I got a job!! Well sorta...maybe...

Today I had the most interesting interview process of my life. I interviewed for a job, and basically got hired, for a job that neither I nor my future possible boss knows whether it exists or not. Yeah, strange. Basically, if this drama class happens, which it may or may not, and if this teacher from last year decides whether to do it or not, which she may or may not, it sounds like I will most likely have the job. I hope you notice that there was not a single definite statement in that last sentance. Who knows whats going on? Who interviews people for positions that they dont even know if they need to fill? Soooooo strange.

The not so good news is that even if I get the job it looks like its not going to be enough hours. Decent wages, though they are "official", but not enough hours to make things work. Doh. Back to the drawing board.

Exhaustion continued this morning. In fact, it was bad enough that I asked Mary whether she knew what the symptoms of mono were. Fortunately, I am feeling much better this afternoon after having made extra sure that I was packing away the calories. I think my biggest problem is that surviving on baguettes, cheese, and liquor may work for artsy disgruntled writers, poets, and painters, but it kinda comes up a little short for people training in physical theatre. And here I was thinking that the reappearance of the line of my obliques had something to do with the rebuilding of muscle. Hah!

And that's all the news fit to print. Getting ready for a butchering tomorrow at our autocours presentation. Didn't seem to come together this week for our group. I may be wrong...but I don't think I am. I think I'll wear black in anticipation of the funerial nature of the process. Hmmm...guess that really doesn't make much of a statement. We all wear black. Every day. We're artists.

Exhaustion Kicks In

Today I woke almost more tired than I have ever been in my life. The only time that eclipsed it was that crazy period when I was working the overnight at the Hudson and rehearsing full time during the day. Yep, surviving on nothing more than three hour naps for an entire week is the only thing that could have outdone the feeling of this morning. Uh oh, is Kyle burning the candle at both ends out here? Hah! I wish. The most amazing part of this exhaustion is that it comes after a week of sleeping at least 7 hours every night. A friend who trained out here warned me that the training works in subtle ways. I was the fool who thought that just applied to ones understanding of the work. Nope, it’s pretty subtle in the way it kicks your tail as well. Never even knew it happened, but here I am ready to fall over from exhaustion. My entire body is wasted and sore, and not sore in that “uh no my back is acting up sort of way” but rather in that good old fashion “If I push her anymore sir, she’s gonna blow” way.

And it’s only Wednesday.

I will leave you with a realization I had today. At Syracuse we were taught all the skills necessary to function in the theatrical world. How to act in a modern naturalistic play, song performance, voice/verse training for the classics, and even some of the business elements. Here at Lecoq, you learn what theatre really is, how to sense when it is occurring, and hopefully, how to create it.

One last update...just read my email and I have a job interview tomorrow. Yeah!!

Oh and one final thing - this comment comes from a mistype I just made and erased - can anyone tell me what this symbol means? § Its on the French keyboard. Wierd. Man do I hate hitting shift in order to make a period.

Monday's blow

That's pretty much all I've got to say. This is the second Monday in a row that has flat out sucked. For some reason I am always in a foul mood in class and have an odd feeling that I am one step out of sync. Today was also the first day I did not get up and work in improv class. It's sort of ok in that I had already done this exercise before and only half of the class went today because of time....but still. Frustrated at myself for that.

So basically a sucky Monday. I'm tired and I have to pee and I still need to go grocery shopping before I go home, and even then 8 flights of stairs are between me and complete rest. But I am in Paris. That counts for something.

Some Observations

Drinking French café is like doing cocaine for the taste. You see, I am incredibly easily affected by caffeine. Back in New York I could never finish a full mug of coffee because my hand was usually shaking too much before the end of it to manage to get it to my lips. If I had a cup anytime after 5pm you could be promised that I would wired until at least 2am. Here, however, I can pound back a few with out even the slightest bit of a buzz. To get a rush I would have to shoot ‘em like a Frat boy on his 21st birthday. Get out the flip cup table, Kyle needs to wake up!

Now granted, the café/coffee here tastes much better, not like the sour acidic mess that is Starbucks, but still, why bother? Coffee/café does not necessarily “taste” good. It’s much like alcohol, at least in my mind, where it’s a taste you develop. Your very first cup is never all that good. Over the years though your appreciation for its subtle, sweet nuttiness grows, your taste buds become weaker, and you actually begin to enjoy it. But if you’re starting on French café, what would compel you to seek out that second mug? With alcohol it’s pretty obvious why we all had that second drink. “Whoa, this feeling is kind of interesting and curious. I wonder what would happen if I intensified it?” French café demands a great deal larger amount of faith. “Well, this didn’t do anything for me and it kinda tasted like tar. But everyone says it does something so I guess I’ll force another one down my throat.” (Repeat sequence at least 5 times) Hmmm…if they have faith like that in your coffee I suppose it’s not all that surprising that France is a much more religious country than the USA. The concept of a God isn’t that much more of a stretch than the belief that French café can get you wired.

Moving on to French grass. They have a great deal of it. In fact, they have loads of beautiful lawns. BUT DEAR GOD DON’T TOUCH THEM, SIT ON THEM, OR OTHERWISE ENJOY THEM IN A TACTILE MANNER!! See below picture of le Jardin du Luxembourg. That’s some pretty grass they got there. Wouldn’t you just love to kick back on it? Nope, don’t even think about. Instead, please use these lawn chairs which were probably bought at IKEA.


Now there are two noticeable exceptions to this rule. The lawns at the Champ de Mars and Invalides are both beautiful and open for general merriment. Still, if you ask me, NYC 1 – Paris 0. Paris, you got the market on beauty cornered (see below picture), but NYC laughs in your face when it comes to wide open lawns on which to play, sun tan, and generally remind yourself that the outer crust of our planet does not really consist solely of concrete. Actually on second thought, when you factor in NYC’s open bottle laws I guess I’d have to call this round a draw. It’s really nice to be able to picnic with a bottle of wine. You can forget that in the ole City.


NYC 0 – Paris 0, however the bookies have NYC up by 2.

And here are those pics I talked about

So it seems like Blogger is accepting pictures today. So now its time to catch up some.

Brought my camera with me to school yesterday so have some goodies for you. First up, the Seine at dawn which I spoke so much about yesterday. Wish the pics were better but I had no tripod, was on the wrong side of the bridge, and was running late for class. Dead center on the horizon you can see the two towers of Notre-Dame. On the left that large structure is Hotel-de-Ville I believe. To your right just some rich peoples places on the Seine. In front you have a Peugot going about 45mph. I’m gonna give it another thwack this next week as I have been enjoying walking to school. I arrive MUCH more awake.


Next up, La Grande Salle. This is our major classroom. All movement, acrobatics, and autocour presentations take place in here. It used to be an old boxing ring. Now seriously, how can you not want to create and play in this room. It’s a little bit less than twice as large as this photo depicts. Lots more room on the left. The second years (seen in black, while first years wear a multitude of dark colors you wont catch a second year out of black – they also all have cool haircuts) were coming in to start and work so I didn’t want to have the camera out.


And here’s the entrance into the school from the back alley. Some fellow Lecoqers can be seen in the foreground. You can see the old “Central” sign above our door. That was the name of the boxing ring.


Who’s Kyle hanging out with? Well here’s the beginning of the cast. Picture was taken at a café just down the street from the school. We were all sitting around wasting time before the afternoon session’s autocours. I’ve become quite taken by French café. Gone are the days of overly polluted coffee. One cube of sugar – that’s it. From left to right we start with the disembodied head. That’s Kate. She’s a Brit from Brighton. Next up smoking the Nicorette nicotine inhaler (she’s trying to quit smoking) is Linda, who is Swiss though she has spent the last two years (at least) in the States and in NYC. Moving along we have Lizze. Another Brit, but from Bath (pronoucend Bahth). Lizzie has been in my autocours group the last two weeks. She has made it her job to remind me periodically how American I am. Don’t worry y’all I’ve thrown her Brit back in face as well. All’s fair in love, war, and international stereotypes. Finally we have a fellow American, Mary. A fellow Northeasterner who like to say she’s from NYC though she actually lives in CT. Obviously, you can probably tell that I have not teased her about this at all.



More pics to come. Requests are taken, so if there is anything you want to see or hear about don’t hesitate to email me.

Weekly Nicotine Fix

Well, it’s the weekend which means it’s once again time to go out for drinks in the evening and get my weekly dose of second hand smoke. The tobacco industry really should use the French population as “evidence” that smoking is not bad for your health and doesn’t cause cancer at the ridiculous levels that everyone else wants you to believe. The French smoke like it’s their job. It is completely nutter-butter the amount of people that smoke and the amount of cigarettes they smoke. Last night at the café I watched one couple go through three cig’s each in a half hour. I mean given the amount that they smoke shouldn’t the French all be dropping like flies? I worry that once I get back to the States I will have to search places out to get my fix and make my clothes like an ash tray.

Weekends also mean that another Autocour presentation has passed. For those of you to whom I have not explained the training here in detail, one of the four parts of our training and arguably the largest and the most important is our autocours. Each week we are told to break into small groups of a designated size and are given a theme to work on. We are then given a week to create a piece of theatre. No faculty supervision. It’s all the students work. The theme this last week was “The Invisible Man/Woman”. Our theme this next week is “The Imaginary Voyage”. We were told that we start in one world/place and we “voyage” to another world/place at some point. The places can be real or not. The manner of the “voyage” is completely up to us. That’s all we were given. So pretty much anything goes. It’s up to us to give life and meaning to it. I can’t even begin to describe how exciting it is to be creating again in such a prolific and constant manner. This is the way that any theatrical training program should be.

Of course the slightly nerve-racking part of the process is the presentation at the end of the week in front of the entire school (second years are invited to attend) and faculty. The faculty is completely honest in their criticism, which depending upon the truth of the circumstances can range from cruel to uneventful to the ultimate ego trip. If the piece isn’t interesting and moving dramatically they won’t hesitate to stop you and tell you to sit down. If the work is clean and interesting, they’ll let you know it. This week I was planning on our group receiving a bit of a flogging but we seemed to fare ok. I say “seemed” because you must remember that I don’t really understand much coming out of their mouths (20% on words, 40% of full concepts) so I judge most of their response by their body language. I then get everything translated later, but that of course is second hand. They pretty much said everything that I had been worried about for the entirety of the week – which is even more angering and frustrating. Nothing more terrible than sensing that something isn’t right but being completely unaware of/unable to fix it. That being said it wasn’t that harsh. We got the “interesting” label, but were informed that the depth of detail of space and relationship was completely lacking. That won’t happen again. I have decided that this next week’s theme for me is to not be nice in my work. I may not know all that much French but I’ve heard the adjective nice far too much in my critiques to miss it. I’ll keep you updated on the results.

Now that the monologue is over it’s time for some PICTURES!!! Well, at least there were supposed to be some. Right now blogger doesn't seem to be accepting photolinks. Darn blogger. I will try again tomorrow. Let's hope all will be more graphically inclined at the point.

Transit Strikes Suck

Yep, it doesn’t matter what city or what country you are in, transit strikes blow. This is now the third strike I’ve encountered, in the third city, in the third country. I’ve survived the MTA peace-ing out in the middle of the winter this last year, the London transit system going out on the night I was supposed to go see “Mnemonic” in ’01 (ironic looking at the course of my life – seeing that production on my own the next week was what inspired me to start directing and to come to Lecoq), and now the Parisian RATP/Metro system when I’m supposed to be in class on the other side of Paris at 9 am. I suppose I can’t really complain as besides forcing me to wake up WAY TOO EARLY it only wound up being an hour walk – one that was fortunately shared with another American Lecoq-er, Marie, who lives in my area. Also it did allow me to experience something quite magical. I got to watch the sunrise while crossing the Seine at Pont de la Concorde. With Notre-Dame in the foreground the sun made its lazy way cross the horizon. It, like me, had not had enough café quite yet. It was the stuff of dreams. Of course when I dreamt it this event took place after a fantastic night of champagne, cheese, and general debauchery, but I suppose a strike and early morning classes are the next best thing. If I’m really lucky, I’ll get a repeat tomorrow/today (writing this entry right now on my laptop back at my place, but I will not be able to upload until tomorrow when the future will be past).

In other news, school continues to go well. The worst part about it is that I just wish there was more. Our days feel astronomically short – 4 hours of class a day) and before you know it the week has passed. I could easily go for another four hours a day. Another difficulty is that each day we do something new. Some of the movement concepts are repeated and built upon, but in Improv it’s pretty much new theme every single day. In all my previous training we always get multiple thwacks at each activity. Not here. Do it. Watch it. Absorb it. Move on. Of course, the Improv progression is specifically tailored to build upon principles introduced on previous days, but very often you’re so focused on dealing with the new elements that out the window goes some of the previous stuff. Gotta be quick. Learn how to paddle or grow gills. Oh yeah, and do it in French.

The back is also still hanging in there. The training here, I think, is winding up to be fantastic therapy. No really explosive moments. I suppose that’s a lie. It’s relatively un-explosive…other than the leaps, running, and popping from position to position….so pretty much completely explosive. Ahhh….but nothing extremely weight bearing…yet. Lots of nice undulations and expansions and contractions though. Good strengthening stuff, right?

Ok I must be off in order to write cover letters for a couple jobs. I’ll keep you all updated. Per requests I am carrying my camera to class tomorrow to nab some photos of the space. Think good thoughts at about 5am EST/4am CST. Autocour fun tomorrow! Sensing a butchering. Yikes.

I am alive....no really

From the frequency of my blogging you might not believe the above statement, but alas it is true. Unfortunately though I am once again without an internet connection in my apartment. That makes this whole blogging thing that much more fun. Basically the French telecom company Neuf got curious about the increased traffic load on the connection and realized, due to powers that I think are only legal in France (basically they checked everything that was being downloaded and started a live session on my floormates computer - yes, she does need to learn what a firewall is), that we were operating an illegal wireless connection. So they shut her line down. Suckola. Now I am once again in the process of getting my own connection and phone line. The first step, getting a bank account, has been accomplished. Now I have to deal with France Telecom because even though I am going to get service through another company they are the only ones who can legally install a telephone line. Don't ask me - the French are crazy in many strange and unique ways. Off I go though. Hopefully I'll sooner or later manage to streamline the process of my blogging.

Kyle has Obliques!

Oh yes I do. And how did I discover this, you might ask? Because they are SORE!! I am also pretty darn sure I have quads and gluts for the same reason. Regardless if I manage turn learn a language or anything new at all about theatre I can guarantee you that I will walk away with a killer midriff and butt. Might not be as helpful on a resume, but I bet it could help me get a job.

So yes, Advil and Tylenol have become very good friends of mine. Luckily, the ole back is behaving itself for the most part and the pain is all good pain. Classes continue to be highly enjoyable and interesting. My favorite moment of the day was after an improv I was involved in my teacher turns to me and asks me a question about...well...something, and all I could was smile and say "Desole. Je ne comprends pas." Fortunately he laughed, than just continued on. I got it translated later and which point he came over and continued to discuss what he was talking about via translator. You gotta love international schools.

Alors, because this entry needs some pictures, I'm gonna catch everyone up on something. I herniated a disc in my back not too many months ago. A little over a week before my flight here I re-screwed it up trying to tie my shoes (yes, I know, I live my life on the wild side) and wound up having to get two epidural shots. Woot! Now how in the heck did the American medical system manage to move so quickly that I was able to get a referral, my consultation appointment with the pain management specialist, and then the shot all within one week (the last two steps taking a mere 6 hours)? Because apparently my MRI films show that my back is REALLY herniated. The pain management team was sorta surprise they didn't operate. How bad is it? Well I'll let you be the judge. Below, in IMAX 3D are my MRI films (and when I say IMAX 3D, actually I'm just lying - but it's sorta like low-res jpegs).

The first shot is a side view of my spine. See if you can tell which disc is L5-S1, which is where the problem is. Can anyone say "One of these is not like the others?"


The next shot is of a normal cross section of one of my discs. See the normal roundish white shape of the nerve column? See how nobody is giving it any trouble?


Finally we have a cross section of L5-S1. Can anyone see the problem?


So now I've showed you mine, and you know what that means.

Now when I said I understood 40-50%, I really meant 2-5%

The first day of classes is over and I am here, alive, talk to about it. The big bad wolf of the unknown is now no longer all that big and bad, nor a wolf for that manner. It is now much more of a rooster (Extra points for whoever gets that one). The day seemed to go well. Granted I didn't understand a single word that was said (see above title) but the overall feel to the room was that of a good day. So I'm gonna mark this one up as a successful day. Lot's of Anglophones in my group so I at least have a life line. The school complex itself is pretty fly, definitely a place to make art. I will try and still some photos if I can without desecrating anything.

In the meantime you will just have to settle for the pictures below which were taken a couple of days ago. The title of this series is "Welcome to Kyle's Hood."

First off, we have Kyle's block. This is Avenue Constant Coquelin. My door is the second to last on the left hand side. A nice quiet block.


Next up, the view north up Boulevard des Invalides from the corner of Av Constant Coquelin. You can follow along on the map up top if you'd like. As you can see from the pictures, Paris has just as much scaffolding as New York. Interestingly enough, just as in New York it is managed by Mob families from Jersey as well.


The next two pics are both taken from Place de Breteuil, which is a block from my place. Place de Breteuil is a traffic circle which, due to soon brilliant urban planning, offers incredible views up two "spokes" of tree lined boulevards of two of the more impressive feats of architecture in Paris. The first is of...well, you better know that one. The second is taken from a position about 20 ft from the other and is of L'Hotel Des Invalides. That's where that famous short dude who had a serious Napoleon complex is buried.

Tour Eiffel

L'Hotel Des Invalides

The final is just a little shot I snapped as I was walking up towards Le Grand Tinker Toy. In the foreground is is L'Ecole Militaire. Actually that's a lie. In the foreground are some trees. L'Ecole Militaire is the building behind those trees. Le Grand Tinker Toy is the thingy stinking up behind it.


Hope you enjoy the pics. More of the neighborhood and other things to come. Sorry that most the pictures are boring. I'm not much of an architecture photography. I prefer live things.

Houston, we have contact!

Half a month and a quarter of a planet later I am back online and kicking. Much has happened in our time apart and I promise to do my best to bring everyone up to date. For right now, as I am still in the process of gathering my thoughts, let's just get the big event out of the way. I've gone Bye-Bye. From now on I can be reached at:

9 av Constant Coquelin, 7 etage
75007 Paris France
Mobile: +33 (0)6 88 04 06 88
Skype: kylewdavies

The only thing I've had time to update so far is the above map. Currently, it only has my place and my school indicated. As I explore and disover more I will continue to add points of interest. So keep a look out.

Finally, I shall leave you with the least of first impressions I made on my first day here.

Day 1 Impressions on Day 6

-Anxiety attacks are fun.
-Air India flies 747’s that are older than everyone reading this page – combined.
-Message to Air India Flight Attendants: DON’T YOU DARE WAKE ME UP TO MAKE ME TAKE YOUR COMPLETELY POINTLESS INFLIGHT BREAKFAST!! AND WHY ARE THE LIGHTS ON FOR ALL BUT 3 HOURS OF THE FLIGHT?!? Some of us, all be it VERY few, aren’t going to Mumbai and we need to sleep in order to deal with jet lag!
-French Customs...what Customs? I just walked right through along with the rest of my flight. There was immigration but only periodic spot check for Customs – much like the New York Subways.
-The levels of jet lag: 1) Exhaustion 2) Headache 3) Exhaustion & Headache 4) Nausea 5) Bad Nausea 6) Every time you close your eyes your body twitches as if you almost went to sleep – because you did 7) Really Bad Nausea 8) Your body just starts twitching whether eyes are open or closed
-Jet Lag BLOWS!!!
-You know you’re in crazy survival mode when you make sure to finish every last bite of your apple because of the thought, "I need the calories. Who knows when the next time will be that I’ll be able to find food that I’ll be able to communicate enough in order to get. Thank god money talks!"
-Yeah, the French really do make the best baguettes in the world, and yeah, they are so good that you could exist solely on eating them...I am right now.
-I have finally found a toilette that has something more annoying in your way than the toilet paper holder armrest (my apartment in New York), and that has less room to sit on than a toilet in the Hudson. It’s my room here...pictures to follow.
-Yo, they weren’t joking when they said things over here are pricey, and I’m used to NYC prices.
-Not having an internet connection in your place SUCKS! [Update: As of 6-Dec, thanks to Browyn, my fantastic neighbor, this is now fixed]