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I like these actor people

Posted by DCA Theater on January 26, 2009 in January-June 2009 Season, INCUBATOR Series: Black Sheep Productions

by Steve Spencer, playwright

I like these actor people.  They like to ask me questions.

Such as:  “Why would my character do something not in his/her best interest?”

And:  “Why isn’t there anything at stake in this scene?  Why would we risk our lives to do such and such?”

Or:  “What on earth does this mean?”

Plus:  “Why do you keep leering at me?”

Including:  “How did I learn this information?”

I like their questions.  They are forcing me to figure things out, to raise the stakes, to raise everything.  They don’t seem to mind being told such baffling directions such as, “This is a comedy, but it’s about the end of the world.  Find that balance.”  They are full of ideas that I need.

Director Man Fancy Vance Smith likes to refer to his rehearsal process as a discussion.  This is precious, but dead on.  The actors are having a discussion about the play every time we meet.  They are helping me enormously.

Plus, they are hilarious.  Most of the time it’s like watching outtakes from Smokey and The Bandit.  I watch them intently as I wait for them to laugh.  It’s a very fun game.

I like these actor people.  I’d like to form a cult with them.  Really figure things out.

I’d like to respond to Fancy Vance’s blog posting about apathy.  I don’t know if apathy is the right word.  I mean, I know plenty of apathetic people, people who don’t care at all.  I hate them.  But I also know many, many people who care but don’t act.  Like me.  I think the more appropriate term is learned helplessness.