Sue's News

On Track

July 31st, 2009

We had our first read through of “Chrysalis” last night.

It was interesting to see the chemistry between the actors, who up until this point, had only one chance to meet, briefly.

Each brought his or her own take of the play to the table.

And then we all had our own takes to add.

Seven of us sat around in a circle, talking about the work, and the real people we know who are living similar experiences.

Beyond talking about the work, the real life experiences that everyone brings to the table is my favorite part.

Like Millie, who kept her passion for painting, and the paintings themselves a secret in the attic for so many years… someone’s grandmother was doing puzzles in the basement for years, amassing a huge collection, which she had shellacked and everything… Her grandmother now does her puzzles upstairs on the coffee table.

Someone else spoke of a marriage where he barely said more than a handful of words to his wife on a daily basis, and they lived that way for eighteen years.

Someone else mentioned how her mother is finally embracing her inner artist, after years of denying herself and her talent, just because someone told her she wasn’t good enough — and how liberated her mom feels sharing what’s been in her heart all these years.

I love hearing all these “real” stories because it’s a reminder that I’m on the right track… I could come up with crazy stories with spectacle coming out of your ears… but that’s not what I’m really interested in for the most part… I want real stories about real people to touch the real people in the audience. With just a basic reading last night, I saw I’ve already done that.

I think this show might have a bigger impact than I initially realized… This is gonna be good.

–Sue

Entry Filed under: Uncategorized