STRANGERLAND: Five Questions, Four Perspectives (PART THREE)

September 10th, 2011

Here comes the second half of the Matt Fletcher and Nate Whelden conversation and the conclusion of all things Strangerland!

Heather Irwin and Katie Frient during the DCA Incubator

What has been challenging?

Matt Fletcher: Everything. Haha! It was my first time as a leader in a “devised” work, and the going forward without a script or even really an idea of what was going on sometimes was very hard for me. I’m an actor who likes a script and be in charge of one thing–my own thing. And this was not one of those plays. And it was a long time commitment.

Nate Whelden: At one point one of our collaborators asked if it was better to work on an entire story and to make sure we complete that for the sake of the DCA workshop or if it was better to really dig deep into something that we found, something interesting and specific, like the creation of the ocean or the creation of what this unique world looks like, gestures, movement, rhythm, etc.  It has been challenging throughout the process to give clarity to the entire piece, as a whole story.  There is a lot going on in the play and I think that with so much input, going from dozens of collaborators to a small ensemble to one director and a production team, it has been challenging to reign in the scope of the project and ultimately, more importantly, the story we are presenting on stage.  It has been challenging to give focus to a story but at the same time balance all of the input and try to tie things together in an interesting and meaningful way.

What have you learned/how have you grown?

MF: I’ve realized many strengths and weaknesses that I was not aware of before, most of which I will keep to myself, so as not to give away the magic of theatre… Right. Moving on.

Fletcher, Stephanie Brandenburg, and Katie Frient during the DCA Incubator

I’ve become more confident as an artist; I felt empowered in a way that I’ve never felt before.

It was great to be at the inception of a piece of theatre. I’m inspired to write more and perhaps one day even direct. In the near future, I hope to return to my comfort zone and take what I’ve learned from this process and put it to good use as an actor. But I feel more confident moving outside my actor-self, and I very much look forward to my next collaboration with/as a playwright/director/actor.

NW: I’ve learned a tremendous amount about what artistic leadership means for a piece that involves so many people and a process that is ever changing.  I’ve learned that the ensemble, when they know what the thing is, when it is made specific for them, when they have mastered the rules of the game and are absolute commanders of the game they are playing, can create some of the most unique and interesting moments, can solve giant problems, can spout wonderful images and actions and support the piece.

We took on a tremendously challenging project but we persisted with it because we knew that this was a valuable way or working to explore and rather than start completely from scratch time and time again (though often, that’s what it felt like) we truly tried to remember where the piece came from.

The DCA Incubator Ensemble investigates the Body.

At the core of the piece are great questions about society and the roles of the individual within that and a story about what it means to be a person standing next to another person; someone you never recognized until now, what it means to be in that “now moment”, and how really, just looking a stranger in the eye can be an act of revolution, can open doors, can bring down the sky and release deep feelings and memories and acts of compassion and selflishness and all things human. I think that is something we wanted from the beginning, no matter how many times this project changed or our methods evolved, no matter how much we frustrated ourselves or went back to the drawing board.

Being human; perhaps the most familiar story of all.

I’m truly glad that Strangerland was one of the first things I worked on in coming to Chicago.

 

There’s only ONE more chance to catch Strangerland at the Chicago Fringe Festival! Don’t miss out on this wonderful chance be a part of an enormous journey. Get your tickets here and catch our world premiere.

Until next time…

KM

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