July 9, 2009

July 9, 2009

So I took the Kimironko bus to Chez Lando on my own this morning (I was only slightly terrified, really) and walked to RAPP where Matthew, Philippe, and Flavia (the girl who didn’t show to rehearsal yesterday) waited for me so we could head to St. Francois for rehearsal. We grabbed a cab and joined for warmups (‘telephone,’ which is like pass the squeeze, catch the leader, police and thieves, which was played with two scarves, the name game, and pass the clap).

Then at 9.30, we began rehearsal. We skipped the intro and began the first scene with the two leading ladies, called Soso and Zwena, played by Flavia and Jackie, respectively. Matthew gave Charles some ideas, but Charles later told us that the actors weren’t reacting well to his notes. Matthew said to ask them questions about their character, so they don’t get too sensitive. We took a quick break and then I introduced them to the grid.

I started it off, asking them to walk and turn at ninety-degree angles. This went on until Matthew jumped in and introduced speeds and weights and eventually giving them characters to be. I’m orry to say, but Flavia, one of the two leading ladies, is a COMPLETE DIVA, and refused to participate. Even during warm-ups, she did them half-heartedly, if at all.

However, everyone else is very committed and engaged. I find it incredible how they can act so confidently without a script. Their movements are natural and they always say yes as actors. I’m learning a lot from them. One girl, Kareen, is incredible, though she has a small role. As Soso tells the Boss about her pregnancy, the Wife hears at the door, and comes in screaming. The other actors really need work on this, but Kareen was spot on.

After rehearsal, Rose took Matthew and I to the Traveller’s Café, where Jesse joined us, and then we had a crazy long meeting discussing the script and plot. Once I returned home to St. Pauls, Rose and I met Cedy and Sam, who convinced us to go meet with a Rastafarian man named Mustang, “like the horse,” he said. Mustang gave Sam a necklace, called her his, “Rasta Queen,” and then we got out of there as soon as possible. I’m pretty sure he wanted to get, “Rasta nasty,” with his, “Rasta queen.”

Later, we went to a Salsa club with Rose for a while, but I didn’t dance for embarrassment—a lot of them, including Cedy and Rose, were incredible. Two friends of mine decided to stop working with HOCA, Rwanda’s gay and lesbian rights group, that night. Apparently, they felt their energy could be better used elsewhere.

That’s all for now!