The Imagination Blog

I haven’t written since June 5th?  Where has the time gone? The days are flying by filled with the thousands of decisions that go in to producing the beautiful spectacle we call a musical.

This week and the last were filled to the brim as we moved from the blocking phase of the play to cleaning up and filling in the rough spots.   We had to answer such important questions as “how will we get 36 people quickly on stage in the dark- especially when some of them are very little people?  Followed of course by the all important “how will we get said 36 people off stage in the dark?”   Our publicity team of Derek Dunham, Terry Farrell and Brian Baker had to determine “how will we get 60 people photographed in four hours?” and our fabulous stage managers Jen Feldser and Eric Mansilla dealt with the all important “how will we coordinate said 60 people to photography downstairs whilst said 60 people are also needed for rehearsal upstairs?”  Jen was heard to say that she is seriously considering getting a fireman’s pole put in!

Meanwhile set construction has been making magic constructing walls, pillars and niches to resemble soaring palace structures which our scenic artist turns into carpet, marble and mosaic through the magic of paint.

During this hectic time I was required to be out of town for three of the rehearsals- so my assistant director Megan Zimmer made the directing magic for me- working through a maze of scheduling issues and snafus (the June calendar mistakenly listed these rehearsals as ending one hour earlier than they should) to complete the polish, fill in the blanks and smooth out the problems- which she did brilliantly.  I couldn’t have left the show in better hands!

Which meant that I was treated to the delightful experience of returning on Thursday to see a show transformed from the disjointed chaos of the blocking portion of play production to the blossoming beauty of the characterization phase.  During this time a play comes together.  All of the thousands of details begin to gel- and the actors begin to practice their craft, creating the characters who will come to life on stage each night for two and one half hours to tell their story.

I am blessed with hugely talented and experienced actors and dancers, who co-create with Megan and I.  Actors filled with ideas.  Actors willing to work extra hours, stay late (can you say eleven o’clock?  sure I knew you could!) and contribute their ideas.  Actors filled with passion and skill who offer their wonderful suggestions and make our lives easier. Dancers who spend their down time rehearsing in whatever tiny space they have been allotted.  I love you guys!!!

And so … I find myself this week entranced by their work- completely drawn in to the story- laughing aloud, clapping, tearing up… wow!  Magic!

I’ve titled this entry “Living in Pretend Siam” because we are at the stage where we are just about done with the blocking and will soon be beginning to create the splendid imaginary world of Siam.  The set is 2/3′ds in place, waiting for the talents of the scenic painters to bring it to life.  The costumes are stacking up in the dressing rooms (and I mean stacking up- have you ever tried to contain 12 GIGANTIC petticoats and hoop skirts, etc, etc, etc?) The actors are starting to fill their imaginations with the food actors need to create a character - lines, research, sights, sounds and imaginary experiences.  What a busy time!

I thought it might be fun to compare our imaginary Royal Court life with life for the real people of Siam in the late 1800’s.  In my research for this show I ran across a fascinating article from an 1883 edition of the New York Times which gives an account of a British visit to Bangkok.  The author describes attending a royal ceremony in which members of the Siamese court promise their allegiance to the King.  In the story, we read of a huge parade with guards dressed in Tarten plaids woven in the vivid colors of the region.  The King himself arrives in a chair encrusted with jewels,  and the visiting British must scurry down from their vantage point on the temple steps to be sure that their heads are not higher than the King’s.  Boats fill the water ways and comprise a major form of travel- much easier to use than the narrow crowded streets lined with wooden houses.  The city is dominated by several temples with beautifully carved and Buddahs. Servants are described scrubbing the floors of houses with coconut shell halves and children are kept themselves occupied by playing what seems to my modern day sensibilities to be an extended game of team hacky sack!  Although the King greets the visitors with a simple bow, servants and guards crawl towards them on hands and knees- to quote the article “like a crocodile” - as a measure of respect.

I can’t wait to share this find with the cast- who are eager for materials to make their characters inner lives blossom.  You can read some of the fruits of their imagination in this blog.  As promised, I’ve included more of the children’s journal entries.   Just scroll down kids- there are here, really!   (By the way - if anyone wants to see the original article, just cut an paste this link in your browser- but not till you’ve read our blog of course!  http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9F06E3DB103BE033A25751C0A9649D94629FD7C )

It’s been a hectic and crazy week with cast photos, school deadlines and our King,  Roger Lentz, returning from Maldova!  When the cast first saw him enter, we were in the middle of rehearsal of “Getting to Know You”.  Kaylor Long looked up and immediately flung himself to the ground in a bow- followed by all of the wives and children.  Way to go Kaylor! Someone forgot to tell Roger he had to give them permission to get up however, and my dutiful actors lay there until we figured out what they were waiting for.  I guess you could say it’s been a week of ups and downs.  (Yes, pun intended!)

What an awesome crew! You are making my job easy!

Cory

Journal entries:

Dear Diary- I’m nervous about being taught by Anna.  I hope she likes me, because I am not very smart.  I feel very special and honored to be chosen, but I feel I need to get every question right and impress Father and Anna.  I want to be Miss Anna’s star pupil and get to know her very well.  - Chanakarn

Dear Diary- Mrs. Anna just dismissed us from today’s lesson.  She told us Siam is smaller than other countries.  She also taught us about something called snow.  Snow is frozen water that falls to the ground!  I believe Mrs. Anna.  I think she is a smart woman who knows almost as much as my Father does.  Although some of my sisters don’t believe in snow.  They think Mrs. Anna is crazy.  I really want to impress Mrs. Anna with my knowledge.  Maybe if I know everything Father will spend more time with me!  I have to study!  Princess Chanthira (Jamie Wilson)

Dear Diary

Today Father has informed me that I and a few other children will be learning from a school teacher from England.  Her name, Father told me, is Mrs. Anna.  I am upset, yet honored to be chosen.  I feel upset because I will not have much time to walk around in the royal garden.  I am also honored because I was picked out of all of Father’s children to get taught.  I hope that Father and Mrs. Anna get to know me.  I guess that Father understands me, but I thnk he just knows me by my smile.  I hope he realizes that I am not just a Princess, but his daughter.  I am off to the garden!  Fondly, Kaylia

From the Diary of Sukoh Mali (by Juliana)

Today Father announced that a scientific woman from England will come to teach us.  He only chose a few of us, and I was one of them!  Most of my younger brothers and sisters were not chosen, I felt so lucky!  At first, I wondered what a woman could teach my siblings and I.  I mean aren’t women more lowly than men?  Isn’t that what my mother told me?  It is all so confusing!  This woman must be very scientific if my Father has hired her as a schoolteacher!  This afternoon, I heard some of the Amazons talking about Burma.  I know all about the tensions between Siam and Burma.  While they were talking a thought went through my mind.  What if Father has hired this scientific woman to help him resolve the problems with Burma as well as teach my siblings and I!  What other reasons could be more consistent?  She is scientific after all!   Not all of my siblings are enthusiastic about getting a schoolteacher.  I heard one of my older brothers mutter We don’t need a schoolteacher, so why get one?  It’s a waste of money!”  Some of my sisters agreed.  I don’t care.  I look forward to meeting her and learning all she has to teach me!  I can’t wait!

Dear Diary

Today the King/Father/Hero/Lord of Light, picked the children who will get to learn and I am in!  I feel so privleged and I will not Father or Mrs. Anna down.  I will show father that he didn’t do the wrong choice by picking me.  Also today I met Mrs. Anna.  She looks very funny and very nice.  I can’t wait to get started.  - Samoorn (Meigan Mueller)