September 10, 2024
We arrived at the facility around 5:15 pm, set up our table, and began check-in. Ensemble members trickled in with stories to share: one participant was excited about her reduced sentence after a successful appeal, and another announced her upcoming wedding. There was excitement about our approval to start Much Ado About Nothing in two weeks, and the group hoped for "good vibes" as we started our session.
The group chose to read monologues from Romeo and Juliet. We started with Romeo’s monologue (But soft what light through yonder window breaks…) , with two participants sharing the reading. The romantic energy of the piece had everyone reacting with “Dreamy!” and “I love it.”
We then moved on to Juliet’s monologue (Gallop apace you fiery footed steeds…), which had mixed reactions—some found it "slow," while others connected emotionally, relating it to their own experiences of waiting for love. One participant even mentioned wanting a quote from the play in her wedding vows.
Next, we tackled Benvolio’s monologue, with participants trying out different roles. One participant asked, "What’s a monologue?" sparking a discussion on the difference between monologues and dialogue. Several participants embraced the exercise, expressing how they enjoyed feeling the energy of the scene.
Toward the end, we returned to Romeo’s monologue and incorporated some staging, which brought more enthusiasm. The ensemble shared how it felt "liberating" and "fun" to act out the scenes, with one member exclaiming, “I love love!” before we wrapped up for the evening.
September 12, 2024
We reunited with the ensemble around 6 pm. Check-in was heartfelt, with one member sharing some of the difficulties they were having that day.We offered support through "whooshes"—a gesture of collective encouragement.
The ensemble continued working on monologues and scenes from Shakespeare, starting with the Iago/Othello scene. We read through it in a round-robin style, freezing after each line to pass the reading to the next person. The group delved into discussions about jealousy, ownership, and the manipulation in Iago and Othello’s relationship. One participant passionately related the dynamics to her own past experiences, sparking reflections on themes of power and violence.
Next, we shifted to a Macbeth monologue. One member took on the challenge of performing the "Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow" speech. She initially read without context, expressing how she enjoyed interpreting the words without prior knowledge. After gaining more understanding of the scene, she performed it again with Macbeth’s emotional depth, incorporating sobbing. The group encouraged her performance, with one ensemble member affirming her talent and urging her to continue acting beyond WHV.
Discussion followed, focusing on Macbeth’s emotional state and Lady Macbeth’s reasons for taking her own life. The participants offered differing interpretations—some saw Macbeth as detached from his wife’s death, while others pointed to lines like “out, out brief candle” as signs of his mourning. The group also debated Lady Macbeth’s motivations, with some arguing she acted out of fear for her life, adding layers of complexity to her character.
As the energy started to wane, we ended the session with a final Macbeth monologue, performed by an ensemble member who reflected on her past experiences in the role. We wrapped up, eager to dive into Much Ado next session.