Rehearsal started off with coffee and crossiants. Not a bad way to start the day. For our first rehearsal we started off by doing a read through of the script and answering any questions there where. I really wanted to see if the actors understood the underlying subtext throughout the plot. While doing the read through I asked them why Lizzy was so upset. After a few guiding questions and looking through the text, Colby realized that there was an affair in the relationship. I then proceeded to ask Colby why James was acting the way he was. This started our conversation into what 'The Dog' was about and the dynamic between the characters.
We discussed the difference between James motivations, the past, and Lizzy's motivation, the future, and how this created a conflict. We worked through the txt finding key turning points when the character's realize something or their emotions and why.
I discovered that maybe the best thing for me as director is just to throw this play up on it's feet. While I loved answering questions. It was less satisfying to explain the answers to the actors questions, instead of having them realize the answers through working through the script.
It would have also been helpful to do some movement work since one of the block ideas I want to work with is the idea of magnets that repel each other no matter how close they are pushed together.
Directing language is proving difficult to use. It is hard for me to not tell the character what their character 'feels' even when they ask.
I think next rehearsal I will take a step back and see 'The Dog' up on its feet and work from there. This way I can see how each actor interprets the text instead of just talking about how they interpret it.
Scheduling is also proving difficult due to massive amounts of sports conflicts. Hopefully this week we will make up for lost time.
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