Erll, frst grsfrtd – Erll, frst grsfrtd??? What am I, Danish all of a sudden? This is what happens when you’re so tired and your eyes are so blurry that you put your fingers one key over on Ye Olde Keyboard – you turn into a Dane. The last person to turn into a Dane was Dane Clark, but that’s another story. Well, these here notes are off to a fine start, which is more than I can say for yesterday’s rehearsal. Holy moley on rye – had I known about the impending set disaster or how much way too valuable rehearsal time would be spent with way too difficult choreography, I would never have gone down the path I went down, i.e. trying to stage the reading to not look like a reading. Had we not had the set issue, and had we not gone down the choreography road, it probably would have worked beautifully, as the staging was pretty simple and clean. But the issue happened and the ensemble especially was very upset today and I finally called a company meeting after getting through act one and almost having had to completely reblock it. I knew we were in deep trouble. Everyone vented, and then one of our cast members said what I knew to be the truth – this reading is a READING, albeit what they call a staged reading, and it has to be about the material not walking around and trying to look like a sort-of production. So, we made the decision to eliminate all the choreography so that we can concentrate on the book, music, and lyrics and some simple staging. I was not going to have anyone onstage as they usually do at these readings – you know, sitting in chairs while the scenes play out in front. First of all, there’s no real front thanks to the set. But, now we’ve decided we will put chairs and once everyone has entered there they will stay. That will automatically make everything run smoother. We’ll keep as much of the blocking that we can, while simplifying the crosses and movement and we’ll confine as much of the action to where people’s chairs are. So, this morning we convene at ten and start with an hour of just drilling the music, as the music is truly what needs to sound great. Then, while the soloists work their numbers, Adam and I will take the ensemble and talk them through both acts – their stuff will be much simpler than before and I think they’ll be much more comfortable. Then we’ll start with act two, and we’ll run each scene two or three times until everyone is really comfortable with the playing of it. Then we’ll move on and then we’ll do the same for act one. We know we won’t get a run in, but if we can just get everyone feeling really on top of what they’re doing, then tomorrow we’ll do two runs and a lot of cleanup and then Monday we’ll have a run in the theater at noon. And then, it will be what it will be. Luckily, I don’t think the last three days were a waste – people did get used to the book scenes and the songs and the pace and flow of the show and how things connect, so I’m hoping and praying that today and tomorrow will turn things around in a really positive way. Please send all excellent vibes and xylophones our way.
Other than that, I shipped a whole slew of big boxes o’ CDs, did some errands and whatnot, and then, after rehearsal, did a sound check with Jan Abrams, and told her that due to our emergency I would not be able to attend the show. Then Cason and Adam and I met and for three hours made a game plan for our new approach, going through every single scene of the show and figuring out exactly what we could keep and what we’d adjust and make simpler and more efficient. The other thing that I was very proud of having blocked the show the way I did, was that it required the reading of not one stage direction. But with the new approach, we’re going to have to read a few of them, and we figured out which stage directions and who would be speaking them.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because if I keep typing in this section the whold teabt wtnn turnt to Danish.
I’ve already talked about what will be happening today, and then tonight I do have to attend Jan’s show, unless I’m completely and totally zonked.
Tomorrow you know about, as well. I think these will be intense days, but I’ll work as hard as I know how and the actors are all pros so I don’t think it will be an embarrassment. The lesson learned is there’s no way to be ambitious in these staged readings unless you know everything up front – playing space, exactly what hours should be devoted to what, and that there can absolutely not be any choreography.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do the long jog only if I’m up by seven, have an intense but hopefully excellent rehearsal, and then attend a show. Today’s topic of discussion: When you have a dinner party, what is your favorite meal to prepare, from soup to nuts – recipes encouraged so we can all try something fun in our various and sundried kitchens. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, and in Danish, too (oot, spelled backwards).