Fangirling Hardcore in Berlin

Dear Berlin,

Christopher told us about how an actor from another show was speaking with the director of "Mania" after the show and overheard her say she wasn't sure if she liked it or disliked it, but knew she felt something and I feel that was the best way to describe the performance of "Mania".

The words the actors were saying were not literally acted out by the actors, but what the actors were doing on stage were telling the same story as the text; however, differently. The differences were layers that added depth to the show. What I can't fully wrap my head around is how the director executed his bold choice of differentiating actors' actions and the text while having no confusion. As if both things were separate independent entities but weren't because they were telling the same story. This smoothness was an elegant fine line that the director and actors pulled off so well and that just blows my mind.  

Watching Sesede during the show was like watching a ticking bomb explode. I felt her presence on stage the whole time and felt like I was just waiting for her side of the story. She was dancing to the techno music on stage and her costume was completely different from the other men. She was like a dormant volcano. Living so fully on stage. When the time came, pink goo went all over the stage and continued until the end of the show. Her energy exploded and she went Berlin all over that stage.

After the show, I gained the courage to walk up to Sesede and she was the sweetest person. As soon as I walked up to her she gave me her full attention. I told her how I was interested in becoming an actor, planning to get my MFA, and that I was studying abroad in Berlin for 3 weeks. I asked her about her training and she told me she attended the School of Dramatic Art Ernst Busch. I asked how she prepared for the show and she said the whole cast warmed up by singing together and worked out after. I told her I felt her energy from the beginning and then she exploded and she said she was almost in a trance-like state the whole time because of the same techno music playing throughout the whole show. When it was her time, she was just ready to tell her character's story. When I brought up how I feel the shows in Berlin make braver choices like the pink goo that was all over the stage, she said that not all theaters can do that but that Gorki gained this reputation. Their audiences are accustomed to it but that it doesn't happen in all theaters and definitely not in all of Berlin. When she performs outside of Berlin, shows are safer and care more about revenue and making shows that sell like the US. After our lovely conversation, Sesede gave me a hug (EEP) and here I am still fangirling.

Watching and meeting Sesede is definitely one of my favorite memories from this trip. The theater culture here is just incredible! I cannot fathom how in Berlin the actors are so open to speak with other actors about their experiences and this goes to the 3 other Gorki actors and Lars. This openness is infectious and I will never forget this.

xox
Laura