Post Two
By Christy Whit

I cannot believe it’s already time to start rehearsals for The Two Gentleman of Verona tomorrow. This is the third time I have been a member of the Apprentice Company, and I am always so surprised at how fast it goes by.

Today we perform the monologues that we have been working on for our friends, families, and fellow actors. Herb Parker, a professional actor and member of The Merry Wives of Windsor cast, came in yesterday to work with us on our monologues. He was such a help. Everything he said applied to me in some way. He helped me to see my monologue in a completely new way. I am always surprised at how many different ways Shakespeare can be translated…there are so many options!

Today we also started working with noise makers for The Two Gentlemen of Verona. It was so much fun! We gave our sun salutes, which are the yoga exercises we do every morning, sound effects. It was interesting that even though we were making such funny sounds, our sun salutes kept their integrity and their seriousness. We came to the conclusion that if we had tried to make our sun salutes funny by acting funny instead of doing them the way we always do, it would have taken away from the simplicity of the sounds.

Simplicity is something we have been talking about throughout the training process. We talk about it in relation to monologues, but also in relation to clowns. We have discovered that just one simple and clear clown action is much more funny than something sloppy. For example, if I were to wave at someone as myself then I would wave by moving my hand back and forth repetitively. This isn’t funny. If I were waving as a clown it would be one simple movement. It is amazing how much better things look when they are simple and clear.

I am excited about monologues today. I’m not particularly nervous right now, although I’m sure I will be when it comes time to perform. That’s how it always is for me. I’m fine right up until it is time to walk on stage. Oh, well. I hope my dad can come.