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Ideas Still Coming, Even This Close to Curtain

With the performance date looming, you might think ideas would start winding down—but if anything, they’re speeding up. Even as we move into full rehearsal mode, there’s this ongoing flow of inspiration that keeps shaping the final version of the play.

After our most recent run, I sent a group email to pitch a tweak for Scene 1. The thought was to build out some more tension and character depth while Andrew and I are running—maybe he chastises me with a line like, “You have to take this seriously… you’re gonna get one of us killed.” That simple moment could do a lot: add urgency, foreshadow conflict, and even give some weight to Aaron’s character by having Andrew defend him—explaining that Aaron has seen war and is trying to toughen us up for what’s ahead.

At the same time, Bob came in with a sharp idea for Aaron’s arc: during his usual rant about how we’re never going anywhere because we’re too soft, he gets a text that changes everything. We’re being deployed. The contrast between Aaron’s cynicism and the gut-punch of real news? That’s some powerful dramatic irony, and it adds another layer of realism and shock.

Beyond the script, we also tried to land on something simple but symbolic: what to wear. We figured we’d keep it in the spirit of the military—nothing too on-the-nose, but enough to feel like a unit. A little visual cohesion to signal the world we’re in and the stakes we’re facing.

On April 20th, our group gathered outside of class for a rehearsal that felt somewhere between a casual hangout and a low-key performance lab. It marked that interesting in-between space—post-workshop but before the dress rehearsal. There’s something about being away from the structure of class that lets people breathe differently, and this session really reflected that.

We didn’t make any major changes to the script or staging that I can recall, but what stood out was the energy and honesty in the room (or, technically, outside the room). Aaron, in particular, really opened up in a way that was both raw and powerful. His expression of frustration with his father—both as a character in the play and perhaps in real life—cut through the scene with clarity and weight. It felt less like “acting” and more like truth-telling. That kind of emotional transparency shifted the tone for all of us, encouraging a level of vulnerability that’s rare even in rehearsals.

It’s also when the weight of the process began to settle in. We were expected to rehearse for two hours outside of class—a reminder that this isn’t just a classroom assignment, it’s a production. There’s something motivating (and slightly daunting) about that shift in expectations. It asks more from us, but it also offers more in return: more room to explore, more chances to connect, more opportunities to dig deep.

As we inch closer to the dress rehearsal, it’s clear that the work is becoming less about lines and blocking, and more about presence—about showing up fully, emotionally, creatively. If this session was any indication, we’re on the right track.

Todays feedback session returned the following outline:

Scene 1 – Boot Camp by: A.

Takes Aways:

1. Ensure Aaron (and teams’) bodily position effectively engage the crowd.
2. Ensure ranks are clearly establish via two sets of dialogue: Aaron to Andrew; Aaron to Antonio & Issa.
3. When running, mime a circle, a song, exhaustion, etc. (AND – as an extension of #1) keep the audience in mind.
4. Andrew must be wearing his jacket.

Transition – Sounds of battle, light down, flickering.

Scene 2 – Death by: I.

1. Music?
2. Ensure that the quotes used from the poems are spread out. i.e. Antonio will share his quote at the end of Scene 2; Aaron will share his in Scene 3; Andrew will share his in Scene 4.
3. Ensure Andrew’s distance is at a maximum from the group.

Transition – Other poems, and Aaron freshens up.

Scene 3 – Funeral by. Aa.

1. Use a freeze frame during conflict, instead of moving off stage.
2. The funeral scene should have a faster clip than the death scene, when dealing with the jacket. Crisp.

Transition – Light funeral music (perhaps military funeral), and Andrew Monologue

1. Light bar music
2. Acknowledging the ghost via comedy: empty shot-glass, moved glass, etc.

Scene 4 – Reunion by. A.

A bit of a delay in writing this, but Friday’s performance still holds in my memory in a way that most things do not. This form of engagement with both the mind and the body is so unique for me, that it makes me wonder how similar work would look inside of other courses. This class is one I will cherish.

We continue not to rely on any type of script, and the depth of our dialogues continues to feel superficial, though I think what we are able to express as a group is not. On that note: this work feels like it could be significant if it were expressed in the context of veterans groups, or even as a fun – sort of Anne-Shelby style pop-up for strangers.

Overall, I think the Professors have done a tremendous job of creating a safe space to fail, so that carrying out the performance felt natural, easy, and fun.

Having found some poetry that will guide our asides, and parts of the play – we have completed a number of scenes, chronologically:

Scene 1 – Bootcamp | Scene 2 – Death Of A Friend | Scene 3 – Funeral | Scene 4 – Getting Through The Fire

Our central question revolve is: “How to get through the fire; how to persist when things are hard?”
To note some of the key means from each scene:

Scene 1 – Friendship, Laughter, Camaraderie. # With emphasis on a joy as told by Issa?

Scene 2 – Silence, Reflection, Poetry, Sacrifice. # With emphasis on a poem to Boss, as told by Ant.

Scene 3 – Anger, Alcohol, Supports. #With emphasis on a poem or funeral reflection by Aaron.

Scene 4 – Forgiveness, Reconciliation. #With outro and commentary by Andrew

My last reflection made note of the dispositions of the members, but as we have moved away from the passion of the funeral scene, back to a reflective moment where Issa, Antonio, and Andrew went through bootcamp (guided by Aaron) there is a growing connection between us.

Issa also has a strong comedic sense, though in “Bootcamp” the lack of seriousness the permeates, particularly from myself. At the point of the story, every is whole – and we seem some of the underlying exposure to the “dragon-passage” of alchol.

My previous reflection asked questions related to the nature of the war, though it generally does not seem to matter much in this context, though in a more advanced version of the play this would need to be more colored.

As I am in charge of this portion, I do have a craving for the safety of a script, though I am enjoying also Aarons continued emphasis on power…there were too many funny things said, suggested or felt that I wish could have been written down.

What is the moral of this play? I might suggest, the power of reflection and the binding power of shared hardship.

In reflection on the first few meeting with my team I am continuing to find general patterns of disposition. Aaron is very much a leader in the group, and takes charge without much prompting. Issa and Andrew are both more reserved, though Issa is less so than Andrew.

Issa also has a strong comedic, and jovial sense that really came through in our story circle,

Issa: “It was quite the interesting day when Jim-boe died, and it was pretty chill for the most part – except for…when we were in the trenches…unknown to them, the enemy was ready to fire…and unfortunately (Jimbo) the newbie didn’t do too well, he ended up dying.”

As I followed Issa’s cadence, I couldn’t help but laugh. The way he described things as “pretty chill…” was unhinged! But, for my part – there was a strong internal suspicion and pressure, a desire to place blame. How did this enemy know where these men were? The nature of the setting doesn’t allow for much intrigue (spies aren’t normally in trenches?), but my part did lead Aaron to settle on the idea that the main conflict of the story was that each of these men blamed each other.

In the opening scene there is a sense that everyone but Jim-bob came home, in tact – except for my character who lost a leg, and began to drink (to deal with his pain). Though, there is something to be said about the historical context out of which “trench warfare” emerged.

If it 1920s France, did the bodies even get back to America? Are the contestants even American? How do we avoid anachronism, and achieve reach fundamental lesson for our times?

  As you are beginning to structure your community story performance, think about how this group work impacts you thematically.

The question of who dies is probably the most challenging.  Also, which war to act and in what setting will likely be debated.

Where does it impact you? |

As we first started working together last week, I found that there was lot of joy and laughter in this process. That frankly Issa and I are more “comedic”; that Andrew and Aaron are more logical and serious. Though, I noticed that this lack of seriousness could lead to us not getting any work done at all (Aaron seemed to issue some degree of restriction over this).  This does have some impact on me, as I want to be in a space where each person has some creative freedom and time to speak.

How does it impact you in your body?  |

Initially, I found that we were all standing around the central paper; but that by the end, Aaron seemed to have been the only one standing. As such, it seems reasonable that he is to be cast as a leader of some type in the play.

How is your body combined with your mind ?  |

How can the body be used in the space and setting we’re in? The creation of sound, laying on the floor, sitting in chairs or trenching, running, etc.

How is your (mind combined with your) spirit? |

As I’ve been envisioning the scenes, there is a part of me that ask the question: if our group was in a war, who would die? (We had not yet decided who will assume this, role – though death and loss is a key part of the plays conflict). If I had to be forced to choose I’d estimate the order to be Issa, then Aaron, myself, and Andrew. (This is purely speculative, but since it is in our control I wonder: why I think this, and (depending on who we chose) what end does it lead to?

What are some of the things that you’ve noticed that you are drawn to in this work? |

*Sound effect* What’s a war movie without explosions, and being able to sort of generate those sounds may be fun (though I wonder how my energies will be?)

What are some of the things that you are avoiding OR that are challenging for you in this type of group story project work? |

Memory being what it is, this is my attempt to: “review and share how I worked with mapping out a selection of stories”.

The large brown paper we marked on is sitting on one of my desks, waiting to be engaged with. I had thought to add stickers of some sort, or to use it somehow as a background for the game Dragonwood, but nothing has come of those ideas yet (other than the fact that I lost the stickers I wanted to use!)

As I open the paper back up, I thought to bring it back to class on Tuesday; and to have my teammates do the same. The email I sent to that end was:

Meeting on April 17th after class sounds reasonable. Let’s work to remind one another as we get closer to that.

I also wanted to suggest that (if people still have them) that we could bring in our story art, or at least to take a picture of the map. From that,  we might be able to distill something else about the nature and character of our scenes. 

I’m unsure how well this will be received. Overall, I am enjoying the process – and find that there is ample structure and inspiration to draw from to fuel this creative work.