DAY SIX - Saturday March 31
We started reading the play a second time with other principals. It was becoming clear very fast who would fit well together. They were all very good, mind you. Some were a little more inspired in the acting department - although a first read is not always the best indicator for that.
I was a little concerned that some of the older roles were being played by actors who were too young. And that one of the stronger character guys was a bit too winning and attractive for the old king. I proposed a rather complicated re-casting concept which, to their credit, the principal and asst. conductors and scheduler all listened to with open minds. They wisely suggested we wait until Wed to make final decisions 1) because my opinions might change and 2) it might not be possible to make the changes necessary without doing some emotional damage to valuable, and talented, performers.
Again, we only had one session because of the "Fiddler" performance.
Gregg and I took "my" translator (they assign one to me and one to Patti each day) to "the office." Her name is Irina Gugushina (she's on the first day video) and she is very good at her job - well, she's volunteering - they all are - but she has achieved the quickest learning curve of all of them.
In the evening Gregg and I attended the "Fiddler" performance - Patti was sick.
It was very impressive. Kirill directed it and had done some very imaginative things. The set was an impressive tower of scaffolding that was used very imaginatively. There were some wonderful performances but the Tevye - a rare appearance by an actor from outside this company - was absolutely fantastic. Very powerful, very emotional, very truthful. All in all - a nice evening. Again, a full theatre.
We started reading the play a second time with other principals. It was becoming clear very fast who would fit well together. They were all very good, mind you. Some were a little more inspired in the acting department - although a first read is not always the best indicator for that.
I was a little concerned that some of the older roles were being played by actors who were too young. And that one of the stronger character guys was a bit too winning and attractive for the old king. I proposed a rather complicated re-casting concept which, to their credit, the principal and asst. conductors and scheduler all listened to with open minds. They wisely suggested we wait until Wed to make final decisions 1) because my opinions might change and 2) it might not be possible to make the changes necessary without doing some emotional damage to valuable, and talented, performers.
Again, we only had one session because of the "Fiddler" performance.
Gregg and I took "my" translator (they assign one to me and one to Patti each day) to "the office." Her name is Irina Gugushina (she's on the first day video) and she is very good at her job - well, she's volunteering - they all are - but she has achieved the quickest learning curve of all of them.
In the evening Gregg and I attended the "Fiddler" performance - Patti was sick.
It was very impressive. Kirill directed it and had done some very imaginative things. The set was an impressive tower of scaffolding that was used very imaginatively. There were some wonderful performances but the Tevye - a rare appearance by an actor from outside this company - was absolutely fantastic. Very powerful, very emotional, very truthful. All in all - a nice evening. Again, a full theatre.
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