READ-THROUGH

In our first session as a cast, we did a whole play read-through. I play the character Father Ambrose, whom I believe is going to be transformed into a female named Sister Ambrose, ‘a kind nun who councils Grandier’.

I think the read-through went OK, it wasn’t great as some people were colouring their voices, whereas other simply read aloud - I hope this isn’t a bitter reflection of what is to come. Furthermore, I realised that some people thought that shouting expressed tension and mood. But by shouting, or reaching vocal limitations of mood (for example: screaming is a vocal limitation of fear) there is nowhere to move after that, and so the tension and atmosphere is killed, making for an anti-climax. However, recognising the problem is the first step to solving it!

After reading the play again and knowing who was playing which character, allowed me to get into the story of ‘The Devils’ more, and I actually enjoyed it more than the first time I read it!

I believe the main themes of ‘The Devils’ to be witchcraft/sorcery and lust. The story is one of the power of deceit, the mystery and curious nature of the unknown, which forces people of different backgrounds to come together in a threatening squad to eliminate otherness; Grandier and his strange ways.