Fourth Week of Rehearsals: Run-throughs and fight choreography
Nico on Jun 22 2006 at 8:05 am | Filed under: General Theatre
Well, we’re into our fourth week of rehearsals for You Can Lead a Horse to Water. There have been some casualties; some people have fallen away, for personal reasons, for reasons of health, and some because the rehearsal schedule is gruelling. Still, those who’ve stuck with it are appreciating the experience. Cleveland Eneas III of Thoughtkatcher (Da Spot), otherwise known as Anku Sa Ra, says that he’s learned more than he ever expected in the role of Son.
And this week, courtesy of The Endowment for the Arts, the cast of Horse is getting training in fight choreography. Professor Ian Borden of Grand Valley State University, who choreographed the fights in Horse for the Michigan production, has been contracted to offer a workshop in fight choreography for Bahamians while at the same time he works on the fights. Members of the National Dance School are being trained in the principles of fight choreography while cast members are being taught how to fight on stage.
Below are the sections of the play which will be Ian’s focus while he is here.
1. Son and Lover One: “I come to bring this boy to school.” (Lover One pushes Son to the ground)
2. Son, Lover One and Old Fool: “Come here boy.” (First fight, with Old Fool jumping on Lover One’s back)
3. Son, Lover One, Old Fool and Mother: “You smell yourself or something?” (Second major fight – dragging Mother outside, kicking her etc.)
4. Mother and Wife: “Tell ya ma sister out here to see her.” (Third major fight – “Christians Fighting”)
5. Mother and Lover Three: “Why you been in my purse?” (Slap Down – Birth Control Pills)
6. Son and Old Fool: (Son arrives home, Old Fool goes to embrace him and is pushed to the ground)
7. Son and Mother: “Don’t talk to your Ma like that.” (Mother slaps Son)
8. Mother and Son: “I thought you had gone to heaven sometimes.” (Son attacks Mother)
9. Son and Old Fool: “. . . just like she had gone to heaven, sometimes.” (Final struggle that turns into an embrace)
Fight choreography made a major difference to the production of Horse in Michigan last year and also to the production that was staged in San Francisco back in 1984. We look forward to this production having that same professional quality in the area of stage combat.
