Down To The River To Pray

Any time you are in a show, life can be pretty difficult. There are lines to memorize, histories to craft, relationships to build, blocking to learn, sets to build, lights to hang, costumes to find and fit, sounds to design, and so many other things. it really is amazing just how much goes into producing and putting up a show.

The show I'm in right now, Orpheus Descending by Tennessee Williams, goes up this week, so we are in full blown production mode, and with full blown production mode actually comes a great deal of down time, surprisingly enough. There are two characters that are onstage for almost the entire show (one of them is in every single scene), so for all of the other townsfolk, it allows for some freedom. For example, I wrote most of a lesson plan during yesterday's 12 hour tech rehearsal.

This show is also very challenging. For me and my character, Vee Talbott, I've been on quite a journey. This is a woman who has visions from God, visions of Jesus and the Holy Ghost and of spiritual things, but she is also beaten by her husband and shunned by the rest of the town; they all think she is crazy. The only solace she finds is in her paintings. Her visions inspire her to paint, and while she is at her easel trying to recapture the  mystery and excitement of her visions, she feels complete and unique. Oh, and did I mention she is a devout Episcopalian?

As always, I look to music for my connections first. I find that creating a character soundtrack can give me all of the inspiration I need to finalize all of the other necessary details. One of the songs that jumped out at me for this part is "Down To The River To Pray." I first remember hearing this song on the soundtrack for "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" With its laid back tempo and open chords, it is the embodiment of old Southern tunes for me.

I really love this particular piece of music, even more with everything that has been going on in my life lately. With freak snowstorms, avalanches of homework, stress-inducing rehearsals, nervous breakdowns, floods and the like, any source of calm is greatly welcomed and treasured.

With any luck, life will go back to some semblance of normal after the show this weekend. I look forward to it, but I know some part of me will miss all this. I always do.

"As I went down to the river to pray/ Studyin' about that good ol' way/ And who shall wear the starry crown/ Good Lord, show me the way."