I was gonna write this post something like a very long Irish limrick entitled "Can We Get Joe McGrath Some Rest?" I got this far -
"Can we get poor ol'Joe McGrath some rest,
He's been a working just a tad bit harder than the rest,
of us."
But something...just didn't sound correct there...so...back to my prosiness.
First of all, if you haven't seen Othello playing at the Rogue Theatre yet, go see it. Despite my recent posts on Othello here, I haven't written about this particular show yet save for mention of one lovely scene. But there are lots of very good reasons to see Rogue's production. So...go to.
Can we get Joe McGrath some rest? Joe McGrath plays Iago in Rogue's Othello. Its a very demanding role and Joe does an exceptional job with it. But here comes "however." However, there is something missing - not so much with interpetation or execution of the role/character itself, but rather what seemed absent to me was a spirit and energy, a persona, that I believe is present when Joe is at his creative best. Where was it? I believe it just wasn't able to manifest itself along with Joe's work here because Joe is exhausted - physically and creatively. And, along with that, there have grown recent barnacles on, in and around Joe's creativity. That last part may sound harsh, but it happens to all of us from time to time. In fact, I borrowed that from a recent description I read of an actor, which happened to reference Stanislavsky's thoughts on how barnacles grow on our creativity and we need to clean those off periodically so we can get back to our best work. I believe its apt in this case.
Joe McGrath is the hardest working person in theatre in our Town. Now lets put this in perspective. There is hard working and then there is hard working. The first hard working is like me, I think I'm busy and have so much to do, etc. The second hard working is the real deal. Theatre-wise in this second category in our town we have people like Joe and Cindy and others at Rogue Theatre, and certainly both Dell's at Beowulf Alley Theatre, a few perhaps at Live Theatre Workshop. These are all people in official capacities with theatres. Then there are hard working people like Patrick Baliani who combine family, profession, interests and social activity, formally and informally. Anyway, with all due respect to everyone else, I think Joe McGrath is the hardest working and also the most all-around working,theatre-wise, doing some of everything. Usually, for people like this, love and passion and creative fun and purpose fuels and sustains them for long durations. But it just so happens sometimes you get a little tired, mentally, physically, etc. And little habits develop. and then more little habits develop on top of those habits. And still you keep going going creatively. But now the habits of creative behavior begin to engulf or enslave you - the barnacles are taking over, getting heavy, loading you down. A good nights sleep won't resolve it. You need rest but you need creative rest and renewal also. You have to clean the barnacles and re-examine and re-understand your creative body and mind. You have to get sleek and ready in that respect.
I said the barnacles happen to all of us from time to time. Well, that's not totally true. In order for the barnacles to start growing in the first place, you have to get into the water, into the creative act. And so at times, despite their "ugliness" in appearance, you can wear your barnacles with momentary pride, because you have been to "the depths." If you haven't been in the water recently, you likely are barnacle free. But if you go in there and get them, you eventually should clean them off. If you want modern reference, think cookies and spam and spyware on your computer. Gotta wipe it clean!
Stanislavsky was brilliant at creative renewal and even as an elderly man, few could keep pace with his creativity. But he worked at the renewal, at revitalizing himself, and did so consciously. The various manifestations of his work throughout his life attest to this. Besides his daily "rote and drill" for actors which is legendary and is one aspect of the process, getting to nature and to rest and to reflection was also included.
Which brings me back to Joe. Can we get Joe McGrath some rest? Can we send him on a cruise that doesn't have a scene shop? A cabin without scripts? How about a workshop or a massage or yoga retreat or some order of business that prompts new perspective? Not because Joe is bad, but because Joe looks tired, and barnacled.
Now in fairness and specifics to his work on Iago, we have to separate certain things. We already said the work was "pretty good" (for lack of better term and time at this moment). We have to separate though certain reasons for "things missing." Time is one reason why "things are missing." Lack of time that is, meaning preparation time. A short rehearsal period like Rogue's does not allow actors to prepare roles fully in context within themselves and their fellow actors. That type of reason is different from creative exhaustion and barnacles. So we have to recognize that and understand it. In this case, more rehearsal and production time will take care of certain problems, but it wouldn't necessarily take care of others -that spirit, that persona. For that, rest and barnacle clearing is needed.
Why be audacious about this and say it to begin with? Afterall, Joe's work was exceptional in many ways. My reason is selfish. As a spectator I want to see an inspired performance. I want to see Joe as Iago as lightning in a bottle. And I think it could be, could have been. The night I saw the show there were some obvious signs even within the fine work - stammering over a line here and there, missing a stair step, the overall sounds and looks of a body on fumes, still running seemingly ok, but trying to burn the last of fumes, and then being overtaken with the habits, the barnacles. In glimpses things broke free for Joe. But not in a complete sense, and they weren't going to. But the talent and the know how and the experience is there for lightning in a bottle. So, I'll ask once more. Can we get Joe McGrath some rest and renewal?
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