Beginning Directing: You Must Call Me Sister!

In order to graduate with a theatre degree, you must take at least one semester of directing. Each director presents a scene in front of the entire department at Workshop. We are split up into groups so that about five scenes go up each Friday. The seniors (advanced directors) and grad directors also stage scenes, usually one scene at each end of the semester. I am in the beginning class and part of the Group 3 Clan, meaning that our rehearsal period started this Tuesday, October 7 and our scenes will be performed on October 24 (the next Workshop).

There are all sorts of parameters for these scenes, but for my class, we must take 5-7 minutes of a realistic play, using a scene that has only two characters. Our rehearsal period is two weeks (my group has longer because there is a random Friday holiday during our time - the actual number of rehearsals evens out) and we can rehearse an hour a day. Also, we must cast at least one freshman or transfer student.

My scene is from a play called Spike Heels by Theresa Rebeck. It is about a low-class girl (Georgie) who tries to "make it." She moves to the city and meets a man (Andrew) in her apartment building who tries to help her by getting her a job at a law office and teaching her how to act in society. In his effort to help her, he winds up losing sight of her humanity. The scene takes place between Georgie and Andrew's fiancé (Lydia). Lydia has come barging into Georgie's apartment (this is the first time they meet) and degrades Georgie while accusing of having a fling with Andrew. Georgie retaliates and Lydia apologizes saying she was only upset because Andrew postponed their wedding. Lydia tries to leave, but Georgie convinces her to stay and they both lament the fact that the men in their lives can't help but be insensitive. The scene ends with them dancing as a way to unwind.

In The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde, Jack says to Algernon that his fiancé and his niece will call each other sister within thirty minutes of meeting each other. Algernon responds, "Women only do that when they have call each other a lot of other things first." Later, we are given the opportunity to see the girls brutally fight each other over a misunderstanding, then when the truth is revealed they find comfort in each other and they must call each other sister for they share the same suffering. This is my favorite joke in that play, so I am thrilled that it matches the plot of my scene.

An awesome scene is all good and well, but directing is new, awkward, and intimidating. My blessing is that my girls are great to work with and I feel like we are making very good progress. I will probably give a couple more updates, and certainly an update (with pictures!) at the end. In the meantime, wish me luck in a theatrical way!