A DOORWAY TO INFINITY

I met Mark Bly on the first day of rehearsal back in January. Moises introduced him as a dramaturg. I didn’t know what that meant and have since discovered that in the US, a dramaturg is a relatively recent role found most particularly in theater companies that focus on developing new plays and those that produce plays where the socio-historical background is important to the understanding of the production as is the case with “33 Variations”.

Mark is, in fact, senior dramaturg and director of new-play development for Houston’s Alley Theatre, and has been involved with the development of “33 Variations” since at least 2005, through various iterations at workshops from Sundance, to the Arena Theatre in Washington, DC and places in between. Last week he came back to see the play again and brought me a copy of “American Theatre” magazine which contains an article by him about the emergence of the play from Moises’s initial obsession with the subject until now. It’s an interesting look at how a layered, partly historical drama comes into being. In the article, Bly cites Russian novelist Andrey Bely with a quote that speaks to what my character, musicologist Dr Katherine Brandt, comes finally to believe Beethoven  is saying with his 33 Variations:

“An instant of life taken by itself as it is deeply probed becomes a doorway to infinity. The minutiae of life will appear even more clearly to be the guides to eternity.”

Bly goes on to say, “Kaufman’s play evokes a world where the membrane between the past and present is permeable. And beer and soup stains live beside grace notes, nudging each other for prominence.”

Aren’t I lucky to be in such a piece!

See you next time.

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8 Comments

  1. Aren’t I lucky to come see you?
    Can’t wait. See you in May.

  2. Thank you, Jane, for explaining, the role of a dramaturg. Have you developed a deep association to the music in the play? Did Moises have a deep appreciation for the music before writing the play?
    Bill

  3. all good wishes to you.

  4. You are indeed lucky, Jane. The play is beautifully written and directed, but of course we must applaud you for bringing Katherine to life, illustrating her complexities both as a fiercely independent intellectual elitist and as a fragile woman trying to connect with her daughter. 33 Variations is a work of genius.

    By the way, Entertainment Weekly ranked you #5 in their Top 10 Must See List. Kudos, Jane!

    Best,
    Amanda

  5. yes, you are! and, how i wish we would be able to see you in this play. seattle is a long way from nyc though, and having recently traveled to atlanta in feb we will not be east again for a while.

    i am enjoying your blog. hope you will continue blogging when you return home to atlanta. 🙂

  6. Hello Jane, it’s great that your acting again, i missed that nervy vitality. Why not come here to London and do a show, the post radical mother in Zoe Heller’s The believers could be a challenging role to explore if you can forsake your accent and good nature. What is Bree Daniel up to now, would you revisit a part like that years on, maybe the dramaturg can do some detective work. I was reading Joe Losey’s conversations with Michel Ciment the other day, it’s a shame you didn’t get along as he’s full of admiration of your talent, more so than Jean-luc i guess, at least the fascinating Delphine Seyrig was there if perhaps she was disruptive on the film set warmest wishes Chris

  7. I saw the show Sat night 3/21 – it was Marvelous and you absolutely “Rock” this role!

    So glad I was able to see this!

  8. “What lies behind us and what lies before us
    are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.

    Ralph Waldo Emerson

    Ms.Jane,
    I just found your website and must say it Rocks!
    And of course you’ve always Rocked as far as I’m
    concerned.
    Your written words are so close to you its as if you’re here. Now thats being in the moment.
    And the visitors to your site have a refreshingly warm
    and positive nature. Nice change for the internet scene.
    Oo lala how we love our heroine Ms. Jane Fonda!!!

    Many happy returns,
    Barbara

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