SHORTS

Well. I am about to go to the tech/dress of an evening of Short Plays, one of which I wrote and another of which I directed. The direction has been interesting. A play that only runs eight minutes gives you very little time to develop characters so you do rely hugely on stereotypes to establish an instant rapport with your audience, something I have always considered lazy. The actors I am working with are in the same boat neither of them having acted in a play this short before. I am reminded strongly of the debate about physical and verbal that was going on. We have relied almost totally on physicalisation of the character to establish for the audience who they are. As with all short plays this is very much a single issue, a quick comment on elderly people and the techniques they use for dealing with loneliness but its been fun. A really short rehearsal period too. That's been a little disquieting.

I am waiting with great interest the opening night tomorrow.