A Fly On The Wall, April 5, 2013

Diving In
by Jim Murchison 
@JimMurchison

The first day of rehearsal is fun. It's like stepping into cold water. The best approach is likely to dive in, but you're a little nervous about the shock. So you stand at the edge, tiptoeing in. It is probably best just to dive in immediately, but often you don't do that until you're up to your balls in the figurative waters.  

Another thing is that you discover things about the lines. The first thing you find out is how well you know them. Lines that you read to yourself sitting down or pacing may be harder to remember when you're admiring someone else's performance or jumping up and down or hearing a cue differently than you anticipated. 

All the time that you are playing with timing and pace you are defining relationships. The first week is playing with it. The second week is for the most part setting it so that you have confidence. A great many of my scenes are played with Guy Buller who plays Hortensio. His relationship with me switches from an arch rival to a co-conspirator with my Gremio character depending on whether it suits our need and mutual agenda to see Kate married off.

In the final scene I play Hortensio's wife. In a way I guess I am still playing a rival and co-conspirator, but with a different power dynamic. It's all great fun.

Taming of the Shrew runs from April 18-May 5 at The Gladstone in Ottawa