Ooh it is so good to have an option C isn’t it? When I was in France working with the Ardeo Theatre Project and we had a big meeting to decide between the options of continuing with major cuts in staff or to pull the plug. I kept saying, “What about an Option C?” as the option B of continuing without key staff members made option A of disbanding the only option. At one point, several turned and in almost one voice said, “There is no Option C, Mik.” I knew right then, we were done.
But here in Palestine, yesterday was a beautiful example of how Option C can arise.
I mentioned earlier, for our second show there was a drastic chopping of the scripts original ending as well as a key element of Martin’s final sermon, which, naturally, did not sit well with the playwright. In America, it is difficult to do such cuts by the director- too much intellectual property rights. But Kamel knows his audience. He knew if those words were spoken at the end, we would loose them; they wouldn’t be able to take it in. He witnessed it at the Opening.
The playwright did not follow the logic of how he could take the climatic ending speech and move it into the beginning in the form of a rehearsal, as everything leads up to that struggle and those words he speaks. Plus, he wrote Malcolm and Stokely joining Martin in his words to show both the fact that Martin followed them into death, and that basically, all died fighting for something they believed in. Dr Carson has been quite accommodating through the rehearsals but this went too far. So a 4pm meeting between Kamel and Dr. Carson was called to discuss the matter.
The 2pm show was for high school students and oh you gotta love youth and what they bring! They sat completely transfixed for Martin’s opening rehearsal of the sermon and then gave us so much energy, so much laughter that we found the rhythm and humor of the show. It was invigorating. Then Kamel made one of the most pivotal choices (and a clear example of why he is so loved and respected) by welcoming all to the meeting who would like to attend. And so we sat, the director, the playwright, the consulate, the theatre manager, four of us actors, four from the choir, other members of the technical staff and the filmmaker’s camera.
And the discussion began.
Kamel stated his reasons for making such choices and Dr. Carson gave specific reasons of dissatisfaction, both quite eloquently. Dr Carson came in with other cuts he would make without loosing the ability for it to end the way he wrote it. And then he asked to hear from the actors.
Gina, (Coretta), spoke quite clearly, defending Kamel’s choice and defining how things are here, that we will loose the exact message we are conveying if we keep the original ending. The Palestinians do not have a long history of theatre, it is only 30 years old or so and it’s too much information to digest. Putting it in the beginning gives them the words he/we want them to hear. It will allow it to sink in to which Faris (Malcom X), talked of parables from the Koran work that way (12 moons) and we all had just experienced the kids listening in such a focused way that we knew it did work.
Then dear P. Michael, one of the singers, raised his hand and suggested OPTION C.
Start as Kamel thought, with the actor rehearsing Martin’s speech in the very beginning but then at the end of the play, have him go back behind the podium and repeat just the final lines with Malcolm and Stokely joining him in speaking those final words thus satisfying both perspectives and tying it all together. And so after more discussion it was decided and Kamel went to work and we rehearsed a new ending and performed that version – the option C version. It was the best one we did. The show felt like an opening. It became our show, all of ours. We reached the real opening from getting such positive juice from youth, from having an open meeting, from being in on the discussion and being in on the solution.
My respect for both Dr. Carson and Kamel is so very high. They are both men who know how to leave their egos at the door and remained open to different perspectives, knowing that each would have to make shifts but holding ground to what they also valued. If only the Israelis and Palestinians could operate like this – they too would find an option C.
I go away with a lesson. Be inclusive, be open and you will have ownership and partnership from all and in this case, a show to begin touring.
