Ah. The joys of live theatre. Anything can happen and many times it does. Usually it’s on stage, backstage or stage related. Not tonight; it was in the audience.
As you may know, I am doing The Pillowman at ACT in Seattle. Some would say a gruesome tale of violence and morbidity. Others contend that it’s a pertinent and thought provoking piece of geo-political, socially apt theater.
Whatever your stance, tonight something interesting happened. During the scene in Michal’s cell, specifically the beat where I (Michal) began to talk about the box, it’s contents and the Christmas tree pot—those of you who have seen the show know what I’m talking about, for everyone else, I’m trying not to ruin it—well, during this moment, I can hear from the audience a woman in her plain speaking voice—not a whisper—say, “This is too much. Oh this is too much.” I continued with my speech, as did she, “I can’t take this. This is too much for me. This is too much.” By now, a handful of other audience members shush her to which she responds, “I can’t take this. This is too much for me.” At this point another woman in the audience semi-shouted in a faux stage whisper “Then leave!”
This part of my speech, by the way, is delivered in the general direction of this hoo-hah, which is also the direction in which I am walking. So, I made an impromptu decision to stop, turn the other way and play the remainder of the beat in this new direction, as if that other way was a dead end and in many ways it was. Alas, despite my turning away, I could still hear her gather up her things, and trample out of what sounded like the middle of her row, past several people who had to gather up their things so that she could pass… If that wasn’t enough, once she got out, she got lost and couldn’t find the door.
Following the show, Mathew and I were congratulated by the audience members who came to the talk-back. They were impressed by our undeterred concentration and our ability to continue the scene as if uninterrupted. Little did they know, I was a bit thrown. From there on out, there was a thick silence that dampened the theatre. No laughs. No breaths. Just a pervading sense of unease. I was pretty sure that the whole house hated me, my acting and they were glad to see that by the end of the scene, I got what I deserved. I was happy to know that this insecurity didn’t play.
There’s a lesson in all of this… I’m still sussing it out myself. But more importantly, I have the feeling that at the least, we’re talking about something that makes people uncomfortable and we’re doing it in such a way that people are unafraid to announce their discomfort to 350 strangers. Perhaps that woman learned something about herself or someone seated nearby learned something. It’s live theatre, it’s magic, illusion, smoke and mirrors, whatever it is, it still makes people see something in that mirror.
Pillowman is a complicated play. Thematically it has many layers, many complicated and twisted layers. I’ve been working on it for close to two months and I’m still finding new lessons in it.
If you haven’t already seen The Pillowman at ACT , please come… And if this story I’ve just told you won’t get you to the theatre, nothing will.
psst…leave a comment (I’ve got to know if this web thing works for actors)
Hi Shawn!
Sounds like the play is going very well!! I truly wish I could come to see it, but the next best thing is reading what you write about your experience on stage – great description! Makes me feel like I was there! Please write more when it strikes you!
Love, Suzi
Pretty freaky. This play must be something else. I can’t wait to see it.
I would have thought it was staged. David Lovering was doing these magic shows as an opening act for Frank Black. He planted a heckler in the crowd and it was funny to see how the rest of the audience reacted. Mostly they told him to fuck off.
I didn’t know my comments would be posted on the site. Sorry for the f-bomb.
Yes, isn’t it fun when people want everyone to know and believe it’s so interesting that they have a supreme emotion about something. It’s a kind of sharing I guess. one wonders if upon ejaculating those words that she expected some mass confirmation and ultimate rejection of the play, Could she have imagined the audience standing up and chanting, “NO MORE PLAY! NO MORE STINKING PLAY!?” and Kurt on knees in front of her saying, “I’m sorry! I’m so sorry. You’re right. I’m wrong. What was I thinking. It’s a horrible play.” And then she says, “that’s not enough. Let’s throw the bastards out” And they grab all of you and Kurt boot you out on Union St. in your costumes. And she completely validated in her feelings, triumphantly says, “Let’s call Neil Simon.”
What an experience, I’d like to think that it’s rewarding to move people to such a dramatic responce. Just like I believe there’s no such thing as bad press, I also think that there is no such thing as a bad reaction- you made an impression. I had a hard time watching the first act also, I can’t blame the lady too much for leaving; I can blame her for having absolutely no tact or manners. Nice job Shawn- MC
I just got back in town and I will be coming to see your show. Congrats on moving the audience.
Shawn,
I liked your blog story. I think I most enjoyed how you felt the night was shot after the woman made a scene but while you may have felt an audience separation they really wanted to connect with you more after that. Anyway, I’ll try to see the play when I can. I haven’t been paid from work in over a month so that is pretty much one of the main things holding me back.
-Krishna
Wow…it was interesting being in the audience…I could definitely sense discomfort, but pretty much everyone seemed fairly open to the experience and WILLING to deal with discomfort.
On my part, I loved the show…it was everything I look for when I go to the theatre, and it was awesome seeing you
My wife and I have worked in community theatre for many years, (1950′s & ’60′s) but as you can imagine our prouductions had the mark of “Neil Simon.” I do remember the hassel over the words “horse shit” in one of the productions but we managed to slip it by the Board of Directors. No one walked out. We met briefly at the post-play session last Sunday and again let me say we really enjoyed the show and your outstanding performance. s
Sorry, but I ran out of room on the former comment. I notice in the program you have a one man show and believe from your web page it’s called “Menu.” Is your show suitable for all audiences? Let me know what it’s about and maybe we can talk further about a booking.
n
One more thing I forgot to mention. Were you aware that Kurt sent out a letter to subscribers prior to the opening indicating that some scenes as well the action and plot may be offensive and that we could exchange our tickets for any other production? Apparently your “This is too much” lady either didn’t read her mail or maybe she wasn’t a subscriber. In our case, as a human reaction we could hardly wait to see the show..
I got your email about comp tickets and Chris and I will be there on Tuesday 4/11. Thanks for the invite and I can’t wait to see this play!!!!!!