IN THE COMPANY OF ACTORS Response

1. Several plays written through history are labeled a 'classic'.
Make a list of up to five plays you consider to be classics. 

• Romeo and Juliet
• Macbeth
• The Importance of being Earnest
• King Lear
• Waiting for Godot

2. What characteristics or qualities  make a piece a "classic"?

• Keeping it accessible and alive; relatable 
• able to identify with society
• being able to revise and evolve

3. What are the essential differences between portraying a character on screen as part of a film and performing the role in a theatre over a three week season? 

• recognizable, knowing how they feel, becoming them, knowing how they would act, what they would say, being the character underneath themselves
• keeping it "bubbly" and natural
• Perfectly rehearsing the blocking, actions, and the lines
• playing each moment
• investing in listening, processing, and reacting

4. What were some of the challenges for cast and crew in taking the production of Hedda Gabbler to New York? 

• remembering their characters, a new stage, shorter time to rehearse
• the actors starting from the end
• changing the space and theatre

5. How important is an audience to a live theatre production? 

• The audience helps you to create the character as they create it in their minds
• The audience's reaction controls some aspects of the actor's acting
• The audience "enter as individuals, and leave as an audience"

6. If you are interested in pursuing a career as an actor or in some other job related to the stage and theatre, what qualities do you think you need to develop to be successful in this field? 

• To have more awareness of each other
• To do A LOT more research
• To spend as much time as possible invested in the play
• To correct and help each other while acting
• To rehearse until perfection

Additional Thoughts

I was truly amazed at Cate Blanchett's abilities as an actor. I grew to admire her greater than I have ever done before. All of the actors' knowledge on acting is truly amazing. How they rely so much on the director and desire to do the best that they can. They also put so much trust and reliance on each other.  I was amazed at how seriously they took each of the rehearsals. I was amazed at the specificity of each aspect of the play. How they wanted to control every gesture, every look, every blink, every reaction, every lighting, every position - they were all brilliantly planned in horrific specificity by the director.
The whole documentary reminded me of the beauty we experienced putting up our own play. I desire to one day be able to experience that beauty again. I loved evolving and seeing my vast improvement, but watching the experts in this documentary made me realize how much more I have yet to realize. I feel that these lessons and advices can only be learned from experience and going through the journey of acting. I love the setting, environment, the atmosphere of making pure magic in a room with just a few actors. I also loved that my IB Theatre teacher said, "They look like normal everyday people walking on the street, and then they act, and they become something extraordinary."