All About Deepak Morris
India, scripts, plays, drama, English, theatre, writing, pune,
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The Story of Tucker
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Tucker (name changed to protect him from embarrassment) walked into one of our rehearsals, having been told that we are a local group that welcomes anyone. He waited patiently until I announced a break, then introduced himself and said that he was interested in acting.
There was a problem.
With his first few words it was evident that Tucker had a speech impediment. He had an impressive physique but a baby voice. Hoping that a script would help him overcome the impediment, I asked him to read a small part. He botched it as badly as anyone ever can.
But Tucker had determination. I told him that he was welcome to attend rehearsals if he'd like to learn something about acting. He eagerly accepted the invitation and was there, faithfully, at every rehearsal thereafter. He began helping out by prompting. A rich person in monetary terms, he never felt it below his dignity to run errands for the group, putting his time and resources into things as simple as fetching mosquito repellent for members of the cast.
As a test, and to give him experience on stage, I gave him a non-speaking part in a production. He never complained. He did his bit. What's more, he added small gestures and actions that said that he was totally in character.
I took a chance in the next production. Baby voice be damned, I gave him a really meaty role. Tucker performed with aplomb. Over the next 3-4 plays, Tucker grew into the type of role that only he could play.
But Tucker wanted more.
At the casting of his second-last play with me, Tucker took me aside and said, "Boss, I need more. If you tell me to play the same type of role again I will, but I want to do more."
So I worked greater depth into his character. And Tucker discovered subtext. I can never forget how excited he was, as he bounded up to me during rehearsal and exclaimed, "Subtext! I got it! Subtext!" He never tired of telling cast member about subtext too.
But members of the cast, especially the more experienced, were worried. Tucker had subtext nailed but he hadn't learned the text! In other words, Tucker hadn't learned the dialogue.
Come show date, experienced members worked with him non-stop as the rest of us set up the stage. One of them came up to me half-an-hour before the show and begged me to cancel it. "Refund the money," she said, "or you'll lose whatever standing you have in the field of theatre. He's not ready."
But I saw the fire in his eye and decided to press on, nevertheless.
Tucker delivered a performance to beat all performances.
Later on, the actor who had asked me to cancel the show came up to me. "He HAS it!," she exclaimed, "He was completely transformed as soon as the curtain went up. How did you know?"
"I didn't," I replied, "I just saw the fire and decided to run with it."
Tucker is now in Dubai and I hope he joins the Dubai Drama Group, to be able to scale heights he would never be able to in Pune. All it took was enthusiasm and "stick-to-itiveness".
Deepak
There was a problem.
With his first few words it was evident that Tucker had a speech impediment. He had an impressive physique but a baby voice. Hoping that a script would help him overcome the impediment, I asked him to read a small part. He botched it as badly as anyone ever can.
But Tucker had determination. I told him that he was welcome to attend rehearsals if he'd like to learn something about acting. He eagerly accepted the invitation and was there, faithfully, at every rehearsal thereafter. He began helping out by prompting. A rich person in monetary terms, he never felt it below his dignity to run errands for the group, putting his time and resources into things as simple as fetching mosquito repellent for members of the cast.
As a test, and to give him experience on stage, I gave him a non-speaking part in a production. He never complained. He did his bit. What's more, he added small gestures and actions that said that he was totally in character.
I took a chance in the next production. Baby voice be damned, I gave him a really meaty role. Tucker performed with aplomb. Over the next 3-4 plays, Tucker grew into the type of role that only he could play.
But Tucker wanted more.
At the casting of his second-last play with me, Tucker took me aside and said, "Boss, I need more. If you tell me to play the same type of role again I will, but I want to do more."
So I worked greater depth into his character. And Tucker discovered subtext. I can never forget how excited he was, as he bounded up to me during rehearsal and exclaimed, "Subtext! I got it! Subtext!" He never tired of telling cast member about subtext too.
But members of the cast, especially the more experienced, were worried. Tucker had subtext nailed but he hadn't learned the text! In other words, Tucker hadn't learned the dialogue.
Come show date, experienced members worked with him non-stop as the rest of us set up the stage. One of them came up to me half-an-hour before the show and begged me to cancel it. "Refund the money," she said, "or you'll lose whatever standing you have in the field of theatre. He's not ready."
But I saw the fire in his eye and decided to press on, nevertheless.
Tucker delivered a performance to beat all performances.
Later on, the actor who had asked me to cancel the show came up to me. "He HAS it!," she exclaimed, "He was completely transformed as soon as the curtain went up. How did you know?"
"I didn't," I replied, "I just saw the fire and decided to run with it."
Tucker is now in Dubai and I hope he joins the Dubai Drama Group, to be able to scale heights he would never be able to in Pune. All it took was enthusiasm and "stick-to-itiveness".
Deepak
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