Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Directing "Proof" by David Auburn

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johnmh
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Joined: 6/18/05
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Topic: Directing "Proof" by David Auburn
Posted: 1/22/10 at 4:01pm

If anyone out there has ever directed this show I would appreciate any advise that you may have. I have read the show, seen the movie, seen the show at another theater and have come to realize just how deep a piece this is. Now, how do I get a cast of amateurs to realize that this is a different ball game and that they have to work at these characters? They need to understand that they will need to delve into their character in order to make it work. These people are used to doing light comedies where jokes will keep the audience happy and entertained.

John Hardaway
Director for 3 theaters in Southern Indiana
"In the biz" since 1963

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Amos Hart
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Joined: 12/15/06
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Posted: 1/26/10 at 4:09pm

First, get away from thinking about "a cast of amateurs", because the tone is already one of "they certainly don't see the depth that I see!" and that will communicate itself to the cast very quickly. Unless you make your living at directing, you're just as much of an amateur as they are. Don't put yourself above them before you've even started. Next, and the most obvious thing to do, is try to choose people out of the auditions who already seem to be on the same page as you are. Don't pigeonhole people as being incapable of delving when, from what you've said, they probably haven't had much of a delving opporunity. They might be wonderful delvers. If they aren't - schedule a couple of extra evenings. Read through Act I. Discuss it thoroughly. Read through Act II the next night. Discuss that thoroughly. Have a set of specific questions ready to ask the actors about their characters, as opposed to sitting there and saying, "So -- whatcha think? Who wants to start?" Ask questions that will lead them to think in the areas you want them to think.

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edh915
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Joined: 11/19/09
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Posted: 1/26/10 at 4:31pm

Amos is right. Don't pre-judge. Be respectfujl. And discuss the play as you read it.

I like to read thru a scene and then ask, "Okay, what just happened?" And let the actors speak about their own characters and the others' characters as well. Discuss the show as though it were a mystery. "Okay, why do you think they did that, or said that, or didn't say this, or didn't do that?" and "What do you think the playwright is trying to say?"

Ask questions, as Amos has said, but also be open to them discovering something that even you hadn't seen. You're there to guide and "direct", but you may be surprised at how much they'll give you once they see where you want to take them.

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johnmh
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Joined: 6/18/05
Location: United States
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Posted: 1/26/10 at 5:04pm

I did not mean to imply that I was more of a professional than my cast. I am not! We are all amateurs. But, I have spent the last 2 months reading and studying this script plus all the background material and study guides. I am just concerned that I will not be able to impart the nuances and underlying themes to my cast in just 7 weeks of 3-a-week rehearsals.

I really like the idea of a read-through of each act followed by a discussion. I'll do that and I think it will prove very valuable. Thanks for the insight.

John Hardaway
Director for 3 theaters in Southern Indiana
"In the biz" since 1963

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Amos Hart
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Posted: 1/26/10 at 10:47pm

You may have to let them find their own nuances. If they aren't that radically different from yours, go with the flow. Believe me, imparting nuances doesn't work. I've been there. If they're too far off from what you want, keep asking questions that lead in the direction you need them to go.

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B-M-D
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Joined: 11/03/05
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Posted: 1/27/10 at 10:30am

And perhaps you are overthinking this and are relying too heavily on the background material and study guides. I was fortunate to have an exceptional cast which made my job easy. There's alot to be said for "discovering" things in rehearsal. And yes ask the leading questions that will make your cast think and consider. I agree that you can't impart nuance easily. It's a part of chemistry and no one I know of can direct in chemistry. I'm a firm believer that 90% of directing is casting. If you have a good cast to begin with they will find the nuance and chemistry themselves.

"Dying is easy, comedy is hard."

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Directing
Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Directing

Author	Message
johnmh Walk-On Joined: 6/18/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 6	Topic: Directing "Proof" by David Auburn Posted: 1/22/10 at 4:01pm
	If anyone out there has ever directed this show I would appreciate any advise that you may have. I have read the show, seen the movie, seen the show at another theater and have come to realize just how deep a piece this is. Now, how do I get a cast of amateurs to realize that this is a different ball game and that they have to work at these characters? They need to understand that they will need to delve into their character in order to make it work. These people are used to doing light comedies where jokes will keep the audience happy and entertained.
	John Hardaway Director for 3 theaters in Southern Indiana "In the biz" since 1963

	IP Logged

Amos Hart Lead Joined: 12/15/06 Online Status: Offline Posts: 36	Posted: 1/26/10 at 4:09pm
	First, get away from thinking about "a cast of amateurs", because the tone is already one of "they certainly don't see the depth that I see!" and that will communicate itself to the cast very quickly. Unless you make your living at directing, you're just as much of an amateur as they are. Don't put yourself above them before you've even started. Next, and the most obvious thing to do, is try to choose people out of the auditions who already seem to be on the same page as you are. Don't pigeonhole people as being incapable of delving when, from what you've said, they probably haven't had much of a delving opporunity. They might be wonderful delvers. If they aren't - schedule a couple of extra evenings. Read through Act I. Discuss it thoroughly. Read through Act II the next night. Discuss that thoroughly. Have a set of specific questions ready to ask the actors about their characters, as opposed to sitting there and saying, "So -- whatcha think? Who wants to start?" Ask questions that will lead them to think in the areas you want them to think.
	IP Logged

edh915 Celebrity Joined: 11/19/09 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 325	Posted: 1/26/10 at 4:31pm
	Amos is right. Don't pre-judge. Be respectfujl. And discuss the play as you read it. I like to read thru a scene and then ask, "Okay, what just happened?" And let the actors speak about their own characters and the others' characters as well. Discuss the show as though it were a mystery. "Okay, why do you think they did that, or said that, or didn't say this, or didn't do that?" and "What do you think the playwright is trying to say?" Ask questions, as Amos has said, but also be open to them discovering something that even you hadn't seen. You're there to guide and "direct", but you may be surprised at how much they'll give you once they see where you want to take them.
	IP Logged

johnmh Walk-On Joined: 6/18/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 6	Posted: 1/26/10 at 5:04pm
	I did not mean to imply that I was more of a professional than my cast. I am not! We are all amateurs. But, I have spent the last 2 months reading and studying this script plus all the background material and study guides. I am just concerned that I will not be able to impart the nuances and underlying themes to my cast in just 7 weeks of 3-a-week rehearsals. I really like the idea of a read-through of each act followed by a discussion. I'll do that and I think it will prove very valuable. Thanks for the insight.
	John Hardaway Director for 3 theaters in Southern Indiana "In the biz" since 1963
	IP Logged

Amos Hart Lead Joined: 12/15/06 Online Status: Offline Posts: 36	Posted: 1/26/10 at 10:47pm
	You may have to let them find their own nuances. If they aren't that radically different from yours, go with the flow. Believe me, imparting nuances doesn't work. I've been there. If they're too far off from what you want, keep asking questions that lead in the direction you need them to go.
	IP Logged

B-M-D Celebrity Joined: 11/03/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 346	Posted: 1/27/10 at 10:30am
	And perhaps you are overthinking this and are relying too heavily on the background material and study guides. I was fortunate to have an exceptional cast which made my job easy. There's alot to be said for "discovering" things in rehearsal. And yes ask the leading questions that will make your cast think and consider. I agree that you can't impart nuance easily. It's a part of chemistry and no one I know of can direct in chemistry. I'm a firm believer that 90% of directing is casting. If you have a good cast to begin with they will find the nuance and chemistry themselves.
	BD "Dying is easy, comedy is hard."
	IP Logged

Topic: Directing "Proof" by David Auburn( Topic Closed)