Did this ever happen to you as a child: your mother signs you up for something (for example, summer camp, dance class, Girl Scouts, Chinese Drill Team, etc.) and you don't even find about it until the day before it's supposed to start?Well, this didn't exactly happen to me THAT way, but it felt like it. You know, the way a sucker punch feels. No, I'm not implying that I was tricked into running for PTA president or chairing the bake sale committee ("Hey, it'll be fun! We'll all help you!")
I'm talking about the 3rd annual Double Shot Festival, sponsored by the Northwest Playwrights Alliance. Once a year, this hardy group of writers comes together to challenge themselves and to torture local Pierce County actors by putting on a weekend of instant theatre.
Here's how it works. Around 8 pm on the Thursday night before the festival begins, eight of their playwrights are given a writing prompt. They are randomly assigned to a director and a cast of actors, numbering anywhere from 2 to 5 persons. Then, these writers have 12 hours to write a 10-minute play tailor-made for their cast based on the prompt.
Then, starting at 8:30 the next morning, each director and cast is given until 7:00 that evening to rehearse, memorize and perform their play in front of a live audience. Sounds like a blast? You bet. Sounds like stress? Tell me about it!!!
I really can't say I was "signed up" for this event. Randy asked me if I was interested in participating and I agreed to it voluntarily. That was bad enough. What was worse, I talked my son Tim into doing it, too.
10 1/2 hours of grueling, on-the-spot acting and memorization. Creating a character and going through an actor's process in one short day that normally takes a professional at least 3 weeks to accomplish. Spending the day in fear that you are about to make a big fool of yourself. Walking in dread of that 7:00 hour. Wondering if it would be too horrible to walk away in shame rather than give the worst performance of one's life. I certainly hope Tim forgives me one day.
Okay, okay....it wasn't THAT bad....but, then again, maybe it was.
I've always said that I am not a "serious" actor. I do theatre for enjoyment. It's my hobby. That's all. I'm not athletic. I am only a so-so musician. I do needlework, but not too often. I rarely read for pleasure. I never watch TV. I do theatre. Now, that doesn't mean I don't take theatre seriously. On the contrary, I take the work of an actor quite seriously. But I do theatre because it brings a smile to my face.
On the other hand, Instant Theatre was not fun for me. It was stress. It was terror. It was Aya-Is-Not-A-Good-Sport-About-This. Instant theatre is about memorizing madly, creating a character on the run and when your memory fails you on stage (and it will!!), shooting from the hip and hoping you hit the target anyway.
I realized that performing on stage is a joy, but the rehearsal process that precedes it is a wonderful gift as well. It is during rehearsals that I can make wonderful discoveries about my character and about myself. This is when I bond with my fellow actors and watch slowly as we create something magical. I want to savor each day and live each moment as someone new, someone who only existed on paper until I brought her to life.
With Instant Theatre, most of this wonderful process doesn't happen. There isn't time.
In a strange way, I am grateful for The Double Shot experience. I now know what I enjoy about theatre and I also know what I don't enjoy. I know my limits, but I know what I do well.
The Double Shot Festival is a quick cup of Folger's Instant Crystals. I prefer my coffee brewed. Slowly. With the morning news. While dressed in my fluffy bathrobe. Sipping and savoring every drop. On my day off from work so I can take my time and enjoy my java.
Don't give me that quick fix. Don't force me into an adrenaline rush. Don't make me act in a pressure cooker. Just give me an opportunity to create my art in my own way. I will take direction, but I need time to do it well. Given the right conditions, I will work hard for you.
If it's my day to work, I will give you a good day's labor. If you don't over-tax this old 50+ year-old memory, I will be off-book and ready to go by the deadline. If you make demands of me that this middle-aged woman can do (without it killing her), it will all come together and it will work.
Sigh..... I wish it really was my day off from work today. A nice, relaxing cup of coffee sounds really nice right now.
