Why we are here? Today was Moise’s birthday. This 24 year old Rwandan singer and musician has a voice that is truly indescribable. Watching rehearsals of BOOK OF LIFE, and watching and hearing him sing, makes your heart burst and melt.
He told us that he had never ever celebrated his birthday. SO we celebrated his birthday for the first time today. In the morning, we sang and carried him around the studio. And tonight under a nearly full moon, after dinner, the staff of Diamond Beach, came in carrying a cake they had made themselves, and drumming and singing. Moise was overwhelmed. He burst into a dance, a beautiful Rwandan dance of his own devising, and simply could not believe that his NAME was written on the homemade cake. Later he said to us: “Manda is my mother, Sundance is my father. And I was re-born today!”
We are a day away from final presentations. There has been some ‘drama’ outside of rehearsal as well as in the rooms. Folks are nervous and this new play development process is still a new feeling. Some artists seem to ‘get it’ quickly and others are not quite sure on what it really means for them. We are learning a great deal about communicating well and about what we may need to adjust to make ‘next time’ even better. I do know – for certain – that each of the four plays has grown immeasurably. I sat with Sitawa today and helped her organize her brand new pages – a new play! – into sections, proposing how to divide and re-assemble the work so that a theme might emerge, and so that a sense of rhythm, tone, and contrast might best support the story she wishes to tell. This piece, BLACK MARIA, is like a ‘newborn’ – and I just want her to see options. This poet is becoming a storyteller and playwright. And she is thrilled.
It’s hard to believe we only have seven days left. The final four will be taken up with de-briefs and round table conversations about the work itself. Our photographer, Philippa Ndisi-Herrmann, visited us today and took lots of shots of rehearsals, and the company relaxing and our meals together. Also a big group shot including the fabulous staff of men and women who have run Diamond Beach and supported us.
Oh – and I ordered my breakfast in Swahili today and actually got what I ordered.
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