diary of a madman

I've been reconsidering how exactly this "blog" might function in relation to the wider theatrical project. When i considered up loading my journal entries from the first few workshop sessions i felt compelled to edit the material - to siphon out the potentially incriminating admissions. This is possibly the most natural impulse - to edit or remove ideas that went nowhere (indeed, were just bad ideas) and to soften critical observations of the performance of the troupe members. It seems common amongst artists and philosophers, when they enact their own creative character to the public auditorium, to pretend they never have bad ideas - as if the material that appears on stage is the only material they have had to grapple with. While i do not profess to know creative processes, let alone the inner thoughts, of other performance artists - i assume that this self presentation is simply not true. In discovering the pulse and rhythm of a piece, we must all wade thru a miasmic fog of second rate images and functionless choreographies.

So. I have decided to harness this "blog" as an online journal - publicly viewable and as painfully honest as possible. I apologise to all offended parties in advance.

What has happened of late? I just moved house and must admit that this has been extremely disruptive. The year of the golden fire pig has been a year in the sty thus far, and with all the recent 'personal' struggle, i've been finding it difficult to vest much creative energy in the production. And yet this is probably not a major problem. We do have approximately 6 months before we open - the appropriate production staff have been contacted and there is a lot of interest and excitement about the show. Despite difficulty in establishing contact, it would appear that we will almost definitely be performing at Dante's on Gertrude Street, Fitzroy, during the first or second week of October. It will be during the Melb Fringe Festival - a side matter in my opinion, though there is usually a lot of 'energy' about at that time, which may be a good thing... who knows.

The project itself is actually quite well established, all things considered. In our last session together we hop skip and jumped through the first ten minutes of the show, stringing together a seamless and very tight cascade of images. Similar to the original production, though deviating in some very interesting directions. Priam shall appear as if suspended from above, his ankle tied by a matted rope that disappears into the ceiling. This image is echoed by the presence of two lengths of rope hanging toward the rear of the stage (from the original production). This central image is an ode to the hanged man, Prometheus. After Poseidon's opening address to the audience, he shall sever the rope that seems to hold Priam in space - an appropriate display of gesture should suggest that he falls as the remainder of the rope disappears into the ceiling. Priam comes to rest on a bed of rice (some 30-40 kilos).

The final chorus member enters (the first two are on stage before the audience enter) - she holds a large black marble in her mouth. This refers to the Chinese tradition of placing a marble in the mouth of a Royal courtperson upon the moment of death. When the marble drops to the floor, it is the sound that wakes Priam. His opening speech commences. The chorus walk slowly across the stage, accumulating in a dark corner. They remain here until Cassandra emerges - her dance commences. This is where we are at. The map has been drawn, but it is still a large task, to discover exactly how each body shall move, what images and sensations the performers must visualise. Also, Talthybius enters during this sequence, bringing news of the Greek distribution of the women. A lot of work shall be required to compress and contain David's body into this twisted, impish figure.

I have just finished work and am exhausted - but Alex shall meet me here and we shall go to my abandoned old house and consider, for a while, how his transformation from Priam into Hecuba should travel. That's what is next - what follows i am yet to find. Hopefully the next post shall include some photos. Until next time - Ben