From Hollywood to Hollygrove
by Laura Fryer and The Vesper Theatre Company

Fanny Brice once said, “There is no director who can direct you like an audience.” Perhaps it should be said that there is no director who can direct you like the children The Vesper Theatre Company had the pleasure of working with recently.

We knew from the inception of the Company, a little over a year ago, that reaching out and giving back to the community would be a key component to the life of a Vesper actor. We were excited to start working with the at-risk and high-risk youth at Hollgrove.

We met every Monday for eight weeks. We had a schedule, a plan and an itinerary but that too fell away. These children were so powerful and creative that the only thing to do was to allow each meeting to unfold organically. We played improv game after improv game, explored animal studies, plot and character development, among other things, and soon began to witness the most remarkable transformations.

One boy was so shy on his first day that we strained to hear his tiny voice. Knock kneed and wide eyed, proudly boasting his Iron Man t, little “Tomas” soon became the most enthusiastic, energetic and imaginative of the bunch. Our most memorable moment during our animal studies was when Tomas told the tale of the King of Misery. A bunny rabbit forced to take away the things that people love by the orders of his father. We learned that this was not what he wanted to do. He had a plan to use a machine that could put someone else in his position, while he escaped as a free boy.

While Tomas was living in Miseryville, “Roger” performed Cirque du Soleil acrobatics in and around the room, expressing himself with physical fervor one could only dream of. “Monica,” with her boundless girly-ness and “Harold,” whose compassion was unconditional. Slowly but surely, the children began to reveal their world and life perspective through their artistry. Using the basic tools of acting, we all delved deeper into our imaginations, and ourselves.

On our first day, we met six students and on our last, we said goodbye to six teachers. What we learned, not only as actors, but as people will never be forgotten. We were not privy to the details of their circumstances, but to walk into the classroom every Monday with such joy and zest for life, despite everything else, was inspirational. Whatever audition we didn’t book, relationship drama or financial woe we were worried about seemed to disappear each Monday at Hollygrove.

We look forward to continuing to build our relationship with Hollgrove and its children, starting our second workshop in October. If you’re an artist with a desire to volunteer, Create Now is a fantastic way of utilizing your talents and creating unforgettable friendships.