Those First Audiences
Posted by Marisa Wegrzyn on 7/28/2006
Always a little strange having Mom and Dad in the audience. I warned them in advance that some less-than-wholesome things happen on stage, and it is in no way a reflection on their parenting (They liked the play).
You know that sappy Hallmark-moment thing that parents say: having kids allowed them to experience the world again for the first time because, suddenly, everything is brand new to this little person who has never pet a dog, or run through the sprinklers on a hot summer day, or learned the hard way that Cheerios go only so far up the nasal cavity before the inaugural trip to the emergency room. The Butcher of Baraboo became a whole new experience for me sitting next to somebody who doesn’t know what’s coming next. I wish that I could induce a state of temporary amnesia on myself so I can know what it would be like to experience a play I wrote for the first time. But I can’t. So that vicarious experience of a first audience is the next best thing. I personally like to be a part of a first audience for stuff. I may not be seeing the most polished, assured production so early in the run, but I get to be a part of something a little more wild and uncharted.
So now I’ve sat with two different audiences who have responded differently to different things. It’s been encouraging to know the play works, and that it’s capable of delivering a nice, solid, gross-out moment. The first night’s performance was good, the second night’s was even better. I think everybody learned a lot about how to play the play from that first audience, and I could totally feel the actors hit their groove. The final scene became deliciously intense. It was a thrill.
I’d talk about the show in more detail, but I figure not everybody who is reading this has seen it yet. I check into the blog frequently and would be happy to respond to comments if one were to hypothetically post a comment.
Looking forward to seeing some of you in the next few weekends, and I hope you enjoy your visit to Baraboo.
August 3rd, 2006 at 11:05 am
I haven’t seen Butcher of Baraboo yet, and it sounds like there are some moments you probably don’t want to spoil here (I’ll try to see it soon, and I’ll try to allow myself to be surprised by the nice, solid gross-out moment, which I’m really looking forward to).
I wanted to comment though because I’ve had a similar feeling as an actor and as a director - it’s difficult to be able to see a play you’ve worked with intimately from the perspective of someone sitting down to see it for the first time. I’ve been surprised during every production, and my focus on the trees at the expense of the forest has meant that at times I’ve been enlightened by people who picked up on ideas or perspecives that I had totally missed.
It’s especially interesting when that someone is someone you know well, and someone who may not be expecting the work you’ve done (I had a long and interesting conversation with my parents after they watched me in a play where my character tortured and removed the tongue of another character, which wasn’t something they saw as being a part of the son they know).
Thanks for sharing your perspective on this - I look forward to reading more of your thoughts as audience members leave comments here and share their perspectives.
August 4th, 2006 at 9:36 am
Hey Nathaniel! I don’t have much experience as an actor/director, and it’s great to get your perspective. We’re all story-tellers and prone to a little tree-hugging. Maybe that’s our thing. I mean, I know I get wrapped up in the bits & pieces that make up the whole story, how I get from this moment to that moment to the end. I try to have some awareness of what the story may be doing to the audience, but I suppose it’s up to the audience to sort out the divine purpose and find their way through the forest. I know I love when the audience enlightens me about what I hath wrought. I hope your parents enjoyed your performance of torture and tongue-removal. That totally sounds like a play I’d enjoy! Isn’t it funny, the dissonance and/or harmony between the artist and the art. Sort of opens up a dialogue between you and the people who know you best.
August 11th, 2006 at 11:17 pm
Hey Marisa! It’s Margeau from St. Louis; I’ve taken over as Artistic Director of Off Center Theatre Company and have started an off-spring ensemble company (Slightly Askew Theatre Ensemble) dedicated to devising and work-shopping new works. We train together (actors, directors, techies, writers, etc.) every Monday night–something I think would be right up your alley.
Send me a new script or two–we’re looking towards next season, and now that I am my own Artistic Director, I have the opportunity to do what I truly want to be doing. SEND ME YOUR STUFF, GIRL!
You can email me at: msgogo@slightlyoff.org (check out our new website at www.SlightlyOff.org …even though it’s still under construction). Once you email me, I’ll send you my phone number.
xoxo,
Margeau