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This Saturday, I had an extraordinary experience spending the day in this intensive training workshop. Playback is an improvisational theatre form in which actors listen to a story from a member of the audience, and then enact it, playing it back as an artistic rendition for the story teller and the audience.
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In the last few years, I've been an audience member at a number of monthly playback performances. I want to take the sometimes frightening leap and do some improvisational acting myself, and I am so excited to have training workshops available in Toronto. I hope there are more to come.
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I was surprised and delighted to find that two of the actors from the professional playback company were also participating in the workshop. Both Brie and Sherri have been in the Toronto company since it began, and I've seen them perform many times. btw, the scarf is a leftover from a scene in which Brie played Hillary Clinton.
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Jerry (on the right) is an actor, writer and musician . There were four actors in the group, and three 'non-actors'. The professionals were so supportive and encouraging to those of us who come from other fields.
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Rody is a member of Playback Theatre's youth company.
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Christopher Von Baeyer teaching pairs. Pairs is a particular playback form in which two actors portray a single person's (often conflicting) emotions.
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Christopher Von Baeyer, Artistic Director and Conductor of Toronto Playback Theatre.
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committed, thoughtful, passionate teacher
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At break, Danille makes some notes.
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Brie and Christopher joking around. note to self: never ask theatre people to ignore the camera and just be themselves.
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Annabelle
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Annabelle listening to Rody
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Rody listening to Annabelle
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This is an opening scene of a very moving story about a mother and son.
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Rody was once Sheri's student. Now they are performing together in this story. They have a great rapport.
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Jerry is improvising music as the story unfolds.
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Final scene. This workshop performance, like all playback, was improvised in response to one of our stories.
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As the conductor, Chris 'holds the space' for the actors and audience. That is on every level from the spiritual to the mundane. The glamor!
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Brian is a phenomenal actor in this difficult improvisational format. He is authentic, wildly creative, funny and convincing. He can take centre stage, or he can find the perfect action or element to support the other actors and the story. Such a great heart! AND ... Brian is moving to Ottawa soon. So if you live in Toronto, March 1 is your chance to see Brian performing with the Toronto company. Arrive early to make sure you get a good seat. The first link below has all the information about the upcoming performance.
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Nice post :)
Kovac · 2008-02-24: 13:53
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As always, I enjoy your portrayals of people doing something they enjoy. The faces are wonderful!
Carley · 2008-02-24: 14:06
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very nice shots!!!
vterezia · 2008-02-24: 15:23
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Great set! love #6 and the thing that Brian plays with his toes :) i really love all of them!
Bushman · 2008-02-24: 18:39
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fantastic!! I just love your photography!
abbeyh13 · 2008-02-24: 20:06
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This is definitely the kind of situation where you're at your best. There, you are in your own class, the higher. No one I know can capture peoples emotion in such a natural and graphical way. You know how to une light to enlight expressions and snap the moment. Fabulous set once again. You are such an inspiration for me when I'm doing portraits....
Madoc · 2008-02-24: 20:52
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Another beautiful set, such expressive faces and postures. Your images are such an exquisite blend of spontaneity and control, and the use of light is brilliant — the essence of the art of photography!
jagungal · 2008-02-24: 23:43
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Thank you for this, Julia. I will add it to the deeply meaningful gift you gave me in the workshop. Here's how I experienced this set of yours ... You have a keen eye for capturing the spirit of a moment and your prose never overpowers the images, it only adds meaning in giving the viewer an authentic look at how YOU experienced the day. Your sense of composition is clean, yet fresh, and you made good use of the natural light. And choosing black and white over colour somehow adds the impression that this was a meaningful day for you. So keep shooting - AND keep participating!
Brie · 2008-02-25: 08:58
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eleven is the shot for me. five follows.
chipotle · 2008-02-25: 09:04
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Good on you Julia - I hope you continue to enjoy it! I love what Brie has said regarding you capturing the spirit of the moment; that is so, so true...
Emma · 2008-02-25: 11:49
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Julia. you captured the most amazing shots. You grl are going FAR. I have too have a skill, its called foresight.Yes the compositions are great, the choice of colour unusual, and.capturing the participants enthusiasm, Brie holding the chocolate,Chris with his chairs.& Rodi with Sherri,through the crinoline are INCROYABLE. Somehow I'll have to steal a shot to add to my Playback post. A treat to meet you. Annabelle
Annabelle Hoffman · 2008-02-25: 14:34
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nice
AiseAyar · 2008-02-25: 19:55
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5, 16, 17 and 20, are superb photos in an interesting set. ?:o)
Zedsdead · 2008-02-25: 21:00
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J'adore, j'adore, j'adore tes portraits!!! :))) Parce que tu montres les émotions, le naturel... Comment tu fais pour que les personnes oublient qu'il y a une caméra??? :))) Bravo!
lanmitye · 2008-02-26: 04:01
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the portraits are wonderful - you really seem to have captured some great moments ... and improv is hard! My only experience is from high school theatre (3 years) and I had no problem being on stage in front of a ton of people, but improv scared the hell out of me!
kware · 2008-02-26: 12:17
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Your shots of people are always fabulous! I really like the one of Danille.
DancingDolphin · 2008-02-26: 18:36
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very interesting.... I like no 7 and 20 a lot
emmetan · 2008-02-26: 18:47
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Im no "people photographer" but as with any photography if it makes me smile then it must be good in my books..... as such I love this set.... coz I smiled!! :)
jim7221 · 2008-02-27: 01:56
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thank you for this docu, me gusta mucho - i like it a lot!
kyira · 2008-02-27: 15:31
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I love this set. Rody has incredibly beautiful and expressive eyes. You don't even need to hear him speak to feel his emotion.
ncshutterbug · 2008-02-27: 18:15
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