Archive for July, 2008
It is rare when you have what can be called a “perfect” experience but I think we came pretty close yesterday for the wrap up of the 2008 Mountain Shakespeare Festival season.
We had a full house for our final “You Can’t Take It With You,” to say the least, and this capped a weekend of large houses - or so I hear because I was off in Vermont for a couple days for the opening of a new theatre.
(More on that later.)
Sitting and watching this extraordinary enemble play with this play brought me great delight as a director. As I watched the story unfold and the work of each performer I knew what they had been through individually to get to this point and in every case there was clear growth and such truthfulness in what they brought to the performance.
As the final lines were spoken, I felt like standing for them, for their wonderful committment and fine, fine execution but I didn’t want to be the director that forces a standing ovation. No need to worry as out of the corner of my eye I saw the center section stand and cheer and I joined in.
Bravo, company of our Festival, and all those who stood behind and beside them to make this happen. Take a well-earned bow.
July 28th, 2008
I barely made it home yesterday before I collapsed in the hammock and slept for three hours. But what a great weekend for the Mountain Shakespeare Festival.
The Bard’s Faire, which miraculously came together in less than a week, was a lot of fun for the kids who participated or just came to fling cabbages or fish for toys. Allie Jo’s original songs and the great live tunes made for a fun day. I wish I could recall all the groups who participated but perhaps someone can post that here to help me out.
While all this fun was going on I gave some kids from the age of 4 - 14 some initial tips on sword fighting. I can only say that it was less dangerous than it sounds! (The swords were wooden, which helped a lot.)
The other big excitements were the great reception we got for Comedy of Errors - the cast really got its stride and the show took off - I also had the thrill of going on in on a role because the young actor got a severe sunburn. I’ve “been there” and when I saw just how bad the burn was I did my best to fill in for him. Jake will be back next weekend to close out the show and promises never to forget the sun screen.
July 21st, 2008
It was a pretty darned good weekend for the Mountain Shakespeare Festival!
“You Can’t Take It With You” had the best opening of any show I have ever directed and I was actually able to enjoy the experience! Normally, I make an expectant father look relaxed, but in this case I felt that the show as completely ready for an audience. And it was, delighting the opening night crowd in the Pine Mountain Club Gazebo.
The next two performances could have dropped off a bit but they didn’t. The matinee was solid and the Saturday night show was, in my view, a seminal event for our Festival. It was a truly realized performance and reached a level of professional quality we can all be proud of.
There is always things that can be improved but the audience and actors shared in a wonderful give and take and the play really “sang.”
“The Comedy of Errors” is also coming into its own. We only had the one performance on Sunday and the actors really stepped up against tons of distractions that included, right at the outset of the play, a party on loudspeakers literally next door that culminated in a delightful serenade over the sound system. Thank goodness the woman was such a good singer!
Throw in passing 2-stroke off road bikes and rumbling mufflers and you get the idea. I am proud of the cast for enduring and putting in a pretty good show with all that to contend with.
July 16th, 2008
We are building towards our opening of “You Can’t Take It With You” tomorrow and we’re at the stage where all the ingredients are to hand and we’re stirring it up to put it in the oven.
I choose “oven” because Pine Mountain Club and the entire West is under a massive heat wave. Toss in the Goleta Fire and the 300 other fires burning in California and “Stay, and Breathe awhile…” takes on new meaning! If there were a giant smoke detector over California our ears would be ringing.
But the show improves steadily and I can now safely say that I have enjoyed directing this play more than any other. The Mountain Shakespeare Festival is truly, with this season, maturing into a company and I enjoy seeing the work of the actors as they take over these roles.
We just need to avoid dehydration and wish the fire fighters good luck in their battle with the elements.
July 10th, 2008
I think it’s the company manager in Shakespeare in Love who says that “It’s a mystery,” in reference to how theatre comes together.
It is, certainly, but it is also the result of unrelenting hard work!
Given the conflicting schedules, tight funds, complex logistics and challenge of doing a Shakespeare play the cast and crew somehow managed to pull it off.
And it is good! And will only get better.
Kudos to all who made the “mystery” happen and now tell all your friends to come see the shows.
Peter Kjenaas
July 7th, 2008
Tonight we open The Comedy of Errors with our Mountain Shakespeare Festival. For me, not acting in either play, this is an unusual moment. Normally, I am all geared up for that first entrance, that moment when all the work goes in front of a live audience. That moment is always a mixture of things for me with nerves in play and expectations and wild energies making for a spirited “conversation” between the ears.
As the artistic director it is quite different. I feel more like a mechanic than an artist, more like a troubleshooter than a director … my mind is as much on how comfortable the seats will be for the audience as it is on the quality of the work!
In many ways, my “job” at this juncture is to remove those things that would prevent the work of the actors from acheiving maximum affect.
OUtdoor theatre has so many distractions that can and will come up that it’s never a perfect world, but the imperfections are part of charm and excitement. You do the best and hope!
Here’s to no one firing up their chain saw in Act I, no pack of Harleys descending in Act II, no racing skate boarders wheeling through in Acts III and IV and no mating crows filling the trees in Act V!
Break a leg!
Peter
July 5th, 2008
Not sure how Tech week got the moniker Hell week, but it can be pretty much spot on as a description of what it can be like. There are literally thousands of details that have to do with mounting a show. The obvious ones are lights, costumes, sound, props, set, etc. These are no small task in and of themselves, especially when resources are tight as in the case of a new theatre company like the Mountain Shakespeare Festival.
The less obvious tasks and details involve the building of the shows and that final push to get ready for performance. This “invisible” work happens in living rooms, fields of sage and showers up and down the mountain, and now in Los Angeles and Bakersfield as well, as actors run their lines in what can be a somewhat desperate charge to the finish line.
At least in our modern world actors are now joined by millions on their blue tooth devices as those who walk around “talking to themselves.”
July 1st, 2008
