h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Over the weekend just gone, it was my operatic society's centenary, my church had its golden jubilee and the minister of the church I went to when I lived at home celebrated 20 years there. Next weekend, the church youth group which started up just before I went to university celebrates its 10th anniversary. It's all a bit too much!

For the operatic society, we held a gala concert, by gratis invitation only and invited past members, directors etc along to it. We performed selections from an oodle or two of shows we've done, plus a medley of wartime songs which the audience joined in with and a couple of selections from more recent shows that the society has never performed (I'm not quite sure what they were doing in the concert, but 'Do You Hear the People Sing?' is a rather spiffing song to warble, so I didn't mind). This was a very emotional event for those who had been members of the group for a long time, and a fairly stressful one for me as I had various little bits to do in the concert and had also been in charge of allocating the seats in the theatre (seating 340 or so). This led to various moaning people - why haven't you given me an aisle seat? (answer: you didn't ask for one, and I've never met you so I had no idea you were infirm); why didn't you send me an invitation? (answer: because nobody gave me your name and address); I've given so much to the Society, why have I been stuck back in row J? (answer: I allocated the tickets on a first-come, first-served basis, plus with this theatre *all* seats are good seats). And so on, in a near-endless parade of whinge. It's all over now, though, and we can concentrate on 'Kiss Me, Kate' from this Friday onwards. Expect a rehearsal ramblings thread soon.

I missed my home minister's anniversary due to my Canterbury commitments, but will make it back for the youth group reunion next weekend. Just about! And I missed most of the jubilee celebrations for similar reasons (plus a committee meeting on the Sunday afternoon - I'm now the operatic society's hon. secretary).

I think if these had come along one at a time, they'd all have been exciting and special, but as it is, it's all a bit stressful and manic trying to fit everything in. Ah well, c'est la vie. Most of the time I have no social life at all, and then it all goes completely mad!

How did you get roped into the tedious administrative side of your society?

That description makes me glad that my (deranged) offer to stand for the executive committee of my society failed to merit sufficient votes to tie me in to similar hassles to yours. The best thing to do is miss the AGM, but I usually do this by accident.

Looking forward to the Kate thread
with your auditions if you go for another part.

Tonight is the first rehearsal since casting announced on Sunday for J&H...

Auditions are really soon. Two general sing-throughs on 29th Sept and 6th Oct and then the auditions on 8th Oct this year, due to the interference of the centenary concert.

I think I got roped in because I'm not very good at saying 'no'. We have less people wanting to be on the committee than there are positions available (and of course the moaners never volunteer for this!).

I also failed to mention that I didn't get to meet all the guests etc. (and only saw my parents in passing), because I helped with the 'get out' afterwards. Having also helped with the 'get in'. I just got the moans over the telephone or via other people. It'll be fascinating to see what flavours moaning will come in for KMK.

So you still have to audition for each play? Even though you're a member of the theater group? Is there quite a bit of rivalry for the main parts?

I hope you run another diary thread like you did for the last production.

You have to audition for principal roles in each show - you can automatically be in the chorus or get the smallest parts without auditioning for them, but for the main characters, they really need to see who suits each role best and an audition is the best way to do that for musicals.

You're lucky. In our group you have to audition for every show, even to get in the ensemble. Mind you you'd have to be pretty awful in audition not to get even an ensemble part *if* you are a man.

Female members are not usually so lucky - for a start there are usually fewer roles to go for, and more women auditioning than can be cast. Our casts tend to max at about forty - above that the stage would be too crowded in ensemble numbers.

To be honest, I think that's a better way of doing things (but there's no way that any man should automatically be in...) and we will have to go down that route if we perform in a smaller venue. With the main theatre in town soon closing for rebuilding etc., that will soon be the case. And it could mean pruning some chorus members who really aren't up to it, which would be mean but also good.

David, I had the packet of clippings you sent me out again last night looking at them. Maybe someday I'll get to watch you perform. And Pimms. I don't suppose the two of you could both have plays going the next time I'm over your way?

My show dates for J&H are first week in March 2007 (24th Feb - 3rd March to be specific). Possibly a bit early for your Spring trip. Getting over to my island might prove tricky. I frequently balk at the prices charged myself.

That sounds like about a month or 6 weeks early. Drat!

How expensive is it? I was going to see if you would come over for the meet. I supppose we could each rent a row boat and meet half-way, have a drink and then row back.

Mine is 27th-31st March. Just before Easter.

A row-boats meet sounds quite fun, actually, but I think the trip from the Kent coat to the Isle of Man would be slightly impractical.

Even from Liverpool it would be beyond my rowing endurance - halfway would be at least thirty miles

The ferry takes about three hours and would cost about £40 return as a foot passenger - there may be special train/ferry deals. Flights are quicker at least twice as expensive.

Our G&S meets G&S concert is that week too, David . Just the Thursday, Friday, Saturday though, I think.

Our diary threads are all going to be busy at the same time, aren't they!

for the auditions - what are you going for?

Lbclaire

Pimms, I rather think I'd enjoy a ferry ride. As long as I have some dramimine on hand. If I can arrange the time, I'll pop over to your fair island, buy you and Mrs P a drink, then pop back. It will depend on how long I can arrange to stay in Blighty, which depends on the date for the London Meet.

Good luck to everyone with auditions.

Break a leg!

It would be a rare treat to see you in the flesh Hyp

And a rare treat for me to meet you! I will definitely try to arrange it.