Weaving home and work into one life

2008-2009 brought me extraordinary life challenges. None of which will melt away and I cannot hide out over the rainbow or in Neverland. 2008-2009 also brought me extraordinary casts of young performers that make me sing. (When no one is around.)

In 2008, I presented Lakeshore Players Summer Youth Project with a play near and dear to my heart - Ciao Cinderella. It was close to me, personal, messy. In fact, one year later - I'm still trying to turn that around. But the two casts who presented it, threw themselves into it and made me look better than I was. They were funny, enchanting and in various stages of "Italianicious!"

A few weeks after Ciao closed, I threw myself into Hansel and Gretel at The Phipps Center for the Arts. For six weeks, I worked with a kind, intuitive group of junior high school students. Their kindness spilled into their work, they trusted each other and gave me one of the sweetest rehearsal periods and performance week of my career. I would be leaving the Phipps and returning to Lakeshore for a new play in a week. I wondered at the wisdom of diving into a new play so fast. I was already missing the Phipps performers. Could I work with another cast in such a trusting atmosphere? I was working harder than ever to not let my personal life creep into my work.

But I dove into the next play. Everything became intensely personal. My theatre threads were woven in a web with my "real life." I began auditions for my play The Hanging of the Greens. When you do a play to be presented to families during the holiday season, you truly strive to create the "spirit of the season" in the rehearsal period. Actors give over huge chunks of their time to work on a play. You want it to be worth their while. From the moment the play was cast, I felt there was a huge bright aura surrounding the show. To say the cast bonded is an understatement. They became a true theatre family that remains today. It was intensely personal.

I took a break and wrote Pride and Prejudice and The Magic Fishbone. I edited The Chanukah-Christmas Pact and The Bread, the Bracelet and the Dove. I was graced with Anna Zornio Memorial Playwrighting Award for The Fishermand and his Wife. Life hit me in waves. I wrote more and submitted less. I spent a lot of time in the little computer room - sorting. Separating work and life. Then repackaging them. Together.

Lakeshore Players Summer Youth Project returned with Magic Fishbone. I had come full circle in a year back to a place where I can gather annually with the expectation of creating a new world. I also came full circle in my year of challenges having learned I cannot control everything. I cannot halt a life tide. I cannot write and direct and think I can separate it from my life. What I can do is return to my place of living amid clouds, trying to catch the wind, harness the light and let it fly. And see the sparkles.

The Magic Fishbone cast gave me the sparkles today. They are listening to my notes, taking them to heart and now regularly incorporate my directions in their next rehearsal. I see the cast onstage focusing, showing glimmers of themselves and the bright lights of their characters. I see them work through problems, trust each other enough to empower them to braver steps. The have over a week before they open. I want to guide them now. Remind them of the heights they can scale if they don't rest on current accomplishments.

In a year of wondering, hoping and wishing for things that may not provide the ending I desire, my year of shows with young performers has presented me with happily ever afters. Hours of my life that I am grateful for and weeks that I will take with me always. I am still learning and when my cast joins together to give a gift to the audience, I learn again. Every experience is different. Each is worthwhile. The work is indeed personal. I cannot recreate what went on before. Together, we create anew. Together, they come with their own lives. I come with mine. It's a job, it's a labor of love and it's heart and soul will always be personal.

Pride and Prejudice

I managed two days off from writing to cook and host a 4th of July Barbecue for 30 people and still managed to accomplish a last edit for Pride and Prejudice. When I accomplish all my multi-tasking, I walk around, head held high feeling a bit "over-the-top-virtuous."

So, a sneak peak: (Designed for teen performers and easy set changes)

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
Adapted by Claudia Haas from the novel by Jane Austen
Copyright April 2009; All rights reserved

CAST: 27 (17f, 10m, many extras possible; can reduce cast to 20 with doubling)

Mr. Bennet (m) 40; As calm as a man with five daughters can be
Mrs. Bennet (f): 40; As nervous as a woman with five daughters can be
Jane Bennet (f): 22; One of the loveliest and kindest of the Bennet sisters
Elizabeth Bennet (f): 20; Perceptive young woman who unfortunately has the idea she can marry for “love”
Mary Bennet (f): 18; Works hard at being taken seriously as the unfortunate middle child
Catherine Bennet (f) 16; Slightly vacant young woman who lives in Lydia’s shadow
Lydia Bennet (f) 15; Very flirtatious and fun-loving young woman

Mr. Bingley (m) 24; A kind and very marriageable young man
Miss Caroline Bingley (f): 22; his not-so-kind sister; prone to “airs”
Mr. Darcy (m) 23; a very proud, aristocratic man
Miss Charlotte Lucas (f) 24; pragmatic young woman
Sir William Lucas (m); 40 very amiable
Lady Lucas (f): late 30’s also amiable
Mr. William Collins (m): 25, a bombastic mixture of pride and servility
Mr. Wickham (m): mid 20’s; a seemingly very amiable regimental
Mr. Denny (m): mid 20’s; well-thought of regimental
Mr. Phillips (m) (30’s-40’s); kindly gentleman of some means; the Bennet sister’s uncle
Mrs. Phillips (f): (30’s-40’s); also kindly; Mr. Phillips wife
Mrs. Gardiner (f) 30-40; Mrs. Bennet’s younger sister but much wiser
Mr. Gardiner (m) 30-40 kind gentleman
Mrs. Reynolds (f) 40+, Housekeeper at Pemberly
Lady Catherine de Bourgh (f) older, definitely aristocratic; definitely not approachable
Miss de Bourgh (f) 14: shy, sickly sort of young Lady Catherine
Colonel Fitzwilliam (m): 20’s; amiable cousin of Mr. Darcy
Georgiana Darcy (f) 16 – Darcy’s sweet younger sister

Susannah (f) 20’s; Servant to the Bingley’s
Sarah (f) 20’s; - Servant to the Bennets


SETTING: The setting just needs to be hallway of that period which will double as various places. There should be a seating area stage right that will be the Bingley’s and other areas. Stage left can contain the Bennet sitting area. The seating areas can be dressed differently for the scenes. You may use servants or a backstage crew to change the tablecloths and small set pieces to that keep the areas specific. The Bennet home should be a wee bit shabbier than the Bingley’s.
Alternately, you may use “acting areas” or different levels to specify different locales.

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE

SCENE 1 – Introducing the Bennets and the Bingleys

AT RISE Mr. and Mrs. Bingley are seated in a small sitting area.
MR. BENNET is patiently trying to read. MRS. BENNET has some
embroidery which she is ignoring.

We hear some narration. It may be played through the sound
system or we may see ELIZABETH down stage making her pronouncement.

ELIZABETH
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife. And when the fact that Netherfield Park - a country manor near our town – was rented to a gentleman of means – the news spread quickly through our town.

MRS. BENNET
My dear Mr. Bennet, have you heard that Netherfield Park is let at last?

MR. BENNET
Can’t say that I have.

MRS. BENNET
But it is! For Mrs. Long has just been here and she told me all about it!
(Pause as Mr. Bennet reads a book and does not reply.)
Do you not want to know who has taken it?

MR. BENNET
You want to tell me and I have no objection to hearing it.

MRS. BENNET
Why, my dear, you must know, Mrs. Long says that Netherfield is taken by a young man of large fortune from the north of England; that he came down on Monday to see the place and he was so delighted with it that he is to take possession by Michaelmas and some of his servants are to be in the house by the end of next week!

MR. BENNET
What is his name?

MRS. BENNET
Bingley!

MR. BENNET
Married or single?


MRS. BENNET
Oh! Single, my dear, to be sure! A single man of a large fortune! Four or five thousand a year! What a fine thing for our girls!

MR. BENNET
How can that affect them?

MRS. BENNET
My dear Mr. Bennet, how can you be so tiresome? You must know that I am thinking of his marrying one of them.

MR. BENNET
Is that why he is settling here? To marry one of our daughters?

MRS. BENNET
How you do talk nonsense, Mr. Bennet! But you must admit that it is very likely that he may fall in love with one of them and therefore you must visit him as soon as he comes.

MR. BENNET
I see no occasion to do so. You and the girls may certainly go. Or better yet – send the girls alone – for you remain as lovely as any of them. We don’t want Mr. Bingley to choose you!

MRS. BENNET
My dear, you do flatter me. I have had my share of beauty but cannot pretend to be extraordinary any more. When a woman has five grown-up daughters, she must stop thinking of her own beauty and think about theirs instead. Now my dear, you really must pay Mr. Bingley a visit. Sir William and Lady Lucas already have plans to do so and they never visit anyone! Besides, if you do not call first, we will never be able to go!

MR. BENNET
I daresay, Mr. Bingley will be pleased to have you visit and I shall send a note stating that he has my permission to marry whichever daughter he so chooses. I shall be sure to put in a good word for my Lizzy.

MRS. BENNET
You will do no such thing! We will not play favorites with our daughters. Besides, Lizzy is not half as handsome as our Jane. And not as good-humored as Lydia! But you always give Lizzy your preference!

MR. BENNET
They don’t have much to recommend them now, do they? They are all silly and ignorant as most girls - but Lizzy has more quickness than her sisters.


MRS. BENNET
Mr. Bennet! How can you abuse your own children in such a way! You just like to vex me, that’s all! You have no compassion for my poor nerves.

MR. BENNET
On the contrary, I have high respect for your nerves. They are my old friends. You have brought them up constantly these past twenty years.

MRS. BENNET
You do not know what I suffer!

MR. BENNET
I hope you do not suffer too badly and I hope to see you watch many such men worth four or five thousand pounds move into our neighborhood.

MRS. BENNET
It does not do any good if twenty such men move here, for you will not visit them!

MR. BENNET
Mrs. Bennet, I give you my solemn vow that when twenty such extraordinary men move into our village, I shall visit them all!

(MRS. BENNET exits in a huff. MR. BENNET
may continue reading as the lights on that area fade
and come up on the “Bingley seating area.” As the lights
come up, MR. BINGLEY, MISS BINGLEY, and MISTER
DARCY enter. A servant, SUSANNAH, could be there making all comfortable.)

BINGLEY
It’s quite charming, is it not?

DARCY
I will not say “no” as you are determined to be happy here.

BINGLEY
Don’t you think Father would have approved?

MISS BINGLEY
He always did want a country estate. Yes, he would have definitely approved.

BINGLEY
For now, we shall be tenants and see if the area pleases us. And if it does, this may well become our new home.



DARCY
While I do not believe that a grand estate here would have more pleasures than a home in the City, I do think you have done rather well for yourself. The place is - quaint in its own way.

BINGLEY
I shall take that as a high compliment from you! For nothing will dampen my mood.

MISS BINGLEY
I wonder what sort of people live here? Some villagers can be very tiresome.

BINGLEY
Why, my dear sister – I am confident that we will find the people amiable as in any part of England. And there is room for all of us to be stay here comfortably. One cannot ask for more.

MR. DARCY
I am pleased to be a guest at whatever home you choose.

BINGLEY
Watch it, Darcy. You are in danger of offering a compliment!

MR. DARCY
Then I shall choose my words more carefully! I dare say, your country home is comfortable enough and you will be thoroughly happy here – to a point.

MISS BINGLEY
Have you heard that there is to be an assembly?

BINGLEY
With dancing?

MISS BINGLEY
Indeed. Why, it’s almost civilized.

BINGLEY
Then we shall go and meet our new neighbors. We have come at an opportune time! Don’t you think, Darcy? Or does dancing not please you?

DARCY
Only when my partner is pleasing. But with Miss Bingley there, the dance shall be tolerable.

MISS BINGLEY
Why, thank-you, Mr. Darcy.

BINGLEY
I am determined to love everything here – the home, the dancing, the neighbors –

SUSANNAH
Excuse me, sir. There is a Mr. and Mrs. William Lucas at the door. They are here to welcome you!

BINGLEY
How wonderful!

MISS BINGLEY
We are not even unpacked!

DARCY
I am glad you are looking forward to meeting the neighbors. For it looks like they will be at your door all day!

BINGLEY
How convenient then that we are here to meet them! Shall we attend to them in the parlor?

ELIZABETH (Narration)
As the days passed, Mother’s nerves were certainly discontented. The business of her life was to get her five daughters married. An activity my father failed to share.

(MISS BINGLEY, MR. BINGLEY, and DARCY
follow SUSANNAH out. The lights switch to the
BENNET seating area. MR. BENNET is engrossed in a new book while MRS. BENNET and JANE are embroidering. ELIZABETH is trimming a hat while
MARY reads; KITTY and LYDIA play cards.)

MR. BENNET
That’s a most charming hat Lizzy. I hope Mr. Bingley likes it.

MRS. BENNET
We will never know what Mr. Bingley likes since you will not visit him!

ELIZABETH
But you forget Mama, that we will meet him at the assembly. Mrs. Long has promised to introduce him to us.

MRS. BENNET
I do not believe Mrs. Long will do any such thing. She has two marriageable nieces of her own and is a selfish, hypocritical woman. I have no opinion of her.

MR. BENNET
I am glad to find that you do not depend on her then. When is the next ball, Lizzy?


ELIZABETH
Tomorrow, fortnight.

MRS. BENNET
And Mrs. Long does not return till then so it will be impossible for her to introduce us for she will not know him herself!

MR. BENNET
Then my dear, you may have the advantage. For you are here and you may introduce him to her.

MRS. BENNET
How can you say that, Mr. Bennet? When you know we have no acquaintance with him! Do not tease me so! My nerves are frail enough!

MR. BENNET
You must admit that knowing a man for only a fortnight tells one very little. How can you judge a character on so short an acquaintance? What do you think, Mary? I know you are a young woman of great reflection who reads many books and thinks on them - deeply.
(MARY looks up stunned that her father has deigned to speak with her.)
While Mary is adjusting her ideas, let us return to the subject of Mr. Bingley.

MRS. BENNET
I am sick of Mr. Bingley!

MR. BENNET
I am sorry to hear that! Why did you not tell me that before? If I had known that this morning, I certainly would not have called on him. It is unlucky but as I have actually paid him a visit, we cannot escape his acquaintance now.

(MR. BENNET exits leaving his family stunned.)

MRS. BENNET
Why … what an … excellent father you have, girls. I do not know how we can ever make up his kindness to us. At our time of life, it is hard to make new acquaintances. You can see that he will do anything to help you. Anything.

LYDIA
If Father actually introduced himself to Br. Bingley – why, then Mr. Bingley must return the favor!

MARY
- I wonder when –

KITTY
- I wonder how –

(LYDIA and KITTY hug each other in delight.)

LYDIA AND KITTY
Father met Mr. Bingley! OHHH!

MRS. BENNET
- Should we ask him to dinner? I wish your father had stayed to give us further particulars on the young man.

LYDIA
We shall meet with him at the ball!

MRS. BENNET
And I hope to see him dance with all of you!

ELIZABETH
He will dance with Jane, to be sure!

JANE
How kind of you to say so – but there are so many charming young women in the village –

ELIZABETH
Nevertheless, he will certainly see that you are the loveliest and kindest young woman here –

JANE
Don’t get ahead of yourself, Lizzy! Wait and see.

MRS. BENNET
Wait and see indeed.

(LIGHTS fade to black.)

SCENE 2 – The Assembly

ELIZABETH (Narration)
The day of the assembly finally arrived. There was a scarcity of men but Mr. Bingley’s warm nature quickly made him beloved by all. Unfortunately, his friend Mr. Darcy was not.

AT RISE we are in the midst of an assembly in the Hall. SARAH and SUSANNAH can help set the center stage with benches and chairs arranged as seating areas. You may interject a dance here using as much of the cast as you wish. Otherwise, we may hear music trailing off as people go to their “conversation areas.” JANE will be with BINGLEY. MRS. BENNET with LADY LUCAS and MRS LONG. WILLIAM LUCAS is off by himself. LYDIA and KITTY are together. MARY is apart. ELIZABETH is with CHARLOTTE. MISS. BINGLEY could be “working the room” as MR. BINGLEY is. DARCY is close to WILLIAM LUCAS and within earshot of ELIZABETH and CHARLOTTE.

MRS. LUCAS
I daresay, Mr. Bingley seems quite taken with your Jane.

MRS. BENNET
How can you say so? He danced with your Charlotte first!

MRS. LUCAS
But not since.

MRS. LONG
Mr. Bingley is certainly a charming gentleman.

MRS. LUCAS
And his friend is a fine figure of a man.

MRS. BENNET
But a bit stand-offish. As if he thinks himself better than us!

MRS. LUCAS
I suppose we shall just have to content ourselves with one eligible gentleman.

MRS. BENNET
And far too many eligible young women!

(They all look at one another as the conversation
switches to MARY approaching her mother.)

MARY
Mama! Mama! You will never guess what I just overheard!

MRS. BENNET
Have you danced yet, Mary?

MARY
No, Mama. There seems to be a fewer men than women. But Mama – Miss Bingley was mentioning me to her brother!

MRS. BENNET
Oh?


MARY
I heard her say she thought I was perhaps the most accomplished woman in this room!

MRS. BENNET
But has Mr. Bingley filled out a space on your dance card?

MARY
No, Mama.

MRS. BENNET
Impressing Miss Bingley is all well and good, Mary. Impressing Mr. Bingley would be better.

MARY
But Mama – he is taken with Jane.

MRS. BENNET
Yes. I’ve noticed.

(And the conversation switches to MR. BINGLEY and MR. DARCY.)

MR. BINGLEY
Come, Mr. Darcy! I cannot have you just standing around in this stupid manner. You must dance the next dance.

MR. DARCY
I certainly shall not. You know very well that I detest dancing unless I am well-acquainted with my partner. Making silly conversation with strangers is not something I do. Miss Bingley has been very busy and there is no one in this room that can stand up to her.

MR. BINGLEY
Don’t be so fussy! Upon my honor, I have never met with more pleasant company! There are charming girls everywhere you turn! Many of them are uncommonly pretty!

MR. DARCY
You have danced with the only handsome girl in the room.

MR. BINGLEY
You have noticed Miss Jane Bennet? Is she not the most beautiful creature you have ever beheld? But look – her sister sits nearby. I find her very agreeable. Dance with her, Darcy! I shall have Miss Jane Bennet introduce the two of you!


MR. DARCY
Who do you mean?

MR. BINGLEY
Why – right in front of you.

MR. DARCY
She is tolerable, I suppose. But not handsome enough to tempt me. Besides, I am in no mood to give attention to young ladies who are slighted by other men. I think you had better return to your partner and her pretty smiles - for you are wasting your time with me.

MR. BINGLEY
As you wish.

(MR. BINGLEY crosses to JANE perhaps
greeting people on the way. ELIZABETH and DARCY exchange looks.)

ELIZABETH
Mr. Darcy, I believe.

DARCY
Yes.

ELIZABETH
How do you like Netherfield?

DARCY
It suits my friend and that is all that needs to be said.

(DARCY moves to MISS BINGLEY.)

CHARLOTTE
His manner is certainly proud. Although, I do think if I had his wealth, his upbringing and everything in my favor, I should also think well of myself.

ELIZABETH
What you say is true, Charlotte. I suppose I could forgive his pride if he had not so easily mortified mine.

Magic Fishbone Rehearsals

The Magic Fishbone is almost one week ahead of schedule. This is unheard of with two casts of 26. This is partly because the play is shorter than in years past and basically has one plot line. It is also due to the fact that the students have been exceedingly good about watching the other cast and getting up and doing their blocking pretty accurately the first time on stage. My co-director and I blocked together - so there are no confusions about the blocking and all line changes have been given to the students as a group.
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This means that Monday (when their lines are due) the fun begins! Acting. Relationships. Listening. And that dreaded day when they have real props and no longer can have inivisible props that materialize into their hands and disappear as quickly as they came.
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When you write something, you sometimes have a skewed idea as to how challenging the characters are. I thought the play was pretty simple and straight forward. Throwing the play into Victorian England and giving each character a quirk has proven more challenging than I first thought. At present, the students onstage are definitely kids from 2009. They way they stand, sit, relate to one another are modern children. In the coming weeks the challenges will be pulling them back in time.
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Oh! And the huge challenge? Having them not look bored when they don't have a line. The kids are onstage for 80% of the play, highly visible and there's nothing like watching them scratch their feet, yawn and draw on their scripts while others are speaking!

Writing one Play Will Rehearsing Another

I took two days off to go to Fargo, ND and help my "son-the-graduate-student" set-up his apartment. I brought my work but never looked at it. It turned out to be a good idea, because I can somewhat see the forest for the trees.

I have been manically finishing up Pride and Prejudice. I have managed to solve the set problems and I still delete much of a scene every day and rewrite - but I do see the finish line out there. However, in the midst of finishing up P&P, I did some rewrites for Magic Fishbone. My students (who tend to be fairly sharp) were questioning me about some of the formality in my rewrites that is not in the original script. Yep. My rewrites were done in the middle of Pride and Prejudice. Charles Dickens started sounding like Jane Austen. Better not let that happen. There's mine field of authors when you adapt existing works! I am channelling the wrong one!

Dog Day Afternoon - Shameless Self Promotion

Summer fun: My play Dog Day Afternoon is being presented in Williston, ND in the SUMMER SHORTS: KIDS ON STAGE Festival of short plays.

The information link is here:
http://www.willistonherald.com/articles/2009/06/23/lifestyle/doc4a40fba5030f5279270685.txt

... and I am proud to report I am in the company of some very fine playwrights.

Ironically, I will be in North Dakota this weekend helping to set up my son's first post-college apartment. But I will not be anywhere near Williston. Sigh. Break a leg, all!

Counting Lines - Seeing the Light

It's an epidemic - this notion among student actors that your role in a play is more important or challenging according to the number of lines you have. You would think I would cease to be surprised after 22 years in youth theatre that the number of lines is paramount to young ones (and their parents). But I never subscribed to that theory as an actress and when I cast - I never think, "Is this part worth their time because it has 45 lines?" I always think, "What's juicy about the role? What can they sink their teeth into? What can they learn from it? Will they learn to relate? Actively listen to each other?"

When I write, I have no idea how many lines a character has. I will sincerely think a role is a main role because it is pivotal to the plot. Once upon a time, my co-director used to announce, "There are no small parts, only small actors." It was his mantra and the kids recited that statement all summer long. But it never did stick. After casting, there was often fallout. And the main gripe was always the number of lines - or lack of lines.

And then there comes a change. You start to block. The kids are given their stage business. They find out there is much for them to do when not reciting lines. They learn they are on stage and may not "check out" just because they don't have a line for a page. And they all come alive. We blocked the first quarter of The Magic Fishbone today. All went smoothly -and we were able to block fairly fast. The giving of the movements and stage business ignited their brains. Later, when we discussed the characters, some insightful ideas were put forth. Much of which we will incorporate into the blocking. The summer work of putting the student's talent to their best use has just begun. If today is any indicator, we may have one of the best Summer Youth Project's productions yet.

Casting with Kids - it never gets easier

We (with my co-director) cast MAGIC FISHBONE today. Yesterday after meeting with the kids, I spent six hours drawing up a casting list. It was hugely slanted to returning students. Everyone who had four or more years in the program was pencilled in for one of the main parts. Everyone pencilled in for those parts - did get one of the more advanced characters but everyone did not get what they perceived as "as the lead." This is a huge concern for me. The students have a sense of entitlement after they return a few years. There is the notion that they are "owed" a consistently larger part - which I have tried to do. Each year, the plays got longer and longer with more subplots to try and meet the needs of the returning students. And the discipline issues have grown. Because we have been casting largely on number of years in program and ignoring other parts of the process: respect, hard-work, talent and ability to work with others.

Every few years, a wonderful student or two is not given what they feel they deserve. It is a combination of the needs of the play, the abilities of the student and also what they show us during the audition process. It happened today and feelings were more than hurt - it was devastating. I know these actors could shine in the roles offered but I do not know if they will have the heart to throw themselves into something they feel should've been given to a student with fewer years in the program. I would even adjust the play to help them.

We are revamping the Summer Youth Project. It is an opportunity to make things right. It is an opportunity to cast more on hard work than years in program. It's a chance to recognize and develop talent at an earlier age. It is a chance to do away with, "He/she only got that part because he/she's been here seven years."

Meanwhile, we forge on. I must be content to know that the overwhelming majority of the students left practicing English accents and congratulating each other amid high-fives and smiles. The hurt feelings were part of my own-making. I was part and parcel of setting up the expectations of the students - that could not be met this time. As co-director, I bear responsibility if a student is hurt. As co-director, I still think I could heal it.