A Message from Emily Young, Fiasco Company & Pericles Cast Member

Reflections on the second week of Fiasco’s Without A Net Production of Pericles

At the beginning of our Without A Net process for Pericles, it felt like two weeks was so much time. I thought: I'm going to build a character, build a boat, create a whole world, memorize everything, plan and prepare, anticipate things before they happen....and then also, wait, how much time? Only two weeks? That's the magic of Without A Net in a nutshell - the parameters cause healthy creative pressure to build up so that decisions have to be made quickly and are made from a place of passion. My job is to tap into that inspiration, and it's exciting to surprise myself creatively. Plus, we are all in it together - something like this wouldn't be possible without a supportive, collaborative team - a team that later this week will include our audiences! It's amazing to realize what we're capable of together in such a short time.

I'm playing Marina in our production, and it's been a refreshing discovery process, because I knew little about her before we started. What jumps out at me? Her youth, her pride in a past she never knew, her mix of quick thinking and patient listening. She goes through a lot, and she survives it by honoring her truth. I recently played another character (for a different Fiasco project we'll tell you about soon!) that I know in my bones, whom I've played previously, and pairing that experience with starting fresh as I get to meet Marina has been illuminating.

Finally, I am thrilled by the fact that this play is one of Shakespeare's Romances. Much like any other great adventure, the play moves through comedy and tragedy, levity and gravity, adventure and pathos, grotesqueness and beauty, simplicity and complexity in its exciting and varied topography. It puts humor and seriousness right next to each other, which is my favorite kind of storytelling.

Fiasco started its journey over a decade ago with Cymbeline, another romance, and this process is bringing back memories of all the wonderful discoveries from that production. Like in life, you never know where you are in your own story, things can change on a dime and beauty and revelation lie in living through the ups and downs. We hope that just like we have over the past couple of weeks, you'll come meet these characters and join us in this adventure.

See you at the theater, 

Emily Young

Fiasco Company & Pericles Cast Member