Freedman Bites the Bullet

David White, director, talks with John Freedman about the Towson workshop production of Yury Strike Klavdiev's I AM THE MACHINE GUNNER.



Read the full article: Yury Klavdiyev, an 'Atom-Smashing' Playwright

Freedman Takes Aim

John Freedman, translator of Yury Klavdiev's I AM THE MACHINE GUNNER writes about a weekend of Russian theatre at Towson University. Generous Company's workshop of MACHINE GUNNER was proud to be a part of this incredible weekend of conversations, workshops, readings and productions. Read John's article: Russian Drama, a Birthday, a Parade and 100 Surprises at Towson University

James Knight and John Freedman in Moscow.

Operation: Towson, Victory

James here.

Operation: Towson is safely in the rear view mirror and we are all feeling that sweetly mingled sensation that victory brings: a mixture of excitement, deep satisfaction, and relief.

We did it again. Bigger, Badder, and Better.

We had three performances, playing to nearly full capacity each show. Had an ugly snowstorm not descended upon the Chesapeake and given the east coast its first taste of winter, I've no doubt we would've filled every seat on Saturday night as well. Even with very little advertising on our part tickets were selling, thanks in part to some tremendous word of mouth. On Saturday night we had only sold about 60% of the house for Sunday's show. By 11:00 am the next day we were completely sold out. To all of you who gave us your support by spreading the word, we salute you.

Immediately evident from the first performance was how much the show has grown since last June. I don't think that there is anyone involved with "Machine Gunner" since Wordbridge who wouldn't agree that it is smoother, more poignant, and more emotionally gripping than before.

Having three performances also gave us a chance to change things up from show to show. Most of these changes were relatively minor: using different lighting effects and trying new sound cues, changes in blocking, etc. Other changes were more dramatic. The "Bullet Points" veil of secrecy is always in effect here, but suffice to say that if you saw the show on Friday, you saw a different ending than those in the audience on Saturday and Sunday.

What direction will the shows ending eventually take? Even amongst ourselves we find disparate opinions. Only time will tell.

But I know one thing for certain.

I'm ready to find out.

Peace

Out

Mike "Dutch" Vandercook

James here.

Things have been fast and furious around here and we're two of three shows down. There are more posts dealing with the specifics of those performances coming in short order but first I thought I'd post one that I'd written a couple of days ago.

And if you complain about these blog posts coming too rapid fire. . .

the show is called "I AM THE MACHINE GUNNER".
Rapid Fire is how we roll.

here ya go. . .
Photo Below: Mike "Dutch" Vandercook

The crew has been toiling in the Ruth Marder Theatre trying to take the technical elements of the show to the next level, and today saw huge leaps forward. Much of this was due to the ingenuity of Mike "Dutch" Vandercook, who once again is proving to be a master of the round hole/square peg relationship. After a few days of frustration and more than a few uttered curse words, Dutch has proved that he's the guy you want in your corner when the bell's about to ring.

Over the course of the two workshops, Dutch has engineered some very interesting and effective pieces of equipment. Pieces of equipment that have been given colorful names due to their resemblance to musical instruments. So far Dutch has whipped up the "Bagpipe",the "Xylophone", the "Harp", and now the "Pan Flute".

Photo Above: Dutch stringing the "Harp"

The music that these instruments make is still under wraps from the general public, but assure yourself that should your jaw ever hit the floor of the theatre while watching "I am the Machine Gunner", then Dutch and his "Pan Flute" probably had something to do with it. He's like a regular Zamfir.

Right.

Except that if you ever wind up in a bar fight, Zamfir is not the guy you want by your side.

Advantage Dutch.

Out

Back to it.

James Here.

It’s been a while since my last post but to paraphrase our playwright, “Its time to get back to it.”
The Machine Gunner Crew is back at it – and Operation: Towson has been set in motion. You might remember Towson University mentioned in earlier Bullet Points as the site of our rehearsals in the weeks before Operation: Wordbridge. But while Operation: Wordbridge culminated in one performance, Operation: Towson will give us three solid shots to take the show to the next level. Having three performances this coming weekend (Dec. 4th-6th) gives us an opportunity to tinker with the show, adding new elements while changing some of the old. We’ll use our own instincts and combine them with what we learn from this new audience to set our course for the show’s future.

Photo: Back for Round 2

From my side of things, rehearsals have been extremely productive. Having months between performances has given our creative ideas time to incubate and the results are already showing. The pace has slowed at moments, giving us time to tell the story in a clearer and cleaner fashion. We have also welcomed another set of eyes into the rehearsal room, Towson student and Wordbridge perennial Bob Harris. He gives us a fresh perspective while simultaneously raising questions that we had thought answered months ago. I’m just glad that I am able to work in an environment and with a crew that can afford to keep asking those questions and keep challenging ourselves to make the show as good as possible. When you have the time to create a truly collaborative process, good things can happen.

Out

Always hold your breath...

...just before you pull the trigger, that's what my old man always told me.

On a bus to NYC to meet James and begin work. Lots of ideas spin around, from considerations of fear to new ideas for shaping space and moments. The past has brought us moments of triumph and moments of struggle, but all of that must be forgotten for the present and the future. December is right around the corner and the mud-slung path behind us is now only evidence and fodder for reconsideration and reinvention.

Days full of rehearsal. Nights of conversation. Sunday the whole team gets together. Ideas will fly. Bread will break. Let's see where it takes us this time around.

I'm holding my breath...

The Poetics of Fear

The idea has recently been presented to me (by a Russian) that the underlying emotion below all Russian psychology is fear. Fear is the base, the foundation out of which all other reactions and emotions grow. Fear of police. Fear of being turned in. Fear of neighbors. Life in Soviet times instilled this bedrock into much, if not all of the citizenry.

How does this fit into Machine Gunner? We have no immediate answer for this. I am driven to think that it is an essential element that we have been missing from the Young Man. The bedrock of fear that drives his behavior. Let us explore. Next week: rehearsal and brainstorming retreat in New York City. Lots to think about. Lots to look forward to.

Upcoming Operation: Towson

This December 4th and 5th, Yury Klavdiev's I am the Machine Gunner will be presented as a workshop production at Towson University in Baltimore, MD. Performance times will be posted in the future. Towson University is collaborating with the Center for International Theatre Development in a Russian translation project and Machine Gunner will complement the other plays being translated in this ambitious project.

Operation: Wordbridge, Victory

TRIUMPH IN SOUTH CAROLINA!

James here.

The workshop premiere last night was a rousing success. We needed to put the show in front of an audience and last night's group couldn't have been any better. The Wordbridge community proved to be just the right mix of comraderie and criticism. Their feedback and insight will no doubt fuel us in the next few months before we workshop the show again this December at Towson University.

the Bellamy Theatre's black cinder-block walls proved just the right back drop for our kind of carnage
photo by S. Coley

I think everyone invovled would agree that we've got something good on our hands, and after what we learned last night, its only getting better.







Peace,

Out

photos above and at top by S. Coley:

Operation: Wordbridge, D-Day

James here.

We've been fine tuning our work on Machine Gunner since Dave and I arrived here in Clemson, South Carolina. We've been at it for approximately a week and half and all of our work has led us up to tonight's event - the first audience, the workshop premiere.

8pm tonight the assault begins.
Now its just a waiting game.

We spent the first few days running the script and reworking the blocking to fit the new space. As the week carried on we slowly added more elements: light, sound, costume, etc. We even added some new team members including James "Jamie" Johnson, who brings his own expertise with lighting and some needed experience as an electrician.

Photo: Lighting Designer Jamie Johnson
Note: This photo more represents my poor
photographic skills than Johnson's Lighting

Like the rest of the rehearsal process everyday here has held a new discovery. As we added the technical elements, those discoveries have been tremendously exciting. I am sworn to secrecy about the particulars of certain moments (its currently on a "need to know" basis only) but I can safely say that we all feel secure that we've created something special.

Well. Maybe "Special" is the wrong word.

More like "Badass".

Can't wait to see their faces tonight.
But I have to.

8 hours to go.

Out

Operation: Towson, the final days

During our last two days of rehearsal at Towson University, we were joined by Rebecca Eastman (Costume Designer), Iaeden Hovorka (Sound Designer) and Michael Vandercook (Creative Technical Consultant) to begin technical discussions.

Photo (l to r): David White, Rebecca Eastman, Iaeden Hovorka, Mike Vandercook and James Knight

After nearly a year of research and asking questions of the play on our own, these new voices gave clarity and
validation to many of our choices.



Photo: Asking questions of the script...







After we ran through the show, the team settled in for a production meeting. Ideas gelled and, as has happened so often during this process, the whole team arrived very much on the same page. Questions were answered before they were asked and a general air of excitement and anticipation filled the air as the ideas began to take form and the concept of Machine Gunner began to become a reality.

Photo: Production Meeting, May 27, 2009

After several hours, the team adjourned to take in a ball game between the Baltimore Orioles and Detroit Tigers.




Photo (l to r): the creative team at Camden Yards



Baltimore won.

One more day was left for Operation: Towson

Next up: Operation: WordBRIDGE

The clock is ticking down.

Only 12 more shopping days before the Machine Gunner comes to town.

Now Loading...Machine Gunner Clip

James Knight (actor) and David White (director) from the Generous Company production of Yury Klavdiev's I AM THE MACHINE GUNNER discuss the work and discoveries that have been made during their year long research and rehearsal process.

Shots fired!

...with Rebecca Eastman's camera.

Another very productive day of rehearsal. Took some press photos after a couple of good runs. Feel like the piece is really building now.

photo above: Rebecca capturing an intense but nonexistent moment in the show

photo left: James and Dave with a fistfull of casings and a headfull of questions

photo right: the already famous nonexistent moment revealed.

What's the plural of epiphany?

in this photo (l to r): James Knight, Phillip Arnoult, Dave White, Jay Herzog

James here.

Gave a stumbling run thru of the show today for Phillip Arnoult (Director, CITD) and Jay Herzog (Chair, Towson University Department of Theatre Arts) that raised some good questions. Dave and I knew that we still had lots of work to do, and Phillip and Jay were an excellent set of eyes for us.

The piece has depth. It seems like we don't get past a day without an epiphany, and today was no different. Maybe that just comes from working on a piece that you have faith in, and with people that you really like.

yeah. loving what you do and loving who you do it with.

this is torture.


Out

Baltimore. Memorial Daze.

James here.

First week of rehearsal down. Working with Dave is nice because we speak the same language. Besides English, I mean. We went to school together and have been friends for about 7 years now. Sometimes having that kind of history with someone makes it easy to communicate in the rehearsal hall. Sometimes. Thankfully, this is one of those times.

So far, everyone involved in the project seems to be on the same page. Questions get answered, sometimes before they're even asked. Maybe because we've all been stewing with the text for a year now. Still lots of work to do, but so far, so good.

Had a good Memorial Day. Dave's friend Alexei Kolesnikov (a mathematician) came by and the 4 of us grilled outside in celebration. Somewhere between beer number 3 and second helpings of potato salad, we swapped stories about our grandfathers and their roles in WWII. Alexi (who hails from Novosibirsk, Siberia) was able to give a bit of the Russian perspective. It was a memorial day to remember.

Thanks to all who served in the past, and all serving now.


Out.

below:
a picture of the 2 1/2 foot long carp Alexei
brought over. Contrary to what I had heard before,
it was very good eating.

The Bay of Riga

The Bay of Riga, where the Landing at Moonzund occurred.

Moonzund Archipelago

Operations at Moonzund during WWII.

Machine Gun

This is one of many machine guns that was used by the U.S.S.R. in World War II. Nicknamed, "the record player" notice the flat, circular ammo clip that revolves when firing.

Machine Gunner History

May 2009: Rehearsals begin in Towson, Maryland for the June Workshop production.

April 2009: The Center for International Theatre Development, under Philip Arnoult, invited and provided funding for David White and James Knight to travel to Russia. White and Knight will join a larger CITD team, including Kate Moira Ryan and Noah Birksted-
Breen, to attend the Golden Mask drama festival and continue work and research on Machine Gunner.

In addition to visiting the Playwright and Director Center (the theatre where I Am the Machine Gunner premiered in 2007), Knight and White met with Yury Klavdiev and John Freedman in Moscow to discuss the upcoming production.



In this photo (l to r): John Freedman, Yury Klavdiev, James Knight and David White




January 2009: Rehearsal retreat at Towson University and at Generous Company in Baltimore.
Rebecca Eastman (costume designer) and Iaeden Hovorka (sound designer) join the team.

October 2008: White and Freedman meet at Towson University and finalize details on the working translation.

August 2008: Rehearsal retreat at Yale University and 78th Street Theatre Lab (NY).
Mike Vandercook (technical director) and P. J. Escobio (producer) join the team.
White and Freedman meet in Baltimore for initial talks on translation revisions.

In this photo: James Knight reading I Am the Machine Gunner, WordBRIDGE 2008.

June 2008: James Knight (actor) is featured in the first reading of John Freedman’s translation of I Am the Machine Gunner at WordBRIDGE Playwrights Laboratory.

May 2008: David M. White (director) attends a production of Yury Klavdiev’s I Am the Machine Gunner at the Nova Drama festival in Bratislava, Slovakia with Philip Arnoult and the Center for International Theatre Development.







In this photo (l to r): Lydia Nagel, Yury Klavdiev, Rebecca Eastman, David White


White meets with Yury Klavdiev and commissions a translation of the script from Russian translator and theatre critic for the Moscow Times, John Freedman.