BWW Blog: Amanda Grillo - Luciana's Outlook: A Character Study

Diving into week three of rehearsals with a bang! Between running lines and research to rehearsals with the whole cast, I discover new things about Luciana every single time. There are so many elements that come into play when trying to figure out a character.

For those of you just joining us, welcome to Luciana's outlook. A behind the scenes look at Theater West and West Haven Council on the Art's production of William Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors. I have the pleasure of taking you on this exclusive journey in my role as Luciana. Last week, I had the pleasure of introducing the production and sharing a conversation with the production's director, Shawn E. Murray. This week we are going to take a look into my character Luciana and what I've discovered makes her tick in rehearsals thus far.

One of the first things I noticed when first reading the play was how soft-spoken she tends to be. There are many points in the course of the play where she is a "yes man", in particular toward her sister, Adriana. Her loyalty to her sister shines throughout the play. Whether it be defending Adriana when accusations are thrown her way or temptations try to make her trust drift, Luciana always remains loyal to her sister (even when Adriana has some trivial fits).

I also noticed that she is very traditional in her ways. With the directorial choice of setting this production in the 1920's, the role of women is an essential part in discovering Luciana. In a time where women were discovering their independence, Luciana was perfectly content to wait on a man and obey his every word. Adriana is more of a foil to Luciana due to her outspoken dramatic nature.

Luciana is definitely a dynamic character. Though at first glance she may seem static, as you read closer, she has growth. She goes from a "yes man" who will never speak out against a man or any authority figure, to a loyal sister who scolds a lustful gentleman whose heart should belong to her sister and defends Adriana against an Abbess. She even defends Adriana and vouches for her when questioned by the Duke.

This is just a base line of what I have discovered about my character so far. I learn new things about Luciana every single day. New ideas form to expand on my choices as I run lines trying to get off book and in rehearsals as we stage the events and I surround myself with a wide array of characters. I may only have verbal interactions with certain characters, but there is a connection with every single character in this play. They could be an acquaintance, a close friend, or a servant, but there is a relationship there that can help inform my choices as an actress. I always like to say that it's okay to not have all of the answers right away, as long as you keep your mind open to discovery.

Show days are August 12th and 13th on the West Haven Green! Come see what all the hype is about. It'll be the bee's knees! Stay tuned for more behind the scenes access.

Coming Soon: Luciana's Outlook: A Producer's Perspective