Week 6: Body Parts
February 20, 2012
9 December 2011
During the run of Twelfth Night, Nick Day, who plays Sir Toby Belch, lost his trousers. To be fair to Nick, Cecilia Noble, who plays Maria, pulls them off in the play. But I think Cecilia and Nick approached the move with a bit more gusto, and perhaps a little less caution than usual. One thing led to another, and not only were the trousers down, so were his pants. And there you have it: six weeks in, and we're getting naked. Can you think of a better way to build company unity?
When we took a company day-trip to Stratford-upon-Avon, our first stop was the costume and wig department.
'There's not a man I meet but doth salute me
As if I were their well-acquainted friend,
And every one doth call me by my name…
Even now a tailor call'd me in his shop
And show'd me silks that he had bought for me,
And therewithal too measure of my body.'
(The Comedy of Errors. IV. iii. 1-9.)
It's like a trip to the doctor. Every part of my body was assessed from multiple angles. I was also asked if I'd prefer a right- or left-handed sword. Though I'm more likely to carry an AK-47 than a sword in these modern interpretations of the plays, I responded by the method, 'right-handed, please.'
Next we did a voice and movement workshop in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, where we will be playing from March.
'…Vouchsafe my prayer
…that you will some good instruction give
How I may bear me here.'
(The Tempest. I. ii. 423-425.)
If being on that thrust stage for the first time doesn't simultaneously excite and intimidate you, please write back and tell me your secret.
At the newly-refurbished Royal Shakespeare Theatre, every seat is within 15 metres of the stage. The audience should be able to see and hear everything that happens in the plays. But with the audience on three sides, the RST presents a particular challenge: our voices have to reach every audience member, even if she is behind us.
We ended the week back at our rehearsal studios in London, taking our attention to The Comedy of Errors. This means Nizar Zuabi is now at the helm as director. As we all adjust to new characters in a new play, we're also adjusting to a new directorial style and approach. It's exciting to see the cast prove its versatility in response to these changes.
Photo: Actors Cecilia Noble and Nick Day, playing Maria and Sir Toby Belch in Twelfth Night, Emelia and Egeon in The Comedy of Errors, and Juno and Gonzalo in The Tempest.
by Ankur Bahl
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