Commentary from the rehearsal room...

Dylan slowly reaches to cop a feel of Sarah's breasts "It's not sexual harassment, were acting."

It's 4.40pm Friday afternoon and everyones starting to feel it. Madness has descended. It's been a shorter week but this means they had to work twice as hard and have gotten through a lot. Jethro was in alot experimenting with music as they rehearsed and it really adds alot, so engrossing. Helps you delve into your imagination and the story being told. It's only one more week before bump in, I think next week will be a big one. Actors have had changes in the script up until this week and it'll be hard for them to be completely off script. The crew will keep on rehearsing tomorrow and doing a run but this blogger will be taking the weekend. So no recording of the rehearsing room antics tomorrow, you'll just have to imagine it.

Final thoughts for the week.

Chris ""I'd like to say another great week, but it's not over we have tomorrow."

Hello, Janel here(official work experience girl for this week-woo!). This week has been pretty interesting. Watching Dylan(Sebastian) and Sarah (Claryssa) depicting the life of two teenagers is hilarious. My favourite part so far was showing everyone what a girl fight looks like. Dylan's face was priceless (lol) as I launched my hands to shred his hair with a fierce look on my face-quite realistic if i do say myself haha:) I've also recently discovered to BEWARE OF DYLAN WHEN HE"S HOLDING THE PICKLE JAR:| He took off the lid infront of Sarah's face today and judging by her reaction one could vomit from the stench haha.

I've been blown away with the amount of hard work everyone puts in to create a show-the set, backing music, where the cast stand, every little detail is perfected.

The storyline of the show is incredible. It perfectly depicts the life of two teenagers. For instance 'the bully,' and the different attitudes towards him; wanting to be apart of his crowd and not wanting anything to do with him. Because there's always confusion in young people, not knowing where their place is in the world, it makes you able to connect with the characters and put yourself in their position. There's only one word for it:AMAZING:)

Im off--Thanks so much Arena:) This weeks been awesome! btw all--go and see the show(Y).

alternate ending...

Chris " Somethings happened to Dylan."

Dylan (sits bolt up right) "That's right I killed Jaidyn Leskie."

"If I was directing that's how the play would end, Chris directed but directed that last two lines."

rehearsal room today thus far...

Yr 10 work experience girl helped with the girl on girl fight scene blocking (schools are becoming prisons, psycho bitches everywhere!!)

Currently working on the voice of 'the moon' Dylans fighting for a Barry Otto vocal quality. Chris is politely steering him towards a "different path".

Throw the scripts away.

Chris directing some physical blocking, scripts thrown to the ground.

Retard Liquid. It should be on everyones list. An actors go to. Especially when those director types ask you to do a scene you've only just read through off book. Thats right, scripts down and lets do some work. There was a thrilling energy in the room as the actors concentrated on trying to remember the lines they have never had the opportunity to learn. Stage manager Stacey feed the lines to them as they tried to keep some sort of flow going, even though at times needing to call prompt line to line. Perhaps it could be a way to learn lines in the future, having the lines feed to you via an ear piece. (Chris vision for the future) Will see what happens but for now it seems the actors would prefer a bit of a heads up on what they need to know off book because they found the experience a bit of a brain fuck and frustrating, pleading to Chris at one stage "We can't do it, please don't make us do it"

eleventh entry.

Spontaneity in performance... It's rehearsed and rehearsed and rehearsed and rehearsed and rehearsed and then it's meant to feel like it's the first time these words have been spoken, the first time these thoughts have occurred. Yes, it'll be the first time the audience see it so they will find all the jokes fresh but when you sit in a rehearsal room eventually you can become complacent to the humour making the moments were the actors go off on a tangent fall off your chair kinda funny. It's like the out takes from the movies.

LIAR LIAR OUT TAKES. that release everyone feels when you get to drop out and laugh.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eju7zSmHklA&feature=related

Tenth Entry

A lot of people ask "How's it going?" and "Is it going to be good?" I have no idea how to answer that. Everyone wants to know what the "good shows" are but what does that mean? I believe and stand by the belief that theatre is a gamble, like fruit as Jerry Seinfeld put it "fruits a gamble, I know that going in." What I see as good might not be what you see, and then what's the point of seeing shows and constantly critiquing it, it wont hurt to view a show "with a bit of compassion"(Billie Brown)Sometimes the worse shows you see, the ones that really drive you insane are the ones that stay with you and you can even recall details whereas I've seen shows and thought that was good and never pondered on it again. So when people keep asking "if it's good?" what's the bloody point of that question. Maybe I could have a right hand man standing around me...

Person "Is it good?"

Me "It's good, isn't mate?"

Right hand man "Yeah, it's good."

Person "Should I book a ticket?"

Me "Yeah you should book a ticket, shouldn't he mate?"

Right hand man "Yeah, he should."

Maybe just having a few voices echoing that it's good will do the trick, get them off my back.

Of course saying all this I do think you should book a ticket, Declans writing is provoking and I think you'll be able to get a lot of different things from the evening. The actors are brilliant, extremely watchable and you'll be having some good old belly laughs if you let yourself.

But it's good to remember the entire process that goes into the show you'll be viewing. It's a collaboration between many artists and is not just one persons vision but the work of many. The culmination of choices that have been made through development and rehearsals from type of lights to name of characters to space performed in. Some choices are dictated by money, availability others a gut instinct, mood someone was in that day, or even an accident they were in the night before a rehearsal. So in the end when you sit down in the dark for any play to start try to remember Billie Brown and have a little compassion along with you, not just a scale of good/bad.

A little bit about the play...

The characters in this piece play a little game between them where they act out people in their lives as they tell a story. This is great as we only see the other characters in the play through the eyes of Sebastian and Clayrssa (main characters). Like what we do daily when we tell stories to one another and put on voices to portray the person were referring to or use gesture to show their idiosyncrasies. So you'll be viewing the world of these kids through them, what they think of their teachers, parents and school mates and also how they see each other - these are some of the funniest and cruelest moments. I wonder how Mr Greene comes up with this stuff, by the kind of characters he creates you'd think he probably had a terrible time at school (i'll find out and get back to you.)

Ninth Entry.

This is the end. The end of week two. It was a blessing rehearsing at the Malthouse Tower theatre this week where the piece will be performed. The seating bank was set up how it will be and it really helped the creatives and everyone get a solid feel for what the space is like. Sometimes a floor plan can be misleading. The seating has been set up to fit in as many people as possible and considering it's selling like hot cakes that was a wise move.

We ended the week with a full run. And although Dylan had injured his ankle the night before and was hobbling around like a cripple, adrenalin kicked in as did necessity and he carried on. It turned out that the hobbling suited the character of Sebastian really well and he might keep it even when his ankle heels. So good things do come out of the bad. A bit of method acting, gotta love it. A story was told about a actor who was in the Crucible and when his colleague didn't tie him up probably in the play, he got up and run away to his car and drove home.

Jethro recorded the run so he could work on where sound should fit in and Chris filmed the piece to see how it's shaping up. It'll be quite a different show pending on where your seated as sometimes you'll get more profile than front on or the back of someone not the front. The actors are starting to become their characters, there's a lot of heckling and teasing in the room.

Sarah "It's like we have a retard in the room."

"All the quotes from me are me ragging out on Dylan" Well with Declans writing being played out to you every day it encourages that kind of behaviour. I know that after a day in the rehearsal room I'm more inclined to tell someone to "suck a bag of dicks" if their annoying me than I usually would.

Eighth Entry

From the Beckett theatre to MTC's studio 3, they tried to keep on track and continue with the blocking but without the base of the set and constant moving it proved a little bit more difficult than usual. But this didn't slow down the antics and tangents that are a vital part of the process it fueled it... some more witty than others.

D-Strand

"His acting was like milk that had gone out of date"

"If only he wrote a stronger play, it could withstand my bad acting."

There was a debate (serious debate) about whether forehead kinda sounds like foreskin?? I'll let you decide who you think brought up that question (and it wasn't the usual suspect) and whether you agree or not.

"smashing glass and sticking it into your foreskin" man cheer up emo kid.

I think I've left it long enough without addressing my exquisite art work. Boob faces. Do you think boobs have faces? gaping holes that could swallow you up? personalities? It might have not made it into the script with Chris deciding "actually better how it's originally written" but as D-Strand once said "what doesn't make it into the play can always end up on the blog."

In a sense this play shares similar qualities to Greek drama - using words to describe the action not necessarily performing it, commenting on the action as it occurs like a Chorus does. And then the relationship the Greeks had to The Gods "Men need them in order to make sense of their own experience, in reality chaos - blind, brutal chaos - always lies somewhere beneath the surface of human life." (John Barton) The Gods help man kind reflect on their lives, and so too does Saint Sebastian The Moth.

Seventh Entry.

Jonathan brought in costumes today, and suddenly there was a povo scum kmart 15 year old boy in the room and a tragic, moody gothic wiccan. It can be an unfortunate age 15, puberty, mind going mental, limbs exploding from the body appearing separate from their owner. Going through different "phases"....memories.

As always the rehearsal room was filled with hilarious sidetracks usually aided by Dylan but more increasingly with Chris throwing in some seriously witty lines....would post them but their just too rude.

Oh and am loving the Malthouse Cafe's muesli slice. (If your in the area and feel like a little something something. )

Sixth Entry

At the Malthouse. Week Two. The writer, Declan delivered the final draft of the script, a read through was done and then we lost the writer. He left. A chair was placed in the space in memory of him and his presence. So with the writer out of the room and only the empty chair left, the director and actors snuck back in a few of their favourite lines that missed the final cut. And with the old golden rule of 'silence gives consent' - the writer never made a challenge.

Chris "It's great that Declans not in the room."

Dylan "Blog That."

okay.

(it must be noted that these comments were said in jest. There is only love for the fabulousness that is Mr. Greene.)

As they started to block the first few scenes, a sense of physical and verbal violence became present. I started to reflect on being 15. And remembered not only the constant taunts and teasing that goes on, but also the practical jokes we entertained in. My classic one was the old crutches gag. I'd go into the "cool" area of the school, where all the yr 10's, 11's and 12's would sit around circle tables drinking cans of diet coke. I'd enter (an unwanted year 9) on my crutches and do a collapse right in the middle of the room. Letting my skirt fly up over my head and falling flat on my face, I'd then shudder in the embarrassment and scurry out of the room, all the while my friends would be huddled in the door cackling themselves. I did this so often, I don't know how it still got a reaction, but it was the throwing yourself around physically. Pretending to slam a locker in someones face and knocking them to the ground as groups of people walked by. An there was a really mad one, that involved being late to every French lesson and then one by one running in a state of panic yelling "Je suis retard" and falling one on top of the other until a pile of us lay in front of the teacher. We teased with a version a play violence, pulling out a persons chair as they sat down, throwing things at them and then looking away. And this was an all girls school so I can only imagine what it's like to be a boy, and what a group of teenage boys would encourage each other to do.

It was only recently walking down a main road where two large schools are located. It was that time of day 3.15pm and the school kids swarm the streets and you feel invaded. There was a tiny year 7 walking along with a huge backpack on his back, an older boy tip toed behind him and slowing unzipped the boys bag, one by one the tiny boys items began to spill out of the bag, until it all collapsed on the ground. He looked so crushed when he turned around and saw of sea of his peers laughing at him hysterically. Kids can be so cruel and really not even know it.

Fifth Entry.

What's it like being the mother of a 15 year old boy? The father of a 15 year old boy, or more importantly being a 15 year old boy?

I find one, a mother. Mother of three children, 25, 22 and 15. Thats right the youngest child is at "that age" and with the others grown but not completely out of their mothers care "are they ever?" she quips. I wonder what it's like still having to pay school fees, make lunch, wash clothes, drive to Saturday sport, cook dinner and then at the end of day get meet with a grunt, a smart ass comment, serious attitude or complaints about everything and anything.

I trap the mother down, she's busy, phone ringing, in the kitchen, off for a walk and lunch with friends later...

I ask "What's it like being a mother of a 15 year old boy?"

Mother "I've only got 10 minutes; well the teachers just rung because he's not doing his home work, it's so frustrating that he doesn't want help, he thinks he knows everything."

It seems the change from being a young boy to a teenager has occured and it happened all "in the last 6 months" You notice the "lack of touching" and then it starts to "feel like he really doesn't want to be in the same room as you" It becomes a more "selfish kind of relationship, when he wants something, he'll grease up to you but as soon as it's done he is gone again." "I find it so frustrating." Talking to someone who is giving you no emotional input or any input into the conversation.

Do you still love him?

Her eyes light up, a wild woman is in the kitchen "I'd stab someone for him" she motions the large knife she's been cutting with into the air.

Do know what goes on in his head?

A flat out response of "No" comes back at me. "I don't know what's going on in his head, his interests are changing, not playing much x-box anymore becoming more interested in girls."

It seems to be that although it is frustrating there is no anger towards the situation, "being a mother is different at different stages"

There was an article in the age a week back titled "Mind the gap" by Holly Brubach and it stated that "Teenage boys are not feigning boredom. The adolescent male brain is numb to any stimulus that isn't cranked to the max"

Mother - "It almost needs a bomb to go off to get their attention"

This interview was constructed while she fried bacon up for her son's big Saturday post-sport breakfast.

Now over to the father...

What's it like being the father of 15 year old boy?

He responds instantly "very frustrating because they don't communicate, you just can't get any conversation out of him." And because he doesn't engage with conversation anymore to talk to him you have to sit him down and then he acts confrontational. The response is usually "You wouldn't understand, he says it all the time, about anything he doesn't want to talk about, especially homework"

Do you think if your approach to talking to him was more outrageous or explosive he might respond?

"Competing against a kid playing a war video game, at the same time listening to a cd or ipod and watching a video clip of south park on his laptop all at the same time, you've got no hope"

How does he behave?

"He shuts himself away from the family. He can't organise himself"

Do you think you know what's going on in his mind?

"Well no, you know that your not even close, you'd only be fooling yourself if you did"

And now finally an interview with the 15 year old boy himself. He's just come back from basketball and they have a new coach, he's American, he's dad played in the ABL "He's fucking amazing" The boys in a good mood, he's eating the bacon sandwich made with white bread toasted and bbq sauce.

Whats your attitude towards girls?

"There the goal, you could say, It's what your heading for, but it's not a competition"

He's going out tomorrow with a girl he asked out and they're both taking friends. "The bro code" he explains referencing American sit com shows like 'how i meet your mother'"the wing man, the guy who helps you go out with someone."

I wonder if he notices the change in himself as his parents did, that all of a sudden his interest had shifted.

"One day you start talking to them (girls) more, hanging out with them more, their the gist of the talk at school."

The list of things of importance in your life?

"girls, friends, facebook, x box, television, school"

What do you think about your family?

"Your not really thinking about your family when your 15 parents are trying to do the right thing but you don't want to do the right thing."

What's the worst things boys say about girls at school?

"whale, fat, ugly, rank, disgusting"

Do you know any Emos?

"Don't know any emo's at school. They don't want to be seen, so they dont get seen, hang in library, vis -com area, just don't see them."

Whats a word you use all the time to put someone down?

"Gimp"

It was fabulous how both parents didn't even hesitate when asked if they knew what's going on in their sons head. Perhaps if they come and see the show they might get an insight into the minds of 15 year olds through Claryssa and Sebastian, whether that'll really help though...

Fourth Entry.

Chatting with our week one yr 10 work experience student Tegan Stockdale I asked what her impressions were about the play? and if she recognizes the characters of the play? It turns out that the Sebastian character reminds her of her mate Ashley (a girl) who throws tantrums to get her way and is always taking about Anime. And that she doesn't know anyone like Claryssa but she herself is a Wiccan. I'm curious, I've never meet a real Wiccan, I ask...

Tell me what is Wicca?

"Let me get this straight, we DO NOT worship the devil and we don't fly broomsticks, we worship the earth, flora and fauna, thats why we make potions."

Being the only Wiccan at a catholic school is not easy, her friend who was also a Wiccan left because she couldn't handle the taunts from the other students, chanting "Burn the Witches, Burn the Witches" as they walk pass. Having heated arguments in R.E with her teacher.

"Your not born one, you can be raised one or you can choose, it's a lifestyle choice, I came across it because I didn't like the Catholic religion that is forced down your throat at school. "

They live by a code "An it harm none do what ye will" simple meaning if it harms no one in anyway then go ahead. It's about the earth and appreiating it, not taking it for granted. "It's rare to find a vegetarian Wiccan, the animals they keep us alive, we keep them alive" That we eat the animals, then when we die and become the grass which the animals eat. People have a misplaced perception of what Wiccas are and this might also be due to that the "dead mans toes and blood in potion recipes are actually code words for flowers or herbs."

Even though people at school have been known to yell out comments like "go cast a spell on me you stupid witch" Tegan doesn't let it affect her, she follows the code and keeps it more as an individual choice and lifestyle decision. "Your religion is your choice, don't preach on me I wont preach on you" Although her dad thinks "what (she) does is bull" she has found a religion that connects with her.

In the play, the female character Claryssa is a Wiccan, but more a Gothic Wiccan, she defends herself to Sebastian and ignores the taunts of "listening to marilyn manson and touching each other boobies" as it's a play and so doesn't take offense to it. Tegan watches the process of rehearsal in the room by observing the first run of a scene, then reading a book for a bit and watching the final run of the same scene to see how much the scene has developed over the time. Although film and television is more where Tegan wants to work as an actor she feels the excitement of the theatre with no editing room. "the actors are really talented, they work differently but together their styles blend well."

With the little taunts in the play towards Wiccan's we should be grateful thats Tegan practices by the harm none code and not voodoo magic.

Final quote from Tegan: "Marilyn Manson is gross. His music is great but he freaks me out!"

Third Entry.

The art of blogging. The idea not loved by all, as it can appear that someone or something is recording your every move: like a spy in the room. I'm here to assure all (especially the actors) that I come in peace. I'm wanting like all who is involved to make this show a great one, and with the characters starting to come alive on the floor and a little taste of what is to come with video design and lightning it's heading in an exciting direction.

Today started earlier, beginning with the production meeting. A great understanding of the aesthetic is clear between the designers. The minimalist set is encouraging a darker tone, shadows, light tricking the eyes, blurred edges, sustained and sudden in attack. The grotesque images in the script such as "spewing up my heart" prompt a leading towards more bile yellows/oranges/stark whites in lighting. It's always encouraging to remember that it is not just the actors and their dialogue that sets the mood for the audience but the lighting, audio, video design and set etc. They play such a vital role in the overall production. It's all about choices/decisions. And it's hard to pin down really why one chooses something over another, why this draft of scene 9 works better than the other one. I'm curious to see when the script feels finished or if time stresses that it must be locked down by a certain date. Well, with the ripping lines/cuts that Declan added from last nights edit I can't wait to see what he'll bring in tomorrow. It's a fun time to be in the rehearsal room.

Quote of the day "BLOG THIS! MOFO"

Second Entry.

Tuesday 13th April

First days of rehearsals seem to be a time when people are finding their feet. Actors are moving through the writers imagination. Understanding the story, circumstances and then piecing together their character. With the writer still in the room making cuts and changes the piece feels like it's still forming. Nothing is concrete. It's exciting; watching the actors work with the script, improvising at times and being able to adjust quickly as new additions of scenes come at them and suggestions from both the director and writer.

Having the dramaturge present in the room is invaluable to the nurturing of the structure of the piece. Who are these characters? What is the main story? Who is driving what moments and why?

Sometimes it is posed that it is in direction, or acting that moments can be made stronger other times it feels a re-write of a moment or cutting of lines is more appropriate.

A basic shape of the set is up, three large felt drapes hanging from the ceiling to the ground. It is the only staple, a boundary in which the world is forming.

One word to describe today "sensing"

First Entry.

Monday 12th April

Here you will find the Blog of Arena Theatre Company and Malthouse Theatre production of 'Moth'. Information posted will be on the rehearsal process till the season begins at the Tower Theatre on Saturday May 15th. Feel free to ask any questions on the show and we'll answer to the best of our ability.

And remember it's not easy being 15.