REFLECTIONS ON THE JOURNEY: BENJAMIN GREGG
It’s hard to believe that after 10 months, Our Country’s Good has concluded.
I cannot speak for the rest of the cast and crew, but in the days since our final performance I am left with a deep sense of gratitude, fulfillment, and if I’m being honest a little touch of yearning and (no pun intended) “melancholy.” It’s always bittersweet closing a show that is meaningful, but this feels especially so in this instance.
As Craig and the rest of the cast and crew have indicated, ensemble is everything and this show has felt the most cohesive than any other production I’ve been affiliated with. It cannot be overstated how impactful the Chekhov work was to the development of our show not only individually in the creation of our characters, but especially in fostering a unit of camaraderie, trust, and unwavering support of one another.
From an individual performance standpoint, the run was not “perfect” for me. However, the aphorism “perfect is the enemy of good,” (which is commonly attributed to Voltaire) seems apropos to me in this case. The cool thing about theatre is that a lot of people seem to think that every performance is the same thing, but every night is a little bit different. I felt I was still discovering nuances and greater specificity during the final weekend of performances. I suppose that’s a good thing, because you’re still invested and each performance can feel fresh, but there’s a part of me that still feels like I didn’t quite achieve what I set out to do with either character. I don’t feel like I nailed it.
I remember watching an episode of “Inside the Actors Studio” in the early 2000’s where an actor stated that “satisfaction is death for an actor.” This person was implying that if you’re satisfied, then you’re not growing. You are content with being in your comfort zone. You’re no longer vulnerable. I’m not sure I would totally agree with that statement, but there’s some truth in those comments. Specifically, I felt like I was just starting to really “get” Ketch, but alas, the show has ended. I’m not satisfied, but you also must take a step back and recognize that you put forth your best effort in the time allotted and that’s all you can do.
After the show concluded, we had strike, and it was odd and disconcerting to look at a bare stage that only hours and weeks beforehand had been beautifully constructed and populated with actors giving their dedication, talent, and energy.
But that is the nature of theatre.
No matter what happens in the future, this art form will never die, but each show will never be the same. “Our Country’s Good” will be performed countless times all over the world from many generations to come. In a small way with Seat of the Pants, we’ve had our say. Time to hand the baton to someone else.