This is my beautiful cast and directors of my short play, Thicker Than Wine which opens in a couple of days with Bindlestiff Studio in San Francisco. I think EVERYTHING is starting to hit me now, which I’ll get into in a bit. But first off, notes and directors.
So a couple of days ago, I went in to watch a rehearsal and I really liked what I saw. However doing theatre for a few years now, I can’t help but make notes. For those who don’t know, notes are comments made about a creation to make a project better. This can range from blocking, pacing, delivery, etc. After watching the rehearsal, I became very hesitant to give any of my notes to anyone. That’s the director’s role. And I have to respect that. That being said – this play is my baby, and while I know where my boundaries are, being a director myself, I kept my notes purely on what I felt the characters’ potential angles could go. I know, PC answer, but I have to trust in the actors as well. However, and that’s a BIG HOWEVER, if I see something that goes against the intentions of why I wrote a character to do something, then I have to let that be know. Hence, my lesson: as a playwright and as the creator of the character in the script, I reserved the right to say how I see a role be played. But there is a chain of command that should be followed in expressing these observations – go to the director! Don’t (and this was hard) approach the actor with your notes. To me, that’s unprofessional. It might be my vision on the page, but it’s the director’s vision for the stage. Even though I respect those levels, and because I respect those responsibilities, I felt comfortable in sharing my notes with her. Albeit, I was nervous at first. But I went with my gut, and sent her my observations and she received them well. Now, whether or not, she uses them, is up to her. But at least my conscience is clear.
good lesson.