Painting Another's Painting

Sorry, that's the best title I could think of. Email your suggestion after reading the blog if you dare!?

Designing your own home and then watching someone else build it makes me ponder what it might be like being a playwright. You have just written this entirely unique and deeply personal play. Yet, the public will never see your work-product unless you relinquish control of the script into the hands of others. You must find a good builder (or director) and the director and others assemble and guide the cast (subcontractors and laborers).

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As you sit there at rehearsals, you hope and pray that the trustees of your creation interpret your vision as close to what you had in mind as humanly possible. It is very exciting when they finally sense your vision and not only adhere to the script but also insert their own personality in a synergistic way. The collaboration results in much better critical acclaim than if they were merely reciters.

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Dave Matthews, founder and leader of the Dave Matthew's Band (that's original), once said in an interview that he lets each musician in his band play their individual instrument any way they want. They can come in and out at will, improvise and be creative in their area of expertise. They only thing they have to adhere to strictly is the lyrics. That gave way to individual expression and allowed great musicality and freedom of expression. But the meaning of the piece was not lost in the chaos if they stuck to the words. How does this relate to home building? Not very well I guess, I just wanted you to know that I liked his band.

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All through his career, Alfred Hitchcock, the acclaimed director, required strict adherence to the script even though the actors could use whatever method they wanted to get the lines out. He remained this way right up to perhaps his last movie (maybe I'll remember the name by the end of the blog). In his last film, he allowed a great deal (a lot) of ad libbing. The end result, in my opinion, was like a long running inside joke where the actors were almost winking at the camera and each other. As a result, the strong story line suffered.

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So at what point does the home builder/playwright insist upon strict adherence to the script/plans (do rhetorical question sentences need a question mark?)? The point when you look down the road and realize that you will really regret it if you don't interrupt the rehearsal and try to get the painters you have hired back on track in painting your own portrait.

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The point is, it's fun seeing your creation come to life but a little scary too. After all, they will sign their painting with your name and then send you the bill.