Artistic Representations of Death

This is Dan, the dramaturg for Woman and Scarecrow.

Throughout the play Carr continually mentions different pieces of death-related art, specifically Caravaggio's "Death of the Virgin". About this painting, Woman says, "Oh the grief, terrible to look on... frightening, because the miracle is over...Still there's something sacred going on. Not with her. She's just another of those invisible women past their prime. But the mourners are appalling."

Much of my research was devoted to exploring death-related pieces of art- visual art, poetry, music. On the first day of rehearsal, I framed my dramaturgical presentation with the fact that this play is Carr artistic representation of death, by showing one of my favorite dance pieces: Martha Graham's Night Journey. This classic of Modern Dance is Graham's exploration of the moment when Jocasta dies in the Oedipus Rex myth.
If you've never seen it, check it out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFNsKeMbW20

In Vasey 206, the bulletin board is covered with a collage of death related pieces of visual art and poetry that I've asked the actors to build upon, integrating their own text and images about death. This blog is a great way to extend this discussion. Does anyone else want to mention any other pieces of art that has inspired or changed them?

October 19, 2011: WHAT A DAY!

Jessica/Scarecrow here...

Yesterday I had an incredible opportunity to meet with Patrick Mason from the Abbey Theatre in Ireland. He spent two hours with the cast of Woman and Scarecrow, our director, Father David, and our stage manager, Allie, about character, language, and motivation. We all had a chance to work on a scene with him and hear his insight on diving further into the situation and the text.

He helped me to realize that the text of our particular play is its strongest asset, and that the beautiful language in Woman and Scarecrow can help carry it through. My character is out of the ordinary, so this helped me to get a new perspective on her. He told us, in reference to our audience, that we should strive to, "Grab them tightly, and let them go lightly."

What is most amazing about the entire experience I'm afraid I'm unable to truly articulate. He somehow got right to the core of me and floored me. When he left the room I felt as though I was coming out of a trance; it was one of those times where you know that something astounding had just happened. A heartfelt thank you goes out to everyone who made it possible.

Jessica

"Unboundable" Inspiration

Hey All!
Allie here, your lovely Stage Manager!
So I am actually blogging right now from one of our rehearsals! The cast and Father David are deep in conversation about language and motivation. They are reflecting on our lovely and AMAZING morning meeting with Tony Award Winning Director, Patrick Mason!
To witness the conversation that happened this morning and the conversation that is happening now is an honor; today is a day that I will never forget!!
The cast and I were deeply moved by the passion and intellect that Patrick Mason showed to us. At one time or another, some of us were even moved to tears. The inspiration that Patrick Mason gave us is “Boundless” or “Unboundable” as some might say! ;)
Okay, have to get back to my stage management duties!
Till later, Break Legs!!
~Allie

We are BACK in action.

After a brief hiatus, our blog is BACK. There are lots of exciting things happening around here: a new chair, a new season, a new partnership with The Abbey Theatre in Ireland, and a new certificate program in Nonprofit Management.

For more on all of the above, be sure to visit us at www.villanovatheatre.org and www.facebook.com/villanovatheatre!

Also, stay tuned for some behind-the-scenes blog entries by the cast & crew of WOMAN AND SCARECROW by Marina Carr, on stage Nov. 8 - 20, 2011.

Woman and Scarecrow

Hello.

We are now four rehearsals into Villanova's second production, Woman and Scarecrow by Marina Carr. The play is a powerful journey through the last moments of a woman's life as she prepares to die. This week the cast,crew and our dramaturg Dan Ciba, spent many fruitful hours doing script analysis. We also began to build the shape of the production with some simple blocking. And yet, this play exist on an existential level that propels the actor beyond words and into the physical in order fully explore meaning. So this weekend we will take the blocking and with our work on Given Circumstances together to explore through body work the shapes and interactions that objectives and obstacles have without words. My plan is to use digital recording in the rehearsal process so the actors can use the video as a text by which to make choices around their bodies in motion. Ultimately I would like the play to have moments of interaction and physical expression that function as exposition for relationships beyond language. Stay tuned to see how this adventure works out!

Fr. David