JFK

Rather than attend the designer run through last Thursday, Linda and I instead visited the JFK Library at Columbia Point, with its beautiful setting overlooking Boston. As with every visit,  the first indication showing that we are in a different era comes from the initial movie leading up to JFK accepting the nomination from the Democratic party. It is not just the TV interviewer casually lighting up a cigarette, but the answer that Kennedy - not yet a politician gives to the question of "Why do the countries in the Middle East oppose the USA". We have become used to trite, asinine, answers along the lines of "because they hate freedom", but the young Kennedy gives an answer that is both concise and erudite.

In 1960 my friends and I were divided into camps of  supporters for Kennedy or Nixon. This was surprising, not only because we were all eight years old, but also because we were in England and not one of us had ever visited, or had any connections with the USA. I would like to think that my vehement support of Kennedy was from a careful analysis of his domestic policies, but suspect that it was due more to his relative youthful appearance on that first ever presidential TV debate as opposed to Nixon's jowly and sweaty demeanor. In fact I have no idea why any of my friends at the time could have backed Nixon.

The next recollection comes from that Friday, November 22, 1963 when I returned from school to find my mother very upset. I cannot remember how I felt - I expect that it was all rather abstract to an eleven year old five thousand miles away.

My second rehearsal

Back at the Charles Tower rehearsal room one week later with my cousin Linda, visiting from the UK. Linda enjoys watching the process just as much as I do. She returns home the night before opening day, but we will catch a preview as well as at least one other rehearsal. By chance we see the same three segments as I did last week - Buchanan, Pierce and Lincoln so we can see the progress as the actors ditch their scripts. 

Watching has me thinking of two "T"s - the first being Truth. Historical truth may be elusive and I have no way to judge, but there is a theatrical truth in each segment which Sean and the cast strive to bring out. One little suggestion, such as a tone of voice for gossip transforms the scene, and it is so interesting to see all the cast instantly get it and implement.

The other T is transition. With 45 plays and one intermission we have 43 transitions, each with a changing of the presidential jacket and a rearrangement of actors and set. It all has to be done fast and cleanly- shaving a couple of seconds off makes a real difference.

First rehearsal

Just to be clear - this is the first rehearsal that I attended, the cast and crew only get Monday's off from these long days.

The morning starts with another demonstration that an actors life is not just walking up the red carpet as they  watch videos to figure out how to do double Dutch jump rope - perhaps we can find some passing ten year old as an advisor.

Then back to the presidents - Pierce, Buchanan, Lincoln. Even at this early stage it is obvious that the Lincoln segment will be incredibly powerful.

Other than Lincoln this is that big middle set of presidents of which we have only a hazy knowledge - even of the names. We have no trouble at the start - Washington, Adams, Jefferson and generally get it from FDR, perhaps a little hazy around Eisenhower before getting into the solid grounds of actual memory. But Pierce, Buchanan, Grant ... Well I certainly anticipate knowing a lot more at the end of this process.

I may have to miss several rehearsal observations as other commitments intervene, so it will be exciting to see the progress at the next opportunity.

First read through

At MRT, last seasons closer Home of the Brave was a highly entertaining farce. This season's opener 45 Plays for 45 Presidents continues in the topical election year theme. Judging from the first read through on Tuesday it promises to be good theatre, but also to raise some deeper thoughts. This was brought out by Sean's introduction on the nature of democracy. If this whole theatre thing does not work out, then Sean has a promising alternative as a professor in civics. But I found the most fascinating pre read talk coming from costume designer Lee. The actors, portraying characters from 1766 to the present day, have a common theme through the ages, but with stylistic variants representing at least some of the different periods.

I was wanting ask Lee if the common theme, avoiding period costumes was primarily a stylistic choice, or one driven by some combination of cost and practicalities of multiple changes of complex dress - but she answered it without being asked. Multiple, madcap changes of costumes go well in farces such as the Reduced Shakespeare Company, but would certainly detract here. 

We will be able to judge this show on both its theatricality and how we react to the choices in the stories of the Presidents. I am excited about the former. The read through left the mix of dance, music, rap ...  largely to our imagination - but hinted at some clever devices, such as that to illustrate Grover Cleveland's disjoint terms. The latter was controversial even at this early stage with one cohort colleague complaining to me about choices made in the script even before we had started, and an overheard comment on the choice of material to illustrate the beloved FDR.

It has already encouraged me to continue through the mammoth work "The American President" by William Leuchtenburg - which gives more material on which to write, but I had better save some for another entry.