My granddaughter, Ally, and I attended rehearsal again last night. Only four actors were in attendance: Jim Burr (Matthew Harrison Brady), Gary Walker, (the judge), Kitty Slasinski (Mrs. Krebs), and Joe. They worked and reworked, and yes...RE-reworked the courtroom scene that has Brady on the witness stand.
This particular part of the play has Henry Drummond showing in varying degrees amusement, frustration, anger, and more. Joe is working hard to follow Christopher's direction and by CW's direction, Joe's own instincts.
Christopher throws directions, like "Try it, if it's not right, we'll throw it out!"
"If you don't know what to do, do less!"
"So much pacing is weakening your examination of Brady!"
"Wait to lay down the book."
"Big gesture toward Cates right there."
"Wait to pick up the rock."
And to Brady:
"Don't fold your arms quite so soon."
"No big breath there, it stops the momentum."
Whew!
To my eye huge progress is made. They go over small sections repeatedly. Trying first one thing then another. Before calling it a night, Christopher calls for one last run through. They start where Drummond calls Brady to the stand and end when the judge excuses him. On this night they have spent 2 hours and 12 minutes working on 21 minutes of play.
It must be both exhausting and stimulating. I find it riveting.
Note: Next rehearsal will be the designer's run-through, which means, beginning to end, without stopping, so the sound, lights, costume and set designers can see the flow and the requirements.
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