Tonight? Tonight I liked.
Finally we are past the blocking stage. I have devised (along with my music consultant) a soundtrack for the show and I have begun adding more intricate movement to the show. The way I imagine it to be is like a dance which has words. I want so much movement and so many layers that it's dazzling. In theory.
The nice thing about tonight is that they seemed to be responding positively to my ideas. It is only when you see them played out that it is possible to see if they work. Hopefully they will completely stick together and work.
There are still some (many) areas to sort out but at least there is a chance they might work.
As I should be essay free this week there is a chance I may be able to figure some of them out. Finally. After weeks of winging it.
Monday, March 5, 2012
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Rehearsal number 4
Before tonight's rehearsal I had a meeting about the costumes. I had given designs to the costume coordinator who has the difficult job of translating them into actual clothes. Copies of designs for many of the leading roles are in the picture. Naturally they co-inside with the modern Victorian theme and are entirely in black, red and white.
Tonight's we finished act 2 blocking, which was interesting as I got so far in the script then found I had no notes for the last five pages. Had to wing it. This is definitely not recommended, the direction was all over the place and I had no idea what was happening next. This will have to be sorted out later...
I also heard back from the band and it seems that it won't work out. Now I have to think of different ways of making music in what I envisaged to be a very musical show. One of the boys is happy to play guitar- he will definitely be kept busy.
Jobs for this week- plan stylised movement, find appropriate music and contact the man in charge of sound effects. Just when I thought the hard bit was over something else crops up.
Tonight's we finished act 2 blocking, which was interesting as I got so far in the script then found I had no notes for the last five pages. Had to wing it. This is definitely not recommended, the direction was all over the place and I had no idea what was happening next. This will have to be sorted out later...
I also heard back from the band and it seems that it won't work out. Now I have to think of different ways of making music in what I envisaged to be a very musical show. One of the boys is happy to play guitar- he will definitely be kept busy.
Jobs for this week- plan stylised movement, find appropriate music and contact the man in charge of sound effects. Just when I thought the hard bit was over something else crops up.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Rehearsal three
Tonight marked a crisis in confidence. Nothing I did seemed to be going well enough. The direction was shoddy, there were large gaps in the action and the cast seemed uninterested. I missed having my more experienced assistant director on hand telling me things are going to be ok.
My confidence wasn't helped by a comment from a cast member announcing they hated the play. Great. That makes me feel spectacular about myself.
So, all in all, I am not a fan of act two and I will have to spend a lot of time and effort trying to change it into something half decent. My plan for this show involves a great deal of choreographed movement. This will take a long time to get right. I just hope the cast have the discipline and focus to carry it off. In places I have introduced snippets of such movement to varying success.
Too many aspects of this show are out of my hands and the inner control freak does not feel reassured by this. I still am yet to hear back from the band, this makes me fingers twitch. Luckily a cast member has agreed to bring his guitar. Hopefully this shall improve things and make things gel a little better.
It is nice to see that the cast are bonding but it sure is lonely at the top. Last year they felt more like my friends, this year they are certainly my colleagues.
Tomorrow night we finish act 2, then the hard work will begin.
My confidence wasn't helped by a comment from a cast member announcing they hated the play. Great. That makes me feel spectacular about myself.
So, all in all, I am not a fan of act two and I will have to spend a lot of time and effort trying to change it into something half decent. My plan for this show involves a great deal of choreographed movement. This will take a long time to get right. I just hope the cast have the discipline and focus to carry it off. In places I have introduced snippets of such movement to varying success.
Too many aspects of this show are out of my hands and the inner control freak does not feel reassured by this. I still am yet to hear back from the band, this makes me fingers twitch. Luckily a cast member has agreed to bring his guitar. Hopefully this shall improve things and make things gel a little better.
It is nice to see that the cast are bonding but it sure is lonely at the top. Last year they felt more like my friends, this year they are certainly my colleagues.
Tomorrow night we finish act 2, then the hard work will begin.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Second rehearsal
To be honest I'm a little worried... Things seem to be going too well.
We now have planned all the basic movement for act one. The play feels very short. It took us less than an hour to run the whole of act one. Of course this will slow down once I take the script out of their hands. The speed they are rehearsing at gives lots of opportunity to make a very slick and precise show.
Tonight we did a 'song' but it is more like a rhyme said to a vague tune. Now, I am in no way musical but upon seeing the words a tune just popped into my head. It is incredibly simple and the cast seemed to pick it up straight away. On reading the script it was these 'songs' which bothered me the most- I even had nightmares about them and now, somehow, they are just working. Hopefully all the musical elements with gel together.
We had a bit of silly behaviour tonight forcing me to use my 'teacher voice'. It was reassuring that I was able to regain control. Directing the youth is strange in some ways as I have been put in charge of people who are usually my equal- people I would usually chat and laugh with at other rehearsals and now I have to be the one to hush them. I have never really seen myself as a leader but fortunately they are all good people and it never gets too out of control.
The most difficult part of the rehearsal, however, was trying to get the cast to laugh. Apparently this was too difficult and for some time they seemed incapable of laughing at all. I had to crack out my best laugh and give each cast member an example laugh of some proportion before they could manage even a titter. Maybe I should take them along to a comedy show sometime, they will soon learn to laugh.
We now have planned all the basic movement for act one. The play feels very short. It took us less than an hour to run the whole of act one. Of course this will slow down once I take the script out of their hands. The speed they are rehearsing at gives lots of opportunity to make a very slick and precise show.
Tonight we did a 'song' but it is more like a rhyme said to a vague tune. Now, I am in no way musical but upon seeing the words a tune just popped into my head. It is incredibly simple and the cast seemed to pick it up straight away. On reading the script it was these 'songs' which bothered me the most- I even had nightmares about them and now, somehow, they are just working. Hopefully all the musical elements with gel together.
We had a bit of silly behaviour tonight forcing me to use my 'teacher voice'. It was reassuring that I was able to regain control. Directing the youth is strange in some ways as I have been put in charge of people who are usually my equal- people I would usually chat and laugh with at other rehearsals and now I have to be the one to hush them. I have never really seen myself as a leader but fortunately they are all good people and it never gets too out of control.
The most difficult part of the rehearsal, however, was trying to get the cast to laugh. Apparently this was too difficult and for some time they seemed incapable of laughing at all. I had to crack out my best laugh and give each cast member an example laugh of some proportion before they could manage even a titter. Maybe I should take them along to a comedy show sometime, they will soon learn to laugh.
Monday, February 20, 2012
First rehearsal
Just back from the first rehearsal and despite having only three hours sleep last night it went remarkably well.
I wanted to set the movement for the first quarter of the script. We managed more than that, even better, several moments in the play seemed to simply work straight off. The aunts had me giggling like a loon.
I explained the lay out of the set to the cast and my overall concept. They seemed to take to it well- embraced it entirely.
However, something of an in-joke has developed since I told the cast they can only wear black white and red. The grasshopper insists on wearing green to every rehearsal. If he succeeds he will be awarded the 'green pear' award. We'll see, maybe he will forget. Perhaps I should have an award ceremony at the dress rehearsal, highlighting some of the best moments. One cast member has learnt all his lines already- remarkable!
Current cast number- 17- my lucky number.
All I need to do now is wind down and get some sleep!
Bring on tomorrow!
I wanted to set the movement for the first quarter of the script. We managed more than that, even better, several moments in the play seemed to simply work straight off. The aunts had me giggling like a loon.
I explained the lay out of the set to the cast and my overall concept. They seemed to take to it well- embraced it entirely.
However, something of an in-joke has developed since I told the cast they can only wear black white and red. The grasshopper insists on wearing green to every rehearsal. If he succeeds he will be awarded the 'green pear' award. We'll see, maybe he will forget. Perhaps I should have an award ceremony at the dress rehearsal, highlighting some of the best moments. One cast member has learnt all his lines already- remarkable!
Current cast number- 17- my lucky number.
All I need to do now is wind down and get some sleep!
Bring on tomorrow!
Sunday, February 19, 2012
James and the Giant Peach
Although it is my third year directing a local youth theatre this is my first year directing solo.
I am very close to this youth theatre as I was 14 when it first formed and have been involved in every production since then. In theory this should have given me some sort of insight into its workings, one would hope anyway.
After reading through several scripts I decided that David Wood's adaptation of Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach would be the most appropriate for this first endeavour.
I chose it because it is a fun story- who doesn't like a bit of Roald Dahl? It is fabulously quirky and offers lots of scope for interpretation.
It is tricky to choose a production as our youth theatre is of no fixed size so I have to find shows which can be produced with either very few or very many actors Not an easy task. Usually this involves shows that expect actors to take many roles at once.
On audition day I thought the actors were going to have a big job as there were only 8 willing to take up the challenge. However, as the last production gradually came to a close, the numbers have swelled to an estimated 18. I will find out definite numbers tomorrow at the first rehearsal .
I thought it might be fun to try and follow my directing endeavours in a blog, if nothing else it should keep my mind focused on the task at hand.
I'm very nervous and excited about tomorrow, fingers crossed it goes well.
I am very close to this youth theatre as I was 14 when it first formed and have been involved in every production since then. In theory this should have given me some sort of insight into its workings, one would hope anyway.
After reading through several scripts I decided that David Wood's adaptation of Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach would be the most appropriate for this first endeavour.
I chose it because it is a fun story- who doesn't like a bit of Roald Dahl? It is fabulously quirky and offers lots of scope for interpretation.
It is tricky to choose a production as our youth theatre is of no fixed size so I have to find shows which can be produced with either very few or very many actors Not an easy task. Usually this involves shows that expect actors to take many roles at once.
On audition day I thought the actors were going to have a big job as there were only 8 willing to take up the challenge. However, as the last production gradually came to a close, the numbers have swelled to an estimated 18. I will find out definite numbers tomorrow at the first rehearsal .
I thought it might be fun to try and follow my directing endeavours in a blog, if nothing else it should keep my mind focused on the task at hand.
I'm very nervous and excited about tomorrow, fingers crossed it goes well.
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