Script Analysis Project: Sight Unseen

“An artist has to experience the world! How can you experience the world if you say no to things you don’t need to say “no” to?!”

— Patricia, Sight Unseen

Episode 1: First Readthrough

We want to invite you into a live tablework rehearsal process. Directing the final scene of Sight Unseen by Donald Marguiles, we start off by reading the play together for the first time and discuss an initial step of actions, objectives, and character arcs.

Episode 2

Diving into the first few beats is a vulnerable time where the actors and director are learning how to work with each other. The only to know what doesn’t work, is to try it and be open to failure. See how Vince and Andrea evolve their work as they learn together.

Episode 3

We’ve reached a fun point in the scene. Jonathan and Patricia have subtextually shared that they want to be in the room together. The sexual tension is there. They want more. Now how does one get the other to do what they want in this game of cat and mouse?

Episode 4

We approach the kiss. This pivotal kiss will force the characters to pick sides. Flirting is one thing. They don’t have to show any cards with flirting. Once there is a kiss. There is contact. Then they have make a choice to go for more or pull away. What will they choose?

Episode 5

We have reached the point of no return. The post-kiss section of the scene results in a fallout. It’s no longer about how far they can get by flirting. It’s about how much they mean to one another to work through the problem.

Episode 6

We reach the ending beat. Andrea and Vince discuss how we want to end this love scene. Trying a few different options for the ending allows us to know what story we’ve wanted to tell all along.

Episode 7: Final Readthrough

Now that we know how the scene ends and have done the work to understand how we get there, we can now better discuss the scene as a whole. How will knowing where we end up impact how we look at the first few beats?