Achilles in Sparta by Sharr White has been one of my favorite plays to
direct, mainly because it did not required a set but rather a group of actors
who could move on stage.
The play included rhythmic movement as well as view point and Suzuki movement techniques. In order to prepare the students for these movement styles, five
2-hour workshops on view points, Suzuki and choreography were added to the already
tight rehearsal schedule. Actors were also required to deliver poetic language, so a voice coach was brought in to work with the students.
The cast also learned to manipulate giant puppets, used masks, and a variety of props within their movement in order to recreate epic battles, moving war ships across the sea, and act as deities.
Music and lighting became an essential element in this production, but the key factor in its success was working with actors who could easily become an ensemble with just four weeks of rehearsal.
