Those Nine Different Audiences
Posted by Sarah Gubbins on 8/22/2008It’s been a little over a week since the last First Look play closed. And it feels like an eon ago that we—cast and crew—were meeting as strangers around folding tables in Yondorf Hall for the first table reading of Fair Use. So what happens now that Sy’s office chair has been rolled onto a cargo van, the Nerf football returned to storage, and Madi’s three inch heels boxed up? Well, the dust clears, the Hypocrites load in to the Garage, and I head to my favorite neighborhood coffee shop to do some more rewrites.
“Whoa there, kiddo! Did you say rewrites?”
Yes, gentle Steppenwolf blog reader, I hear that hint of incredulity creeping into your voice. You thought the time for rewrites was long past. I can see your logic, considering the play has been performed, and before nine audiences no less. But it’s not quite done. Over those nine performances I got to scrutinize how the play was landing. I was able to see where Meredith’s staging strengthened moments of storytelling and where the actors’ unscripted character interactions clarified intentions—the toss of a fortune cookie, the pulling out of a chair. I noted where the play lost momentum and where it seemed to soar. And I heard a death knoll for a few jokes, (”elaborate Butoh apologies”…may you rest in peace). But I also heard the laughter, the gasping, the headshakes, and the “oh no he didn’ts” of those nine different audiences. So with all that in mind, it’s time to work on this final draft, the post-production draft of Fair Use. To all of you who came and sat in the audience, thanks—your participation will be written into the play.