#11 rehearsal good times

trekked to rehearsal a bit under the weather with an actress even worse off than I...

much work is needed. we ran through lines, tinkered with a few spots the invited audience on Friday had then ran through the show. much work is needed.

work tonight will be with Ian then Gina then Gina and Joe. troubled spots and spots to play with. work work work.

work.

work

work

rehearsals #7 to #10

"The pages are still blank, but there is a miraculous feeling of the words being there, written in invisible ink and clamoring to become visible." – Vladimir Nabakov

the stage was bear. over the course of the week we have filled it with a play...

#7 - Tuesday we completed blocking the show and then ran through the whole thing to see it in action.

#8 - Wednesday we played 4 Square to build our sense of community with each other as well as to have fun. Glenn took square 4 in the end and wouldn't let it go...relentlessly.

#9 - Thursday no one knew their lines. it is best we forget this day except that bad days bring forth better days.

#10 - Friday was a better day. we blocked the brief fight scene and then ran through a few of our trouble spots from Thursday. the Designers plus were in the house and we had a run through that made me smile on more than one occasion. props to the cast for their hard work. it will be fun to shape the show this week and put it up the next.

come see our work February 8 - 18, 2007 at the side project theatre (1439 West Jarvis); Thu-Sat @ 8PM, Sun @ 2PM. Call Box office 773.412.8089 for reservations.

rehearsal #6 plus

we are on our feet and at the Three Pear Studios for the next two weeks. Friday night we listened to music selected by the actors, each piece reflecting their character in thought, feeling, etc. a nice selection preluding our sharing stories of past lovers. afterwards we got on our feet and started blocking the show. i prefer blocking an initial blueprint for us to deconstruct and build anew as the days go by. everyone was very receptive to the work and new revelations about the show surfaced. we got through half and will do the rest on Tuesday. kudos!

on Saturday afternoon, Madeline and I drove around Chicago distributing postcards on the show to coffeeshops, bookstores, theatres, other art venues, etc. a very tiring day. we sat down at the Moroccan restaurant on Ashland afterwards and froze our asses off. we decided it was not in the cards to sample their fare so off we went to the warmer climate of Buenos Aires Forever (also on Ashland). the empanadas were delicious and the steak I had was grilled just right. i like this place and hope to get back there soon. after the meal we went on over to the Goodman Theatre to see August Wilson's Radio Golf. I thoroughly enjoy everything that Wilson puts out and I thought the production was well handled. Golf did seem to be missing some of the verve that most of Wilson's plays have and I can't help but think that if he hadn't died shortly after writing, there would have been further development of the script. in all, his legacy as one of the greatest American playwrights is still intact.

sunday, the Bears won! as did the Colts. I got to see, or hear most of the Bears game, though I passed out for much of the second quarter. The Saints came marching a bit too early and ran out of steam as the Bears home field advantage took its toll. I missed the Colts game to see the Silk Road Ensemble play at Pick-Staiger in Evanston. I can't think of anything else better to replace the game. the first half of the program was Chamber music from CSO and another group. I didn't care for either of the pieces, but the musicians were quite impressive, especially the clarinetist of the second piece. I knew this was not why Madeline dragged me away from my couch, so I waited patiently for Silk Road to come on stage. Well worth the wait. Not only was their music top notch, the community the musicians had with each other was great to watch. Being a musician who has played in multiple band settings, I could tell this was a treat for all the members of the Ensemble. to be able to play this music with each other was truly a gift and they all expressed that to the audience. it has been said before and it will be said again, music connects beyond borders. read more about the Silk Road Ensemble and the work Yo Yo Ma is doing with it and you will be kicking yourself for not coming to the show...but they are around and everyone will have a chance to see them. Don't miss it.

#5.3

exploration and inhabitation. we put joe and cherry under the light in search of the truth. who has the bomb? appears joe, though he is very protective of it as the bomb will harm those it comes into contact with. very tight. love these guys. gina and ian began to realize the depth of their relationship in a cat and mouse chase. i saw them for the first time. bravo!

we drank at T's on Thursday night. we didn't stay until the am, but we had a good turn out and thank everyone who made it in support. John Szostek from Piccolo even came and we've decided not to have such a formal relationship, but to have fun while building the website for Piccolo and the Depot. this makes both of us extremely happy.

tonight we make the Three Pear our home for the next two weeks. an actual rehearsal space to evolve in. the show opens in three weeks less a day. buy your tickets today by calling 773.412.8089.

for more information visit us online at www.livewirechicago.com

rehearsals #5.2

great strides were made by Ian and Cherry last night. the struggle and tension between the two has budded nicely. bravo!

i've given some directions taken out of Edgar Allan Poe's story The Murders in the Rur Moregue. in our play there is some time when the characters are addressing each other, but are not in direct connection with one another. the following is something from Poe that I asked the actors to take with them during these sections:

I took the pistols, scarcely knowing what I did, or believing what I heard, while Dupin went on, very much as if in a soliloquy. I have already spoken of his abstract manner at such times. His discourse was addressed to myself; but his voice, although by no means loud, had that intonation which is commonly employed in speaking to some one at a great distance. His eyes, vacant in expression, regarded only the wall.

-

another great opportunity has arose from this production. Bill Rattner from Lawyers for the Creative Arts has agreed to be a Guest Speaker after our show Thursday, February 15. His encite into Copyright Law and Fair Use will go well with the play and spice up this hot button issue for all attending. Be there by reserving your tickets today! Call the Box Office at 773.412.8089.

visit us online at www.livewirechicago.com for more info.

rehearsal #5.1

i believe I stated this before, but we have truly gotten to the essence of these characters. their souls are breathing in the minds of these actors. we played with Joe and Gina last night. exploring the action of their relationship within the play. laughs were had along with moments of true inspiration. Joe's journey during the Constrictor parts came across crystal clear. Gina's monologue is even more tits coming out of the actor's mouth than it was when I wrote it.

have I said this will be one fuck of a show?

BUY TICKETS NOW!!!
box office # is 773.412.8089

visit us online at www.livewirechicago.com for more info

You Haven’t Not Gone Knot Crazy

Sitting on the floor with a rope and a cocktail. Reading a book on tying. Ropery, if you will.

Jim sings “turn out the lights.” Biting a rope, and time.
The music is not over. Crossword puzzles are strewn.
Cleveland has been wet, however, it’s not a wet city.

Rabbit and Dianna, the two of you are so not uncool.
I will miss many things when I’m gone.
Chicago isn’t not a wet city, however.
I haven’t never wanted this more.

-Benjamin D. Bain
January 12, 2007

#4.4 and beyond

glenn came by on Friday and we had an outstanding time. he has truly connected with his character. i gave him a new monologue and it fit right in with the play. the week went by really fast and everything went accordingly. all actors came in prepared. each and every one of them came to some sort of new revelation about either their character, the play or themselves. it was a fascinating time. uncovering truth.

i reworked the script, added a few bits and pieces then handed the new script off the the cast and crew to start on this week. we're doing scene work for the next three days, then there is a FUNDRAISING BENEFIT on thursday (which you are all invited to, more info at www.livewirechicago.com). Friday we move into the Three Pear rehearsal space. I'm stoked about this move and can't wait to settle in for two and a half weeks of playing with this shit on our feet. it will be one fuck of a show I tell you.

on a exciting side note, ms. madeline long had two auditions on Saturday and got parts from both. what a day! she'll be seen in LiveWire's upcoming production of The Love of the Nightingale (playing the chorus member Iris, and the goddess Aphrodite); then in June, she'll be resurrected in the side project theatre's Raised, an original script by Stephen Cone (she's got the lead!).

and now for something completely different (see above)

#4.3

3 down and 1 to go. the script is developing nicely with the help of these fine actors and my ad/sm rebekah. the always enchanting ms. Barlow was in attendance last night and had much to say, including the addition of some reference material, a quote from Lance Armstrong about the crux between paitence and impaitence. i question you, which type of person is the one who gets the goat? moves up the ladder fastest? and in turn, which one has longevity? lives a happier and healthier life?

#4.2

deborah proud is in high contention for the gold medal actress award. you see, I sent all the actors a question to ponder instead of stressing over the script this week. my goal was to spark a conversation that would be had at these one on ones this week.

mrs. proud came to rehearsals last night with an essay on the question. she had asked her co-workers to answer the question as well, so we got to think about what an actress thinks of the question as well as the working class. it was a director's dream.

rehearsal #4.1

this week we meet one on one to grip at the soul of each character. props to mr. dennis for being the first to start on this journey. he has the longest way to go, the farthest journey of them all and he is on the path to...

friday night rehearsal #3

from a wide angle lens you would assume this was a terrible rehearsal. actors and management were sick, not only in the physical viral type way but in the attitude towards humanity type way. it is a rehearsal most would soon like to forget. i presented some images for the actors to view. read some krishnamurti. handed out the krishnamurti and Pinter's Nobel Prize Lecture. we then read a brief scene four ways. moved to the final scene then inserted the brief scene into the final scene. where are we? what is my character saying? i can tell you are frustrated. it's a place I know actor's hate to be, but an essential one for the process. all will become clear and the realization that nothing will be unclear to the audience will be met. i know this only through this rehearsal. through not knowing. ambiguity to clarity. we read the entire play and it was only 25 minutes. i aim for 50 minutes. nothing is impossible. we're excited to take this script and create something new that we'll look back on the draft we brought to the table reads wondering if it is in fact the same...surety.

production meeting tonight! excited to continue on rolling with those cats. environment in action. tally ho!

rehearsal #2

deborah discovered the secret behind section VI
glenn can see the cracking at the gate
erin is gelling with it all
chris is heading and directing all the right questions

i'm in awe

costumes sound inviting
the music felt good

time & space
another lover

we'll put it all together tonight then part company for a week to work on the soul of each individual character. the mind is racing. once the soul is in heat the body will have nothing left to do, but follow.

you will all enjoy this show.

coming soon

www.livewirechicago.com

rehearsal #1

impulse
to create
incite
change
unity of all
relationships

this is why we are doing theatre.

Ian is dying
Cherry is trying to hold on
Gina is confessing
and Joe is cleaning up the mess

the theft, a final encounter, cherry's dream, the constrictor (Parts I, II & III), ian's delusion, ian dies & the rub

hope & curiosity

scene one: a man stands on the side of the road. witness to a horrible car wreck. he may lose a loved one.

scene two: the loved one emerges. survived. the man is overcome...

A/other Lover premieres February 8th at the side project theatre.

more info at www.livewirechicago.com

what the blog?

rehearsals start this evening for A/other Lover, which I've written and am now directing. i am anxious to begin the rehearsal process and am stoked about the cast and crew involved. a friend once told me that the writer's question is "what do I want the audience to think?" the directors question is "what do I want the audience to feel?" as the writer/director I must answer both questions...

what do I want the audience to think when they see A/other Lover?

I want them to think about truth, art and politics. I want them to think that truth is not so easy to come by. I want them to think that art is only as true as the artist. I want them to think about the politics of business and relationships; how it parallels our current state of affairs.

I want them to think about a moving story within a piece of art that unfolds before their eyes through the gift of four actors who have so inhabited four characters on a journey in search of a single truth that can only be revealed if someone is listening.

what do I want the audience to feel when they see A/other Lover?

I want them to feel a motion from ambiguity to certainty; from negative to optimistic; from dubious to surety. I want them to feel ardent towards their own search for the truth that lays within this play.

I want them to feel a trustworthiness from some characters and be suspect of others. I want them to feel a union with the story as a whole.

I want them to feel a simple pleasure that can only be impressed by enduring a dense storm. I want them to feel like they have survived a car wreck.

do you wish to think? do you wish to feel? join us.

show info at www.livewirechicago.com

A Happy sad Song

Yet another sleepless night.
Spooning only my notepad, I start to think.

I’m constantly daydreaming, of making a movie.
    Or watching my son grow.
There’s so much to do in my young life.
So many places to be at one time.
    There’s so much to know.

Still facing this lonesome fight.
I’m so far off in space and I continue to think.

I’m constantly hearing, these lines from movies.
    “Are you talking to me?”
What’s my motivation, and what’s my line?
So many people to be at one time.
    Can’t you just let me be.

Once again these dreamless nights.
Everything goes numb and I cease to think.

I’m constantly feeling, like my life is a movie.
    Something Kaufman would write.
Everything is twisted. Nothing seems to fit.
So many things to be at one time.
    Got to keep things in sight.



--Benjamin D. Bain
December 31, 2006