The Power of Stillness

I met with Ken Sonkin, the director for Humble Boy this past week to discuss the play. At the end of the first scene, Jim (the Gardener) comes on to the stage. Ken and I disagreed about whether this was the first time I had seen him since returning home. Ken thought it was, which is a naturally more dramatic choice to make. I thought it was the second time, based on a few lines and that I didn't seem to have a big reacton to seeing him. I felt that if this was the first time, I might act a little surpised or say something about it to another character who is on stage. I didn't understand why Felix was so still.

I thought about this for awhile, imagining what a first encounter might be really like. As I did this, I found myself paralyzed upong seeing Jim. I understood why Felix is so still in the scene. Although I'm not sure it is the first time that I see him, I now understand the power of the encounter and why Felix doesn't have a bigger reaction. He is so shocked to see Jim that he is paralyzed - which is a very big reaction, but very still.

This little investigation was an important guide for me. My first instinct was to do something dramatic, to show the character's reaction. But when I began to really get into the psychology, I found something much more real. I didn't need to show anything, just receive the depth of the experience. This is how I want to work on the show. No need to show the audience. Trust myself in staying centered, working through the thoughts of the character and the audience will understand what's going on.

And now I understand the power of Simon Russell Beale - who originated the part of Felix. When I first went to London in 1994, I saw him play Ariel in The Tempest on the Baribican at the RSC, directed by Sam Mendes. At the time, I didn't understand why Ariel just stood there, not flying around like most spirits I had seen. Twelve years later, that is the only thing I remember from the entire production - Simon Russell Beale, just standing. Total presence. The power of stillness.