Reading Response: The Second Circle - Presence

.Our reading this week was focused on what Patsy Rodenburg has defined as "the Second Circle." What is the Second Circle? It is a state of utmost intimacy, connectedness, and presence. This reading is specifically focused on presence. Over and over we hear performers described as having "it," and can never fully define what "it" is. Patsy Rodenburg tells us that it is simply the act of being in Second Circle. I particularly liked the quote "Presence allows experience." As actors, if we are not fully present in our work, how can the audience completely experience the story we are telling them? They can't. Rodenburg also states that this presence is "immediately felt and seen through the eyes: the windows of the soul." To me, this is of utmost importance. I was taught that to give a great performance you need three E's: eyes, energy, and enthusiasm. Performers with expressive, alive eyes are captivating, and why? They are present and it is literally shining out of them through their eyes. In my opinion, dead eyes equals a dead performance. Having just played Juliet, I really liked the example involving Romeo and Juliet's first moment of connection. Imagine playing one of those characters out of Second Circle. It just wouldn't work. The entire plot stems from that first moment of total connection and presence with each other. One of my biggest goals as I worked on that show was to keep myself very emotionally open to the audience so they would feel engaged in and connected to the story. I was very aware of the energy radiating between me and them, and it is that constant exchange - the mutual give and take that puts us in second circle, as is described in the Winston Churchill quote: "We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give." After learning about Second Circle, and now being able to put a name to it, I know I have experienced those moments before and it is something I will always strive for, because I wholeheartedly agree with Ms. Rodenburg that Second Circle is where great performances live.