The Beckett-Head

Becca Foresman '10, a French major also working toward a theater certificate, will be starring in a performance of Samuel Beckett's "Happy Days" for her senior thesis. The play will run at 8 p.m. in the Matthews Acting Studio at 185 Nassau St. on Oct. 23, 24, 28, 29 and 30. Foresman is also a columnist for The Daily Princetonian.

Q How have you been preparing for your thesis production?

A I was in Paris over the summer taking clowning classes, because some of the Beckett aesthetic is based on the clowning tradition. I was also doing research on Beckett himself, as an author and a writer and on the scholarly activity around his work. Once the performance is done, I'm going to be writing a thesis on Beckett. I wrote my JP on Beckett's self-translation of "Waiting for Godot," so I was already kind of becoming a Beckett-head then. "Happy Days" is about a woman who is buried alive up to her waist in the first half and to her neck in the second. I am that woman. I'm Winnie.

Q What have been some of the challenges of putting together this performance? Have you felt like you've had more control with this piece than other ones because it's your thesis?

A It doesn't feel like it. I had more say in that I picked the play. But in terms of actually doing it, I don't know that I have any more sway over it, really. I'm very humbled by Beckett's words. With the things Beckett asks any performance to do, you have to trust the fact that it's genius. And if you give yourself up to that, it really works.

Q How do you prepare for the performance on a day-to-day basis?

A Well, I just got through the first two days of tech. Those are two six-hour days when I get into costume and under 90 degree lights. I'm sweating through my costume, drenching everything, and I'm buried alive. All the while, I'm stuck in this mound, and I'm trying to figure out all the bells and whistles of the performance. We've been training for a marathon, as the director puts it.

Q What are you going to do once the performance is over? Are you going to give yourself a week to rest before you start working on the written part of your senior independent work?

A I already started the research for it. For right now, I can't really see beyond the performances. I probably do need a reflection period. A week would be nice.

- Interview conducted, condensed and edited by Gabriel Debenedetti '13.