let’s table it

It is a pleasure to work with a director who highly values the importance of table work. Table work, for better or worse, refers to the process at the beginning of rehearsals when the director, actors and other interested members of the company sit around a table and talk about the play. I know theatre artists have diverging opinions of the value of table work, some think it’s a waste of time to sit around and talk about a play when discovery happens on your feet as you make choices and respond to scene partners. Other people need to talk in excess, asking subtle- and sometimes annoying- questions about the actions, motivations, and events on the page. I think there is a happy medium.

One of the vital advantages of table work is to create a common understanding of the world in which the play exists and then create a shared vocabulary to describe it amongst the company. How many plays have you seen where you thought: “those actors don’t seem to be in the same world?” This can be a deliberate choice or it can be a common mistake that can be resolved with more discussion of the play and voicing of the opinions that individual actors bring to the room. I find that the time spent talking about the play allows me to feel more prepared to make bold choices in action and explore beyond the options discussed with the company. Of course, you also need a director who is willing to take the time to experiment on her feet and not just stick to choices discussed around the table.

I knew that my current director, Jessi Burgess, would allow time for both. As the founder of The Inkwell, a company dedicated to fostering playwrights and developing their new work, Jessi thrives in the stimulating environment of the rehearsal room. She is intelligent, intuitive, nurturing, demanding and eager to have fun. We are currently working together on James McManus’ play, Cherry Smoke, with the excellent Tim Getman, Cliff Williams and Jjana Valentiner as part of the Round House Kitchen.

Jessi fell in love with Jim’s work a few years ago when she produced his Underground as part of the Inkwell Festival.  Although the play has been produced in several cities, our company is very fortunate that Jessi and Jim have a productive working relationship to discuss and edit the play. They are in constant communication and Jim will be down from NY in a few weeks to watch a run and give feedback. Having that connection between the playwright and director and having a director that will use that relationship to not only help edit an already great play but also try to stage the best that play can be, is a stimulating and exciting process to be a part of.

I hope you can come see the play, and of course, give us some feedback

Cherry Smoke runs in the Round House Theatre at Silver Spring, MD August 27^th- September 5^th.