Tuesday night, I attended the Artistic Director Sessions Scene Study class at Vagabond School of the Arts. If you're in Chicago and have not heard of Vagabond, do yourself a favor and check them out. They have great resources (for self-taping, rehearsal space) and great courses taught by some genuinely good and truly talented people.
I took a scene study class with Michael Patrick Thornton (of The Gift Theatre) earlier this year and when I saw them offering a similar one-night experience with Charles Newell (of Court Theatre) on a night I had free, I simply said, take my money, please.
100% commitment to the defined reality.
It was amazing to watch - the circumstances provided to each character in the scene were devised to create the strongest, dramatic effect. For example, in one version of the Ann/Sue scene, Ann was to face everything Sue said with the calmest of logic. No matter what, Ann believed she could win over Sue. On the other hand, Sue wanted to eviscerate Ann; metaphorically destroy her hopes & dreams and get her to leave.
Both truths were supported by the text - Ann's dialogue could be played equally well as a timid, "please like me" subservient energy, or in this cooly logical, "no matter what you say, there's hope", confident manner.
The main thing, though, was that each actor/character had to believe in, invest in, and become that variation of the truth. Hence, my mind flipping to Trump...
Trump:
Largest crowd ever at an inauguration celebration!
No where near that many people. (photographic evidence included)
biggest tax cut in the history of our country, bigger than Reagan.
has not been true of any of the tax plans released in Congress or outlined by his administration.
Elections in America are being tampered with constantly! People vote, then go change their hat so they can vote again!
THAT'S NOT HOW ANY OF THIS WORKS!
Just like Donald Trump.
IN NO WAY AM I SAYING THAT CHARLES NEWELL IS IN ANY WAY THE SAME AS DONALD TRUMP.