Thursday, August 4th - Vicky and Ryn

On Thursday, the company and apprentices traveled to Vikos – one of four villages we will be presenting our summer’s work of A Midsummer’s Night Dream. Vikos is a gorgeous village with never-ending views of the gorge we hiked (and conquered) two weeks earlier. The day continued as planned, starting with Greek time with Danny Bernardy. However, Danny had a surprise for us and deviated from the textbook for our lesson that day. He passed out a poem he has fallen in love with during his affair with the Greek language. The apprentices and company members sat around him like eager children as he lead us through “O Glaros.”

Ο ΓΛΑΡΟΣ – The Seagull
Στο κύμα πάει να κοιμηθεί – On the wave he goes to sleep
δεν έχει τι να φοβηθεί – He has nothing to fear
Μήνας μπαίνει μήνας βγαίνει – Months go, months come
γλάρος είναι και πηγαίνει – The seagull is and goes

Από πόλεμο δεν ξέρει – He knows nothing from war
ούτε τι θα πει μαχαίρι – Nor what the knife means
Ο Θεός του 'δωκε φύκια – God gave him seaweed
και χρωματιστά χαλίκια – And colored pebbles

Αχ αλί κι αλίμονο μας – Woe is us
μες στον κόσμο το δικό μας – In our world
Δε μυρίζουνε τα φύκια – The seaweed does not smell
δε γυαλίζουν τα χαλίκια – The pebbles do not shine

Χίλιοι δυο παραφυλάνε – Thousand and two circle above
σε κοιτάν και δε μιλάνε – They look at you and they do not speak
Είσαι σήμερα μονάρχης – Today you are king
κι ώσαμ' αύριο δεν υπάρχεις. – And tomorrow you do not exist

Granted, this is our translation and by no means the scholarly edition. After learning the pronunciation, OYL broke out into song and our voices rang throughout the quiet village. With each verse, our confidence grew, as did our voices. Villagers stopped and smiled at our efforts – hopefully impressed at our impeccable voices and not our attempt at a Greek accent.

After we sang for awhile, the apprentice company started rehearsing the nonverbal “Mechanicals” scenes. The rehearsal consisted of tightening up and heightening the physicality demanded of us. Since we had been rehearsing mainly in Megalo, we had to get accustomed to our new playing space in Vikos. At first we were thrown off by having to change all of our entrances and exits but we ended up being comfortable improving where we should move. Again, we had villagers stop and watch us. We seemed to have created quite a following.

Once our rehearsal was done, we watched the sun set over the mountains and admired the beauty of Vikos. We can’t wait to have our first performance here on Wednesday!

Wish us broken legs!!

Ryn and Vicky

:)