Today I had an excellent, excellent rehearsal with three of my wonderful actors.
My lead, Kyle (Frank) killed it, as per the usual, but today was my first block of time with Luke, who plays a bartender named Gabe. This is my second time working with him – the first was as a fellow actor in a reading of Tooth And Claw last month. This was my first interaction with him as a director, however, and he’s outrageously humble – he takes direction so well, and shows me nothing but respect. He’s unafraid to get emotional and psychological with his character, and he follows his impulses without hesitation. I’m so glad that I chose to cast him.
And then there was the couple-work. Sam (Marissa) and Kyle ran through “The Fourth Scene: Awkward Coffee”, and GUH. Kyle sold his hurt and bitterness like whoa, and we blocked their parting hug at the end of the scene. The stage directions read like so:
[They stand at the same time, and go to say to goodbye, but once again aren't sure how to do it. Eventually, they share an awkward hug, and then the hug becomes warm. MARISSA is the one who pulls back first. She is holding back tears. She waves and exits quickly left. FRANK watches her, and waves belatedly.]
They hugged, and Frank sank into it with such grief, and I could see Marissa’s eyes over his shoulder shining with tears, and good lord, I started crying.
Overall, a great rehearsal.
We moved on to running through the big love song, What Love Sounds Like, and after running through once, I told em “Great. Now do it again, and you’re kissing this time.” So they did. It was lovely. So I made ‘em do it four more times.
I recorded the last two runs before calling it a day.
You can listen to it here: What Love Sounds Like (Live in Rehearsal).
Enjoy.
Pingback: Salting the Wound | I Live Among Lions