MY OVERALL THOUGHTS ON MY TECH AND MY DEVELOPING PERFORMANCE.
Well I have just had my tech for my upcoming and looming solo performance, i’m terrified and honestly fearful that my vision will come across effectively. One major problem I feel I had while undergoing my tech was lighting and overall staging, this of course is easily solved with rethinking my working vision. Currently I have set my staging in a warped version of traverse and avenue (confusing I know) The real problem I felt with my staging was overall direction in terms of what and how an audience would see as a strong connection albeit one that requires me to elevate my sarcasm in order to mock my own work. Sadly due to time constraints and the time it took to rig my window, (yes there is a large white wooden window I’ll get to that later.) I think overall that my staging is effective and does create a highly personal relationship that will elevate my performance, however I just wish that I had more time during my tech to run through my lines and get an overall feel for the space as often as a “actor” I use the term lightly, being in a space is the best way to see what you are capable and able to achieve in the given space. I also feel after my rigging I need to re-edit my music as potentially it could be to melodic or have to long a running time. Essentially this is just a rant and my overall thinking on performance and tech. I think the real genius of solo performance is that in someway everything is personally connected in some form or another a personal reflection of yourself, and I really hope that when I preform I exploit this in order to create a blase and immersive performance.
I also feel through drafts of my solo performance scripts I think that the window places less a role in terms of being a metaphor for the human psyche in relation to escapism, however still maintains a key role in establishing a connection to a mature audience and a emotional space. It also conveniently provides really effective writing opportunity’s for me as an actor and writer. (Can I say that?) I think using a window as a gateway to the outside world is really effective and is a nice way to ground it into the real world. (Also how can clouds projected onto it not look visually amazing or at least charming.) Rough theatre is so charming and honestly it needs to be seen more.
MY REALLY HONEST THOUGHTS.
If I’m honest further, I am also a little worried about my props or “ascetic” that my audience sees on stage as I would like to fill my stage with the most mundane props that an everyday person can see in their own intimate setting, I.e. bedroom or personal space. These objects in my head so far range from cardboard cut-outs of clouds and cups,plates biscuits and lollies and even a random printer thrown into the mix, basically I want my set to look boring while stylistic and thrown together. I honestly want the people watching my to think, “he has done fuck all to this performance.” If this happens I will have done myself proud. My performance is not pretentious and it is in itself an honest reflection on myself and my own psyche with a few self-help books and sometimes these are treasure chests for humor and general nonsense. My performance is messy and by god I think it works.
MY REALLY, REALLY HONEST THOUGHT!
(I’m not saying they don’t help individuals but let’s be honest there is a lot of money to be made in this profession.)
POSSIBLE PROBLEMS.
My tech might mess up: If this happens, well honestly if this happens it’s tough luck. I keep going.
People may not enjoy my performance: Yeah this could happen, most likely it will as some of the jokes are simply not funny and honestly I think me standing on stage picking up a white sheet and pretending it is the sky, I can see it now… silence. That should be fun to deal with.
I could forget my script: Honestly if this happens, I’ll most likely run away and just sit in a corner.
People may not find my interactivity effective: Every actor runs the risk of not connecting to their audience, however I think offering free food makes things a little easier and breaks down the barrier between performer and spectator. I also think that solo performance in essence needs a connection with a spectator and a effective writer I.e. Jamie Wood’s and Victoria melody do this better than most. I hope I too can capture this feeling.
My script might not be effective: Honestly yet again if this happens I feel it would be an interesting learning curve for me as an actor and aspiring writer, however I feel that I after several drafts and multiple reinventions I have created a whitty and cohesive script that might make one person smile.