Hi, my name is Zev. It's Hebrew for 'wolf' and pronounced kind of like the middle of 'forever.' I am given to long blog posts when I am nervous. As I am terrified but trying to simplify things, I have sorted everything into numbers. They are in no order of importance.
1. I am in the second rewrite of my first draft of my first play. The original quite did not work out. Now, with this new approach, I am cruising along and quite grateful. Also, I have a fragile ego and little self-confidence despite believing so strongly in my content. This is not for validation, merely an observation. I worry that no one will critique my script or produce it, but I am of the firm belief that it will be performed.
2. I have nine years' experience as an actor, mostly youth theater musicals but one year of college plays that were straight shows. I told my professors and some of the youth theater staff when I began writing the play, and they were very supportive. The second rewrite is not as over-the-top drama. It is more realistic and as a result, waaaay darker.
3. The youth theater offered to critique the original when I finished (which I did not). They offered to produce it and have it performed there until I quietly explained that the only youth in the play is a sixteen-year-old pregnant with twins, and she has prior experience with pregnancies. There's swearing, sex, suicide and all the principal characters are in a twelve-step group. One is an alcoholic cop (lieutenant) who is burning out. Another hates her brother's wife so much that she wishes for her death and says terrible things. This is not kid-friendly at all, and I feel sad that the theater was originally so excited. I politely discouraged them. They tried not to be sad. I have always liked them a lot.
4. I'm eighteen pages in. There is no conflict yet! I haven't written about the character who hates her brother's wife. I plan to have her monologues overlap with the teenager's ones though. The teen lives with and hates her grandmother. The wife and grandmother are racist and don't understand why it upsets people. They are based on real people, but changed enough so they're not identifiable, if that makes sense.
5. As far as characters who might fulfill the same purpose, one seems like an older, rude version of the teenager. She's kind of important for different reasons, and her arc culminates in her leaving after a huge tirade in a huff. Two characters both have problems with their families, are the same age, and are Jewish (different kinds). They have different arcs though. One is plot-changing.
6. This is twelve-step. They're all really far in their recovery except the cop. How unrealistic! I'm in a twelve-step group too, and such handling of their lives would be uncommon.
7. I know this is going to get performed, and it will likely be at small theaters. I live in Seattle proper, and we have plenty. Who would help me get it there? The content is controversial and I will not back down because it's important. I worry.
8. I plan to go back to my professors or the youth theater and ask for critique. I don't really have any other avenues right now. I expect to be turned down for different reasons, but I desperately want critique when I finish. I've written things I want to discuss, characters I can cut or tone down, and things that are non-negotiable. I think this is a good start.
9. One of my friends wants me to turn this into a dark comedy. I was so insulted that I didn't speak to him for two days, and haven't spoken with him about the play since. This play is a drama and I want it to be in two acts. Right now, it is likely going to be thirty pages, tops. I have a lot of work to do if I want it to be longer (but my favorite play's script is really short!).
...feedback is appreciated. Thanks for reading this all the way through!
1. I am in the second rewrite of my first draft of my first play. The original quite did not work out. Now, with this new approach, I am cruising along and quite grateful. Also, I have a fragile ego and little self-confidence despite believing so strongly in my content. This is not for validation, merely an observation. I worry that no one will critique my script or produce it, but I am of the firm belief that it will be performed.
2. I have nine years' experience as an actor, mostly youth theater musicals but one year of college plays that were straight shows. I told my professors and some of the youth theater staff when I began writing the play, and they were very supportive. The second rewrite is not as over-the-top drama. It is more realistic and as a result, waaaay darker.
3. The youth theater offered to critique the original when I finished (which I did not). They offered to produce it and have it performed there until I quietly explained that the only youth in the play is a sixteen-year-old pregnant with twins, and she has prior experience with pregnancies. There's swearing, sex, suicide and all the principal characters are in a twelve-step group. One is an alcoholic cop (lieutenant) who is burning out. Another hates her brother's wife so much that she wishes for her death and says terrible things. This is not kid-friendly at all, and I feel sad that the theater was originally so excited. I politely discouraged them. They tried not to be sad. I have always liked them a lot.
4. I'm eighteen pages in. There is no conflict yet! I haven't written about the character who hates her brother's wife. I plan to have her monologues overlap with the teenager's ones though. The teen lives with and hates her grandmother. The wife and grandmother are racist and don't understand why it upsets people. They are based on real people, but changed enough so they're not identifiable, if that makes sense.
5. As far as characters who might fulfill the same purpose, one seems like an older, rude version of the teenager. She's kind of important for different reasons, and her arc culminates in her leaving after a huge tirade in a huff. Two characters both have problems with their families, are the same age, and are Jewish (different kinds). They have different arcs though. One is plot-changing.
6. This is twelve-step. They're all really far in their recovery except the cop. How unrealistic! I'm in a twelve-step group too, and such handling of their lives would be uncommon.
7. I know this is going to get performed, and it will likely be at small theaters. I live in Seattle proper, and we have plenty. Who would help me get it there? The content is controversial and I will not back down because it's important. I worry.
8. I plan to go back to my professors or the youth theater and ask for critique. I don't really have any other avenues right now. I expect to be turned down for different reasons, but I desperately want critique when I finish. I've written things I want to discuss, characters I can cut or tone down, and things that are non-negotiable. I think this is a good start.
9. One of my friends wants me to turn this into a dark comedy. I was so insulted that I didn't speak to him for two days, and haven't spoken with him about the play since. This play is a drama and I want it to be in two acts. Right now, it is likely going to be thirty pages, tops. I have a lot of work to do if I want it to be longer (but my favorite play's script is really short!).
...feedback is appreciated. Thanks for reading this all the way through!