I was going to do the Frenzy last year, I even signed up and outlined an idea. Then I just didn't bother. I had spring fever and I was in play. This year I am actually making a valid attempt. I even have an idea.
I haven't written anything for the stage since my play writing class two years ago. However, working on and seeing new plays lately has made me miss my dusty days building sets, cranking out dialogue and working on production after production in some capacity. In some respects, college theatre is great because the shows have a large budget and a whole department backing them, so the sets and costumes are all stocked. In other ways I really miss working in tiny crappy spaces with no money and being involved in making and finding everything. It made you feel like it was your play, not just some show you were in. You bled for it (often literally). I think it created some of the most poignant, entertaining work because, in a way, you suffered for it. It forced you to think outside the box. You had to make it worth it. That's drama in itself.
Right now my idea is something like a family drama in the vein of Eugene O'Neil and Tennessee Williams, but more modern and with a female central character. I know I can only aspire to be anywhere near as beautiful and lasting as their work, but it feels like something I could play with. It will be very melancholy, but with touches of dark humor. I know how it will begin and I know how it will end. It's all about stringing it together now and figuring out which characters to show and which to keep off-stage.
This could be a good project. I wasn't intending to do Frenzy, but then I had this idea. It seems very fortuitous.
Best of luck to you with the frenzy! The script seemed a little daunting to me, but now i think i've made a slightly critical error and signed up for Nanoedmo!
ReplyDeleteI haven't got any ideas lined up and I don't really want the stress and stuff, so I won't be participating. It's fun though. Did it the first year (2007) and won, tried in 2008 but had so much going on at the time that it was hard to focus, and since then I've not really bothered. Maybe if an idea comes along! Wishing you all the best of luck with it, and if you need some cheerleading, we'll be around to cheer you on. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Traxy! My NaNo idea didn't arrive until the last week in October, you never know.
ReplyDeleteThe script format does seem scary, Andrea, but there are free software programs you can download from the Writer's Resources tab that help format everything for you.
Don't feel like you have to do Frenzy as well, many people just do NaNo.