I’m always stunned when actors complain about how hard it is to keep a play fresh. Personally, I’m grateful whenever I find myself in a long-running show, because I feel I don’t get close to where I want to be, performance-wise, until at least the last week. So I’m elated that “Carved in Stone” was extended for another four weeks.
It’s wonderful to be so familiar with a show that you no longer need to think about the “externals.” You’re free to simply exist in character, respond to the changing circumstances, explore the world of the play and your character, and make new discoveries. In other words, all you have to do is act!
It’s like driving along a very familiar, well-known route. You no longer think “I turn left here, and then I have this far to go before I get to the freeway.” Your body knows the drive so well, it does the driving, leaving your brain free to day dream, talk to yourself, sing to the radio, rehearse a monologue… You don’t anticipate where you are going, or dwell on where you’re coming from. You are truly in the moment.
It’s exactly the same on stage in a long-running show. You know your lines backwards and forwards; relationships and trust have been established with your fellow players. All the questions from the first weeks of the show (will the scene changes work? can I pull off that costume change in time?) are answered. You know what works, and can fix what doesn’t in quick order.
You can’t get lazy, of course; you still do all your homework and character work. But then, when you get to the theatre, you and your fellow actors can explore and examine and simply PLAY!
I’m very lucky my fellow players seem to share my philosophy. Everyone in the cast is always looking for ways to go further, to get more laughs. The relationships seem to grow deeper, and the dramatic moments even more truthful, with every performance. Each actor, in his or her own unique way, has truly become the character they are playing. I’m honored to share a stage with such a talented, hard-working cast.
A friend who saw the show on opening night came back to see the show again, now in its tenth week. Even though she loved the show the first time, she was absolutely gaga about all the little improvements we’ve made since we opened, from the music, placement of intermission, and particularly, the growing depth of our roles, and the genuine chemistry between the actors.
Alas, all good things come to an end. Theatre is always a risky venture, even when the economy is booming. During times like these, it’s even more of a challenge. So despite rave reviews and enthusiastic audiences, “Carved in Stone” will play its final show on Sept. 5, after twelve weeks and close to 50 performances.
Selling a show during a recession – now THAT’S hard work!
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