I’ve been in rehearsal for my current project, Origin of the Species by Bryony Lavory at The Strand Theater Company in Baltimore for approximately three weeks. We’re blocked. We have walls. We’re gaining props by the dozens. It’s coming together…
Origin is an interesting piece. I didn’t choose it for myself, which is unusual for me as a director. Elena Kostakis, the Executive Director at The Strand, got in touch with me at the end of the summer to see if I might be interested in taking over the director’s chair for the production. I was hesitant for several reasons including, but not limited to, my lack of familiarity with the play – the fact that I live near DC – and my confidence level has been a in a bit of a funk since my last project (which is entirely my own fault, but that’s a story for another day…) But – I’m so glad I said yes. The Strand is a really welcoming and supportive place to make art. And this is a project that is restoring the faith I’d thought I lost. As it turns out, my faith just decided to hide under a rock and lick the wounds for a little while.
Origin revolves around two women – Molly Starkey is an adventurer. A discoverer. An innovator. She is equal parts a creature of comfort and habit, but also a world traveler, a student of humanity, and willing to push the limits on what is acceptable and correct. Victoria is a completely blank slate who has been buried in present day Tanzania for several million years. Without giving away too much of the plot – we see all concepts of time melt away and uncover a relationship that peels back like the layers of an onion. It’s about parents and children. It’s about defenders and those they defend. It’s about asking hard questions and getting surprising answers. It’s about science and the patriarchy and feminism and breaking barriers and working our way down to the root of who we are. And yet, it’s also about love. It’s about a lot of things.
I have an absolutely amazing design team. The immensely talented Laurie Brandon has been designing the lighting and the set with the very valuable assistance of Peter Johnson and Kerry Brandon, who are excellent building buddies. Jen Swisko-Beck is putting her one-of-a-kind Museum Studies Masters degree to the test as our Properties Designer and Set Dresser (I said… go forth and bring me cool stuff. It hath been brought!) Amy Rawe Weimer, my costume designer of choice for every project I do, is back on board with us for the show and has some really brilliant ideas for bringing these women to life through color and style. She is being assisted by Hannah Viau who is The Strand’s intern and a pretty darn awesome lady. And Lanoree Blake is my majestic unicorn of a stage manager and rounding out the team as sound designer.
As for Molly and Victoria – I don’t think there are adequate enough words to describe Janet Constable Preston and Nicole Mullins Teasley. Not only are they already off book (insert Hallelujah chorus .wav here), but these ladies are singularly talented. They are formidable. They are laying it all out on the stage every time they rehearse and giving me so much to work with as a director. There is no ego. No guile. Just an incredibly satisfying will to do the work and elevate these characters into real people. Janet has an innate charm and charisma you cannot teach. From the moment she breaks the fourth wall with the audience we’re engaged. You cannot take your eyes off of her. She weaves the story with expert craft. Nicole is a uniquely gifted physical performer. In every day life, she is a lovely, statuesque woman with a quietly commanding presence. When she transforms into homo erectus it’s like watching an exercise in human origami. Her many years of dance training come shining through the smallest nuances and gestures. Nicole’s hands, when you watch them carefully, tell a story all their own. The two of these women together make for a fascinating pair. The chemistry is palpable and I cannot wait for people to see what they’ve done.
I couldn’t be more delighted with the way things are shaping up a week before we head into tech! Each rehearsal is what I like to call a Christmas Morning Gig. It’s always fun, there are always surprises, and it kinda leaves you with the warm and fuzzies.
More to come…
Life of Riley 