Mustard Seed Theatre Blog

Preview video for "Fires in the Mirror"

 

 

"Fires in the Mirror" opens Thursday!

2 wonderful actresses + 1 amazing script + compelling photos and music = 1 amazing night of theatre and discussion.  Shows at 8 pm Thursday through Saturday, 2 pm Sunday, through Feb 7.  Note that ANY student gets in for FREE.  For more info, reservations, etc -- visit the website: www.mustardseedtheatre. com

Gender Roles

Watching rehearsals for Fires in the Mirror has got me pondering the "performance of gender." Like the playwright (Anna Deveare Smith) who initially performed Fires, our actors (Michelle Hand and Rory Lipede) portray many male characters -- and it's exciting to watch them move beyond stereotype to honest specific choices that create each individual person.

And yet, the reality that these are females portraying males never completely disappears (nor does the fact that they play characters that differ from them racially). It would be really interesting to see this show performed as we're doing it (2 women playing all the roles) and then performed by actors who visually match the characters. I wonder how the meaning of the story might change? Would we be more or less engaged in the theatrical experience?

Preview video for "Fanny Kemble"

 

Lousy Language

As I'm typing this, the cast of Fires in the MIrror is having their first rehearsal.  It's exciting to watch them sitting around a table, reading the play, and know that in 17 days they will be performing for the opening night audience!

Fires in the Mirror is a series of monologues written by author Anna Deavere Smith from interviews with people involved in the riots between the Hasidic Jewish and African/Caribbean-American communities in Crown Heights in 1992.

As the read-through began, I was struck by the words of the character Robert Sherman:

"...the Eskimos have seventy words for snow. We probabyl have seventy different kinds of bias, prejudice, racism and discrimination, but it's not in our minds-set to be clear about it, so I think that we have sort of lousy language on the subject and that is a reflection of our unwillingness to deal with it honestly and to sort it out."

Are these hot-button issues difficult to talk about because we have "lousy language"? Or do we have "lousy language" because it's so difficult to talk about the issues?  Which came first -- and how can we change either?

Moonlighting

OK -- show of (virtual) hands -- who remembers the TV show "Moonlighting" with Cybill Shepherd and Bruce Willis?  (All of you who weren't yet born in the mid-to-late 80's, stop making the rest of us feel old!)  "Moonlighting" was the first TV show (in my memory at least) to break the "fourth wall" - the characters referred to themselves as characters on a TV show, frequently talking about the Network and the Writers and the Audience. 

I thought of "Moonlighting" last night as I was watching the hilarious production of "The 39 Steps" at the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis.  Four actors portray a myriad of characters, and they let the audience in on the fun by acknowledging the "we're pretending" part of theatre.  There seems to be a trend toward productions where a small number of actors play multiple characters -- as in our upcoming production of Fires in the Mirror -- and there's no attempt to hide the fact that they are actors switching roles.

When an audience sees an actor switch characters through a simple change of hat and posture, they become a vital participant in the theatrical exprience. The character and story are co-created by actors and audience, who use their imaginations to create a unique event which will never exist in exactly the same way again. 

Theatre relies on the imaginative participation of the audience in a way that neither television or film do. We create a community which creates the art together. 

So exercise your imagination. Choose to be an art-maker. See a play.

  

Unexpected loss

Our prayers go out to our colleagues at the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, on the unexpected loss of Brad Graham. Words are inadequate in situations like this. Ears to listen and shoulders to lean on are all we can offer. When I'm at the Rep this Friday night, there will be an empty spot in front of the coat check area where I will expect Brad to be.

Quiz answer AND a great opportunity

In 1863, Fanny Kemble published her jounal of day-to-day life on a slave plantation which was read on the floor of the House of Commons and credited in part for England’s decision to aid the North in winning the US Civil War.  Her fight for equality is echoed one hundred years later, in Martin Luther King, Jr.'s famous dream "that we will one day be judged, not by the color of our skin, but by the quality of our character."

Join us on Monday, January 18 at 7 pm as we celebrate Martin Luther King day with Fanny Kemble - Shame the Devil - a woman show chronicling Fanny's struggles and triumphs.  The performance is a fundraising event for Mustard Seed Theatre, with a suggested donation of $25 -- so you can see a thought-provoking show, contribute to our company, and celebrate the spirit of MLK day all at that same time!

Seating is limited, so reservations are suggested - 314-719-8060. For online tickets, click on the "Fanny Kemble" button on the home page of our website: www.mustardseedtheatre.com

Quick Quiz

Okay - without consulting Google or Wikipedia, can anyone tell me:

Who is Fanny Kemble and what is her connection to the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.?

Faux New Year

I know it's a new Calendar Year, but the New Year of my Heart always starts in late August when the new School Year begins.

Yes, I was one of those kids who couldn't wait for the first day. Sharpened pencils and organizers. Spiffy new clothes. The promise of learning and experiences that would challenge me. Plus - the comfort of a daily routine!

Many theatre companies also run their seasons based on the academic year rather than the calendar year. I'm sure a theatre historian can tell us why -- maybe based on a New York model where the typical audience member would leave the city during the summer?  We are certainly in high Planning mode for the next Mustard Seed Theatre season -- searching for that intriguing combination of plays that explore faith and social justice.

So if you have ideas for us, please feel free to make suggestions! We want to make our Real New Year even more exciting than the one we're in!