(Community Matters) How far will people go for a real experience, and on top of drive and ambition create a community? What happens when these people know each other so well, they can complete each others’ sentences and movements – the fluidity of their lives, set to music, creating a ballet? And, what about people who are missing? How do the influential figures in our life continue to exert gravity even after they are gone? – their beauty fully revealed in their absence; the most influential becoming our gurus.
Rude Mechanicals creating, Kirk Lynn writing, Shawn Sides directing and longtime company members & co-creators Thomas Graves & Lana Lesley acting – plus, the cherry on top, Graham Reynolds creating original composition and designing sound – uh yeah, pretty good bet it’ll be a winner. The bet pays off handsomely. Steven and I attended last night’s opening for The Method Gun.
Jude Hickey and Hannah Kenah are new actors in this work, in production since 2006 and premiered at the Long Center last year. Steven saw a very early workshop and the Rollins production. This was my first.
There is a lot of background on the show, including on actor-training guru Stella Burton found here.
I’m the nonartist in our family, so no technical competencies. I see the show in three phases – the first fun & silly made me laugh quite a bit; the second, becoming more intense, “narrated” by an unexpected feline character demanded more attention to interpretation (I usually just sit back and take in); and the last stage quite beautiful, almost a ballet set to Graham’s gorgeous composition where the previous scenes return in rhythm, choreographed and framed by music and projections.
Prior to the show I was talking with Carrie Fountain and then Graham Reynolds about their latest collaboration. They’ve written 5 songs being presented the UT’s Butler School of Music on April 26. They set out to create UIL and fun pieces especially for girls about Texas women. The five are Barbara Jordan, Celina, Mary Kay Ash, Bonnie Parker and the Angle of Goliad. Graham talked about how women are underrepresented in certain parts of the music arts, especially as composers and conductors. I can’t wait to hear this work.
Community Matters 