Anatomy of a Scene, Ben In France

The Anatomy of Scene 10:

We read the new draft of scene 10. And 'nuggeted it', summed it up as "Killing the Monster we created."

Some thoughts raised by the new draft were the idea of putting the song from 'Ben-In France' back into the beginning of Scene 10, which would introduce Aaron as the American Dream and create a bit of the bubble before the final bust of the play. And might help with the transition of David into the American Dream. Krissy raised a concern that since we set Benjamin Franklin up as the face of the $100 dollar bill then have him fight the American Dream do we raise any imagery that money is fighting The American Dream. 

The cast didn't seem to feel there was a connection in the latter but the idea of bringing the top of 'Ben-In France' back stuck. Ben introduces the AMD to France through the song, to us the audience. And the les filles song helps with the transition from David to the American Dream. Rehearsal went on to handle the many facets of the new Scene 10 on it's feet:

        "Ben In France"- Or the Scene where Father Takes Son to the Brothel. 

-The cast began exploring the Father/ Son relationship between Benjamin Franklin and the American Dream. The AMD became more of an adolescent in Paris. With Benjamin Franklin and the AMD literally playing catch together onstage. 

-Les Filles choreography really became a pastiche of all things France. With everything from sixties dance moves to the cockroach being thrown in.  

& While les Filles is still interested in the AMD, they were literally chasing Benjamin Franklin around the stage. The AMD ran offstage as Benjamin Franklin sang, "They truly have a thing for romance." Thus leaving the AMD innocent off the very sexual turn the song takes when the les filles pants Ben. We discussed that the pantsing of Benjamin Franklin isn't about humiliation but sex. The the song in France ends with everyone going off to have sex. 

        "Woe is me" to the Boxing Match

-In the next part of Scene 10, the American Dream has grown up from an adolescent to a Con Man. As Jenn put it, imagine Bogart in the shadows. 

The line in the text that sticks out so strongly, is after Ben agree's to being on the hundred dollar bill. The American Dream says, "Consider it done. Now, Everyone will spend with glee." Then the money chanting which becomes drumming starts, setting up not only the next conversation between Ben and the AMD but really their soon to be fight. This rhythmic chanting/ drumming invokes some old school pre battle imagery for me and apparently the opening sequence to the music man.  "Rock Island"

We paused on Fight work, but the a couple quick questions raised by were that we don't want it to be about bringing the fight to the audience but rather than that's where it builds to. And that once we do move an audience-we lose them.