Fringe Festival 2013

My goal for the Fringe this year, as an IB senior, was to move every single audience member; no matter their ethnicity or culture, my piece would get audience members thinking, and realizing the power of theatre as an art form that communicates universal truths. I have been a part in every Fringe Festival since 10th grade here in ISK; I have mostly acted, but last year I staged managed for a senior's devised piece. This year, as I am IB2 in HL Theatre Arts, it was my chance to direct, and in my case write, a play of my own. This was very intimidating, yet invigorating and empowering. I loved the idea that I could pick what I wanted to communicate to an audience, and that I had complete artist freedom with my piece. This was also very intimidating, as there was so much I could do, so much I could say, this wide range of options often gave my extreme writing block. My script was initially going to address racism, and how it is evident in modern society, but I finally concluded that racism was too specific, and not very many people could directly relate to race-related slander, and I really wanted to get every demographic in the audience thinking and relating my piece to personal experience and viewpoint. I ending up discussing relationships, and exploring how relationships often weaken us, even though we think that it is the key to finding the strength in being individuals against a society promoting conformity. I found this extremely interesting because relationships, pressure, fear and identity can be understood universally on different levels from different demographics; we all have a different understanding of these dilemmas, depending on age, background etc. I thought it would spark interesting discussion as we live in an international community. Personally, it made me question my own view point, and how my own experiences have and will continue to change this. My cast was very short, only consisting of two people (Nikita Chandaria and Marcus Sweeney), which was positive, and negative in many ways. We did extreme amounts of work on body movement, diction, and rhythm to prepare for this show, as I was exploring elements of Physical Theatre, Promenade Theatre and Poor Theatre. This was interesting as this was a different kind of acting for both of my actors, so we did a lot of character work to get them in that mind set. We also discussed as a cast our own feelings and experiences on the subject, which was really important in our bonding as a cast, and helped Nikita and Marcus figure out how to act and approach their characters. Once we solidified our script and scenario, we practiced and practiced, and I was happily surprised and how fast they absorbed the new material. I was extremely happy with the end result, as well as the Fringe Festival final performances, and as a whole. Audience members responded extremely well and I felt that my goal was met.

Kariobangi Visit (Feb. 22)

The goal for this trip to Kariobangi was to pick 5 new members to join the school, as sadly, we have lost 3 kids due to family issues jeopardizing the safety of the other students and teachers at the school. It was a difficult decision, but it needed to be done. Those children will always remain in our prays and thoughts. Generally I enjoy going to Kariobangi, and I did in the beginning of this visit. First I saw the kids already enrolled in the school, kids I have known for a while now, and being in their presence and getting a chance to speak to them is always a pleasure. They have the purest souls and their hearts are filled of kindess, even though they are surrounded by such turmoil and hardship. We had a lovely time coloring and I got to catch up with the kids and their school work, which they happily spoke about as they have just finished exams. Then I went with my mom and teacher Esther out to Kariobangi neighborhood to find other children who applied and whom are in need. I have never ventured into the homes and communities within Kariobangi, and I was not prepared for what I encountered. Firstly we needed to venture accompanied by cops, to ward off unwanted attention and protect ourselves. We then  came upon a crying baby who had been left alone in the house, for what seemed like (and was later confirmed by neighbors) the entire day. This poor baby looked so sad, hungry and lonely. Face filled with dried vomit, snot and tears, I have never seen a sadder baby in my life. As my mom arranged to provide the baby with bananas and milk, I held the baby and comforting him, helping Esther clean him up. The baby clung on to me as though he had been aching for someone to cuddle him, to love and pay attention to him. I sang to him and he calmed down, and ceased his tears. We finished cleaning him up and feed him the food my mother arranged, then hiding it so that the neighbors wouldn't steal it. We then set on our mission to find more kids. I had a difficult time and felt extremely saddened by the amount of illness, death, and hopelessness that was so evident in each house we visited. It was difficult on my heart. But i pushed through because there were families out there that needed our help, so I pushed through my aching heart and pounding head.
At the end of the journey, we found 5 new kids to add to the school. After I long hard day we headed back to the Kariobangi I know, with our sweet kids still in the classroom, obediently coloring and just as enthusiastic that we had returned. We succeeded with our goal, and personally, I was extremely affect by this visit, sparking many thoughts about Kenya, and society globally, in my head.

Composers Club/Operation Smile Concert 2013

It was imperative that we had another Composers Club/Operation Smile Concert again this year, due to the amazing success it had in the past. Finding a time to have this concert was extremely difficult, as we were constantly bombarded by different arts and other events going on, which would decrease the importance, and attendance of the concert. For a while, it seemed as if it would not happen. But by the amazing work of my fellow Operation Smile and Composer Club peers, we managed to make it work, making even more money for surgeries than we did last year! I joined Operation Smile at the beginning of this year, as I had become extremely passionate about the club the previous year during the first Op Smile/ Composers Club concert (this is my second year in composers club). I believe strongly in the power of a smile, and how crucial smiles are to mood and the spreading of positivity and happiness, especially too children; smiles are pure beauty, something that everyone has and deserves ans should celebrate. Joining Operation Smile has also given me a chance to be a bridge of communication between both clubs; I am the only person a part of both clubs, so it's been nice to get the ambiance of both clubs. This also created some pressure as Operation Smile began to stress about the concert and asked me questions I wasn't sure of at the time. Fortunately everything worked out wonderfully. 

Preparing for the concert was stressful, but fun. I got to work with the wonderfully talent Sofia on the piano and we performed Etta James' classic "At Last". I personally picked this song for its fame, as well as its beautiful feeling of success, overcoming, and new beginnings. The song is obviously romantic in nature, but in this case I interpreted it as the love one has for a child, whether it is yours or not. Children are valued and are a source of joy in society, and it feels imperative to protect them, and keep them happy; I think it is a beautiful thing that Operation Smile does that, and if we can somehow bring out that kindness in everyone through music, I think that is wonderful and it is something that I am proud to be a part of. Sofia and I practiced a lot, mainly focusing on keys and timing, which were the hardest things to coordinate. Ms.Lillis also gave me some great feedback about my voice and how to control it with this specific song. I spent numerous hours looking at the original by Etta James as well as studying Beyoncé's version of it in Cadillac Records; both women sing it in a different, powerful way, as there voices are different, and it was then I realized that I needed to make the song my own, rather than copying either style. 

The performance was extremely successful. I was the last to perform which was quite intimidating, but once I got on stage I felt at ease. I was extremely moved by the audience, the song, and the thoughts of smiling children in my head. This song was for them, I wanted people to celebrate smiling, positivity, innocence and joy, everything good in the world. I was extremely happy singing this song, and hoped that it opened up peoples hearts.

IC TRIPS: Pictures

IC TRIPS: Senior Trip to Coast

Initially, I was skeptically about this trip. I wasn't sure where we were going, what we were going to do, and how everything was going to play out; but i was pleasantly surprised, I loved the trip. Yes, it was a little more work than we thought our "Senior Trip" would be, but I think we all bonded as a grade and got to know a different side of Kenyan culture! I was extremely impressed by the Camps International team, and the significance their presence has been on the surrounding community. I was in awe of the creative ways they used plastic/glass bottles for foundation and other constructional uses, I have never seen such an artistic, effective use of waste ever. I think its a great way to not only get the community involved by helping collected these bottles, but also creates and promotes a clean environment, which is extremely significant for the children of the community. The beach/local artists were also fantastic in this aspect; making bracelets and other trinkets out of washed up flip flops found on the shore is such a creative idea, and not only brings profit for the struggling artists, it cleans up the beautiful beaches on the coast. I also gained a new respect for these artists, I had a very hard time making my bracelet, took me about 2 hours to make a little piece of jewelry, it is quite the meticulous job. This trip was particularly rewarding for me not just for the work we did in the community, but also getting the chance to snorkel for the first time in my life! This was personally my favorite day, the accommodations on the boat were fantastic and it was just a lovely experience. As a Kenyan, it gave my a great deal of pride in my country. Not only is Kenya such a beautiful country environmentally, but the people bring a smile to my face everyday, and make me proud to be Kenyan. The captains on our boat were so intelligent and really new what they are talking about, and treating us with the upmost respect and made the experience for me. I felt this way throughout the trip, especially on the first day of the trip, when we arrived and we learned about how the community utilizes the trees, the coconuts and various other local resources. Its amazing to think amongst the poverty and the facade of nothingness that seems so apparent in this community, there is such a rich culture, intelligence and happiness evident within the people; you can see it when they spoke to us about their culture, and their land essentially. The romance between the people and their traditions, which we saw with the witch doctor visit as well, is a beautiful thing to witness, and makes me feel more connected to my own roots. This trip promoted thought provoking ideas, for me personally, about not only the disparity in the world I live in, but the juxtaposing pure happiness and authenticity that is found in these communities; I love community service for this selfish reason, that kind of purity is contagious, and makes you a more humble person. I am lucky enough to be a Kenyan who has live around the world, who has experienced many different cultures, and from seeing what amazing things the Camps International team has brought with there expertise, it inspires me to go out in various communities in the Nairobi area and bring what I can to the table, with my "best of both worlds" identity. All in all, I was thrilled and enriched as a person on this trip.

Things to Come

1. Kariobangi:

I really want to raise money for the Kariobangi kids. I was thinking of maybe a charity concert, since I am in composers club, that would translate really well, but I am trying to brainstorm other ideas. Bringing in the kids to ISK would be great to they could meet people and such. The ultimate goal would be to possibly have a club in ISK for these kids, that way they could have even more love and support, which will be much needed when I go to college.

2. Getting in Shape/Living a healthier life style:

Since I got out of the hospital, my diet has drastically changed, which is fantastic. I plan to continue to do that, and work on some unique meals that I could even make myself in college! Without volleyball I have no exercise in my life, so once the play is over I am going to be going to the gym and governing my own workouts to get prepared for ISSEA basketball tryouts, and for generally better health.

3. Operation Smile:

Due to the success of it last year, we really want to have an other concert for Op. Smile. I was thinking we could even have a distinct theme, which may be really fun for an audience and compel even more people to come. Will be in communication with Mico and Stefanos about that very soon.

ISSEA Continued.....

The following URL is the ISSEA Volleyball 2012 Facebook page. It has so many great pictures of every game, as well as individual mentions of our own ISK Lions!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/ISSEA-Volleyball-2012/111184612370640?fref=ts

ISSEA Pictures

One of my favorite pictures. Taken after we secured our 3rd Place in the tournament. GO LIONS!

We had such great sprit. ROAR!

ISSEA Volleyball 2012: Entebbe/Kampala

I have been a part of the ISSEA Volleyball team since I was in the 10th grade. Personally, I think it is the best thing that ISK has to offer. Not only do we get to learn about our geographical neighbors and their own unique culture, we get to make new friends and establish connections from almost all over the world. Participating in ISSEA also teaches you how to deal with extreme stress, how to pick yourself up after a mistake, and how to believe in yourself, even if everyone around you, may not be.

Our team was composed of a lot of new players, which had positive and negative repercussions. I remember my first ISSEA well, I was petrified. My hands shaking and knees wobbling at the net, I was a bit of a mess; but, all that goes away when you first touch the ball. That first hit, dig, serve, or set, whatever it may be, is like a sudden river of calm in your mind. You think to yourself "Oh right, I know how to play this." I was especially happy to see all of the friends I have made over my last 2 ISSEA's , from IST and ICS in particular. It was extremely emotional at the end, because ISSEA has been such a strong part of my high school experience, it coming to an end has only made me realize that soon, everything will be a memory.

I was/still am extremely proud of our team. We got in 3rd place, and although this is no improvement from last year, we played extremely well. Every team told us that we were their biggest competition, and the teams that beat us considered themselves to be lucky. When we noticed we were struggling, we picked ourselves back up, and we always supported each other. I think I am the most proud that every single one of us put 150% into the game when we were out there, we wanted to succeed for our coach, fellow players, and of course ourselves. We had so many moments of greatness, and of course moments of not so greatness, but at the end of the day, I am so happy. I was lucky enough to be picked as an all tournament player, a honor that I have always wanted to receive, and I am extremely touched my team and coach think of me as that kind of player. I had such a great time at ISSEA, I think I'm going to try out for ISSEA basketball; ISSEA should really be a week long, it went by so fast and it such an intense experience, 8 games in 3 days. ISSEA has made me a more cultured, stronger, and overall better player and person.

Kariobangi Pictures

Mama Sweetie Kariobangi Foundation: October 24 2012 Visit

Bio: 

My great grandmother, known in kikuyu as my "mito", lived her entire life in Kariobangi. Kariobangi is a small community on the outskirts of Nairobi, which, as many rural areas in Kenya, is plagued by lack of schools, medical facilities, and businesses. My mito spent her entire life protecting and inspiring everyone around her. She was a symbol of hope, love and happiness. When she passed on in 1997, she left her property to my mother. The property was left in the condition my mito left it in, until we moved back to Kenya 4 years ago in 2009. My mother and I thought the best thing to do with the property was to preserve it, and thus preserve my mito's legacy, preserve the love, hope and happiness she brought to the community. So we decided to open a school/day care for the children of the community, to protect, inspire and teach, just like my mito did. 

Towards the end of her life, my mito lost her sight. The neighborhood kids would all come together and help her with her shopping, cleaning and cooking; in return, she would give them pieces of candy, which back then was a pricey luxury. Because of this, she was known as Mama Sweetie. This made coming up with a name for our school easy. The Mama Sweetie Kariobangi Foundation has now become the jewel of Kariobangi, providing a safe place for not only the kids, but the adults in the community as well. 

Today's Visit: 

I always love visiting my Kariobangi kids; they are so full of life, it is a great pick me up. Lately I have been having a hard time being positive and happy within my own life, but these kids help bring out the positive in everyone, and every situation. Unfortunately I haven't seen the kids in a while; the change is inconceivable. There is one new girl, Clara, she is four years old and absolutely adorable. She has only been in the school for 2 weeks, but my mom told me that the teachers informed her that her english has improved so much. They have all grown up so much and are extremely healthy; they told me about all the healthy foods they have been eating, and how they have gotten 3 meals a day, which is an extreme improvement. We walked in just as the kids were coloring, which was very exciting because they welcomed me to join in; coloring is always fun, whether you are 7 or 17, so I definitely enjoyed myself. After that we had circle time, and we talked about the "pit" and "peak" of our days. I found this particularly sad, because most of the kids "pits" were their fathers coming home drunk and violent, their moms abandoning them, leaving them to fend for themselves, or even them not getting dinner. All of the kids come from horrifying and extremely difficult backgrounds, and they know way to much for children there tender age. Our goal is to get them as far away as possible from that, and to have them focus on school work and learning everyday, but sadly these horrifying things are still apart of their lives. 

We later played with the kids and they really enjoyed playing with my long braids. It brings me so much joy seeing how fascinated the girls are, and how much they enjoy, playing with my hair. After that we took them for a ride in our car, which they all said was the highlight of their day. 

The goal one day is to bring the kids to ISK and do something special for them there, so it is something I am planning on working on. 

Operation Smile Concert

Operation Smile/Composers Concert

One of the most rewarding things for me is being able to do something I love, while at the same time getting to help deserving kids.
I have always admired the composers club. From its start last year, I promised myself that my junior I would join. And I did! I have learnt so many things about music, and what it really means to be an artist. I love being in a group being surrounded by people who truly love to sing, rap or play their instrument. Being around this unique group of dedicated people has brought excitement and drive into my life. The music connects us, making composers club much more than just a club. When we do a number that we have all worked on, and it means something to us, and its successful, the moment is indescribable. I could live for that moment. Its not just the big moments, its the small ones as well. For example, when we go off on tangents and put our own spin on classics, enjoying each others talent.
We were fortunate enough to put on a concert for the Operation Smile Club, a club which helps raise money to pay for kids with clef lips to get surgery to improve their smiles. Johann Kasper Lavater once said that "There are many kinds of smiles, each having a distinct character. Some announce goodness and sweetness, others betray sarcasm, bitterness and pride; some soften the countenance by their languishing tenderness, others brighten by their spiritual vivacity." Someones smile is a part of them, and just the chance to help these kids get a chance to be proud and confident in theirs means the world to me.
The bar was set high. Operation Smile was expecting to make a hefty profit from the event, and we were scrambling to try and get everything ready and done. The most influential song for me was Fix You, the anthem of the Operation Smile club. The songs powerful messages, and the way we set the blocking of the song communicated those messages. We all felt it when we came out and performed it.
The concert was a raging success, raising over 100,000KSH!

Grandmother's School: Having fun with a Camera :)

Grandmother's School

My grandma lives in more rural Kenya, near where she grew up. She started a girls school, which takes girls from underprivileged girls who need a safe place to grow, learn, and be a part of a community. Growing up, I have always visited the girls and the school, made friends with them and helped out. Recently I went an other time and bonded with the girls. Most of the girls are around my age, so we related to each other by talking about music, dancing and singing, all things we loved to do. Before this special visit, we helped admit a new girl into the school. Quiet and shy, her mom was terrified, afraid she would not make any friends and long to come home. This school would provide much better opportunities for her, so it was important that she wanted to stay in the school. When i visited, she was one of the most popular girls in her class, immediately blending in with classmates. I had never seen her so happy; she was practically glowing, and couldn't wait to introduce me to her roommates and show me her books.
Visiting this school is always a special experience. It makes me appreciate what I have, and what ISK offers me and provides for me. I'm extremely lucky. It also makes me happy; not only are these girls so much fun to hang out with, helping them wash their clothes and cook their food, making their lives easier, makes my heart feel 5 times bigger than my chest. These girls are smart, responsible and hard working, they inspire me to be better and enjoy going to school and getting the chance to learn more. They teach me that education is a powerful gift that shouldn't be taken for granted. If I'm having a bad morning, and I really don't want to go to school, I think of them and they give me strength. I may help them out by assisting them in their chores, and making them laugh, but what they give me, the inspiration and gratitude; they are the truth ones giving me a gift.

Mara Pictures

Mara 3

Conclusion:
I wrote an article for the Link (school newspaper) on the trip. I think its a good summary of how I felt about the trip and what it did for me and the Mara community:

It would be insuffient to say that this years IC trip to the Mara was amazing. From the extremely enthusiastic Me to We team, the beautiful, fresh, open Kenyan countryside views, to even the bag showers, this trip created an aura of such conformability and serenity, it allowed us to open up our minds and hearts to comprehend new situations and cultures, as well as examine and evaluate issues that are not just happening in our own backyard, but in our global community and how as young people, who obtain the power to change our international future, what can we do to achieve ultimate success and appreciate to all? From a student’s perspective, this trip was especially special for many reasons. On a person level, the facilitators challenged us to become ambassadors for the Free the Children message (children helping children) and pass on ideas and actions executed in the camp to our campus and community. In addition to this, they made us question our character, engaging in many activities that made us stop and think: What would I do in this complex situation? Is this who I really am? As the trip went on, I often found myself sitting quietly, thinking about what we talked about as a group, and how it applies to me in my life and what can I do to impact and catalyzing growth like these facilitators. On an external level, the facilitators opened our eyes to the depravity of world issues that plagued our global neighbors. "Only saying "I had fun" on this trip would not be enough to answer your question so I’ll say this. The whole experience gave us a close up look at the lifestyle of the Maasai people and the initiatives that organizations like Me to We are taking to help those in need. I found it not only inspiring but also a very informative trip on a culture that prior to the trip I knew close to nothing about" Mico Rudasingwa commented. We were aware of the existence of these issues, but once we were exposed to scary statistics, I think everyone was appalled. It was intriguing hearing everyone’s worldviews, it was clearly evident that we all come from contrasting backgrounds, which effective our perspective, but the most remarkable was seeing as find connections within each other in mist of what seemed to be such incompatible thoughts. Aside from the facilitators, we also found great support, strength and mentorship from our Massai neighbors.  We watched them in awe, their strength and ability the overcome to provide for the family and then themselves, in that order, was the most inspiring.  Walking 3 hours for water, 4 hours to reach the market in the blazing Mara sun was life, that’s what had to be done to, survive. And somewhere within all that hardship, the mamas and the families found joy in life. The children found pride and joy in education, the mamas finding solace in by each passing day, Me to We was making life easier for them. One distinct memory I know I will remember forever, the image of us watching the sunrise, freezing, faces cocooned with only half open eyes exposed singing songs, laughing weakly, watching not only the beginning of a new day, but the start of a whole new adventure.  

Mara 2

School Kids: 

Everyday on the trip, we got he pleasure to interact with the kids of the school we were working with. They had such an energy and wanted to be with us all the time. It was nice feeling so appreciated in a community, it made me feel purposeful helping such a thankful and deserving community. The kids played with our hair, pulled our arms and legs, and just loved being close to us. Playing with them was so much fun, the mixing of our ISK culture and their Masai culture was great and seeing the two worlds merge was really rewarding. The kids melted our hearts; It was really nice seeing people open up and be sincere, happy and sweet, a side we don't usually see around school. The kids were our motivators, when we were tired and hot and working on the building site, remembering that this was all for them, it gave us strength 

Building: 

I have never built anything before. My only building experience was building a house out of popsicle sticks in Girl Scouts. Building was particularly challenging and was something I wasn't comfortable with, but each day got better and easier and I learnt a lot about construction, and what you need to have a good foundation and keep the house stable. The mara heat was scorching, so building was particularly demanding on our bodies. But we pushed through together and supported each other. Having the support of the group really helped me get through it and do a good job. At the end of the trip, we had about more than half of two classrooms and a teacher dorm done, which was great progress. Those buildings are a part of our ISK community in the Mara, something that the kids and teachers can remember us, their friends at ISK. 

Masai Culture: 

We also got a chance to learn more about Masaai culture. What I found to be the most interesting was how they utilized the environment. For example, there are specific trees which the Masai use there leaves to brush their teeth with. In addition to this, there are specific plants they use to cure malaria, yellow fever, cholera and other diseases. We also learnt how Masaai's fight and protect themselves from various different animals, and we all got a chance to shoot a bow and arrow and throw a club which was fun. I thought it was also great that the Me to We people didn't try to change the Masaai culture, or eradicate any traditions that composed the culture; the Me to We people dedicated their time to learning about their culture, while m making their way of living easier.

IC Trip 2012 (Jan 30-Feb 4) : Mara 1

The IC Trip, in my personal opinion, is the one of the most rewarding experiences that ISK offers. We are really fortunate to get the opportunity to learn new things about different cultures in Kenya. Not only do these trips offer external learning about others, it also challenges you to learn new things about your self, presenting challenges that force you to look within and discover parts of yourself that you didn't know you had. For example, in my freshman year (which still applies now) we were all required to climb Mount Kenya for our IC trip. When I first heard of this, I was terrified. The idea of climbing a mountain sounded horrible and torturous to me. But when we got there and began our journey (yes it was extremely hard and tiring), something changed within our group. We got closer and supported each other who needed the help and the support system. By the end of the trip, not only did we grow as individuals and had a greater appreciation for our lives and our moms, we got closer as a group and learnt things about each other we never knew before. 

This year, I went to the Mara for my IC trip. This wasn't my first choice, so when I heard that I was on the trip, I wasn't the most excited. We were quite a unique group of people, none of which were people I spoke to a lot in school, so I must admit i was afraid to be put in this vulnerable new environment without someone i knew very well. But, rather than dwelling on this, I decided the best thing to do was to maintain an open mind and find excitement in the trip. Accompanying us was Ms.Bakke and Mr.DesRoches. 

The journey was long, and the roads were bumpy. Nevertheless, we sang songs and laughed to pass the time. Unfortunately, our journey was extended because we got a bit lost, but we got to explore the area a little more so it wasn't a completely negative. We arrived to our meeting point with the Me to We group and we were immediately captivated by their energy. This fascinated me from the beginning to end of the trip. They all seemed so happy to be in the Mara, helping people that they had grown to care about. It lifted us up. 

They took us on their Lory, with a lovely sign saying "KARIBU ISK", to the Me to We camp site where we would be spending the next week. The view was breath taking. I was quite anti-social on all of our travels around the area in the lory; I just couldn't take my eyes of the beautiful mountainous and the smell of the fresh air. It was so peaceful and quite, I felt at such ease. 

We reached the camp and we explored our surrounded our area. We had quite good accommodations: big tents, cots, dinner tables, comfortable chairs and showers! 

Once we got situated, it was dark so we ate dinner and played bonding games. Already I felt that I was learning more about people in our group. We tackled greatest fears, ambitions, and what makes us comfortable and uncomfortable. We also talked about the meaning of respect to establish a particular dynamic. 

After that we got briefed on what we had in store for us the next week: Going to meet the school kids, Building classrooms and teacher dorms for the school, walks, and exploration of the Masai culture. We knew this was going to be a great trip 

Wednesday, November 16

Macbeth Matinée- November 16

Today was our first run through with an audience. We had about 5 or 6 schools come to watch us perform. We had to leave school early, at around 12, to get hair and makeup and costume, as well as have time to practice fights and scenes we found difficult. Everybody was a little nervous about todays performance, we were worried about the smoke machine/lights not working, missing lines and cues, backstage was not the loose environment that it usually is.
The first act was really good. Nothing went wrong at all. Since a majority of my scenes are in the first half (discussion with Macbeth, killing of Banquo), so it was very rewarding to get through the first half with no problems. Knowing that the first half was a great success, some of the pressure I felt started to go away so by the second half, I (and i think the whole cast) got to enjoy and relax.
The second act was good as well. Other than some small slip ups with "Birnam Wood" scene and the tree we had to hold up, everything went quite well. The audience did laugh and some peculiar things, for example when the other murderers and myself killed the kids, they laughed vivaciously and cheered. They also laughed at other scenes that were not meant to me comical, for example, the scene in which Gabby wails and tries to wash the blood off of her hands.
Overall, the audience really enjoyed our play and we enjoyed performing it for them. It was a great experience in terms of what it feels like performing with an audience.