WIT Voices

X (TEN) is an original play, that I’m cast in, written and directed by Cindy Marie Jenkins This play is still being worked on and we were told that at the audition. Working scripts usually change at every rehearsal, until the bugs are all ironed out and until the story and the characters make sense. (At least that is my experience with working original scripts.)

Today at rehearsal we received another revised script. We only received 43 pages, the rest of the script we are going to get on Monday, which will be the finished play that we will perform at the Fake Gallery and at the Arlington West Memorial March 30th and April 6th.

Some of our parts have changed dramatically in this new script, some just a bit. The story line and the characters are still the same but in this new script Cindy was really fleshing out the core of the story, as opposed to giving too much background info. She wanted to focus on the war itself and on the effect that it has on people, families, friends, and the country. Not on how the war started.

We were reading and singing. When we finished, one actress got up, slammed her script down on the chair and said that she was quitting. This was a good time for a break and Cindy went outside with her to talk in private. After they finished talking the actress packed her bag and left. Cindy came back in and we all sat down in anticipation.

Was she going to ignore this incident or was she going to address it? What will she say about this actress? Everybody stared at her. (I personally think that the actress’ behavior was wrong. Working scripts change. Heck, even movies change at the cutting table and your entire scene can be cut.)

Anyhow, after we all stared at Cindy, she spoke. She apologized for not letting everyone know about the drastic changes she made. She said she talked with one of the actresses who had a big part cut and whom the story revolves around but she realized that she should have told the other actress as well about the changes. Cindy said that she had her writer cap on and didn’t think about anything other then the big picture, the story, the play. She asked the actress to read the finished script on Monday and then decide if she still wants to quit.

Cindy thanked everyone for going along with the changes, for going along with the process, even thought it’s difficult. She encouraged us to talk about our characters and to discuss the changes that she made. She was speaking very respectful of the actress who stormed out and of everybody else who is part of this production.

And so the rehearsal ended. And I was speechless. I was speechless about how well Cindy handled the situation. She could have rolled her eyes. She could have made a smarmy remark about actors, who one can never please. She could have done so many things wrong in this situation where she could have lost the trust and the respect of her actors.

But she faced the situation and spoke well and respectful. I learned from her today. I learned to respect her more and that I can trust her as an actor and as a friend. It is difficult to write, direct and to watch for everybody’s emotions at the same time. I don’t know if I could do it. But my hat off to Cindy for handling a difficult situation this well.