UC San Diego

ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS

Dorn's Buttons

by

Ronald Kirk Washington

Master of Fine Arts in Theatre and Dance (Acting)

University of Southern California, San Diego, 2014

Professor Kyle Donnelly, Chair

In Process during spring quarter of first-year, there was a small moment involving an unbuttoned shirt--a small moment involving smaller buttons. Chekhov's The Seagull: paramours Dorn and Paulina sit together at a table in Sorin's garden, engaged in Chekhovian chitchat. Prior to there was a dance, a kiss, a caress. Having noticed Dorn's unbuttoned shirt, Paulina begins to button it. Successful at the sternum, she starts for another. But instead of letting her finish this quiet act, a casual kindness extended a familiar lover, I deemed it dull and reached for what I thought the more exciting choice: Paulina. Before this touch, the scene is stopped. "That was such a beautiful moment," said the instructor, "Why not let her finish?"

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Ask not "What am I doing to her?" but rather "How do I want to make her feel?" The former's a jar filled with marbles and trinkets. The latter's that same jar filled with marbles, trinkets, and precious sand.

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The difference in severity of a simple head tilt can be the difference between curious and despondent. An external approach is merely an internal one unjustified.

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If the thought is clear trust that the breath needed to convey it will be right-sized, the text audible and truthful. Provided I've warmed-up. Consonants and vowels are emotive.

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Who knew singing's a lot like shooting a jump shot? First, a clean grab, then jump, free and long release in rhythm--don't overthink it. Got a beautiful jumper. It took me twenty years to develop it.