Challenge #3 — Visual Expression

Challenge: Create a short performance which, without any words, tells the story of the following poem:

A Wonder of the World by Billy Collins

It is just coming into view.
You can begin to make out its westerly corner
and you are now getting some idea of its dimensions.

As we continue to maintain this heading
more of it will gradually be revealed,
the mountain appearing to step aside to permit a fuller view.

At this point you can see a great deal of it.
It is more colossal than you had expected,
and you were not at all prepared for its look

of almost archaeological seriousness
as if you should be wearing steel-rimmed spectacles
in order to view it properly.

Now you are able to see the whole thing, in moonlight!
Nothing is standing between you and it
except an immeasurable volume of salty night air.

It looks different than it does in photographs
and it is nothing like what you had imagined,
but there it is, motionless, unavoidable, real.

It is enough to make you reach for the locket
in which you carry your picture of the world
as you glide closer and closer to it
over the cold streaming surface of these waters.

Notes:

• Try to capture the energy and emotion of this poetic source material, but push to explore and create your own ‘wonder of the world.’  What visual story can you tell that captures the emotion of journeying to witness something surprisingly amazing?  Is your ‘wonder’ an ancient temple, or something perhaps much smaller and domestic?  How do you reveal it as amazing?
• No words.  None.  Embrace and run with that.  What other tools do you have?  You’re certainly allowed sounds, and even vocal expression.  But no words.
• Can you lead the audience on an emotional journey similar to what is described in the poem?  (Yes, you can!  But how…)
• The challenge is our common seed.  From here, grow your own fruit tree.

Specifics:

• Participants will be company members and invited guest artists.
• Creators may perform a solo piece, or may direct a small ensemble of their choosing (if you need help finding performers, or if you are a performer interested in getting involved, let me know.)
• Creations should be roughly 5 minutes in length.
• Aim to spend 4 hours creating and rehearsing.

Lab 3

Saturday, October 17

Presentation at 2pm, discussion follows.

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