It means, "Ibsen's berry bushes and other bushes growth."
It's easier to say than most English tongue twisters. Probably because when I say it, I don't have any clue what I'm actually saying, I'm just regurgitating the vowels and consonants. Although, I have accidentally said, a couple of times, "Ibsen's pants bushes and other pants growth"... because "busker" is bushes, but "bukser" is pants
The work at the theatre has gone from decently busy, but structured, to practically nothing and random, to very busy again. We've been putting in a few 12 hour days here and there. Three weeks is really not a long time to be launching a new production. Although, a lot of everything was already built before we got there, perfecting the details takes a long time.
The lights went up at the end of last week, over the weekend, and they have been programming the board and constantly tweaking them over the past two days. Although, that has mostly been Pavel working on that.
We premiere on Sunday, and while most of the larger issues have been resolved, things keep getting added to the mix, like where to put props for actors, how to keep the kids from hurting themselves, and fixing/repairing broken things. Thank goodness, we're not expected to make war reparations for the furniture in the fight against humanity. Think you've got it bad? A chair only ever gets sat on, and shoved in a corner. Although, the arm-chair in this production is living the life of arm-chairs. It gets to be used as a prop on stage. The pinnacle of chair fame for the chair world. It has it's risks, but I'm sure if you asked the arm-chair, it would tell you it was worth the sweaty butts and that ugly cordoruy phase in the '70s to finally make it's debut on the stage. Maybe it got it's leg broken, but that's all part of the process, it would say.
It would start speaking on the behalf of downtrod arm-chairs everywhere...
Anyway, that had nothing to do with anything except that I am completely ridiculous.
Moving on...
So, it turns out Seth and I get to go to the Norwegian Academy of the Arts in Fredriksburg to attend a Scenography workshop for 11 days. I am so excited! We have to read a play, and I'm reading it now. I'm especially excited because it's based in the UK, and having been there, it inspires so many ideas for the design of the production. It's really exciting. Meeting all these new people, getting to talk about ideas and inspiration... and having enough time to write, and think about things. It's like creative camp, and I'm really digging it.
One thing I've discovered, or rather, uncovered with the help of Seth is puppetry. He is huge into it. And it could be his infectious enthusiasm for puppetry that has gotten me interested in it's workings and methods, or it just could be that puppetry really is cool. It makes me sad that there isn't a larger portioin of puppetry in my theatrical education. The U of I doesn't really cover it. It's understandable. I mean, it's difficult to cover even just the basics of theatre... but it's interesting, because puppetry incorporates all the disciplines of theatre, but in a more abstract, and sometimes, more concentrated form. I think it might be a good way to tap into the possibilities of a production.
I have a terrific tool for the auto-drama now, if I am ever again asked to create one. A puppet show! It's the perfect metaphor, and it's very easy to create layering metaphors on top of the simple metaphor that the human psyche, and physical being, is all an extensioin of some unseen director. Not necessarily a God... but, even if it's just the culmination of life events propelling one forward into the next step of life, there is something behind every person walking around in the world. No one is just floating in space, although sometimes it seems that way...
So, besides that simple metaphor, much more can be layered on top of it, based on the design of the puppets, the way they move, to what they are moving (text, music, etc.), a very interesting and entertaining piece can be created.
I keep discovering new things about theatre that I previously was unawares of. Because that's what discovering means. Sheesh. I'm redundant. Even by stating that, it makes me double redundant. Now I'm triple redundant... does it never end?!
Okay...
So, besides Seth educating me on all things puppetry, I've been talking to Pavel, Stein, and Helge, and Katharina, and Nils, and some of the other professionals that occasionally float in and out of the theatre on an irregular basis.
Basically, most of them didn't even study theatre. Some of them are, but the older folks haven't really studied it, necessarily. I mean, they studied it, but not in university. And in a non-negative way, I'm not poo-pooing the theatrical education in the United States, but I can understand why a lot of people who study theatre at an American University, don't normally take/get jobs in the professional theatrical world: they are completely different. In the professional world, there is no one pushing you to finish your projects on time. There are people that need things, sometimes instantly, sometimes not so instantly, but it's a constant process of give and take: something that University theatre tries to tell you, but doesn't quite succeed in demonstrating.
At least, it seems that way. Norwegian theatre is famous for it's big budgets (hence me being paid), so the give and take has a little more freedom, so far as the being able to supply things the director wants, even if it's not in the budget.
However, even if necessary, a university department could do something with cheap or recycled materials. Another thing Seth has sort of converted me to: recycled everything. Thrift store it is! And he's right, you can find all KINDS of wickedly useful stuff inside a Goodwill. I have a horrible tendency to collect odd objects and clothing for --sometimes-- my own personal use. Other times, I simply collect it because it gave me a glimpse of a story. I know that sounds ridiculous, but it's true. Some objects just have so much story behind them. A dent in a helmet, a pair of sunglasses you find in the coat pocket at the Salvation Army... I mean, how did that object get there? The thrift store is like the hub for lost and interesting objects. I've always had a fascination with lost objects, though. I once started a photo file of lost objects I had found. I stopped updating it, and now I can't remember where I put it. I should begin again. And at the end of the album would be a picture inside a thrift store.
Anyway... humans are all about the "things". They are powerful stuffs.
ANYWAY, before I get too much into my head about my theatrical projects and art process, I'm going to conclude my entry with my favorite English tongue twisters:
Black Rubber Baby Buggy Bumpers.
And: I'm a sheet slitter, I slit sheets. I'm the best sheet slitter that ever slit a sheet.
I must take a shower now and prepare for another day among the theatrically inclined.
It's really fun, needless to say. The only disadvantage is being indoors constantly. But otherwise, it's great.
End.
Hannah
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