The Jewish Wife Rehearsal Observation
The Jewish Wife Rehearsal Observation
Observation is imperative and important, as it gives us a good analysis of art. In that regard, I had opinions after attending the rehearsals for the play of The Jewish Wife. There was a great observation about how the actor and the director used the stage, which created an impression that the acting was happening. The director, at most times, sat with the audience, as the position was strategic to give her a good view of the actor and thus make corrections where possible. The director was more emphatic on giving directions but not engaging with the props often. The actor was interactive with space, and moved all over the acting place, engaging with different props and items on stage. Actually, the props were placed strategically, creating an impress of a house, with even a study room and a seat where the husband sat. The director aided in directing and blocking, creating a dramatic effect.
There were instances where the actor’s movement and activity with the prop revealed their emotional life. Looking at the props, the wife was parking, as she was to leave. The best example for this was the instance where she used the hand props to show anger, by throwing one down with rage (Bentley 16). This was a clear illustration that she was temperamental. The director determined some of the choices to the actor, and she did some of her accords, by use of instincts. The choices that the director gave were on how to show anger when parking her garments, and how to move about the stage. However, I noted that the actor was using her instincts to make a comparison by the use of hand props. Her voice projection was also of her making. The observation made me view theatre as a collaborative art as a result of the performance which depended on what the director gave to the actor to what the actor did herself to compliment the performance. This clearly illustrates that theatre, as an art, was not autonomous (Bentley 11-14).
There were questions that I had at the end of the rehearsal. I had lived to believe that rehearsal was meant to be a final touch on what was to be done on stage. Regarding what was done then, there was too much imperfection. Wasn’t this much of practice? I also questioned how the director was correcting the actor. Was she only allowed to correct her in the manner of acting only? What were other aspects fit for the correction? Was the director to advise on personal disposition? The physical setting that was there impacted the rehearsal, because it was the props that made the actor interact with the stage effectively. Some choices showed that the actor and the director understood the text. This was how they did to create the emotions that the wife was angry. This is why she behaved hysterically, out of anger, when talking to the husband who was not there.
The most compelling moment was when the actor was making a comparison between valuable people, and the less valuable individuals. She did it in a manner that showed expertise and made the play appear real. She used the props in a manner that showed the differences. Shortly, she angrily threw one item on the pack of clothes on the floor. All along, she was on the bed. I had to learn that for one to create a meaningful stage, it was necessary to have props that were a good illustration of age. The props used, including the bags, which were not of modern age. Set dressing was also important as it enhanced the props to show that that was a room and a house. Indeed, they included the shelf for the books and the bulbs. It was also important to have a good space that would enhance acting and stage management. All these were important in trying to create a scenic background.
In general, a rehearsal proved to be important in the art of plays and acting. Actors and directors working together provided a masterpiece, and they should be interactive and collaborative. That way, perfection is achieved. Acting is also an entity that needs the use of paralinguistic devices to enhance performance.
Works Cited
Bentley, Eric. The Jewish Wife. New York, Grove Press, 1965.
