Last night

was amazing! We had our third rehearsal for HellBaby. Started out with some nice warmups, and went into exploring the Misner Technique. Did some exercises that developed out of that. Delved into our first serious round of scenes that ran on themes of metaphoric conflict.

Where it became astounding was when we started doing really emotional scenes.

Patti and Kelly started as two friends knitting. Patti complimented Kelly on her perfume. It was eventually revealed that not only had Kelly shoplifted it, a habit becoming increasingly more serious, but did it while shopping with Patti. This enraged Patti to no end to think that her friend would put her in risk, both legally and ethically. It was beautiful to see the hurt and anger in Patti's disbelief. She walked a steady course just going higher and higher without faltering. It was fascinating to watch Kelly communicate her inital vulnerability all through facial expression... follow the arc of becoming indifferent as the accusations from Patti began, and then eventually revealed that original vulnerability in her verbal reactions towards the end of the scene.

Jon and Debby started as a divorced couple playing pool. It was quickly revealed that Jon wanted to have custody of their two children more frequently than just the weekends. This angered Debby, and she remained firm that not only was he not going to get the kids any more than he has them, but that he didn't deserve what little time he had already. Although not said flat out, it became obvious that the marraige dissolved as a result of Jon's infidelity which led to him walking out on his family. Jon also called Debby out in using the children as a pawn, leading them into an untrusting relationship with him. Things really exploded when Jon stated that what he did only effected Debby, and not the childen. This opinion sent Debby through the roof, and she began to physically challenge him with her body language, forcing him to stumble backwards. She calls out about how he had a responsibility to the commitment he made to her, before God, and that nothing she could ever do should allow for him to break that vow. It was amazing for me to see Jon at this level, so raw and emotional. He is incredibly patient and measured on stage, and to see him come from a place of hate, frustration and loss, all while trying to keep the upper hand both in life and the immediate argument was thrilling to watch. And to see that rage out of Debby was frighteningly breathtaking.

Finally was a scene with Chris and I where we started out as friends working on scrapbooks. My scrapbook was all about my best friend... my dog. It was revealed by Chris that my dog was gone. Initially I took that to mean that he had run away. I offered that it was fine because my dog was a wanderer, and would come back. Chris countered that he had not run away, but was hit by a car. I first took this as a cruel joke, something he often did. Then he began to reveal that it was actually him who had hit my dog, and although I was beginning to settle into the reality, I still came from a place of denial (the good kind in a scene). I wouldn't believe it, and began to grow more angry. I started to be very rough with my scrapbook... slamming pages, etc. He told me he took the dog to the vet, and they couldn't do anything. I called him out and said that he should have told me first, so that I could have been there, and I was getting enraged as this was going on. He then begins to tell me the story of how he was right there, with his hand on the dog while they euthenized him. As he recounted this, he began to cry. I just completely exploded. Accusing him of being selfish and that it should have been my hand on my dog as he passed. Chris is sobbing and I am welling up with tears of anger and hurt. He is just profusely apologizing and breaking down. I slam down the book, welling with stinging tears, and begin to cross to him to bury my face in his chest and pound his chest angrily. Just as I reached him, Nathan called scene.

Holy shit!

Every one of us was in such a visceral state and so far out of our heads, it was crazy. This is exactly what we need to be doing. That was our third rehearsal! I can't even tell you how crazy psyched I am to bring this to an audience and see their jaws drop. This shit blows every Philly audience member's notion of improv right out of the water!