It has been a long time since I did a show with a smallish cast and few teenagers and no kids at all. Guess what happens when this kind of show is created? LOTS OF LAUGHTER.
It's helpful when the cast are all talented actors, eager to do a good job, and many of us know each other from other avenues.
Tonight's first run through was choppy, long, boring in places, a little ridiculous, and about as unpolished as you can get. It was also completely hiliarious. So many one-liners, ad libs, pratfalls not in the script. Everyone teases one another. It's hard to stay in character. It's hard for me to want to stay in character. This melding of real life and the stage is too fun!
I still don't have my lines down perfectly. I'm not the only one, but before I went to rehearsal I was perfect. I am bothered that I don't have the lines perfect. I worry they won't want me to be in another show. Worry worry worry about this in every show I'm in.
Tomorrow is run through #2. Monday--tech night. Tues--dress rehearsal. Wed--Opening Night. Can we say we aren't ready? Um yeah. But at this point, I am going to chalk up this play as some of the best laughs I've had. I'm honored to be working with these people, and excited to spend the next week with them.
Keep playing!
Showing posts with label rehearsal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rehearsal. Show all posts
Friday, September 30, 2011
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Impossible Mystery--2--First rehearsal--"Highlight Club" scene
I was so worried I'd be late. I didn't leave early enough to make the 15 minute walk to the room we were rehearsing in--The High Chaparral" room at the Spanish Fork Fairgrounds. It's an ugly room, though spacious, and filled with flies. The Fairgrounds has hundreds of stalls where horses and cows live most of the year.
I arrived on time and as soon as I walked in, Cami (director) said, "Everyone is stuck on the freeway and will be late."
Hello? I'm here.
The couple who are in this scene rehearsed their dance. He had a horrible migraine, though he didn't look too bad. His wife told us several times that he felt awful, came home early from work and took a shower, still felt yuck. I felt so guilty and I had nothing to do with his ailment! Their dance was really cute and they just look so cute together. Married people sometimes do that.
With the paltry crew we had, we blocked what we could. I am a club patron of indeterminate age. It takes place in the Highlight Club, which is a speakeasy during Prohibition, but I was told numerous times it is in the 1940s. Prohibition ended in 1933. I looked it up on Wikipedia. Everything else in the scene is 30s, so I'm just keeping the 1940s comment under my hat. Except in this blog, of course.
My entrance is from stage right and I walk in, looking animated but a little spooked, as this is a secret club. This is hard to do when I'm set to walk in with someone, but nobody was there to walk with. I felt stupid, okay? Cami said, "We need more energy." I would have been happy to just have less clunkiness. I just realized--I didn't wear my lucky high-tops! This would have solved everything! Note to self: wear lucky high tops to all rehearsals unless you have to wear your torture dance shoes.
I pound on the imaginary door and Scott, Cami's son, says: pass-woid. Then I mumble something, and he lets me in. I move to a table and pretend to talk to someone who turned out to be my friend Kendra, who also doubled as a gun-toting mobster when she wasn't sitting with me. A dance goes on while Cami's daughter sings a solo. I will drily say that this whole thing is not looking good.
All the freeway-locked people finally arrived. But it wasn't like we were rife with cast members. I sit and sit at the pretend table, and then, later, I'm run out of the club. This time I screamed my head off and ferris wheeled my arms as I ran off the stage. This didn't seem at all in character, but Cami loved it. I got a big smile out of her. Okay, that made me smile.
It could be that I act so I can feel accomplished, but this is one heck of a way to do it. I feel stupid half the time.
The migraine person said I was 'shrill'. I didn't realize for several hours what he really meant. I probably made his migraine tons worse.
Cami said the 'crowd', me and Kendra, could leave, so we walked partway to my house. We stopped off at Anna's, the woman with the World of Wonder Costume Shed and Kendra got several of her costumes. Anna got a few more things for me, but it was a little tricky. It was after dark and the mosquitoes were out and ready to suck. Ick.
Kendra was able to try on and show me her fun costumes. She made a comment about not being able to wear a certain type of clothing that she usually wears (LDS members know what I'm talking about) and Anna said, "Noooooooo, we aren't going to do that." I forgot to warn Kendra that this isn't really anything like community theater. I like both. But I know what's what. Now she does, too.
I kissed Anna goodbye, Kendra's husband picked her up, and I continued my walk home. I sang the "Highlight Club" song to my son when I got home, but I changed the lyrics. You'll have to ask Caden what the new lyrics were.
Keep playing! (Even when you feel stupid.)
I arrived on time and as soon as I walked in, Cami (director) said, "Everyone is stuck on the freeway and will be late."
Hello? I'm here.
The couple who are in this scene rehearsed their dance. He had a horrible migraine, though he didn't look too bad. His wife told us several times that he felt awful, came home early from work and took a shower, still felt yuck. I felt so guilty and I had nothing to do with his ailment! Their dance was really cute and they just look so cute together. Married people sometimes do that.
With the paltry crew we had, we blocked what we could. I am a club patron of indeterminate age. It takes place in the Highlight Club, which is a speakeasy during Prohibition, but I was told numerous times it is in the 1940s. Prohibition ended in 1933. I looked it up on Wikipedia. Everything else in the scene is 30s, so I'm just keeping the 1940s comment under my hat. Except in this blog, of course.
My entrance is from stage right and I walk in, looking animated but a little spooked, as this is a secret club. This is hard to do when I'm set to walk in with someone, but nobody was there to walk with. I felt stupid, okay? Cami said, "We need more energy." I would have been happy to just have less clunkiness. I just realized--I didn't wear my lucky high-tops! This would have solved everything! Note to self: wear lucky high tops to all rehearsals unless you have to wear your torture dance shoes.
I pound on the imaginary door and Scott, Cami's son, says: pass-woid. Then I mumble something, and he lets me in. I move to a table and pretend to talk to someone who turned out to be my friend Kendra, who also doubled as a gun-toting mobster when she wasn't sitting with me. A dance goes on while Cami's daughter sings a solo. I will drily say that this whole thing is not looking good.
All the freeway-locked people finally arrived. But it wasn't like we were rife with cast members. I sit and sit at the pretend table, and then, later, I'm run out of the club. This time I screamed my head off and ferris wheeled my arms as I ran off the stage. This didn't seem at all in character, but Cami loved it. I got a big smile out of her. Okay, that made me smile.
It could be that I act so I can feel accomplished, but this is one heck of a way to do it. I feel stupid half the time.
The migraine person said I was 'shrill'. I didn't realize for several hours what he really meant. I probably made his migraine tons worse.
Cami said the 'crowd', me and Kendra, could leave, so we walked partway to my house. We stopped off at Anna's, the woman with the World of Wonder Costume Shed and Kendra got several of her costumes. Anna got a few more things for me, but it was a little tricky. It was after dark and the mosquitoes were out and ready to suck. Ick.
Kendra was able to try on and show me her fun costumes. She made a comment about not being able to wear a certain type of clothing that she usually wears (LDS members know what I'm talking about) and Anna said, "Noooooooo, we aren't going to do that." I forgot to warn Kendra that this isn't really anything like community theater. I like both. But I know what's what. Now she does, too.
I kissed Anna goodbye, Kendra's husband picked her up, and I continued my walk home. I sang the "Highlight Club" song to my son when I got home, but I changed the lyrics. You'll have to ask Caden what the new lyrics were.
Keep playing! (Even when you feel stupid.)
The Impossible Mystery--1--The Rehearsal that Wasn't ~OR~ Costume Fun!
I thought it was my night for rehearsal. I was sweating a little because I hadn't really even looked at my script. I play two speaking roles and am in one scene as Ensemble.
Roles:
Oba San--old, crotchety, mostly deaf Japanese grandmother
Lady Chattway--English society matron, presumably a widow, middle-aged, flighty and giggly
Ensemble in the Highlight Club scene--a speakeasy-type joint. I am a--what? Still figuring that one out.
So I walk into the backyard we rehearse in on Tuesday nights, smile on face, script on clipboard in hand.
Cami (director): What are you doing here, Jennifer?
Me (chump): I thought we were doing the Japanese scene.
Other actress in show: That's next week.
Anna (mentor, costumer, Cami's mother and owner of backyard): It's okay. We'll get you costumed.
Me (relieved): Well then, I'm here spreading love! (a little arm sweeping and curtsy)
Anna (kindly, as is her wont): We can always use more love!
I was then ushered to Anna's World of Wonder costume shed. Oh my goodness! Rack upon rack of clothes, necklaces on hooks, hats and bags on shelves, bins of glasses. I'm not even much of a girly girl, but hey, this was heaven.
Anna started holding dresses up in front of me: Oh, this will be darling for the Highlight Club scene. Isn't this cute?
I climb into peach dress and cape. It is adorable. She hands me a brightly flowered little bag and puts a little hat on my head--straw with ribbon and flowers, and we traipse out to Cami, who smiles, nods (meaning yes, that costume will work) and goes back to directing. I sweep back to the shed. One must always sweepingly walk when one wears a floor-length cape.
Anna: We have decided to go all out with the costumes--color and fun.
Me (thinking): No kidding! I am adorable! (cartwheeling in my head)
The next few outfits were either too small or not right. Anna told me not to get discouraged. I was far from that. I was playing dress up. This outfit doesn't work? Well, I'll try another. There are hundreds to choose from.
I went home to get a very cute, authentic velvet jacket that belonged to my mother. It will be Lady Chattaway's jacket. Anna found me a perfect blouse, checking to make sure it was just the right shade of beige, and we found a skirt that was okay. (Later, I found a better skirt in my own closet. Anna told me as long as it had flowers on it, it'd be great. The skirt is flowered, black, red, and yes, the right shade of beige, with a flouncy hem. As Anna would say: Darling!)
To go with the skirt, jacket, and blouse, Anna dug around and found me The Cutest Hat in the World. I can't describe it (it's black and cloth, but that says little about the cuteness factor) but pictures will come during the run of the show. I have some earrings that will go with the whole outfit. I am going to be the most delightful English Society Matron ever!
Then, Oba San's outfit. I had pictured some frumpy black or gray bathrobe. No! I have a multi-colored poncho to the floor that will look amazing with one of those Japanese black cumberbun belt thingies (still to be procured.) I will wear a Chinese pointy-on-the-top straw hat (still being found and yeah, it isn't authentic--what-ev-uh). I have decided to wear a purple, red, or green (if I can find it) scarf over my hair under the hat so my blonde hair won't give me away as me. (Old deaf grandmas aren't platinum blondes.) Anna found me some silky black pants to go under the silky dress thingie. It is really, really colorful. Rock on, Oba San!
I am 90% set. I am 100% excited.
Playing dress up with Anna is the most fun I've had in a long time!
Keep playing! And if possible, do it in style!
Roles:
Oba San--old, crotchety, mostly deaf Japanese grandmother
Lady Chattway--English society matron, presumably a widow, middle-aged, flighty and giggly
Ensemble in the Highlight Club scene--a speakeasy-type joint. I am a--what? Still figuring that one out.
So I walk into the backyard we rehearse in on Tuesday nights, smile on face, script on clipboard in hand.
Cami (director): What are you doing here, Jennifer?
Me (chump): I thought we were doing the Japanese scene.
Other actress in show: That's next week.
Anna (mentor, costumer, Cami's mother and owner of backyard): It's okay. We'll get you costumed.
Me (relieved): Well then, I'm here spreading love! (a little arm sweeping and curtsy)
Anna (kindly, as is her wont): We can always use more love!
I was then ushered to Anna's World of Wonder costume shed. Oh my goodness! Rack upon rack of clothes, necklaces on hooks, hats and bags on shelves, bins of glasses. I'm not even much of a girly girl, but hey, this was heaven.
Anna started holding dresses up in front of me: Oh, this will be darling for the Highlight Club scene. Isn't this cute?
I climb into peach dress and cape. It is adorable. She hands me a brightly flowered little bag and puts a little hat on my head--straw with ribbon and flowers, and we traipse out to Cami, who smiles, nods (meaning yes, that costume will work) and goes back to directing. I sweep back to the shed. One must always sweepingly walk when one wears a floor-length cape.
Anna: We have decided to go all out with the costumes--color and fun.
Me (thinking): No kidding! I am adorable! (cartwheeling in my head)
The next few outfits were either too small or not right. Anna told me not to get discouraged. I was far from that. I was playing dress up. This outfit doesn't work? Well, I'll try another. There are hundreds to choose from.
I went home to get a very cute, authentic velvet jacket that belonged to my mother. It will be Lady Chattaway's jacket. Anna found me a perfect blouse, checking to make sure it was just the right shade of beige, and we found a skirt that was okay. (Later, I found a better skirt in my own closet. Anna told me as long as it had flowers on it, it'd be great. The skirt is flowered, black, red, and yes, the right shade of beige, with a flouncy hem. As Anna would say: Darling!)
To go with the skirt, jacket, and blouse, Anna dug around and found me The Cutest Hat in the World. I can't describe it (it's black and cloth, but that says little about the cuteness factor) but pictures will come during the run of the show. I have some earrings that will go with the whole outfit. I am going to be the most delightful English Society Matron ever!
Then, Oba San's outfit. I had pictured some frumpy black or gray bathrobe. No! I have a multi-colored poncho to the floor that will look amazing with one of those Japanese black cumberbun belt thingies (still to be procured.) I will wear a Chinese pointy-on-the-top straw hat (still being found and yeah, it isn't authentic--what-ev-uh). I have decided to wear a purple, red, or green (if I can find it) scarf over my hair under the hat so my blonde hair won't give me away as me. (Old deaf grandmas aren't platinum blondes.) Anna found me some silky black pants to go under the silky dress thingie. It is really, really colorful. Rock on, Oba San!
I am 90% set. I am 100% excited.
Playing dress up with Anna is the most fun I've had in a long time!
Keep playing! And if possible, do it in style!
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