The Show Must Go On Cast Blog: Nyla Carpentier, Jan 13

January 13, 2010

by Nyla Carpentier, performer in The Show Must Go On

Last night we went through the final two songs in the show. Let me tell you it’s pretty exciting to know in one week we’ll be performing. (Yikes, I’m thinking too far ahead!) I’ve found, working on this piece, that the most important thing is to be in the moment. Easier said then done, right? Cause if you are a control freak or chronic planner (like me) it’s challenge.

So I ask: How do I be in the moment? How does anyone be in the moment? The answer is so simple it can drive people mad. Just be. That’s it, that’s all. Be there, be present and let the brain relax. Simple. Then again, who said simple was easy? Try to apply this to 21 individuals on stage.

I love the process. I love the fact that the piece itself is simple, so it asks us the performers to be simple. I love how the songs for the most part are well known, and there is a guarantee that one or two will get stuck in your head. After one particular rehearsal I was walking down Davie street, poutine in hand, singing the song we had covered that day (in fact we had covered three though one stuck out).

Now we have covered all catchy 18 songs! Each song for us was a discovery. What will happen next? We get down to the nitty gritty dancy details of the piece. The next challenge will be how to keep it fresh!

I also love how 21 different people can come together. I think the friendships I make during this process will be long lasting. I have never been so at ease with a group of people I didn’t know, and that’s a bonus. Plus Henrique and Dina are pretty patient with us and have a sense of humour. They’ve noticed a few things that we do (for a dominant Canadian group) that no other cast has, like hold our hands in front of our bodies. Go figure.

I know for today’s rehearsal, we’ll be going over a section that requires 21 voices singing different songs lyrics. Oh yeah, not only do we get to dance in this piece… we get to sing too!

It also happens to be my birthday, and I’m pretty happy to be celebrating by working on this piece. Today will be the day we hit the ground running/dancing right till the show closes.

The Show Must Go On is part of the 2010 PuSh International Performing Arts Festival and is presented with SFU Woodward’s and The Dance Centre. Jan 20-23, 2010 at 8:00pm, The Fei and Milton Wong Experimental Theatre, SFU. Click here for full details.