Working in the Theatre: White Rabbit Red Rabbit

[@geenatron]

I saw this play performed at the Wyly Theater in Dallas. For the duration of the show I was sitting in the center, near the bottom third of the audience rows in their black box theater. I have a very distinct memory of a moment that made me feel some things. Spoiler: the actor has to pick people from the audience to perform certain ... tasks. That's all I'm gonna say. I was chosen at a moment where a prop was needed -- I think it was meant to be used as a proxy for a carrot in the narrative. I remember the actor winding his arm back like he was a pitcher on the mound before finally pointing directly at me, saying, "YOU!" and everyone in the theater turned to look at me. It felt very, very surreal. Anyway, I recall I had this black purse with gold hardware that looked like a small old timey doctor's bag. I pulled it up off the floor and rummaged inside, and realized I had a crescent wrench in there. Which makes complete sense to me, because I'm a cyclist, but to everyone else, it looked insane. Either way, it was a hit and it worked pretty well as a "carrot." We all had a good laugh, and it's a memory I'll cherish. If you ever get the chance to go see it, do it!

[@vikastalwar_blogs]

I'm going to watch this play on coming 13th march in Mumbai, I'm so excited for this play.

[@geenatron]

How was it? @@vikastalwar_blogs

[@vikastalwar_blogs]

@@geenatron ohh it was wonderful experience. On stage there is Indian iconic actress Nandita Das, she played it by involving audience, and really there was moment at the very end if the play where the scripts demands to drink water from the any of two glasses, and one of the glass is having poison. The show was having many folds, it take us to comedy, thriller, self realisation, and fear of loss. I m huge fan of plays and theatre but this show was unique. Thanks for your recommendation.

[@maceegeisler6050]

the actors really have to just work with whatever they’re given and they make the best of it. they show real emotion towards the cold read for the viewers and audience to feel in touch with the scenes.

[@bellamendoza508]

I love how the actors show their real emotions to the cold read, and how they portrayed the cold read so we can see how it works. I think it’s so cool how that these actors are given a script that they have never even seen before and just go for it.

[@adisongarza5810]

I think it's such an incredible and inspiring outlook of theatre. It's so original and it shows the diversity of what acting is. It's a realness that cannot be described by any other theatre. And the fact that it's so authentic and new makes it that much more real. True art in all honesty. A cold read is beautiful and inspiring on its own, so taking that and putting it on the stage radiates the incredible vulnerability that is more clouded in rehearsed theatre.

[@kennedymcdowell8916]

This video is really amazing. To have your actor cold read this in front of people gives the audience raw emotion. They experience it for the first time with the actor. I love that the playwright wants his work to travel when he can't. He wants his work to experience the things he can't at the moment.

[@marissahicks2515]

I appreciated a lot about this video. I love the fact that these actors are being given a play that they haven't even read or seen before. It's cool because this means that they aren't prepared and I feel as if it will be giving the actors more of a real reaction towards whats going on in the play. It's very cool that people from all over are doing this play especially when the playwright isn't able to go out and preform himself.

[@destinylambert2279]

I think it's so weird but fun that the actors had never seen the script before! But I don't like the fact that the playwright couldn't leave his country and do the play himself.

[@zana8659]

I like how they made theatre more interesting by having them read it blindly.

[@vikastalwar_blogs]

Hey everyone... this play is going to stage in Mumbai India on 23th march 24, and legendary theatre and film actress Nandita Das is going to be on stage. Im all set to go to theatre and experience it. Would love to go on wild ride...right 🎉

[@julialunt1382]

I like that they do cold read and I have never seen neither heard of it. I do think that is strange that they use there phones during the performance.

[@lattitudelogan]

I really like how the actor's wont be able to see the script until they are on stage! It gives a more realistic feel, and that you can get any gender, race,or age, or background to act!

[@robot_x_9000]

This play should come with multiple trigger warnings. The themes of suicide in this play are graphic, intense, and manipulative. This "social experiment" asks the lead actor to seriously consider their own suicide in the moment in front of an audience. In an unsafe setting this can be especially damaging. I volunteered to be the lead actor in this play in early 2019 in an acting class led by a man who was mentally ill. He led us to believe this play would be a goofy acting exercise, and failed to create a safe environment in which to deal with the dark themes contained in this play. When we asked to pause the play, he refused. If this play is indeed a "social experiment", it should require understanding consent from its participants. The instructions to not google the play, to come in completely oblivious, can be extremely harmful for those who live close to suicide.

[@AndreiPopescu]

Most theatre actors work with directors they already know so it's not like they are actually going to poison them. To be honest I doubt most of them are actually seeing the script for the first time when they play it in front of an audience. As for warnings, yes it should be 18+ only. - Children should not see stuff like this.

[@vikastalwar_blogs]

This play is going to play in Mumbai on coming 13th march, I'm going to experience it, would love to tell how it went with me as an audience. 😢

[@519blackpanther]

My spoiler free review of the play…. Although it is written by somebody trapped in Iran, you almost feel like you are part of the Caucasian audience this play was written for. 👎🏽👎🏽