DC Metro Theater Arts: It’s actually super fun to do a fight play. Fight scenes are the opposite of real violence: pieces of choreography that you rehearse like a dance with safety checks, trust, and close partner work. The victim is in charge. When done right, fight scenes allow actors and audiences to experience a violent action and all of its implications knowing that everyone is actually safe. At the end of a fight play, the victim and aggressor clasp hands and take a bow. It can be incredibly healing, cathartic, and educational for both the performers and the audience.
2 comments:
I had never considered that Greek myths usually center around young characters! This seems like an exciting opportunity for young teens to be able to act in shows fitting for their age that are more than just plays about high school. I also think that there's a lot to be said for finding creative expression and emotional catharsis through theater, and stage combat especially. It takes a lot of focus and practice to nail something like a swordfight, and it's physically demanding as well. Because of those demands, I think it's a great outlet for students to both express themselves and relieve some of the stresses of COVID (not to mention the stresses of high school in general). I remember in middle school, one of the English teachers did a yearly festival of Dionysus, but the other teachers didn't. Like this festival, they put on plays (albeit short ones) and learned about Greek mythology. I think more theaters and classes should put them on in the future.
I think that, as modern viewers, we adultify the characters in myths because of the “maturity” of the text and, frankly, to cope with the fact that they can be so gruesome. I think its so cool that these kids are finding joy in performing these myths that were made for them! It reminds me of when I was really into percy jackson as a kid and I would run around and pretend to be him, but a little bit more concrete and educational. I love that they’re focusing on things that kids and teens are usually not allowed to do in amateur theatre like fight choreography and serious topics. I think that letting kids explore things like that in a safe space allows them to become more equipt to adjust to the world around them as it shifts and changes. I think that this sort of performance is really cathartic for kids coming out of a scary and isolating time, and I hope that they continue this!
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