Journal Entries
Figaro: First Night
Posted Jun 5, 2004
Well, the first night (of two!) is over and considering the shortness of the rehearsal period, I thought it went pretty well. No-one made a mess of the choreography and the audience was appreciative. I saved a statue from crashing down as we began our first chorus, which was quite exciting - the world briefly went into slow motion as it began to topple.
I've not enjoyed this production as much os previous efforts, but I'm glad I can now add Mozart to my list of 'people I've done', leaving only Sondheim and Shakespeare on my 'really, really must do' list. The guy playing Figaro (we only encountered the leads on Friday afternoon and were never actually introduced, which is a little upsetting) is pretty darned good. I particularly enjoyed listening to his aria about becoming a soldier and his one about women. No idea what they're called, but they're good and he sung them very well. The other actors are good, too, and the concluding farcical scene is very funny.
Just tonight's show to go, now. I'm not even sure if there's an after-show party.
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Latest reply: Jun 5, 2004
Countdown to Figaro 3: Choreography, the scariest word in the English language
Posted Jun 3, 2004
Well, the blocking and dancing over the weekend wasn't too painful, as the chorus really aren't involved in the action all that often. The choreography includes moves known as 'plucking the apple' and 'the swallow', which compares to the 'camel', 'wave', 'ostrich' and 'bear hunt' in Die Fledermaus two years ago... I can do all the moves in essence, and even in the right order, it's just that I have trouble looking elegant whilst doing so.
Now all that remains is to polish the choreography, do the tech/dress rehearsal and go for it. It's all a bit quick and scary, but at least there'll be a lot of adrenalin flowing on Friday night.
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Latest reply: Jun 3, 2004
Countdown to 'Figaro' 1: First Choral Rehearsal
Posted May 21, 2004
My theatrical event of the summer is a production of Mozart's La Nozze Di Figaro (or something like that, my Italian isn't great) under the title 'Figaro's Wedding'. Rehearsals began 2 days ago and the first performance (of two only) is in two weeks. Tight schedule...
Anyway, first rehearsal was to include costume fitting, which I arrived at promptly. Duly kitted out with black buckled shoes, white tights 
, short black trousers and a frilly white shirt. Black and white waistcoat to come later.
As I was the first one there, I was able to wander off for a while before the actual rehearsal began, but as I drifted back towards the rehearsal room I was grabbed by the costume lady, who told me that someone from the local press was there and they needed me back in costume for a photo, to which I reluctantly agreed, being quite sure that tights are not flattering on my non-sportsman's legs. Cue a ridiculous photo shoot as the wardrobe mistress and her assistant pretended to be trying out various coats etc. with me.
One the photographer had disappeared and I was back in normal gear, the rehearsal itself was pretty painless, just a case of learning the notes really. We are a small and allegedly perfectly formed chorus this year and there were a mimimum of hitches. We are to have learnt it all by next Wednesday.
Oh, and I need to say goodbye to my beard for the production. 
Oh, well, it will make it cooler in the hot weather.
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Latest reply: May 21, 2004
Journal entry for no apparent reason
Posted Feb 24, 2004
Ho hum, nothing interesting to say, really, except that I'm rather bored. Shall I recommend some CDs? Oh, all right then...
Recent (well, recently purchased by yours truly) theatre-related recordings which I think are rather good:
'Myths and Hymns' by Adam Guettel, which is a recording of some of the songs which made up the concert 'Saturn Returns'. Featuring names such as Audra MacDonald and Mandy Patinkin (in a very restrained, sane-sounding fashion for a change) as well as the composer, this is a really quite unusual collection of songs. As the name implies, some of the songs are hymns (lyrics taken from an old hymnbookcalled 'The Temple Trio') and versions of various Greek myths, such as those of Icarus and Pegasus. Some of the songs are a bit blah, but the good ones more than make up for it. 'Icarus' is a delightful discovery of a song about father-son relationships, pride and what have you.
Matt Bogart's CD 'Simple Songs' is also rather wonderful, in a completely different way. Bogart is apparently a Boradway performer, and the CD includes some songs he's sung on stage, along with random other showtunes. Bogart has a really nice voice, and includes some great songs. 'Proud Lady' from 'The Baker's Wife' comes across brilliantly, as does his rendition of 'Simple Song' from Leonard Bernstein's Mass. He does a version of the Soliloquy from 'Carousel' which always sounds a bit odd out of context, but his rendition of 'I Could Write a Book' from 'Pal Joey', where it's re-imagined as a comedic duet is a gem.
And finally, the 1943 cast recording of Rodgers and Hart's 'A Connecticut Yankee'. This is fairly old-fashioned, but it's worth it for 'Thou Swell' and the comedy lyric to end all comedy lyrics in the form of 'To Keep My Love Alive' where sorceress Morgaine Le Fay tells of how she's had many husbands, but never cheated on any of them, because she did them all in for the reason mentioned in the song title. A classic with some quite preposterously funny rhymes.
That's enough rambling for now...
David
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Latest reply: Feb 24, 2004
Courtenay revisited
Posted Jul 31, 2003
The run(s) of Courtenay now concluded and the after-show party has both been enjoyed and recovered from. The post-show blues now set in as I realise I have nothing of the sort on the horizon. 
The show was successful, although audience numbers were disappointing in our second engagement - Sevenoaks - where, ironically, we did our best performances.
I'm just hoping it won't be another seven years before I do another musical...
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Latest reply: Jul 31, 2003
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