Laura and I went to a free Shakespeare In The Park presentation of Twelfth Night tonight in the park next to our apartment complex, and enjoyed it immensely. I thought the acting was excellent, and found it very easy to get into the story and the emotions despite being unfamiliar with the play. In fact, just the fact that I was able to follow it without having read it in advance, and even to catch many of the jokes and wordplays, is a testament to the quality of the production. The set, costumes, props, and blocking were extremely creative, and were at the same time almost jarring in contrast to the overall Shakespearean feel and yet very right. The entire presentation surprised and delighted in unexpected ways, but felt true to the spirit of the play in every way. If you happen to be in Cupertino tomorrow or next weekend, I highly recommend it.
I really enjoy theater, and whenever I go to a play I'm always a bit sad that my days of technical theater are getting to be so long gone. Some part of me is always wanting to have the insider feel again, and thinking about things like how much work it must have been for the sound guy to work with such a strangely shaped, un-acoustic, outside setup. I sometimes find myself mentally adjusting mic levels as actors approach each other, or wondering which light could be repositioned to cover a hole.
But my life is very different now than it was in high-school, and the time commitments of theater are not trivial. Even if I could find a way to get back into lighting and sound without being a union professional, it's not the sort of thing I can do or not do as life or mood dictates. And so I'll continue to sit in the audience, aware of the lighting and sound equipment, and the back of the set, and the time allowed for quick costume changes. But I'll also be aware of which side of the curtain I am on.
Category: A & E
Subscribe