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Septemeber 2001 Table of Contents
Just A Little Talk With...
Mac McConnell
TC: Is drama relevant in church?
MM: I hope to shout. With some 2000 decisions for Christ in 6 years with this one organization just ask those new Christians if it’s relevant. Of course, you have to make it relevant, like any sermon or Bible study.
TC: Those are impressive numbers, why do you think you have experienced this kind of bottom line?
MM: The job of good drama is to create a distraction, almost interruption from the normal thinking process and break down the religious barriers. Once you have the attention of the audience you have a much better chance of giving them the Gospel. Each presentation is packed with the Gospel and includes a word of personal testimony, then a decision-making opportunity, specially geared to the host church.
TC: How did you get started in Biblical drama?
MM: In 1988, at the Ft. Lauderdale Christmas Pageant I was mesmerized by the narrator. What was odd, I thought, I had remembered most of what he said and the way he said it. The very next year, having volunteered to help set up for the Christmas Pageant I asked the narrator what would happen if he got sick or broke a leg and couldn’t go on. "Was there an understudy?" I asked. Now, trust me, I had no motive in this question, and never expected he would say, "No, I don’t have a back up, here is the script, we open in 5 days." What a relief to everyone that I was not needed that year, but the next year I became co-narrator, then sole narrator since 1993.
TC: What is the longest piece you have performed solo?
MM: What About You runs up to 90 minutes, has two acts, about 25 scenes and has some 9,800 words. Some of our plays run about 35 minutes or about 4,500 words.
TC: How do you do it? Is photographic memory the key to memorizing?
MM: This is perhaps one of the most asked questions. Memorizing is obviously important and can be most intimidating. BUT, I do NOT recommend memorizing first, second, or even third. If you start out memorizing you will do it by route, and it is easier to forget what you only memorize. I was forced in two secular plays to get "off book" as quickly as possible, and that is terrible direction. It was much harder to flesh out the character after you memorize. There is no dimension memorized with the words, and the performance suffers because of it. First thing, flesh out your character. Rehearse with script in hand experimenting with attitudes, inflections, and speech patterns. Block your piece with script in hand while fleshing out your character. Do this, and when the time comes that you must get off book, your characterization won’t suffer, and you will be surprised how much you have already memorized.
TC: What acting your background or major in college?
MM: Except for being a major show-off most of my life, a Dale Carnegie class in Public Speaking was pretty much it. I don’t think this has been a great hindrance, but would have done differently if I had any idea this was where I was headed.
TC: Do you recommend secular drama workshops?
MM: Yes, with caution: You will be under attack, and often tempted to compromise your faith. Subsequent to that first year in the Ft. Lauderdale Christmas Pageant, I enrolled in a secular drama workshop that ended in a recital where I presented a Biblical narration, (much to their dismay). I also tried to read all I could on technique. I learned valuable lessons, and had to unlearn some. One positive mandate was to audition often, even if I did not want the part. Auditioning is a great proving ground. You have 3 to 5 minutes to sell yourself. It is acting under a microscope and greatly squelched my fears of performing. After all the worst they can say is "NEXT!"
TC: Do you recommend secular acting experience?
MM: Again, cautiously. Secular theater is not the least bit interested in morality or Christian values. In fact very likely it will be a hostile environment when they discover you are a Christian. But, theatrical experience is tantamount to growth as an actor, so be careful. If the part or play is going to compromise your beliefs, MOVE ON. There will be others. If it does not, then do this: Wear a really overt Christian T-shirt to rehearsal, and bring a tape player with some praise and worship music. The cast will get the picture, and you will likely flush out another Christian, and then you have a majority. Matthew 18:20.
TC: What was your most embarrassing moment on stage?
MM: Actually it was not getting on stage. For Act 2 of the first official performance of What About You?, I managed to get myself locked outside while sneaking around to create a surprise entrance! The surprise was I had to knock on the glass door to get in. Of course everyone turned to look and the moment was lost forever.
TC: Ever forget your lines?
MM: Oh Yeah! Of course in a one-man play, it is no great shake, except to my technical crew trying to find their place in the script for the next lighting cue. But, when doing ensemble work it can get a little crazy. Once in South Pacific, as Captain Bracket, Nellie had just left Harbinson and me in my office. We stood there watching her leave, and I’m thinking, "someone should be saying something." Then it dawned on me--that someone was me!
TC: What does one do when a line is dropped?
MM: STAY IN CHARACTER. The worst giveaway is dropping your character too, and getting the dumb look on your face. You will tip the audience and scare your acting partner to death. One of the best safe guards is practicing a lot of improvisation. Now I hate improvisation. It is work, work, work. But, the practice builds great confidence in ones ability to think quickly and get through the scene. When I forget a line, my favorite filler is, "Now where was I?" It is great cover, buys time for a silent prayer and for the partner to come to the rescue.
TC: What if your scene partner drops a line?
MM: SHOOT THEM! Just kidding. In ensemble acting, just exercise the golden rule. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Cover for them, after all there are only two kinds of actors. Those who have dropped a line and those that will drop a line. You will do it to someone someday, so don’t get cocky. A hint is, learn your partner's part! You heard me. Then when they drop a line, you can help them and yourself through the scene.
TC: Is religious drama a calling?
MM: Sure it is. Mark 16:15: He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation." That word ‘preach’ means to proclaim, to announce as a herald, need to say more?
Mac McConnell began acting as narrator in the Ft. Lauderdale Christmas Pageant, which hosts sellout crowds of 50,000 annually.
Mac has written several one-man, multi-character plays including What About You?, Disciples, Zacchaeus and Nicodemus, performing them since 1992 in schools, theaters, churches, prisons, and on location with tour groups in Jerusalem.
In 1995 Mac sold his business of 21 years and formed One Way Productions devoting full time to writing and performing one man dramas, spreading THE Good News Dramatically.
"Mac McConnell and script achieve a remarkable fluidity that moves this great historical drama until the viewer becomes involved in its sincerity...this is a one man Passion Play." Bill Von Maurer, theater critic Miami Herald
If you have other questions for Mac, visit his website, www.biblicaldrama.org.
One Way Productions
2269 S. University Dr.
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33324
(954) 680 9095
onewaydrama@cs.com
www.biblicaldrama.org
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