I began my apprenticeship (chronicled in about eight blog posts here, on this blog) excited for the chance to work all summer on Shakespeare, but not even fathoming the depth that I would explore and the experience that I would have. We all met, and began our classes, knowing that some of us would be particpating in a seperate project with Dev, and no more than six of us would be cast in the main stage production with Commonwealth Shakespeare Company. When they read off those six names, it took me all of my might not to squeal with joy at being called to be in All's Well That Ends Well.
We were sent to the CSC offices later that week to give our best monologues to Steve Maler, the director and one of the founders of CSC. (Slightly nerve-wracking, yes). I chose to use one of my Lady Percy monologues, as I was feeling quite confident with it. After the six of us were finished, we sat down and discussed what it would be like for us as apprentices, understudies and ensemble members in the production, and when we would receive news of our roles. First rehearsal, I was a MESS! I was super excited and hyper, but trying to be as professional as I could be. Listening to our AMAZING cast even just do a read through, I knew I was in for an eye-opening experience.
I got the news a few days later that I had been chosen to be the first understudy to Kersti Bryan, who was playing Helena. If you don't know All's Well, she is the center character. I was at once humbled and over-joyed. And IMMEDIATELY began learning my lines. I wanted to make sure that if I were ever called upon, that I would be ready, more than ready. Also, Helena is such a strong and wonderful character to inhabit, and I wanted to give her due time to study and really step into her shoes. I posted once about briefly playing Helena in an audition I went to, and how connected I felt to the character.
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| Studying Helena lines at my station in the Women's Dressing room. Almost always what I was doing when I wasn't on stage. |
My view of Helena: I found through this rehearsal process; working alongside Steve, Kersti and the rest of the cast, that Helena is one of the oddest female characters you might come across in Shakespeare's cannon. To scratch the surface; she knows exactly what she wants, and she flies by the seat of her pants to get it. Whether or not it (it being Bertram, her love) is worth the struggle in the end, the audience is left wondering and deciding for themeselves. Helena is beautiful, and very smart. You can see that she tries to plot every detail of her very involved plan, but as fate would have it, everything goes amiss and she has to think on her feet. Luckily, she has the equipped strength of character to do it. I think that the best insight into her character is actually the monologue I used in that audition (Act I, sc. iii):
Then I confess
Here on my knee before high heaven and you,
That before you, and next unto high heaven,
I love your son.
My friends were poor but honest; so's my love.
Be not offended, for it hurts not him
That he is loved of me. I follow him not
By any token of presumptuous suit,
Nor would I have him till I do deserve him;
Yet never know how that desert should be.
I know I love in vain, strive against hope;
Yet in this captious and intenible sieve
I still pour in the waters of my love,
And lack not to lose still. Thus, Indian-like,
Religious in mine error, I adore
The sun that looks upon his worshipper
But knows of him no more. My dearest madam,
Let not your hate encounter with my love,
For loving where you do; but if yourself,
Whose agèd honor cites a virtuous youth,
Did ever in so true a flame of liking
Wish chastely and love dearly, that your Dian
Was both herself and Love, O, then give pity
To her whose state is such that cannot choose
But lend and give where she is sure to lose;
That seeks not to find that her search implies,
But, riddle-like, lives sweetly where she dies.
I loved playing her passion, her courage and her knowledge. She is a character that will not leave me for a long time. Kersti was amazing in the role, and her approach was fascinating. Like Helena, Kersti has a fierce presence and a fragility to her that was beautiful to see. She is an inspiring actress, mentor and friend to me, I will cherish learning from her.
As for my other characters, there were three; the main one being a servant girl, whom we affectionly named Bernice. Bernice was a servant in the Countess' house. Bernice was not very bright, everything she did had to be re-done by Renaldo (the head servant, played by Wayne Fritsche). All my blocking as Bernice was either following or being instructed (and re-instructed) by Renaldo (Wayne) so I created (for myself) a very lively, bunny-like maid character, hoping only to add to the world we were creating for All's Well. My other two characters were only present in one scene each, one was a courtier I named Maeve (for this I got to wear a BEAUTIFUL sky blue and creme colored costume (detail shot coming up!)). And the last was a rather saucy maid living in Florence, who oogles all the solidiers coming home from war. As a part of a long-winded, play-related joke, I named her Fontibell. These characters I am describing are the results of where I took my ensemble roles to deepen the world we were creating. If they sound silly, so be it. It is a comedy after all. Was I mainly focusing on studying Helena? A little. But did I have fun with my characters? You bet your bottom dollar I did.
To close, I have not, nor could I ever write down the amount I learned from being in this production. There are too many great actors to list, praise and thank, crew members to worship and far too many great things I have taken into myself as an actress, that have changed me for the better. Working with Steve Mahler on my first professional show was so wonderful. I have learned so much about not only acting, but Shakespeare, his words and language and his message we were trying to tell with our story.
As I have said, I am beyond grateful for this experience. It confirmed my love for Shakespeare, tested my stamina and improved my acting! Thank you CommShakes! I hope to continuously be a part of this growing artistic family!
All the best,
Micah
P.S. I will conclude my Summer 2011 journey with CSC with a small picture barrage to show an insight of life at AWTEW.
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| Costumes! (All beautiful) |
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| Detail of one of my beautiful costume pieces! (For "Maeve's" costume) |
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| "Bernice" and A Gentlemen (aka me and Danny, fellow apprentice) |
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| Me and Kersti |
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| Set detail |
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| Lights! |
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| Doing Shakespeare in the evening, outside: GLORIOUS |
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| Just to show a snippet of our crowd sizes. (That's not even 1/8th of our typical crowd) |
Here's CommShakes' write up: http://www.commshakes.org/performances/performance/4
Links to Reviews of the piece: http://www.commshakes.org/press/news/news-item/6
Digging in! This is LJ's favorite sensory bin!
Creepy crawlies!!!
LJ loved his blue green "hulk" hands :)
Now, as we all know, the Special Needs Ryan Friday was Sunday's idea. She has been under the weather, as is her hubby, so she hasn't been able to take part. Please stop by her blog and show her some love, so she knows we are thinking of her! As for me, I made this Ryan, just for her!!!! <3
I love summer!!!! Swimming, cookouts, "schmaws" (smores in LJ speak) The best part, swimming tires my boy right out!!!
As always Ryan, you have the best ideas!!!!!!! 
Taking a stand against Autism and Ruminations!!
sippin' some zombie barf :P
Josie had to get in on the fun!
Zombie brains! Funny how other things make him gag, but not zombie brains, lol.
BUGS!!
First I rolled it over him....
time for some bouncing...
He loves to bounce!!!
now its a "horsie!"
this is how he occupied himself afterwards. He sat and lined up shells :) (yes, my antique table needs a nice refinishing, its on hubs T.D. list :D)
This one was cool. I started with an old ice cream bucket. My plan was to layer the ice in rainbow colors, but that was taking too long. (yes, momma often lacks patience too!) I gathered up some small toys of the boys. (Dollar Tree has lots of these things, that where most of ours come from.) I started with about 2 inches of water, added some toys, freeze. Repeat until bucket is full. Then its time to excavate. Liam chose the small hammers because his toys ones weren't strong enough to break the ice. SAFETY GLASSES were a must as the ice really full. (a few of the toys didn't make it :/ he was using the claws of the hammer and it broke the toys) NOTE: I must give credit where credit is due and I would like to thank COUNTING COCONUTS for this idea. 
This one was AUSOME!!!! I even got into this one!!!! First I started by making up different colors of water, and freezing in ice cube trays. Then I got a white sheet, and placed it on the table outside. Next, let your kiddos go to town!!!! When finished, hang to dry and you will have a gorgeous tie dyed sheet! My favorite was his little hand prints all over :) (ours got rained on, so today we have to redo it. Liam was NOT happy, but changed his mind when I told him he gets to do it again.) Again, credit where credit is due and for this idea I have to thank SHARE AND REMEMBER.
Enjoy the fun, we sure did!<3<3<3<3
Dying rice is the same way. We love our dyed rice too! (Neon food dyes do give brighter colors. We didn't have any left :/ )
We used thick fishing line to string ours. Plastic lanyard would have worked great, but of course Liam got into mine so it was nowhere to be found. The kids made some gorgeous necklaces :)
To make the ice cubes, simply dye some water, and pour into trays and freeze. Again, the neon dye was brighter and worker better. (blue was the only neon I had left and it worked much better for this)
good example of first and then visual
getting started. I made ice cubes in different sized bowls. Then you will need salt and different colors of water.
salting the ice
let the salt sit and start to melt the ice, while you make your colored water
momma (the big kid) had to try it to show Liam
Liam trying it out
the more the salt works, the better it will look
The finished product