Page To Stage

A conversation

Find me on Threads

I’ve been getting ready for the first LA outing of my new show It’s A Lot
Friday 11/17 in LA if you are here - come!
Which is the same day my book proposal will go out.

I didn’t mastermind that plan.
So the natural synchronicity
Of movement
In these two connected but different projects
Has me thinking about the relationship
Between the written and spoken word.

I’ve had to cut a lot of things from the show
That the only way I can make myself do it>
Save it for the book
I tell myself
As I’m pasting the brilliant chunk
Into the OUTS file
Btw, I’ve never once gone to an outs file for anything,
But even knowing this
I can’t write without one #clingingandlettinggo.
The outs file is this writer’s security blanket.
The only way I can kill my darlings.

But saying save it for the book
Gives the impression that the book is more complete.
And even uses some of the same material.
It is and it isn’t.
It does and it doesn’t.
The show is as complete as the book.
But the book has some more details.
Some of the harder parts of the story.
It’s not just that stage requires more funny.
There are layers that are too subtle
And some too personal for stage.

I saw this on Threads…
”There are poems
Inside you
That paper can’t
Handle.” Y Z
And I immediately thought
Yes, that’s why stand up exists.

In the way that
We sing when talking isn’t enough.
We talk when writing isn’t enough.
But also we sometimes write
When talking is too
Corporeal.

There is a subtly and quietness
To written poetry.
So
much
space.
Poetry is the anti-dote to claustrophobia.
There is room to wander.
Room for feeling the feelings.
Sometimes reading two lines of a poem
Breaks the static hum of the crush.
Reading a whole poem
Can turn you back into yourself.
Writing a poem
Can help you shed the latest skin.

But sometimes it’s not enough.
Sometimes there is no word.
It’s just.
So.
We need the face.
The cock of the head.
The exasperated sigh.
That’s where the stage comes in.

At various times
I’ve tried to give up on one or the other.
It seems easier to have a life with less.
But I couldn’t let go.
Even by Marie Kondo rules.
They both do bring me joy.
Different joys.

That’s one reason I loved
Writing and then narrating my original audiobook
So You Need To Decide.
It was written in a way
That was meant to be read.
And included conversations.
Which let’s face it, conversation is what decision making is.
Even if it’s with you yourself and I.

In some ways I guess I see it all
As a conversation.
Conversational.
It was one of the ways that UnCabaret was innovative.
Conversational comedy.
Sometimes people call it storytelling.
But it’s more specifically conversations.

And the word con-verse-ation?
Con is with.
Verse. Poetry.
From a word means to turn, bend.
And that is the most wonderful thing about a conversation.
A good one, does take turns and bends.
It’s not the straight line act 1 2 3 blah blah blah.
The trick is to find a way for those organic turns
To also adhere to a structure.

Conversation also originally meant a place to live.
I love that so much.
The way we do live in our conversations.
The way love is really a conversation.
The way stage is a conversation with the audience.
The way verse - this!
Is a conversation with reader. You!
Hiiiiii!

And the way your projects can be in conversation
With each other.
Your book with your show.
Your show with your last show.
Your photos with your novel.
Your music with your memoir.
(Hello

Patti Smith

for instance.)

Come say hi on Friday night.

Or set up a call with me to have a discovery conversation
About how my transformational creativity coaching program
The Infinite Creator
Might help you move forward.
Organically.

Infinitely Yours
Beth