Finding humour in the pain : directing Christopher Durang and Albert Innaurato's The Idiots Karamazov

• Main Author: McGregor, Chris
• Language: English
• Published: University of British Columbia 2010
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2429/24017

Finding Humour in the Pain-Directing Christopher Durang and Albert limaurato’s Play, The Idiots Karamazov examines the preparation, research, pre-production and rehearsal processes that went into staging The Idiots Karamazov at the University of British Columbia’s Frederic Wood Theatre from March l9 to 28, 2009. This paper is broken down into 4 chapters detailing my goals to achieve a successful and relevant production for today’s audience. My rehearsal process was to inspire and guide all artists involved to act upon their creative impulses and to make this production a collaborative effort. Chapter 1 includes a biography of both playwrights, outlining their influences and a brief historical account ofhow The Idiots Karamazov evolved from an 8mm student film to a full-length professional production at Yale Repertory Theater. Chapter 2 provides a directorial analysis of the text and detailed methods and philosophies in directing from several well-known academics and theatre artists. Chapter 3 is a detailed journal chronicling the pre-production process including several e-mail correspondences with playwright, Christopher Durang. Also included in this chapter are several entries detailing early meetings with designers, daily accounts of the rehearsal process, production meetings, and fmally a description of three performances I attended during the run. Chapter 4 is a refection ofmy fmal thoughts on the production, concluding with major shifts to my approach to the directing process. This purpose of this paper is to give the reader a clear understanding of the analytical and practical process involved with directing and staging Christopher Durang and Albert Innaurato’s play The Idiots Karamazov at the Frederic Wood Theatre.