Editor’s note: Elvin Clark, one of the actors in Tryon Little Theater’s production of “Knock, Knock,” has been writing a blog about the experience.
Over the next several weeks, the Bulletin will publish some of his posts to give insight into the process of creating a community theater production.
“Knock, Knock” runs April 19-22 and April 26-29 at the Tryon Little Theater’s Workshop.
Sunday was a monumental day. We ran the entire show without books in our hands and I have to say it was quite good. Was it perfect? No. Was it performance quality? Not yet. But still, it was more than the baby taking a few steps and then falling on his took us. This was the kid toddling into the kitchen for a snack for the first time.
We’re three weeks and four days away from opening. I’ve had the misfortune of being in shows where the object of some of the cast was to have their lines learned by opening night. More often than not, when that’s their goal, they miss their objective. That’s not theater, that’s a nightmare and a waste of everyone’s time – especially the audience’s time. Productions like that don’t rehearse, they hold play practice. And the difference is all the difference.
In “Knock, Knock,” now is when we actors get to play, to refine, to experiment. Decide what works and what doesn’t. This time is why actors do and must “act.” Yes, it is addictive and is a borderline disease. A disease for which, in my experience, there is no cure.