Day 2: What a day!

I woke up and was a little sluggish to get out of bed.  I just missed the first metro i have to take, then i just missed the next one at the transfer... I told myself it was going to be a good day regardless and that i needed to shake the slug off for it to be a good day.  I arrived at where the bus was to take us to the cartoucherie and saw the driver was not there, though the bus was at the stop.  I had just enough time to grab a cafe to go at the local cafe and board the bus... things were looking up!

Day 2:  Ariane announced that we would be working on the chorus today, and that she would only be working with half of the group today.  The group is arranged in alphabetical order by first name... so i was in the second half and not supposed to perform today.

Everyone made groups of 14, boys and girls were separate.  The choruses were to be led by members of Theatre du soliel.  One actor of their actors was choryphee (chorus leader) and the group would follow them as they moved along with the music that was playing.  She said, we don't know, but maybe, MAYBE one of you will be able to play choryphee... we have to wait and see if it happens....

It was great cause she said, "I have no idea what will happen today, this is how i start.  I start and I look.  I wait to see what will happen".

Watching her work with every group she is so precise in her observations and very patient to allow things the time and space it needs... (on a side note, at one point we returned from a break and she "shhhshed" the crowd asking for silence, which she then went on to say: silence is space.  It is giving the space for something to happen, allowing room for something to breath.  That generosity and attention is what an audience gives at the start of a show)  There was a lot of talk today about starting.  How do you begin?  how you need to be ready before you enter the stage, not two steps in.

She worked with the groups, playing with two different choruses at the same time.  She focused on the etat (state) of the actors playing, the emotions they played, the connection of having 14 people playing at the same time, where people were looking, the internal rhythm...exploring the distance between the chorus and the choryphee, finding stops and not dancing.

"It isn't about what the music is speaking of...but rather what it could speak of that is important"

"you have to refuse to do the thing you think you want to do and in the tension of that refusal, you will let go and be free to do the thing that needs to be done".

Again, we were watching her explore and research, figuring out ways in which to help the actors play better.  She spoke to one of her actors who was having difficulty and remarked that he was too tense and full of emotion.  If you are too full, you are not able to receive any more, you have to stay open to everything around you and be able to recieve it.

After lunch, we continued to work through all the groups, and she asked the group, is there anyone who would like to attempt to try and be a choryphee.  A handful of hands went up, one was mine, however another said "ME!" and he was chosen.  He went up and led the chorus of men.  It was very hard to do.  She stopped him once, saying it was too much dance, and he was a virtuoso, but that it is more important that his group is able to follow him.  He went one more time and she stopped again, making very clear observations as to why it wasn't building and how it kept falling into dance, whereas our search was to find charcters in emotional states and situations with a chorus.  As she was making her comments, i was listening, and as she turned around...just as she was finished speaking I stood up.  she was about to ask if anyone wanted to try again and saw me and said "yes, Ravi, go."

My heart pounded as i made my way down to the stage!  I took off my shoes, and sweater (we're wearing layers cause it is cold in there) and ran up to take my place.  One of the actors from the company who was holding the curtains, put her hand on my chest and said, "stay calm".  I think i was so full of energy and ready to go that i must have looked nervous... I was fucking nervous!  The music began and I entered with the chorus behind me.  I was half dancing, half searching for the emotion and situation, but having an amazing time!  I felt the audience reacting, i was playing with the music and had the force of the group behind me.  I noticed Mme. Mnouchkine was getting the actors from the company to form a chorus to enter while we played, so i positioned myself in time with the music and looked in their direction for them to enter.  She screamed to them "NOW! enter! now now, its the time!".  As they came in, we played a little and then she stopped us.  I was out of breath.

She complimented us, commenting that i fell in and out of the dance, but there was so much joy and pleasure, that the search and struggle was interesting to watch.  She could see the potential for the drama to emerge as the two choruses met, and that maybe they could fall in love or something.  The point was she could see a drama could be borne.  She asked us to go again, and for us to search.

This time i was more calm, came out and forced myself to not dance and find the situation.  Somehow i found myself improvising with the music shaking imaginary hands and kissing imaginary babies.  It was funny and fun to play and when the other chorus entered we played well.  When it was over i was on cloud nine.  I felt so free and had a great time up there and was proud of myself.  I played well!  It was nice because people here are so supportive that i got many hugs and pats on the back throughout the rest of the day!  I am humble enough to know that today was just now in this moment, and that i have to be focused and ready for a new day...but i will enjoy it a little more before i head to bed.

I've been thinking a lot about why I am here and how much i am learning simply by just being here, let alone playing and watching Ariane work.  She said, "the choryphee unites the chorus".  He/She drives it and allows them to be free and themselves because there is that structure, which he/she leads.  He/She is there for them, and they are there for him/her.

watching her work specifically with her own actors you realize that she is the choryphee for this chorus, troup, ensemble.  She is outside pushing, focusing, organizing, helping them to seek another level of performance and focus and energy within themselves, and they are there to inspire her and question and push her back.  This relationship and dynamic is so important to the artistic process and to be able to create.  You need someone to push you, who is there for you and whom you can be there for.  So there is a purpose, a need.

She ended the day by answering questions.  One of which was that this workshop is about improvisation, but also masked play.  Playing in a truthful way that is masked.  The chorus is a mask.  We will also be playing with the masks of Bali and Commedia, which i can not wait for!

I have seen her work with people only in video and it was some of the best acting lessons i have ever seen.