From a Different Perspective

Yesterday, I was talking with a friend about his 11 year-old cousin who owns a Mac Laptop computer and an I-Pod Touch. He was telling me about his experience of bringing his cousin to the Museum of Science, a place that used to be considered hip back in ’92 (ancient history!). The 11-year-old cousin, I-Pod in hand, was not impressed. He had one objective: to get back home to connect his I-Pod to his computer for an update.

What kind of connection is this teaching us? If you're reading this blog, you should stop now and buy a ticket for Company One's upcoming production of VOYEURS DE VENUS. Better yet, get that Company Card! I promise you it will be worth more of your time. All this blogging makes me think of Neil LaBute's introduction to his newest play "Reasons to be Pretty." He writes: "I like the person who spends more time working than on Facebook, the person who gets out there and lives his life rather than blogging about it or staring the mirror wondering about anything so damn inconsequential as looks or hair or yesterday. The future is now. It's time to grow up and be strong. Tomorrow may well be too late.”

I think we forget how unique the theatre is. There's this great play by an under-appreciated writer Alexis Clements who sums it up pretty well for me. The play is about a woman who presents a lecture on communication and asks the audience to confess their sins. She says: "Shall we make this a public confessional, a more equal exchange? Everybody loves that nowadays, right? Blogs, video, cell phones, television? But what about here in this room? In front of real, living, breathing people? Anybody want to try?" This public confessional, conversation, debate, discussion is exactly what Company One achieves, perhaps unconsciously.

"Company One redefines the typical theatrical experience by developing, producing, and promoting socially relevant plays and innovative educational programming that appeal to, represent and include Boston’s diverse urban communities." I don't think I understood what that meant when I first started out this summer with ASSASSINS, where I helped out as an assistant to Shawn LaCount (the director) and the rest of the company. I have come to interpret this mission statement as providing an atmosphere for community discussion. This starts in the rehearsal room. I had the unique role as both an insider and outsider to this process because I did not have a defined position like a Assistant Stage Manager or Designer. The most fascinating thing to watch was that Company One really does embrace collaboration, communication, and discussion. They do not fake it. I asked Shawn once “How much preparation do you put into a production? What do you do?” His response, was something like this: "Yeah, do your homework. But let the designers tell you what the scene is really about. And let the actors solve the big question." Shawn’s way of working reminds me of Anne Bogart. He lets his actors find their own way. And he’s not doing it because it’s trendy, he knows it works. Bogart, in recent interview said: “I have no interest in being in a room where people are simply doing what I want.” I think that’s pretty accurate to his process. Shawn (and the rest of the Company) are unique because they embrace disagreement as a vital part of the process and trust their staff. There's been a lot of stir about the timing of this show in the newspapers, on television, and online. But this isn't just good press. This is what Company One strives to do. To strike up a real conversation about things we don't even want to think about. I say that is a good measure of success.

Becoming involved with Company One got me off Facebook this summer. It gave me a way to "connect" to real people and not a computer. There’s a difference between interacting and collaborating. Collaboration requires intense listening. You barely see that in the office setting. I like to work in the theatre because it forces me to confront my fears, assumptions, and prejudices. In rehearsal, it forces me to get over my shyness, find a voice, be decisive, and listen to others. It makes me aware of time and space.

I could have very easily just had my part time job this summer. But I made the choice stop refreshing my e-mail and start communicating. I’m lucky I got to do it for three months. At least our audiences got a chance to really engage in some tough questions with REAL people for two hours. In the words of Mark and Summer in the ASSASSINS pre-show announcement, “Please turn of your cell phones. Not on vibrate. Please turn them off. Trust me, you don’t need them where you are going.”

Thanks again to Shawn, Sarah S., Sarah C., Mark, Summer, Sasha, Mason, the SMs Emily, Ellyn, Jess, and the entire company of ASSASSINS for an unforgettable summer. I can’t wait to work with Company One in the future!

-Greg Josselyn, Asst. to the Director

P.S. For someone who hates blogging, this entry is way too long!