Breaking Beckett
| Breaking Beckett | |
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| Theater | The Institution Theatre |
| Directed by | Bob Olmstead |
| Music By | Content Knowles |
| Cast | |
| Crew | Mark Shoemaker |
| Run | Mar 2014 |
Breaking Becket was a longform narrative show inspired by the works of Beckett.
Summary
The show is a somewhat abstract longform piece, mixing the styles of the Beckett plays Quad, Play, and Not I with scripted narrated transitions by the director playing Beckett himself. The rest of the dialog is improvised. The movement was created by the ensemble in rehearsals.
The production includes projected backdrops, costuming, and theatrical makeup as well as light and sound cues.
Show Structure
The show opens with the cast already seated on stage in 'stasis' as they have been since the opening of the house.
Act I: Quad
The first act begins with Beckett narrating broadly, awakening the cast from stasis, and the cast beginning a rhythmic movement pattern. Beckett takes a suggestion of a name and age. The rhythmic movement continues and is broken for a monologue from the protagonist describing the facts of their life. We return to the rhythmic movement which is again broken for parallel monologues by the supporting characters, an enemy and advocate for the protagonist. The movement returns again, and we see the protagonist's death.
Act II: Play
The second act begins with Beckett narrating and moving the cast into Play position, seated side by side. He "conducts" them into three parallel monologues describing the protagonist's life from their three different points of view after death. The lights black out and return. The three parallel monologues continue in a more reflective, detached tone.
Act III: Not I
The third act begins with Beckett standing and the cast removing their costume scarves and moving to the front of the stage. Beckett narrates and a tight spot settles on each actor in turn. They identify themselves by their real (actor's) names and monologue on their personal experience with the subject matter of the show and their reactions to it. The act ends with the cast and director all standing together center stage with music and the lights slowly fading.
History
Breaking Beckett is the brainchild of Bob Olmstead. He approached Ryan Hill, Marc Majcher, and Jayme Ramsey about it and began rehearsals without knowing where the show would happen. Rehearsals lasted several months at the end of 2013. The show developed collaboratively during that time with leadership from Olmstead. Olmstead consulted with Kareem Badr and Kaci Danger about show structure, makeup, design, etc.
Eventually Asaf Ronen, Education Director of The Institution Theater, and a Beckett enthusiast, agreed to put up the show. A preview show took place on January 15, 2014 and two more shows are planned for March 2014 at The Institution Theater. A longer run for later in the year at another theater is in the works.
Media
Videos
- 12/4/10 performance: video part 1, video part 2.
Photos
- 11/2/09 dress rehearsal: photoset by Peter Rogers.
More Information
- The show's Facebook page:
