January 2, 2010
As I’ve perused the blogs here at the Wenatchee World, I’m fascinated by what folks are blogging about—how they are sharing interesting aspects of their lives. Since I’m close to beginning work on directing another play locally, I thought it might be fun to blog about the experience and share the process of directing.
I have directed five shows locally, two with my own theatre group and three (two of them one-acts) with The Mission Creek Players (MCP). I have also acted with MCP and the Music Theatre of Wenatchee. My education is in communication with a focus on performing arts, acting and directing. So, while I work a full-time job, I spend a lot of my free time at the theatre. This year, I will be directing “Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure” for MCP, opening May 2010. Directing the show will be an adventure in itself.
The first step for me in directing a play is finding a play I want to direct! About a year ago, I began diligently reading a lot of scripts that I either ordered online or borrowed from friends. Proposals for plays are due in May for MCP and I knew I wouldn’t find a play right away. I personally enjoy comedies, adventures and mysteries so that is what I was looking at. I also closely considered “Macbeth” due to my love of Shakespeare.
Cast size is a big consideration for me in choosing a script and is eventually what pushed “Macbeth” out of the running. A large cast requires the juggling of a lot of schedules in order to make rehearsals work for everyone. That was a ton of work during “Hamlet” and I wasn’t quite ready to repeat that part of the directing experience. Another play I really love that got edged out is “The Real Inspector Hound” which is a wonderful surrealist, British comedy. However, we’ve been doing a lot of British comedies lately at MCP and I thought it would be nice to mix things up. So Inspector Hound went back on the prospective script pile for another day.
Ultimately after considering about 15 plays, I chose the Sherlock Holmes play. Okay, okay, yes, it’s British! But it’s an adventure, not a comedy, which appealed to me. I had only ever read “Hound of the Baskervilles” and did enjoy it, but Holmes offered me a new world to explore. It appealed to me to explore this character I didn’t really know. He is very human in this play, rather than the unflappable detective that we usually recognize. Should be fun. And that’s why I direct. For the fun of it!
Over the next couple of weeks, I will be reading the script and drafting set design. The MCP stage is small and will require some creative staging. I will want to have the set design completed before I cast the play in late February.
The game is afoot!
Comments
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joanne (joanne saliby) says...
Welcome to our World. I know, someone has already said that--probably on TV--but that phrase has a new meaning to me now.
I don't get around Wenatchee much, and so don't keep up with a lot of what goes on there. It's 30 miles to there from our home, It's partly gas, you know. And going out at night and staying up late.
I have no idea who you are, except that you are a new blogger and We (speaking royally, you understand) need new bloggers; the fact that you write so well and are interesting makes it even better. Meeting new people outside my usual range of experience is stimulating and one of my favorite things. If you wouldn't mind giving us all a little more personal history, that would help us get to know you better....if you want us to do that! : )
I just reread this and don't want it to sound as if I don't like the previous bloggers. We have some great blogs on this site from other fun and interesting people--great photographs, too. But more would be better.. And we've lost a couple along the way. I guess their lives have become too busy right now, but I miss them.
So, back to the subject: welcome! I hope to read more in the future, and perhaps even get to meet you.
January 2, 2010 at 6:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Mom (Susan Feil) says...
Hi Nicole,
I've also enjoyed your comments, but could you tell me how to pronounce your last name? I am a Spanish teacher and it looks kind of Spanishy but I have a feeling I'm pronouncing wrong in my head. That always bugs me. LOL Susan
January 2, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Enesvy (Nicole Villacres) says...
Thank you for the warm welcome, Joanne! I pondered for a while about starting this blog because I tend to start things, get bored, and forget about them. But I'm planning for this to be different because I enjoy sharing the art of theatre. We have two very strong and creative community theaters here in town and I'd love to see more folks come out for the shows. I totally understand, though, how it is hard to get to them when you're that far away. Again, thanks for the kind welcome! I'll post more info about me in my next blog post.
.
Hello, Susan. :) My surname is Basque by way of Ecuador. My grandfather Americanized the pronunciation when he immigrated here (in the early 1930s as a teenager...alone!). We pronounce it VILL-uh-krez. Thanks for asking.
January 2, 2010 at 9:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
joanne (joanne saliby) says...
It's already getting interesting.
January 3, 2010 at 8:51 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
alex39 (alex saliby) says...
Sherlock Holmes...one of my favorite characters from literary pages.
I have read all the stories, some even several times.
Is the play based on the character himself, or on one of Conan Doyle's tales?
January 3, 2010 at 12:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mavulous (mav ulous) says...
>My surname is Basque by way of Ecuador. My grandfather Americanized the pronunciation when he immigrated here (in the early 1930s as a teenager...alone!). We pronounce it VILL-uh-krez. <
Well now, Ms. Villacres, and to think that I thought your name implied ownership of a villa surrounded by mucho acres! ;-D
January 3, 2010 at 12:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Enesvy (Nicole Villacres) says...
Hi, Alex--I believe this play is loosely based on one of Conan Doyle's short stories, "Sherlock Holmes: The Final Problem." I will be glad to hear any insight you would like to provide on the character of Holmes. :)
.
Mav! *hug* Glad you dropped by. The most common mispronunciation of the name is Vill Acres. So it's no wonder you thought that. :D
January 4, 2010 at 11:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )