Wonderful -- thanks for that. I still get a lot from reading Brook's thoughts on Shakespeare and theater.
My most vivid Winedale dream, and perhaps the only one I remember that didn't involve me being assigned a large role (Lear, say) and somehow neglecting to realize the need to learn my lines until just before performance time (aarrghhhhh!!!!), involved this kind of silence and intense waiting. I think I had this little dream in the month after my first summer in '83:
In the dream, I came upon a small clearing in the woods. I recognized Tamsen Donner and some other Winedalers. They were silent, and acknowledged me, but it was clear that I should not speak, something was about to happen. There were three or four of them, and they all faced a sunsplashed spot in the clearing across a little bank of a creek or stream; some people were standing, some kneeling. No one moved, and I joined them in their focus on this spot. The trees and bushes were still too. Suddenly a tiger appeared in the sunny place along the bank, walking slowly, unaware of us, somehow summoned forth by the intense concentration of the group. The tiger seemed both real and something from a dream (within a dream) but it was clear that it had been brought into being by the concentrated effort of the group, without any prior discussion.
I think this was before I was familiar with the final scene of the Winter's Tale but I later connected it with that scene, and the idea of bringing something magical to life in an empty space.
cheers,
cs
On May 30, 2010, at 9:13 PM, Pees, Robert wrote:
Clayton's comment reminded me of a quote from the director Peter Brook about the conclusion of his 1950 production of Measure for Measure:
"When I once staged the play, I asked Isabella, before kneeling for Angelo's life, to pause each night until she felt the audience could take it no longer, and this used to lead to a two-minute stopping of the play. The device became a voodoo pole, a silence in which all the invisible elements of the evening came together: a silence in which the abstract notion of mercy became concrete for that moment to those present."
From: weeklong-l-bounces@lists.wikimedia.org [weeklong-l-bounces@lists.wikimedia.org] On Behalf Of Clay Stromberger [cstromberger@mail.utexas.edu] Sent: Sunday, May 30, 2010 6:54 PM To: weeklong-l@lists.wikimedia.org Subject: [Weeklong-l] silence, sans shallow
Thanks again Alice for such careful gathering together of strands, akin to Mike's building of the email list.
Like Gail I look forward to the weaving in of other elements among and around the scenes.
There's one other element for which I was hoping to make a case, and I haven't mentioned this yet, perhaps because I'm not sure how to describe it, but here goes:
silence.
And I don't mean Master Shallow's tight-lipped (before drinking anyway) pal. I'm thinking about how many of my favorite Winedale memories involve a spell of silence and stillness in the Barn, everyone watching, rapt, during an improvisation or scene. The kind of silence where during the day the crackling heat outside shimmers, and during the night you suddenly hear the crickets very vividly and time seems suspended. As in the pause before the statue moves in WT.
I also think of those times where Doc sent us off alone on meditative treks in the woods in the afternoons to explore character or our Patchen poems, and no one spoke for an hour. Those moments come back to me often when I take a solo walk out there in the summer.
Not sure how that element would weave into a performance of song and play and reveling, but I'm tossing it out there in case it registers with anyone else....
thanks, and I'll send my list to you tomorrow Alice,
cs
On May 30, 2010, at 5:22 AM, McDonald G. wrote:
Dear Everybody,
I'm attaching my list of favorites but am very, very open to being overruled. I loved these choices from the start. I'm assuming that we can work in bit and pieces of song, dance, and poetry as transitions between scenes so I've not marked any of those. My favorites are highlighted.
Warmest best wishes, Gail ________________________________________ From: weeklong-l-bounces@lists.wikimedia.org [weeklong-l-bounces@lists.wikimedia.org] On Behalf Of Alice Gordon [alicegordon@earthlink.net] Sent: 29 May 2010 21:56 To: weeklong-l@lists.wikimedia.org Subject: [Weeklong-l] **IMPORTANT: Call to Reunion Action!**
Dear Fellow Winedale Weeklongians,
On behalf of Doc and the Committee of Cheerleaders, I hereby emit a big Go, Team, Go!
We would like to get the whole scenes-choosing and role-casting process done and roles disseminated by June 6, when the first session of Camp Shakespeare begins and Doc will be all-consumed by it. To meet that deadline, we must strictly adhere to the ones leading up to it.
Attached is the revised master list of scenes I sent you a few days ago. A a few people weighed in with a more ideas. Also, Robert Jackson, please forgive me for not including your list of scenes the first time around. It and newer material is now included and marked in bold-face type.
Here is the process just ahead: By Midnight, MAY 31: Send your top ten scenes to alicegordon@earthlink.net. (I will immediately forward all lists to Doc and the Committee. Just trying to give everyone only one email address to type in.) Considering the themes we’ve all been talking about, please send us your top ten scenes from the complete list. Feel free either to cherry-pick from the list; to vote for one of the concepts sketched out or fully fledged by Gail, Robert P, Robert J, or Matt; or to choose both concept and scenes to make your own list. (If I have overlooked other concepts since the whole group has been talking, please remind us all as soon as you can). Kathy and Jayne’s and Clayton’s proposals seem ways and examples of how to approach any group of scenes once we’re at Winedale, and feel free to state your support or comments about such approaches as well. Our sense is that a lot of us are excited about what they are suggesting. Please keep in mind the time limit we’ve set forth and the number of participants in each scene. Doc urges us to favor ensemble scenes (six or more characters) in the balance, and also to balance longer and shorter scenes. Remember there will be weekenders and audience pop-ups with whom we will share the matinee. By June 2: Doc and Committee come up with final list of scenes. The committee and Doc will look at the preferences mathematically, see what rises to the top, and then work out the final choices by considering ensemble or what works better or what’s more appropriate for the context. Once we have the final list, it will be sent out to everybody. Please keep an eye on your email inbox that day. By June 3: Your requests or preferences, if any. When you get that list, please let us know if you have very special preferences for roles you would like to play or scenes you would like to take part in. Once we get that information, we’ll have at the casting. June 5: Deadline for roles to be cast. June 6: List of roles sent to whole group.
Courage! This will mean a fast week-plus coming up.
Make your best haste, All best wishes,
Alice
<CompleteScenes2,_reunion[1].doc>_______________________________________________ Weeklong-l mailing list Weeklong-l@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/weeklong-l
Clayton Stromberger Outreach Coordinator UT Shakespeare at Winedale College of Liberal Arts, University of Texas at Austin www.shakespeare-winedale.org cell: 512-228-1055/ office: 512-471-4726
Weeklong-l mailing list Weeklong-l@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/weeklong-l ____________________________________ IRS Circular 230 Notice Requirement: This communication is not given in the form of a covered opinion, within the meaning of Circular 230 issued by the United States Secretary of the Treasury. Thus, we are required to inform you that you cannot rely upon any tax advice contained in this communication for the purpose of avoiding United States federal tax penalties. In addition, any tax advice contained in this communication may not be used to promote, market or recommend a transaction to another party.
The information contained in this e-mail message is intended only for the personal and confidential use of the recipient(s) named above. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by e-mail, and delete the original message.
Weeklong-l mailing list Weeklong-l@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/weeklong-l
Clayton Stromberger Outreach Coordinator UT Shakespeare at Winedale College of Liberal Arts, University of Texas at Austin www.shakespeare-winedale.org cell: 512-228-1055/ office: 512-471-4726