“Every Teacher Has Something To Give”.

Class started a little differently today. Philippe brought us together early, with our movement teacher Élena, because he wanted to talk to us about the issues we’ve been having. The issues being: nearly everybody has stopped going to movement (bar 4 or 5 people). It was a bit awkward having Élena there with Philippe - it would have been easier if she wasn’t there and he could relay the message. Easier because nobody wanted to hurt her feelings. The meeting came about because yesterday a few people had brought up the idea that we should cut movement for the next two weeks, so that we can have more time to rehearse for the upcoming show, and because with only 4 or 5 people in class it’s not worth it. Yesterday Philippe kind of brushed it off, which often happens when you ask him anything administrational, but today he came in trying to make a change. It was nice to speak together as a class. As an ensemble. Because we don’t really ever get to do that. At this school, it’s very individual. But we came together a bit today which I really appreciated. Philippe said obviously we’re not happy with the movement class and wanted to know why. 

He said “every teacher has something to give”. I stayed out of the conversation at first but eventually said that I think it would be unfair to decide to cut movement classes altogether because we as a class haven’t given Élena a chance to change. She has been trying to adapt to us, but more and more people have dropped out, so it’s pretty shit for her. I also told her that I am one of the people who have stopped coming (I have chosen to go a run instead, which I told her) and why I stopped. I said for me, I want to move/sweat and in her classes I wasn’t moving/sweating nearly enough. There’s also too much talking which I find frustrating. And that the talk about ‘feelings’ doesn’t work for me at this school, because with Philippe, we kill that kind of thinking completely. I was really nervous saying this, but I thought it was a fair thing to do. And a safe place to do it. Philippe said he liked what I had said and that it’s “generous”. I then took on a bit of a leadership role in the group and led the group to make a decision whilst Philippe and Élena were out of the room. We decided that we should all give it another go, and to try and commit to another way of learning. I’m happy about this. I think it will be good for us as an ensemble to come together before the show.

I also, just with the class, expressed that I had been frustrated with the class in our ability to get up, and work a lot. I was nervous and didn’t start so well and got a bit of a knee-jerk  reaction from a few people saying it’s not anything to do with me what other people do, which is fair, but I finished saying that we have an opportunity to really come together for the show and work hard as an ensemble. Which I thought was more positive and what I wish I’d begun with. It felt a bit silly to say at this point, because everybody is working now because the rush of the show is approaching. And I don’t think it was that well received, although a few people thanked and supported me. But I’m glad a finally said something. And I was proud of myself today for being how I was. It made me realise I’m good as a leader, and gives me confidence to try out the role of director.

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The rest of class was taken up by a list of things presented. From now on I think class is going to be like this. When there’s only a week to go before the show, there are lots of things to present, but not a lot of time...

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Akron returned and did his Bouzin scene with Thomas and Vicky. It was usual Akron stuff for the first half of the scene, but he really started to come into himself in the second half. He found his feet, loosened up, played, and listened well to us. He did this crazy laugh which we loved, and he gave it to us a lot.

“If you do it like this next week, then we take.”

It was a relief to finally see Akron do something. To give something. We were all really happy for him. Before class, Philippe had told Akron that he was “furious” with him when he didn’t come to class yesterday. Which was odd, because he’d told us that he thought it was a good thing. But the effect of his words seemed to help push Akron to give. The result of a crisis? I’d say so.

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Katy, Steph and Christine presented the witches from Macbeth. Philippe killed them for being too heavy.

“We see three witches having the fun to put Macbeth’s destiny in a soup? Or three pain in the ass feminists?”

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Mia, Vicky and Lee presented the Redillon scene entirely in French (including poor Lee). “We don’t understand anything.” Even from Mia who speaks French fluently. I think because the way they are doing it lacks physical story telling. Or much status interchange. It’s just talking. So if you don’t speak the language it’s totally unclear.

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Michael worked his Jail Bird monologue again. He tried to do what he did yesterday, but he couldn’t get it again. He wasn’t far off what he did yesterday, but today it was mechanical and there was no pleasure.

“When something works - tack! It has to work the second day. Or else it’s not normal.”

 Philippe got him to sit on a chair with a cigarette and tell us a story...his inner wanker and idiot starts to come out! Then Philippe got him to change to the Feydeau text, but Mike kept falling out of his story telling rhythm, and into the rhythm of the text. No! Stay in the rhythm of what your playing! He did find something fun when imitating the bird sounds CD that his father used to listen to in the car. In the middle of telling us a story, every now and then he would do a little whistle of a bird call and then name the bird in a low, bumbling old American’s voice.

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Barbara tried to show her Spanish monologue again but Philippe kept killing her for her voice. She wasn’t grand like the beginning of an old film. She was just “classic spanish.” The problem was purely technical - her voice was falling down at the end of each sentence. But she couldn’t figure it out and so Philippe said “no”.

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Ben showed a monologue of Antony from Antony and Cleopatra. “We need the voice of an orator. Politique.” Like Churchill.

Ben ended up doing a nice slow, deep, and controlled voice and rhythm. 

“In this way, when you are dangerous, it’s good.”

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The end of a big week (even though I had a long weekend and missed Monday)! Thank goodness.