I Just Do What The Voices in My Head Tell Me To Do
Upright Theatre Co.’s Romeo + Juliet: A Behind the Scenes Essay
with Asst. Director & Dramaturg Natalie Shaw
What’s in a Name?
It may be to his credit or to his laziness, I’m unsure, but Shakespeare must’ve had a certain fascination with names, particularly in re-using them throughout his plays. If you’re referring to “Angelo,” you’ll have to clarify if you mean the creep-o guy in Measure for Measure or the goldsmith in Comedy of Errors. A different “Balthasar” appears in five different plays, just as “The Clown;” “Caius” appears in six. “Katherine/Kate” plays significant roles in Measure for Measure and Taming of the Shrew, and appears, still yet, in three more plays as supporting characters. So, which name did we get stuck on during Romeo and Juliet? Periodically, throughout the beginnings of our rehearsal process, you might’ve heard me yell out “ROSALINE! Like ROZ-UH-LINE!”
I didn’t start out yelling it, I promise. It started with a gentle reminder note or pronunciation refresher, but after hearing “Rosaland” or “Rosalynn” (both from different plays) for the millionth time, I could not contain my inward turmoil! The same was true for the word “livery.” God help me!
Oh, but be assured, I did my own fair share of mis-pronunciations or mis-readings to look like “The Fool” (who appears directly labeled as such in three plays, but is also referred to as “The Clown,” so add another five and that’s eight different Fools,--nine, including me!) When auditions and call-backs had all but wrapped up, the directorship team sat around two small tables (Director Megan Guerra, Artistic Director Natalie Burkhart and myself,) discussing how we should cast the production. While discussing who Kyle Morris should play, I proclaimed, “Oh, I think he’d be a great Tibblet!” Not Tybalt, not Doublet—which isn’t even a name!—TIBBLET! Naturally, we all laughed and laughed, but it didn’t stop there. I slipped up, using the accidental name at least two more times, and further branding it into Megan’s brain, as well, causing at least two more mishaps—all of which where in front of Kyle, our Tybalt, who is naturally a funny guy, as it were, and a great sport at having his character mispronounced. Good thing they hired me as a Text Specialist!!! (insert foot-in-mouth.) Dear, Jesus, you died for all of our sins. Please, please, please, don’t let anyone say “Tibblet” during the course of the run. Amen.
I wish I could say that “Tibblet” was the only misnaming mishap I had, but, alas, it would not suffice. Although, I’m grateful this one was less embarrassing and has become an affectionate novelty. How do you get two actors who’ve never met, to develop stage chemistry? The answer to problems like this is always coffee. Grab a cup of coffee together, sit down and get to know one another. Our Romeo and Juliet, Salvador Elias and Piper Daniel met up with me on a beautiful Saturday morning before rehearsal began and the three of us did just that. We didn’t talk about the show. I didn’t give any sort of characterization assignment. We just talked. We learned that Piper is a skilled seamstress and often makes her own clothing. And Sal is studying to become a Marriage and Family Therapist. Both have a strong passion for Theatre and neither of them necessarily expected to carry the title roles for this production, which was really exciting for me, when I was given the opportunity to make the personal phone calls in which I offered them the part (on behalf of Megan, who was traveling at the time.) One, just like the other, was surprised, delighted and maybe a bit overwhelmed. And one, just like the other, gave a long pause before answering, “Wow. Oh, my god. Yes, I’d love to!”
Post coffee meet-up and post Saturday rehearsal, I followed up the next day with what was supposed to be an encouraging text message, “Hey! So glad we got to chat before rehearsal yesterday! Thanks again for meeting me!” I searched my messaging app for our group chat. Scrolling and scrolling, I couldn’t find it. Where did our group chat go? (New phone, who dis?) Then I saw it, there at the top was “Salt + Pepper.” What the hell? Did I actually save it as Salt + Pepper?! Grabs reading glasses. Double-take. Nope-- Turns out, I hadn’t. It said, “Sal + Piper.” Naturally, I laughed at my own goof-up and sent them a text, less bland than the original, “For a brief moment, I thought our group chat name was Salt + Pepper.” I’m pleased to say they found it just as silly and endearing as I did. This became their new “couple (-but-not-a-real-couple) -nickname.” And, I had the best idea for a “Break a Leg” gift! Sal + Piper shakers!
The Time When Everyone Lost Their Voice Days Before We Open
It starts with one (cue Linkin’ Park’s In the End.) Someone has a kid who has a friend who is sick. Or, someone has a job that has a co-worker who forced themselves to show up to work, sick. Somebody didn’t wash their hands; somebody didn’t cover their sneeze; somebody coughed in your eye, and the germ-sharing ceremony is commenced. I’ll be in my trailer. Not only did we have actors missing rehearsal here and there due to original conflicts or urgent circumstances, we had a laryngitis-like disease passing from one to the next. Almost as bad as a daycare full of snot-nosed toddlers, but without the fever and slightly less crying. You could see the next victim the moment they walked in the door. Red eyes, raspy whispers, and a general look of lethargic gloom. Well, you’re already here, and if you can walk, I can be on book/read your lines out loud while you go through the motions on stage. Rest your voice. All well and good, until I was reading for two or more actors who are in the same scene, or, what I like to call a public paranoid-schizophrenic episode. Please, don’t mind me while I answer myself in verse. I could handle any lines belonging to Romeo, Benvolio, Abram, Balthasar, Friar Lawrence, or anyone else absent, sick or otherwise. But, Noelle Saul's Mercutio? Imma need a minute. I was either five lines in front of Mercutio’s actions, or five line behind. And once Industry Night came along, I had to give a firm, “Nah. Not tonight. Not with an audience.” Y’all on your own for this one!
Working with Julie
This was, by far, the most fun I’ve ever had working on a show. Primarily because Julie was there. Of course, meeting new people, old people and even older people like Tim Bass was really fun too. Julie is my podcast (that is currently on hiatus) partner and has been my ride-or-die friend for about seven years or so. Our conversations go something like this:
Me: Hey! You wanna come with me to--
Julie: I’m down!
Me: Awesome!
Wherever we’re going, whatever we’re doing, we typically have a good time. Our kids are friends, our husbands are friends, and her parents have adopted our family as bonus kids and grandkids. It all started when her oldest son made a beeline to meet my oldest son in Sunday school when they were about five years old. Play dates took place. Then mom nights took place. When I founded Dallas Theatre Journal, she was often my +1 and we’d talk through every detail of the show we just saw: funny moments, sad moments, analyzing like good little English teachers do. When I decided it was time, after twenty years, to step back into the theater and do a little work of my own (outside of being an on-looking critic) our conversation went a little like this:
Me: So, I’m going to be the Assistant Director for Romeo and Juliet at Upright Theatre.
Julie: Which theater is that?
Me: The one in Euless, where we saw Sweeney Todd and Into the Woods.
Julie: Oh! I think I should audition!
Me: I think you should too!
Julie: Alright!
So, she did. And she was called back. And she was cast as Lady Montague! And, it was all on her own accord—I didn’t have to convince them to cast her in any way. It just worked out! (Here’s where you say, “Yeah, right, Natalie.” And I say, “No, seriously. I had nothing to do with it!”) She’s always been a creative and talented person with a go-getter attitude. And, this—this was really cool. Old friends meeting new friends. Maybe we’ll get her behind-the-scenes look on the podcast (Spotlight On!) Maybe we’ll talk about what’s next.
Upright Theatre Co.'s Romeo and Juliet runs through May the 4th. (Metaphors Be With You!)
Please, go enjoy the show!
Natalie
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