Today we went through the first scene I am actually in and have a few words to say. This was particularly interesting because I could finally start to really explore my character. How does he walk? How does he talk? In the Opening number I am already establishing a few things, for example, his tolerance towards fight and flight but now I can go a bit deeper.
I was told that we are even younger than I would set the jets and the sharks. They told me Chino would around 13 years old, which is a good three to four years younger than what I thought. Now I do want to make him a child, but not childish in a way that is cliche or unrealistic. But picture this: you are 13, your world is the streets, broken down houses, backyards, rooftops a.s.o. You are in a gang, they protect you and they are your friends but they dot belittle you, you are the good friend of the gang leader, you are always at his side and he gives you important tasks and missions. Does this not sound like every 13-year-olds dream? Is this not what we all wanted at that age? running around, climbing, playing hide and seek with “the bad guys”, being in a gang and feeling like a grown-up because others respect you?
This is how the world of this chino works. He is a child in his heaven. Maria is a slight disturbance and he is only interested in her or even spends time with her cause ‘Nardo makes it a big deal. Appart from that he does not know what to do with her, a girl, not in the gang, different and strange. This will all change eventually, he will find himself in a situation where ‘Nardo is gone, his support and guideline breaks away and he will struggle and fail to make the right decisions because after all, he is just a child. This already fills me with deep sadness and I can kind of imagine the shame I will feel when Maria screams at me in the end, but we are not there yet. right now Chino is a wild and happy boy, he is having fun and feels strong when he is with his gang and Nardo, and he is helpless and slightly timid when around Maria or Anita.
I think I will do at least two turns of Uta Hagens 9 Questions when I have on or two more scenes to determine how exactly those “two stages of chino” are different. But for now i will enjoy my one line and work on my dance steps