Hold to the Now

Hold to the now, the here, through which all future plunges into the past.

                                                - James Joyce

                                                  Ulysses

Here at Trinity College, these words seem to echo through the halls and studios where we are privileged to work.  We are embraced and inspired by the elegant and noble history of the place even as we are challenged by the vibrant contemporary scene.  Our motto for our weeks here has certainly been “carpe diem!”   Each day has been filled with stimulating classes and discussions, theater, historical and cultural excursions, reflection and, of course, joyous socializing. 

We have fallen easily into a supportive and challenging ensemble in our acting class, as students new to acting mingle and learn with those with more experience.   To date we have finished work on eleven scenes chosen from canonical and contemporary Irish works ranging from Synge, O’Casey and Shaw to McDonagh, Friel, Carr and Walsh.  Our ears, blessed daily with a panoply of dialects, are becoming tuned to the differences as we try our best to explore the texts in the dialects in which they are intended to be heard.   Scenes were chosen specifically for each student before leaving Berkeley, and each student left Berkeley with scripts in hand  that we might begin applying the techniques delineated during our first week in Berkeley immediately upon our arrival here. 

Yesterday we began work on monologues in earnest   These, too, were chosen for each student from plays by Irish playwrights – although a few students have chosen to explore Shakespearean texts as well.   Each student has touched upon the rich tapestry of the language and history implicit in these texts as well as using them to further explore acting techniques – the ruthless attention and commitment to objectives, actions and given circumstances - that lead us closer to the goal of premeditated spontaneity. 

In acting class alone, we’ve explored eleven scenes and twenty-three monologues.   In another week, we will begin work on our final acting projects: self-selected staged readings from Irish plays to be performed in the Aran Islands as part of our coming excursion to Galway and its environs. 

Yes, it rains here.   It’s rather cold.  But the moon rising over this Hogwartian scene, the castles, the literary and theatrical magic all wrapped in vibrant greens and attended by friendly and spirited people fill each day with warmth.   We find ourselves deepened and entranced.

The supreme question about a work of art is out of how deep a life does it spring.

            - James Joyce.

Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness. – Mark Twain

Cheers – Lura

Lura Dolas, Faculty

Theater, Dance and Performance Studies

University of California, Berkeley