That is just crazy.
In a very good way.

Acting on a stage. I did that once. That was enough. I even got a little award — best male performance out of 4 plays with 50 other men in the casts. But I couldn’t have done it if the audience had existed for me … or if it had been me (not a character I became) on the stage. The thing that threw me was that I rehearsed the part thinking the character was an energetic, dynamic young man and, on the day of the show, they put flour in my hair and told me that I was supposed to be very old. I decided it was too late to play the part any differently than I had rehearsed it and it woked. I was 13 but even then, I didn’t think you had to be young to be passionate and have ideals. The audience didn’t make a sound when I was on stage and I didn’t want to know they were there, so I was grateful that they didn’t. So I don’t know what it’s like to have an audience reaction, feed on it and respond to it.

I have had that kind of experience in a handful of personal conversations in my life where people have really got caught up in what I was saying and reacted. It’s kind of sad that I have only had that happen a few times in 52 years. I usually don’t get a chance to talk enough to convince anyone that I might have something interesting to say before I’m tuned out. But when those moments happen, they can resonate through your life for years. [3 years ago ... Metropolis, Illinois ... 2 or 3 minute conversation with Michael Rosenbaum ... still sticks with me. Another conversation I had 34 years ago with a total stranger will probably always shine as a brilliant moment in my life ... even though I can't exactly remember what I said.]

With writing, I’m alone by myself or alone in a crowd and everyone is oblivious to what I am creating. So there is no immediate feedback … usually no feedback at all. And feedback is what keeps you on course. A stand up comic knows when he’s off course because of the crowd’s reaction or lack of … and he/she can steer back towards something that works. Steering is a topic in itself. In a boat, you can’t steer once and get on course. The correction will send you back across the desired path but momentum will take you on past that path until you make another course correction … which again will take you across the path and beyond. Steering is a lifetime activity.

At least on the forum, there is a view count so I can see that there have been about 4000 views of the stories I posted there. But whether it is enjoyment of the stories or people’s impulse to view road kill that keeps the count going up, who can [will?] say?

====

So my day was one of destruction and construction. I kicked a shower stall to pieces, tore up roomfulls of carpets, broke apart bath room vanities … but I also installed ceiling fans and light fixtures. And I had a transformer on an electric pole 22 feet away from me blow up … at least part of it. Strange days.

nice Vids. its nice to act any where i once made a play with my school it was realy fun i was Pontius Pilate in jesus Christ Superstar its realy nice to make those things and we actualy made it on a round stage so we cant use an escenography. but well hope you have fun

It is wonderful all the things you’re learning about yourself.

I’m happy for you that you enjoy performing on stage. I wish that many more opportunities will come your way to do theatre.

I’d like to see pictures and/or more vidéo blogs.
I read that Crossed Wirdes is based on an e e cummings poem “somewhere I have never travelled, gladly beyond”.
Can you please tell us more about the story, what it is exactly that you’ve all put to together (music, singing, dance, art, multi-lingual performance,…)?
And, what character do you play?
thanks

Enjoy your stay and enjoy yourself on stage.

You know, I was thinking. . . I’ve never had a chance to visit a hundreds of years old castle. Maybe you could check out a couple of those old fortresses in your travels.

Ha, ha! All of a sudden I think of “Midnight Movie Madness” that was a part of my generation’s audience participatory movement, that transcended live actors. Ha!

This is ‘it’ for me. I “lose” according to those old ass paradigms. They really need the comfort of the-I-can’t-do-it-til-you-pay-me!

Congratulations in “CrossedWires” reaching opening night, each of you should be very proud!

I’m so glad you are getting such a blast out of performing on stage.

I love film, television and reading …..but with theatre, sitting in the audience, it’s the being in the moment of a live performance, knowing that anything could happen, each performance is slightly different, as the actors, directors and lighting techicians shape, adapt each show as they go…it’s so exciting!

Keep having fun

Ciao Allison

Theatre is great!!
The audience has the sensation to be linked with the actor and, in somehow, to have a part in the performance, and the actors can fell directly its sensations and reactions.

I saw the videos, it seems you have a fine company!

ciao ciao

Thanks for sharing the videos Allison. You have a great group of friends working with you. Hope opening night went well for you.

Allison I am glad you are enjoying yourself. I hope opening night goes well.

Oh my. Being on stage and sharing that relationship with an audience is the greatest high and most organic thing in the world. (Sure, orgasmic, too.) To be honest, to be connected, to take that journey together. For me, I still haven’t found anything greater than that. Yet.

Somehow I missed this entry yesterday.
This explains your goals for your Blog too, perhaps?

You say: “The exchange between viewer and performer is the most intimate and beautiful conversation.”

My time in front of groups of people is very limited, and was usually too stressful of an time for me to experience anything more than:
A.) They are bored.
B.) They are confused.
C.) They are listening and what I am saying is coherent.

There is more obviously…
…what is it that you experience back from the viewer?

I can refer to audience scenes of “The Illusionist”, or from episodes of “Seinfeld”, etc… for common reference, but I’ve never been part of your “live audience”, and audience of TV/Film certainly isn’t making it back to you through time, transmission, and media.

Are you referring to an exchange of “experiences” between viewer and performer? Or emotions?

I can understand the concept of “conversing emotions”, as you as performer are putting emotion into your performance, creating the experience of the play, and the audience then responds with some natural emotion (although unawares usually) while watching the performance.

A verbal conversation is between two or more people who can if they desire, equally input… it doesn’t seem to me the performer/audience conversation of emotion, can (or ought) to be as equal.

I mean imagine if someone in the audience stood up, started to walk around, and interact with the performers on the stage? That would change the performance to being a verbal conversation, between the stage, and those standing in the audience.

So back to the Blog comparison…
You make an entry… that’s like you doing a performance in front of an audience.
We comment… and if you read our comments, that can be like you getting a sense of emotion from the audience.
If you reply to our comments as a whole in a new Blog entry, then you keep the exchange at the performer/audience level.
If your reply directly to our comments, then it changes to being a verbal conversation with someone in your audience.

So outside the theatre, will you be manipulating the expression of your emotions to insure you get that joyous experience of the theatre?
Or will you be willing to simply share your raw honest emotions, and to take those same raw honest emotions from the people you are with?

And are you open to the experience of negative emotions that real life inevitably tosses up on occasion? Or will you be filtering everything through rose-colored glasses, and accept only the positive?

I hope your time in Prague is going and will continue to go well.

Sincerely,
-Someone standing in the audience.

Hi, Alli: That’s right! It is amazing to act in a theatre because you can feel audience’s feelings and reactions!

I wish you the best of this Universe!!!! I send you a lot of positive energy from Argentina!!!!!

Ornella.