Anna has asked me to post this as a view of how it feels to play Fay.
When we began rehearsing IRON, I was a little troubled by my character Fay (and that’s putting it mildly). I wondered if I would ever understand her or find any redeemable qualities in a character that seemed so flawed. Our director Thom advised us to steer clear of labels such as good, bad and evil. That was good advice and it allowed me to start the journey that all actors need to take when playing any character, but especially one that is the anti-heroine. I am now in a place where not only do I empathize with Fay but I am also quite fond of her. Underneath Fays destructive and institutionalized demeanor lays a living feeling person just like you and me…she is a gift to play.
We had our first run through on Sunday, minus one actor, although our director stood in admirably. Not difficult for him really as I suspect he recites the lines in his sleep he knows the play so well!
Anyway, on Sunday, Robert, the Arts Manager and Graeme who was taking rehearsal shots for us were present. The first time we have had an audience - and the first Act had moments that were good and moments that need polishing shall we say! However, the second Act , when Robert and Graeme were no longer with us, has one of the most electrifying scenes I think I have ever been priviledged to see close up. I tried to stay in character but kept slipping into audience mode, and I found it hard not to cry.
If you are at all intrigued about this play, trust me, that scene in the second Act will be worth the price of the ticket alone.
These are interesting times for the cast of Iron, and I suspect Kiss of the Spiderwoman too. Rehearsing a play that has most of the “action” confined to a small space, whether that be a cell, the visiting room or the garden is a challenging prospect. The rehearsals started with the director being completely clear that on no occasion should we “label” our characters i.e. Fay as “evil”, or guard 1 as “nice”, and this has opened up the very very interesting process of questioning whether anyone is ever solely good or bad, or whether circumstsances lead us to act in specific ways. Obviously I don’t plan to give the game away but I do suggest that you come and see it, and decide for yourself whether you could have it in you too to commit murder……
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