Description
On May 29th, we went to see a performance proposal of August Strindberg's play "Acreedores".
Analysis
The concept and the vision were clear. The director and actors wanted us to focus on the use of the voice -and sensuality evoked by this- of the actors, rather than focusing on a complex set design or big body movements. It was interesting, and a clear example for a practical performance proposal, but...why did we all fall asleep? Would that make it a "unsuccessful" play?
Connections
ROMPER LA PIEL: a written play is something completely different from the staged play. One of the roles of the director is to adapt the play in a process where it may be cut..it may be changed... mainly according to the direction concept. In Romper la piel, the text was completely different from what happened on stage. Everything on stage denoted oppression and overwhelming for the main character, and there were many changes even in the script when it was said by the actors. Theatre is therefore a process, and a play changes "in the making" and does not only rely on the written text.
This idea of the direction concept also reminded me to an extent about PROYECCION PRIVADA and LA FALSA CRIADA: the idea of having a concept is that there should be a coherence in the play, and these two were plays where we couldn't find it. Things were put on stage 'because they looked nice'. In Acreedores, at least, I believe the concept was followed as the actors focused all the time in their voices. Maybe it didn't look 'nice' after a while but there was coherence in the way things were happening.
ROMPER LA PIEL also showed us that the final concept can be created during the process. The new concept that came out "did not cancel the previous one, but was the next step towards the way in which it was expressed on stage"'- Rob :)
This idea of the direction concept also reminded me to an extent about PROYECCION PRIVADA and LA FALSA CRIADA: the idea of having a concept is that there should be a coherence in the play, and these two were plays where we couldn't find it. Things were put on stage 'because they looked nice'. In Acreedores, at least, I believe the concept was followed as the actors focused all the time in their voices. Maybe it didn't look 'nice' after a while but there was coherence in the way things were happening.
ROMPER LA PIEL also showed us that the final concept can be created during the process. The new concept that came out "did not cancel the previous one, but was the next step towards the way in which it was expressed on stage"'- Rob :)
Reflection
The purpose of a direction concept is creating coherence in a play. Different concepts will be able to create completely different approaches to connect with the audience, and different proposals to put on stage the written play. Oriented by this concept, the text will not be equal to the final product, as it is what HAPPENS on stage what transforms completely the audience's experience. The fact that we fell asleep does not mean that the play was "wrong". It followed a concept, which gave it coherence, but maybe lacked that intimacy wanted WITH the audience. Moreover, the play was extreeeeeemely long for that proposal. Would more changes in the lighting and in the 'mood' have made the play more dynamic for us? I would like to see if how the play works in a stage such as the one used in "HEBRAS" or in the scenes between Dysart and Alan in my PPP. Does an introverted acting style require a smaller space?