What I did? Scenes one and three were about a drunk soldier (and his buddy) in a tent, his commander(s), and some other guys....though you honestly weren't sure what they were all about, because their line readings were totally unclear. Suffice it to say, you could tell this guy in the tent was important, was special, was needed by other people...and had no particular desire to comply with anyone's wishes. We made some good choices, and maybe did what we could with it without completely cutting both scenes. Scene two was a long-winded brother, who had maybe also been drinking and three well spoken brothers. And a woman who didn't seem too crazy to me. But they had class. All of them. And took themselves and their position seriously.
What I should have done? NOT told the guys in the tent they could drink the beer. Had someone be Agamemnon live from a phone downstairs. Rehearsed the second scene at least ONE MORE TIME! But maybe more importantly.... not done as much and done what I did do, better. Which is funny. I don't want to say I "should" have done this. But this was another option, and while I don't think I would have done this time differently, I would indeed do it differently next tme. I think for myself I need to have the experience of making my "crazy" (exciting) ideas come alive, and that will take all of our collective energy. SO it requires people who are behind the idea ( which limits the number of people available) and really making sure we land on the idea. What I keep hearing myself saying is that I know I can teach acting, i know I can get people to say the lines right. So if i believe that, its that much MORE important that I be pushing the things that set my directorial work, my holistic ideas, apart from other people.
But I wholeheartedly believe that I made the decisions that led to last night purposefully. And I learned alot about myself and about the piece because of it. And that is what I wanted. I experienced authentic failure, and it felt so good.
