Running

Last Saturday we had our first run through of the entire play.

It is now officially on its feet.

With no real catastrophes, the actors were able to make their way through the abstract labyrinth of our rehearsal stage.

Multicolored tape cris-crosses the floor representing the structures, levels and dimensions of our performance space in the Grandel Theatre.

The rehearsal room is smaller than the eventual stage, so the actors and I are constantly making mental adjustments to approximate physical distance.

But running through is also about something else.

Moving through the play from top to bottom also helps us gauge the emotional distance that we have to cover in this play. It gives all of us a sense of what we know and what we need to find out; where are we already strong and where we have room to grow; which relationships are clear and which need more attention.

The first run-through is our chance to set the outline, like pictures in a coloring book.

Now we have to fill the pictures in with colors.

Like all great artists we will not always stay within the lines.

But at least now we know where they are.