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Over
the past ten years, Larry Moss and Jean-Louis
Rodrigue have
enjoyed a creative relationship, first focusing on the study
of the Alexander Technique and actor training, and then as
collaborators in Moss’s directorial assignments: Pamela
Gien’s THE SYRINGA
TREE and
then, Bo Eason’s RUNT OF
THE LITTER.
Their relationship
is deeply founded in their shared passion of developing the
actor’s initiative, freedom, and sense of individual
responsibility. Although the acquisition of strongly developed
technique of body and voice is a basic aim, technique is
never allowed to dominate. Rather the individual’s human
quality, talent, and storytelling ability is encouraged to
gradually develop and shine.
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 “The
Syringa Tree” is currently
on a national tour originating
from Theaterworks, Inc. and produced by Matt Salinger.
After two years of workshopping the play at the studio,
it opened in Seattle
at ACT to
wide acclaim.
In September
2000, The Syringa Tree came to New
York at Playhouse 91 where
it has run to sold out performances and won the Obie
Award for Best Play, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Awards
for Best
Performance.
In 2002,
The Syringa Tree ran at the Royal
National Theater and
was broadcast on the Trio Network.
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Pamela
Gien’s tour de force performance traces the
journey of a vibrant and curious 6-year-old girl as
she confronts the confusing horrors of apartheid.
Gien
portrays more than two-dozen characters, and the transformations
required a high degree of physical and vocal flexibility
and dexterity. Gien explains “One of the greatest
gifts to my work was when Larry Moss enlisted the assistance
of Jean-Louis Rodrigue in our preparation of “The
Syringa Tree”.
He
greatly enhanced my performance physically and vocally,
giving me an innate understanding of the deep resource
of energy within my body. Spiritually he linked what
I was working to accomplish, the creation of more than
twenty characters in one body, to the vast scope of energy
in the universe. He grounded me to the earth, and lifted
my vision to a wider expanse.”
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“Runt of the Litter” was also
developed in the same way. Written and performed
by ex-NFL football player Bo
Eason, the one-man
play tells the compelling story of Henry and his
family in their drive to make him a professional
football player.The play ran to critical
acclaim at Stages Repertory
in Houston and at the MCC Theater in New York. Again,
Rodrigue was invited to work with Eason on the physical
demands of his role. |
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Eason
is an incredibly disciplined actor and reveals that “As
a professional athlete and now a performer on a different
stage, I know the importance and the power of the body.
The body is how we communicate twenty-four hour a day.
Your words may lie, but the body always tells the truth.
Jean-Louis has helped me uncover the truth in my body…and
gives me the power and security and permission to express
myself as an actor on a whole new level.”
Larry
Moss describes the collaboration in terms of what
the actor ultimately discovers about the work: “One
of the most important things an actor can posses is
a relationship to their own body and breath. Jean-Louis
Rodrigue works with actors in such a way that they
immediately understand from deep within themselves
their true impulses.
Jean-Louis
is more than a teacher, he is a spirit that enters the
actor’s instrument and teaches them the truth of
the character they are going to portray. His work is
invaluable and I cannot imagine doing a project without
him.”
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