Victorious!

Last class of the term with the directing students. After reading 36 papers telling me how students would direct their play in realism because it is about real life, I managed to bring home a point that I have no idea (really) what it means to be real on stage and that directing is not about imitating what some guy in Russia dreamed up 200 years ago, but what you want to dream up today. The young man in the green sweater who played a lovestruck woman brilliantly earlier this semester says, well, you really changed how we see.

This seems to be the main way that I can be useful right now. I am trying to encourage process because what I see of directing here tends to center around executing a script - blocking charts, assembling props lists, kind of thing. But there's no training in, vocabulary for, or rehearsal time to internalize a world or event. So I ask questions.

Other way I think I can be useful here - to be a catalyst for people to do the things they want to do anyway. It could be enough that the students wrote the paper. Or that Philip wants to bring his play to schools. Or that Stella wants to write a proposal to open a vocational sewing project for war affected girls in the north that earns them income in a way that is mutually beneficial to her garment business. I think I can offer permissions by practicing continued engagement, by continuing to be here.

Victorious is the name of the three year old girl who has moved in with us. (Muzungu, do you also have a child who is three years?) Victorious is learning English - very fast. The kid is way smart. Yesterday she learned "what is your name?" And when you repeat the question, she screams "Victorious!"