Behind the scenes of a successful theatre production, is the directing team who puts it together. With all the work that goes into the set, costumes and creating the script, the directors pour themselves into the product seen on stage. Seniors Wyatt Counts and Irvin Williams are the team behind MavTheatre’s senior production, Treasure Island.
Although the performance took place on Apr. 16, with the work required to put on a successful show, the process began much earlier as the team bounced ideas off each other regarding production choices. “We started the whole process in about January. I think that’s when we did auditions and casting. And then we were rehearsing up until [the show].” Williams said.
When watching Treasure Island, or one of the other productions put on by the team, you can see their mark, as they find the perfect balance between being able to collaborate successfully while also allowing their creativity to flow.
“We wrote the script a little bit, and you’ll see exactly where we change stuff. You see exactly the block and you see our directing styles. It all just kind of comes out at once because it’s like, our name is all over this.’ Williams said. “We’re just proud of what everyone’s doing. It’s kind of watching your ideas come to life. Everything on stage, the way the actors move, where they go, what it looks like, all of that came from us.”
The job of a director is a difficult one as depending on the nature of the production, and the capabilities of the actors, some ideas may seem like a stretch. However, struggles are mitigated due to the abilities of Counts and Williams to use their acting experience to teach.
“This production especially, was a very ambitious choice for us. The actors are doing a lot of stuff, I don’t think they’ve ever had to do on a show.’ Counts said. ‘They’re doing accents, they’re doing a lot of fighting. They’ve never had to do acting before, and we got to figure that out with them, figure out what is the best way to do this, especially with people who have never had to do stage combat before, never done any sword fighting on stage before. So this has definitely been the hardest production for me to direct.”
Due to the challenges that occur throughout the production process, making decisions isn’t a cut and dry task. The directors have to work through creative differences and put their egos aside.
“[There’s] a point where you know how to both agree and disagree with [each other], because obviously you’re not gonna agree on all the things. When you first read through the script, both of us are gonna have different ideas of how we want it to come out looking like.’ Counts said. ‘And so it’s important to know how to agree on things and be like, that idea is better. Let’s go with your way. And also how to disagree on things and be like, well, actually, I don’t think that’s the right way to do it. Let’s talk about this. Let’s figure that out.”
Part of the reason the director partnership is able to work so well together is because of their ability to disagree without taking decisions personally. The product that results is one that is shared between the group, serving as a marker of their friendship.
“In my opinion, honestly, working with someone that you consider, like, a very close friend, helped a lot because there were times where we were such good friends to the point where it’s like, we both disagree with something, we can figure out how to see the other person’s point of view.” Williams said.The directors’ success comes from their experience on the other side of the curtain; as actors. In the transition, not a lot changes as the mark they have on the production is just as pronounced.
“Up until this year, we actually were the ones out there. But this year, I would just say having to put my mark on everything, like when you go look at the set in there, you see the two of us. When they perform the show, you’ll see us mouthing all the words.” Williams said.
The journey which led the team to this point wasn’t linear, but full of experiences which pushed them into theatre and the arts. “The 1st time I ever did theater was in 4th grade. My school did Alice in Wonderland as a musical and me and a few of my friends were like, let’s try that out. see what’s happening there. And then I tried it, I had a lot of fun, so I did it again the next year. And then I got here to high school and I was like, oh, okay, this actually, this is pretty fun […],I really enjoy this, and I just kept going with it.” Counts said.
“When I got to high school, I was persuaded by my best friend to take production one because I was going to take a regular theater class. She was like, nah, take prod one with me. And that’s how I ended up here. Now, I’m directing 2 classes.” Williams said.
Directing brings just as much pressure as the bright stage lights, requiring critical analysis of what can be improved, while also walking the tightrope of not hampering creative possibilities. At the same time, even though the directors are teaching, they also have to be open to making choices based on where cast members may fit in the production.
“This is the more advanced class. So we definitely had very ambitious plans, and it helped us learn who our classmates are a little bit, because it showed us that okay, cool, this isn’t the right thing for this person, and we need to calm that idea down a little bit. And then also working with the freshmen taught us they’re still learning. They don’t know everything.’ Williams said. ‘We actually have to jump in and teach them sometimes. Like, there are times where they’d be doing a scene and I’d be like, you know what, you’re not doing it right. Let me just show you what I want. And then they would do it better in a way that I hadn’t even thought of and would just impress me that way. So it was more like actually knowing how to become a teacher in a way. Helping them grow as well as helping us grow at the same time.”
Looking ahead to the future, the directors reflect positively on their high school theatre experience, but in terms of higher education, are pursuing other paths.
“In high school, I loved it. I will say that. Like, I’ll start off by saying that in high school. I loved it. I had a great experience. I value every single friendship I’ve made from doing this. I have made like, I would consider some of my, actually all of my best friends, I’ve made them from here. But I do think that this is the end of the road for me. Can’t lie. If something comes up and it just so happens that that’s where the universe or God wants me to bring I believe in, that’s if that’s my path that it’s meant to be. But as of right now, I don’t see that.” Williams said.
