We’re now into our third week of rehearsals for Heartbreak House, and it has been a very exciting start to a process for a play that never ceases to shock and surprise those of us working on it. The story continues to come alive in unexpected ways, and not just because of the sharp, skilled actors Writers’ Theatre has assembled for this production. Bill’s strategy in rehearsals has been one of “peeling away the layers” – allowing the actors to find and build their characters piece by piece, exposing the complexity and the universality of each of their plights. There have been many discussions about how everyone in this play experiences their own form of heartbreak, and how bringing vulnerability to the table is essential when it comes to, in performance, realizing these people as human beings and not just as ‘characters.’ I think audiences will appreciate the level of commitment and care that has been taken to develop the roles and relationships in this production.
That’s not to say that the process thus far has been all about the serious stuff. What has surprised me most in rehearsals up to this point is how buoyant and witty this script can be when in the proper hands. It’s fascinating how much of the comedy I missed in my initial readings of it. As Bill talked about early in rehearsals, part of the joy of jumping into Shaw is that every character is incredibly intelligent. The word-play can be almost dizzying at times, and the actors are having a ball savoring the play’s salacious selection of quips and jibes. It is a signal of good things to come when the actors are so game – and trust in each other and the material so strongly – that the kinetic energy of some of their exchanges is nothing short of intoxicating.
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