Whew! What a whirlwind couple of days. Classes are off to a running start and it’s exhausting but exhilarating.
Monday morning I began the day with Alexander technique, our tutor’s name is Bethen. We spent most of the time talking about spinal alignment and how it changes from the time we are a baby to when we grow up. Some of the changes happen naturally, some happen because we are told to sit up straight and so we force ourselves into unnaturally upright, tense positions. We finished the class laying down in semi-supine position which is so comfortable and relaxing that I very nearly fell asleep. I think I shall enjoy having Alexander first thing Monday mornings. Next was Clown with Michael. We received our red, plastic noses and spoke a bit about what we would be doing. Then we did a brief exercise in which we individually sat on a stool and just made eye contact with the audience. Michael would then give each person some instructions. It was so simple and so hilarious. We all giggled and laughed and had a wonderful time. Next came Acting with Jenny. This will function more as an audition techniques class and we should have at least 2 audition ready pieces at the end of the term. Jenny told us what work she expects each of us to do before coming in to work with her. She seems like she will be brutally honest and make us work very hard. Knowing what she expects ahead of time is great and I am excited to get some honest feedback about my work. Working in this setting will be refreshing, I think.
After lunch, we had our first Richard II rehearsal. Our director is Phil, a young, British, almost-hipster looking guy who clearly knows his stuff. We did a bunch of exercises to warm up and establish group dynamics. We also did some exercises examining personal relationships. Then we sat down and read the first scene of the play, painstakingly going through the text, asking questions, looking at the verse, examining the word choice, etc. Our homework for the night was to go home, read the play twice – once for content and the second time to ask questions about it. We needed to bring in a list of 50 for our next rehearsal. I thought this was a big ask but it turned out to be quite fun and easy. The questions could be simple and I found I reached 50 quite quickly. This is such a fantastic play so it wasn’t a chore to have to read it.
Once school was out for the day, a few of us headed to the Park Theatre to see an improv troupe perform. The show was called Austentatious. They performed a Jane Austen style novel in an hour, completely improvised, with the title being drawn out of a hat with suggestions submitted by audience members. It was hilarious and quite well done. Then it was home straight away to read Richard II and get some sleep.
Today I began my day with Debbie’s acting class. Her acting class will focus more on technical training, with lots of emphasis on Michael Chekhov exercises. We did many exercises today and I’m already finding lots of tools to put on my actor’s tool belt. Next was Pure Voice with George where we worked on how to properly warm up the body so you are ready to speak with your greatest power and ability. We did one exercise which really just involved stretching to touch your toes and slowly rolling back up (ok, it was a little more complicated than that but not much) and I’ve never felt taller in my entire life. It was wonderful. After Voice, Text with James.
James.
A character if I’ve ever seen one.
I think I need to start a Twitter, @Sh*tJamesSays. He was so full of wisdom but would make his point in absolutely hilarious ways. I wrote down the meaningful quotes today but next time I’ll write the funny bits as well. Generally, he was making the point that we are on this earth to be exactly who we are because that’s how we were created. But here’s (paraphrased) just one way he made that point: You don’t see a penguin hiding in the corner thinking “I’m ugly” and another penguin giving it a pill for its depression. No. Penguins just waddle to and fro thinking “I’m a penguin.”
He also made the claim that we are put on this earth to love. That’s what we are manufactured to do. There’s something really beautiful about that idea to me… Some of his other meaningful quotes of the day: “There are no poets in the world anymore because no one believes in imagination.” “To change the world, you just have to talk to people about reconciliation and love.” “What’s wrong with your feelings? Nothing.” “God didn’t create you to sit in a corner.”
I think I shall enjoy Text with James. And I think you, by extension, shall too.
Lunch, then rehearsal. Rehearsal consisted of similar warm up exercises and relationship establishing games. We then put a bunch of our questions out there, just for all of us to think about. Finally, we read some more of the play and all too soon our time was up. We only got through about a scene and a half further. It’s obviously much slower than I’m used to but I’ve never had someone take the time and effort to so meticulously go through Shakespeare’s texts with me before. We go word by word, line by line. It can certainly be frustrating but I’m learning any and all things to look for in Shakespeare that helps you access the story and the character. I’m building my skill set for analyzing Shakespeare. It’s glorious.
After classes, LAMDA took us to see Henry V starring Jude Law. To be honest… not my favorite. The design was really beautiful but I didn’t care for the directing most of all. It was quite declamatory and the blocking annoyed me. No one ever stood still! They were constantly shifting their weight and wandering about. There were also no levels. It felt like they all just yelled at each other the entire time. Many of the people I was with absolutely loved the show. It’s not that it was terrible or really, really bad. I have just definitely seen better. (I have been assured that a normal first two weeks at LAMDA do not usually include seeing Tennant, Hiddleston, and Law in three sold-out productions across London. I’m thanking my lucky stars to be fortunate enough that mine did!)
I’m still in disbelief that we’ve only had 2 days of proper classes. I feel like my brain is already jam packed full of new information. I’m trying to remind myself every moment to be soaking it all in. I don’t want to miss a thing!! The days are long and exhausting; I’m still adjusting to being on such a rigorous schedule. I’ve never been so pleased to be so tired, though. Everything I’m learning is the knowledge I’ve been hungry for and, until now, I had been unable to satiate that hunger.
I must get some sleep now but I will write again soon. I’m missing everyone back in the States and incredibly jealous of GW’s snow day today. Of course the one semester I’m gone is the one when the famed GW vs. Georgetown snowball fight occurs!! All my love to everyone back home.
Until next time!
Cheers!