Back on the Blog
Posted by Susanne Mentzer on 11/23/2006Wed. 11/23/06
The day before Thanksgiving! Catching up on the blog. I was in Chicago for the Jubilate, returning to NY on Monday morning. I believe we have finished a basic staging outline of the show. We all know it will change once we are onstage with a zillion dancers, chorus and supers. Yesterday we worked on Act I. I am only in the first of three scenes. I decided to place myself at a diagonal to Placido and Elizabeth in a particular scene and it seemed to work. Then PD walked downstage during a lull in the music and stood staring at me with the thought, “Isn’t our daughter just wonderful!”. I had trouble returning the stare only because I had been told I am to be so damn subservient. However, I am the favored wife (of maybe 2000 wives, by the way) so I probably would hold some sway over him and he is a man, for goodness sakes. Michelle noticed the stare and said I should return it so next time we run it I will try to do so. I realize that the usual me in rehearsals tends to feel free to try things but in this I get shy because of the style and mannerisms. Well, enough of that.
Today we worked on Act. II. We have been running the scene where I have my aria and it came to me that I was being far too bland and reserved. I took it upon myself to lightly touch the Emperor. Then today I had the idea that before singing the pleading aria, perhaps the Emperor loses his patience and pulls away in a manner that makes me fall. Then I can sing on my knees and slowly get up. I suggested this and it went over well. I will tug on his kimono sleeves and he will yank them away. I think it shows yet another side of the Emperor and also gains a little sympathy and insight into the mother. Also, in Act II Sc. 2 - you might remember my treatise on the “AH”- I will faint and then slowly look to see my daughter’s ghost and react to it. This is a big help. When the ghost disappears I will slowly exit looking lost and a tad insane.
Tan Dun is still in the process of changing a few things especially for PD. I have asked for a couple word shifts as: using the word “soothe” rather than “can” on a long melisma. We will do a complete run through on Friday, then we are off Saturday and Sunday and resume Monday. Tuesday we begin onstage.
Duane Schuler, the lighting designer and an old friend, arrived to make notes on the blocking. Was great to see him. We first met in 1981, if you can believe it (we were obviously 12 years of age!). Duane is the sole non-Asian on the production team.
Lastly, the exciting news is that we are all invited to a screening of Zhang Yimou’s new film “Curse of Golden Flower” on Monday evening at Alice Tully Hall. It stars Chow Yun Fat. Can’t wait!
I will spend Thanksgiving with the ‘First Emperor” group having Peking Duck!