Gretta

Performing in James Joyce’s the Dead was an unique experience. It was fun, but long and slightly draining. Mr. Aronson wanted us to confuse the audience, and I think this was done very well - in a good way. The show is perplexing to watch, there are many stories intertwined and yet something heavy underneath it: “an unimaginable depth.” After all, it was entitled The Dead. As an actor, I had to be both somber and celebrating, hanging out with friends and family. Those are two conflicting emotions - yet somehow she was both.

      This was my first time portraying a character as emotionally complex as Gretta Conroy. I found myself relating to her, which was helpful onstage. However, thinking about events that allowed me to relate to Gretta was exhausting, especially when it was done every night for a week. In the last scene especially, I had to think about the loss Gretta must have gone through, and the conflict she faced with Gabriel. She loved him, and knew confessing her feelings for an old flame would hurt him. As an actress, I had to address all of these feelings.

I thought it was interesting how the bulk of the emotion in the show happened in the last few scenes. This is different from a classic plotline, in which all the action happens in the middle. The change really left the audience with a lot to deal with in a little time. It was probably very overwhelming. I know James Joyce did this on purpose, but I have to wonder why. He must have enjoyed making people think - a valuable skill, but sometimes it seemed like a bit much.

One way James Joyce grabbed the audience’s attention was through the story of Michael and Gretta. Michael’s death made very little sense to me. I understand the reason it was included - it was moving to listen to and perform, but how exactly did Michael die? At first I thought suicide, but the more I listened to my lines the more I thought he just got a cold that night in the rain and never recovered. Isn’t that awfully, well, boring? It’s a mundane way to die made into a haunting story about young love and loss. Not what you would expect, but Joyce knew that.

I would like to read the original short story at some point, probably over the summer. The stage adaptation probably left out some major points. Overall, the show allowed me to grow as an actor, and gave me a deeper understanding of emotion onstage.