Midsummer at the BAA

Yesterday, I ended up following Jason Bowen from rehearsal to rehearsal. First, I stopped in to the Midsummer Night's Dream rehearsal he is directing at the Boston Arts Academy. The students will perform the piece in their own black box theater and the difference between their theater and where ASP performed Midsummer really reminded me of how much a space can inform the play. The BAA space has no levels and is much smaller; the audience sits on all four sides of the playing space, forcing Jason to direct the actors to constantly stay on the move so they never forget one side or the other. Long, thin metal poles stand in for trees and the actors use them to create a feeling of being lost in the woods or to "hide" from one another or just to create a fun playing space. Yesterday was the first time they had worked with these poles so it took some getting used to - where once there was only empty space, now you could run right into a pole!
Most striking about the rehearsal though was the energy in the room. Those students are just boundless - running from one entrance to another, the lovers chasing each other, a couple of students were out sick so someone else would stand in for them, running from playing their own part to their new assignment. And the amount of support they give each other is astounding. Aside from the normal applause at the end of an act, the students gave each other laughter and congratulatory pats on the back when off stage, if someone went up on a line, someone would sneak a script into their line of sight. I loved watching their professionalism at work - something that Jason, Magda and the head of the theater department, Ms. Rodrigues works to teach them every day. From the first rehearsal I watched (when Jason had to remind students not to use their phones on stage) to this rehearsal (hearing them call for line like pros), the jump is astounding. In fact, Jason says one of the best parts of working with the students is, "witnessing the evolution of their professionalism." I loved watching the students who had only a line or two in our production of Midsummer take on the roles of Bottom, Oberon and Titania. These kids are hilarious!
Also in attendance at this rehearsal was company member Robert Walsh. He came to give the students his expertise on stage combat, working with them on the physical struggles between the lovers and Demetrius and Lysander. He taught them about safety and respect and then choreographed the moves and then stayed to see the run through, having a great time watching this incarnation of Bottom, the role Bob so recently played himself. Bob got a good chuckle or two out of the afternoon.
At the end of Midsummer rehearsal, I raced with Jason over to Cambridge where Othello rehearsals are being held. Othello has a little less comedy going on and the process has just begun. The actors spent the rehearsal reading and discussing the different aspects of what will be our Act I. I can't wait to see how things progress there!
Adele
Manager of Artistic Operations