Breakthrough!

Woo hoo! Ok, after trying many many different ideas, status games, trying to get them to create an outer symbolic manifestation of relatoinship between two people. After trying to find inner emotion n- ala gestus - doing a whole bunch of fundamental theatre exercises and re-reviewing the scenes uptil now - all in an effort to avoid dealing with a key scene where Gunadhaya leaves Satavahana's court because he has no language to communicate in.

I've thought up a thousand different ways.. long one sided converations between Gunadhaya and the queen. Gunadhaya silent and another gunadhaya behind him providing inner emotional commentary. Gunadhaya walking thorugh the court, meeting people, getting ignored. The slow journey from "popular and much loved gunadhaya" to "whose that guy who never speaks?"

After trying a thousand moments of directorial procrastination in rehearsal. I sat down and charted out the rest of the story with the musician - just in an effort to get him to come up with songs (we'll be using a lot of music and dance in the second half). Finally, walked back in, told the company the rest of the story, and got them ready to do some costume research and some research on tribals - amongst whom Gunadhaya's second bit of the story is set.

When I was left with no recourse - but to deal with what happens NEXT - in that damn moment after Gunadhaya looses the bet due to this amazing conspiracy by Sarvavarman's wife.

"...ok everyone freeze after the third 'long live the king' wherever you are.
Now give me the bhangi (a outward physical manifestation of an inner state - a symbolic body pose) of your charachters reaction to Gunadhaya's silence."

Hmm i wish i could see them all, they're all obscured by each others positions...
ok everyone come to a line a few feet from the front..of stage.

Just so I could see them...

"Oh wait.. that looks good!"

"Gunadhaya! Quick! walk center stage! and face them.

Now everyone give me the bhangi.

Ok gunadhaya tie a cloth around your mouth.

now leave...

OH ONE SEC... QUEEN.. stay back!

Ok. Gunadhaya walk to your spot and turn and face the rest of the actors at exactly the same time as they reach thier line.

Tie the cloth on your mouth.. actors go into your bhangi s at this point.

Gunadhaya leave - queen come forward to where he was center stage as he leaves and reach out to him as he walks into the audience...and when it feels right, just say his name.

"Arun can you give me some flute here please?"

We ran it. The actress playing the queen was in tears when she said

"Gunadhya".

:-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-)

*jump jump jump*

Such glee I cannot even begin to tell you!!