this I blame on age. Some I blame on the totally out of control temperature changes in the Blackbox. Some of this I blame on eating a dieter’s lunch of cottage cheese, chicken breast (ala cardboard), granola bar, and cottage cheese – lots of cottage cheese. Some of this I blame on the total absence of Oreo’s, M&Ms or other vitally necessary medications to keep the spirit alive. I pout. I try to be the adult in the room, but I pout!
But then I put myself in the world of my teenage actors. On Friday, I see them showing up at 7:30 am and starting off the day with a rousing dose of AP History, AP English, AP Math, and AP How Do I Stay Awakeness. THEN they arrive at my door for a mind boggling exploration of theme and meaning from Waiting for Godot. THEN a lunch that they spend with me, reading over the new play Snakebit. Then, without a moment’s pause, they are into Company and a vigorous physical warm-up and a sit down talk of the world of shadows in their world and how “shadows” play a role in defining character under imaginary circumstance. Then up on your feet and an hour of so of Meisner’s repetition, “I see you smile.” “You see me smile.” “I see you smile.” “You see me smile.” “I see you smile.” “You see me smile.” “I see you smile.” “You see me smile.” “I see you smile.” “You see me smile.” “I see you smile.” “You see me smile.” “I see you smile.” “You see me smile.” Only theatre geeks will understand this wonderful craziness. Then a scene study class with their fellow seniors. Then five minutes to flirt with the dancer in the hall. They three hours with me exercising the world of grief and separation. Then. Then. Then. Home to mother – and only then can they experience the Friday night like any healthy teenager should do.
I whine. But, really, who should be whining in the room ? ? ?
6 comments on “I Cannot Imagine”
Ha-ha! I’m kind of surprised they’re NOT whining! You must either be doing a really great job making Meisner repetitions interesting (?), OR, you have a really gung-ho company that loves what they’re doing enough to ignore the baking in the black box and the lack of sleep in the other classrooms.
🙂
Maybe you just feel the lack of vitamins? Maybe you should drink some pills or more fresh squeezed juices. For me it always helps when I feel whiney, sad and tired. I just try to go to sleep earlier and eat more healthy and after few days I feel like the energy comes back to me. 🙂
Oh, how I pout when I don’t have the right snacks on hand! I’m years away from having my kid in high school but I already worry just how much time he’ll spend getting ready for school, staying at school…
I can imagine being completely filled with the ability to whine in a situation like that! That is just me though and the fact that the students are not must show they have respect for what you are trying to do for them. Good work!
I have always believed that term “youth is wasted on the young”.
I don’t know how they do it.
I don’t know how I did it either.
And while I’m in the health and fitness industry and well aware that we can take charge of our well-being, I still feel that our bodies are far more forgiving when we’re kids.
I can hear the sadness in you about having to give up your treats in exchange for that boring adult food. I can guarantee, though – there’s an alternative.
Maybe look into some of the “holistic” energy bars out there. I like those “Kind” bars. I know they aren’t Oreos and M&Ms, but they’re really good and may give you that burst of energy.
Don’t you love cottage cheese! I mean, who doesn’t, right :)? And how can you live without those super yummy M&Ms? From the way you talk, I think those kids are feelings great when around you. They’ll probably remember these special moments for years to come.