An Actor's Discussion

Yesterday, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Pip Carter, who stared as Edward Thomas in the production of The Dark Earth and the Light Sky that we saw last weekend.  For about an hour, he spoke to us about a multitude of subjects like his training at RADA (Royal Academy of Dramatic Art), his process of creating a character, and working with famous English director Richard Eyre. It was a very casual conversation with a young working actor who wanted to pass along the knowledge he has gained in the business over the past seven years.  It's important to note that we got this chance to speak with him because of Ellen Newman, the director of the LDA program, who was a vocal coach at RADA for many years and actually taught Pip when he went to school there.

At the end of our discussion, Pip recited one of Edward Thomas' poems about his walks with Robert Frost which I thought I'd share as well:

"The sun used to shine"

The sun used to shine while we two walked
Slowly together, paused and started
Again, and sometimes mused, sometimes talked
As either pleased, and cheerfully parted

Each night. We never disagreed
Which gate to rest on. The to be
And the late past we gave small heed.
We turned from men or poetry

To rumours of the war remote
Only till both stood disinclined
For aught but the yellow flavorous coat
Of an apple wasps had undermined,

Or a sentry of dark betonies,
the stateliest of small flowers on earth,
At the forest verge; or crocuses
Pale purple as if they had their birth

In sunless Hades fields.  The war
Came back to mind with the moonrise
Which soldiers in the east afar
Beheld then.  Nevertheless, our eyes

Could as well imagine the Crusades
Or Caesar's battles.  Everything
To faintness like those rumours fades-
Like the brook's water glittering

Under the moonlight--Like those walks
Now--like us two that took them, and
The fallen apples, all the talks
And silences--like memory's sand

When the tide covers it late or soon,
And other ment through other flowers
In those fields under the same moon
Go talking and have easy hours.

-Danny