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April 18, 2014:

BLOCKING

Bruce Kimmel Photograph bk's notes

Well, dear readers, we had our first day of blocking and boy are my arms tired.  But boy did we have fun.  I always get very nervous on the first blocking day – I think I don’t know what I’m doing and that I will just have to vamp and I will fail miserably and have to hang my head in shame.  We began with the scene that follows the scene that follows the opening number – which involves Abner being called to go fishing and Mammy talking to him about Daisy and giving him his tonic, which then leads to Abner leaving and Marryin’ Sam arriving, followed by Daisy and Earthquake McGoon.  It’s a longish scene but we plowed through.  I blocked the first page or two, had them do it, changed it three or four times and finally found what worked for the actors and for me.  Once that happened, it was all fast and furious and funny from there on in.  I finished the scene up through the beginning of If I Had My Druthers – then we ran it, I made a couple of other adjustments and we had it.  I then moved directly on to Druthers.  We’re doing it with Abner and three cronies and I have to say, I staged it in five minutes and it’s really good.  Everyone who was watching was laughing.  I don’t think it’s like any other Druthers I’ve seen – partially because of where it’s placed in the set and because of certain business that I’ve had in my head for some time.

Then we did a few other little things, and we also did Namely You, before moving on to the two big General Bullmoose scenes in Washington.  Because of how our set functions, it has to be played in a certain playing space – we have plenty of room, mind you, but it forced me to be very economic with movement and it really serves the scene well.  Again, between Barry Pearl, me, Marryin’ Sam, Abner and Appassionata, we came up with some really clever things and Barry is going to be a great Bullmoose.  Those two scenes, which are quite long, took the most time – we also blocked Barry’s song, Progress Is the Root of All Evil.  One thing that’s been evolving as we go and that’s working out really well is how we’re handling certain bits – I don’t want to say more due to our prying eyes, but I think the audiences will like it.

Then I blocked I’m Past My Prime – my favorite kind of number to block and I’ll let Kay look at it and see if she wants to add anything to it – I kept it simple and fun.  The song itself is one of my favorite show songs ever and it always amazes me that it went into the show on Broadway just days before they opened.  So, it was a really productive four hours and I just love our cast – our Daisy and Abner are completely winning, and I happen to think John Massey as Marryin’ Sam is hilarious even at this early stage.  I hope the LACC kids are having as much fun as I am – they certainly appear to be.

Prior to that, I was up at six to announce our new title, then I went back to bed – I think I somehow got about six hours of sleep all told.  Then I got up, went and did some banking, printed out orders, picked up a couple of packages, and then moseyed on over to our production meeting.  It was short and sweet and then I saw some of the costume ideas and colors – that part of the show will look great.  Then we had our rehearsal, after which a few of us went to Astroburger for dinner.  I hadn’t eaten all day, so I wolfed down my yummilicious bacon cheeseburger and zucchini fries.

Then I stopped at Gelson’s to pick up some low-calorie treats for the house – Weight Watcher peanut butter candies, some Skinny Cow stuff, and the like.  Then I came home and had some treats whilst catching up on e-mails and printing orders.

Today, I shall be up by nine and then we have a very long rehearsal day beginning at eleven.  Kay Cole is with us and we’ll be doing one very big dance number, plus the opening number, which we’ll do together, and then Jubilation T. Cornpone and its encore.  If we have time after that, we’ll do a little review of yesterday’s work.  I’m sure some of us will sup afterwards.

Tomorrow, I will begin jogging regularly again.  I’ll relax during the day, and then I have an hour drive to attend a Seder, which means I have to leave at four-thirty or thereabouts.  I think I’ll use Waze for the first time and hope for the best.  Sunday, I’m not sure what’s happening but I hope I can just have a relaxing day.  Next week I block every day and hopefully by Thursday everything but Sadie Hawkins will be done – that we’ll do on Friday from eleven to three-thirty, then we have a rough designer run-through.

Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, rehearse, sup, and relax.  Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Friday – what is currently in your CD player and your DVD/Blu and Ray player?  I’ll start – CD, too many.  Blu-ray, Broadway Danny Rose, then Used Cars.  Your turn.  Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, after which I shall be up and blocking.

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