Passing the Torch
Posted by Margot Bordelon on 6/28/2007Opening night signals the passing of the torch from director to actors. Of course, most directors return once or twice during the run to see how a production has evolved and to take notes. This is an insurance measure just in case actors’ performances have drastically strayed from their original direction.
Last Friday I attended Program A to watch Downstairs, Upstairs the piece I directed for Sketchbook. I hadn’t attended since opening weekend so I was poised with pen and paper, but to my delight, I didn’t jot down one note.
Both of my actors (John Carter Brown and John Zinn), had grown tremendously. Their individual performances had become more nuanced, and as a duo they were completely in sync. It was an important reminder to me that sometimes directing means stepping away and allowing your actors the freedom to grow on their own.