Well we are now in production!
Actually production started over a week ago with the destruction of the previous show's set; a somewhat satisfying experience it has to be said.
I did have a few teething problems; cast absence due to events beyond their control and director's absence due to reasons beyond my control meant that the rehearsal schedule has to be hastily redrawn. The letting of the theatre to a third party has also put set building & light rigging behind schedule.
However its not all bad news. A quick and dirty rehearsal of two characters Monologues seemed to go nicely last week, and the first main rehearsal was encouraging. Okay the accents drifted from East Coast to West Coast via the West Country, South Africa and Melbourne, and some of the original ideas are going to have to be reworked or binned but its getting there.
What was rewarding was working with Ron and John laying out the set design, and for the first time I can see how Erik Poulson's gorgeous design will fit on our stage. Privately I'd always wondered whether it would be logistically possible but seeing it marked out for the first time last night made me realise that we can do this. Its going to happen.
Tuesday, 23 February 2010
Monday, 8 February 2010
I can't believe its been so long...
... since I last did an update on this thing! I've been meaning to for ages, but never quite got around to it. That's my excuse and I am sticking to it.
Well then dear reader, what have we been up to since May?
An awful lot actually.
Firstly we have had a slight change of cast; due to circumstances beyond both our control Richard Self had to leave the project due to a clash of commitments. It wasn't anyone's fault, it was just that something else got resheduled and was faced with a "being in two places at once" problem. Anyway, as one door closes another opens, and Richards departure meant that I was able to cast John Hart in the role... whose physique is closer to how I imagined Muncie's to be anyway.
Secondly, we've had a revolving door on the crew, with people signing up, then pulling out. I think we are there now... at least I hope so. So the backstage line up is: Michael Taylor (light operation) Michelle Yianni (Sound Operation) Nicky Clark and Geraldine Mullins (Backstage/props) and Yvonne Golding (prompt) all under the watchful eye of the truely splendid Sarah O'Hanlon (SM).
Anyway that brings us up todate on the personell front, so what else has been going on. well quite a lot of bits and pieces have been put together. We have a concept stage design (isn't Google wonderful?), and Sarah is doing a number of smash and grabs at local shops procuring the various odd props which the show requires ("You want what?" okay...."). I've had several discussions with the Wendy Marsh (who is also acting as the costume Guru) and we are starting to get an idea of what people will wear. That actually is pretty straight forward... other than for Roy... (oh we are going to have some fun with that...). Sarah and I had our first pre production meeting a few weeks ago, so we were able to talk through the general management of the production for the first time and I feel that her contributions are going to be priceless. Being Stage Manager is a thankless task: they get blamed for everything that goes wrong, yet a good SM can make as much difference to the show as having a good or indifferent actor on stage.
And finally last night was the first read through of the play! Oh my goodness, for the first time I could hear the voices(well most of them) breathing life in to words that previously only existed on the page. There were moments that made me laugh, others that made me tingle and some that had me struck with awe. If this is what the read through is like the end product is going to be Brill!
Well then dear reader, what have we been up to since May?
An awful lot actually.
Firstly we have had a slight change of cast; due to circumstances beyond both our control Richard Self had to leave the project due to a clash of commitments. It wasn't anyone's fault, it was just that something else got resheduled and was faced with a "being in two places at once" problem. Anyway, as one door closes another opens, and Richards departure meant that I was able to cast John Hart in the role... whose physique is closer to how I imagined Muncie's to be anyway.
Secondly, we've had a revolving door on the crew, with people signing up, then pulling out. I think we are there now... at least I hope so. So the backstage line up is: Michael Taylor (light operation) Michelle Yianni (Sound Operation) Nicky Clark and Geraldine Mullins (Backstage/props) and Yvonne Golding (prompt) all under the watchful eye of the truely splendid Sarah O'Hanlon (SM).
Anyway that brings us up todate on the personell front, so what else has been going on. well quite a lot of bits and pieces have been put together. We have a concept stage design (isn't Google wonderful?), and Sarah is doing a number of smash and grabs at local shops procuring the various odd props which the show requires ("You want what?" okay...."). I've had several discussions with the Wendy Marsh (who is also acting as the costume Guru) and we are starting to get an idea of what people will wear. That actually is pretty straight forward... other than for Roy... (oh we are going to have some fun with that...). Sarah and I had our first pre production meeting a few weeks ago, so we were able to talk through the general management of the production for the first time and I feel that her contributions are going to be priceless. Being Stage Manager is a thankless task: they get blamed for everything that goes wrong, yet a good SM can make as much difference to the show as having a good or indifferent actor on stage.
And finally last night was the first read through of the play! Oh my goodness, for the first time I could hear the voices(well most of them) breathing life in to words that previously only existed on the page. There were moments that made me laugh, others that made me tingle and some that had me struck with awe. If this is what the read through is like the end product is going to be Brill!
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