Recently I ran across an interesting app. It’s called “untangle”, in it you have a mess of lines and dots, and the goal is to sort it all out. I like it because illustrates directing perfectly.
Often in directing your are presented with complicated issues, from the mundane, organizational problems to the complex and artistic. As the director it’s my job to make sure everything is organized, no wires are crossed. That the actors and audience understand everything from “when do I show up?” To “why is Olivia crying?”. I know a scene is done when it truly makes sense, no over looked little detail that doesn’t quite add up.
This script is particularly challenging in that regard, because each line and each scene offers so many different possibilities. It’s an ephemeral and complex script, jumping from place to place and time to time. This is both a blessing and a curse. It gives me an excellent opportunity as director to really make the story my own, to make big decisions. But it’s also very hard to know what’s the right answer.
I decided to incorporate a lot of visual art (graciously donated by Aldo Tambellini and Carolyn Jundzillo) because the script offers such a perfect opportunity for it. The vivid detail offered by the actors and the quick scene changes come together to create a natural niche for such beautiful artwork.
Of course, I couldn’t untangle any of this without my amazing team of actors, stage manger, visual artists, tech team and my mother and producer, Wendy Payne.
Thank you to all.