Session Analysis - Chicho and Tobi

This session we polished a few scenes in the second act (post raptor death). This gave me a prime opportunity to set and review other cast members in action and reflect upon their process and practice. Two people I did a miniature peer assessment in my mind were Chicho and Tobi. In that session and (throughout the whole process for that matter) they have been effective members of the ensemble and good people to have in the room:

Tobi

Tobi is always offering in a scene, even it's small or big he gives. This is so important with the inception of this play, nothing is set in stone and the directing style has been very fluid; it is so useful to have someone like this making bold choices and giving the play shape with his choices. A specific moment where he did this was during the "flamingo court scene" he gave a massive reaction and fainted. Others might have seen this as too big of a move and over the top, however Tobi just went with his instinct and in turn made a very comedic moment AND giving him a stand out moment in the play. It also is a case of not holding anything back and waiting to deliver on stage. How are we supposed to know how the play we really look if we only ever see it 50% in rehearsals? Tobi makes sure to not use the lack of an audience to stop his performance really coming out. This also means his final product will be strong because adding an audience always ups the energy anyway; so theoretically his final performance should be stronger than the stuff he's producing in the room. If I was to take on these traits at all times I will always be a useful member of the cast especially in the moments I am an ensemble member.

Chicho

Comparatively Chicho always offers bold characterisation choices. I have never seen him half do a character; he is always fully committed and making bold decisions whenever he is working. From the jump he has treated every line he says with importance and never throws away a sentence or a gesture. This makes his work interesting, dynamic and great to watch. The trader scene act one has a tendency to lose energy however whenever Chicho comes in it always manages to pick back up. This is an invaluable skill; being able to sense when the scene needs a little boost is beneficial for keeping the pace right moreover making the action as entertaining as possible. Another key thing I really enjoy about Chicho as a cast mate is his vocal prowess when it comes to finding the nuances and distinction between his characters. This is so exciting to observe; the detail in his character work is immense and really pays off. I believe this will make the multi-rolling aspect of his job in Enron not only by a positive part of his work in the ensemble but also a major contribution to the overall story-telling in the piece.