This is a Journal entry by Lbclaire

Half a Sixpence rehearsal diary

Post 101

Lbclaire

We reviewed the dances last night. The poor choreographer had completely lost her voice by the end, calling out the dance steps and trying to make herself heard over people chattering.

Yes, calling out the dance steps. With 16 days to go, the chorus still can't do some of the numbers without the choreographer standing in front doing the steps or at least shouting them out. Reminded me of the teacher standing in front at the school nativity play.

That said, the rehearsal did go OK (apart from people being missing, as usual). I certainly feel more confident, apart from with one step which I just couldn't get last week and had to get a friend to show me over and over. It's not even that complicated, and the only one I've had trouble with, but for some reason my brain just would not compute and send the correct signals to my legs. But I got there in the end - though it's not one of my most graceful moments. Not that there are many of those anyway... smiley - laugh

One of the women who hasn't been for ages finally turned up last night. Armed with paper and pen to write down the dances as she was trying to do them. smiley - yikes At this stage!!

The clueless one is still utterly hopeless, and despite my attempts to be kind and helpful, annoyed me a bit by saying 'yes, yes, I know that bit' whenever I tried to remind her where she should be. WELL IF YOU KNOW IT WHY WEREN'T YOU DOING IT???!!!! smiley - steam. I overheard her say to someone at the end 'yes, it's just 'such and such a dance' I can't do' - whhaaaat?? Granted, that dance is her worst, and the one she asked to be taken out of. It's a complicated dance with lots of steps and lots of moving positions. She gets not one of the steps, never moves anywhere, so other people are constantly moving her bodily as she ends up in their way, which puts them off. But she can't do any of the other dances either!

I think that's my main problem with her - the fact that she never asks for, or accepts help from anyone, and causes so many people problems when she ends up in their way.

I was chatting to one of the other chorus ladies last night, who is quite down about the fact that she's hardly doing any dancing, when she loves dancing and considers it her strongest point. She said she'd spoken to someone else who hated the dancing, but was doing much more than her. I think looking back on it, getting an idea of who wanted to do dancing, and who didn't, would have been quite useful to the choreographer. Yes, some people are just a bit lazy and out for the easy life, but others do have a real problem with it. In the interests of fairness, quite a few people have been left feeling disgruntled for one reason or another.

I'm still looking forward to it though! smiley - smiley


Half a Sixpence rehearsal diary

Post 102

Pimms

Do you feel up to shouting "shut up!" smiley - cross loudly during the next rehearsal when the chattering overwhelms the choreographer? It is in no-ones interest to have a choreographer who can't communicate.

Possibly best left to the chairperson, but someone has to give the rest of the cast the strong hint that chatting (even to discuss the moves with their neighbour) is best left to moments when the choroegrapher isn't trying to speak.


Half a Sixpence rehearsal diary

Post 103

Lbclaire

I still feel too much like a newbie to do that, unfortunately. I'd have no qualms in my other group smiley - smiley.

Usually the director shouts at us if people are chatting, but she wasn't there last night. Not that it makes much difference after five minutes anyway. I realise more and more that the group continually make empty threats to its members: eg. about missing rehearsals, but people continually miss rehearsals without any comeback - they may eventually be removed from a specific part of one number and replaced with someone else but they'll still be in it.

Also about naming and shaming people who don't know the words - in The Mikado nothing was EVER said to the principals who regularly couldn't come up with their lines. And in one of the final rehearsals the director said she'd start to name chorus members who didn't know the words by the next rehearsal...but it never happened.

So I think people just don't take it seriously enough - I've been told by so many people that 'oh, it's always like this, it only comes together in the last few days'. But with six months rehearsal that shouldn't be the case. And yes, the shows are always good in the end (but not as good as they could be). So this reinforces people's beliefs that they don't have to bother until the last minute.

In my drama group, we are quite clear - the directors say in their rehearsal notes 'X please go over your lines' or 'X, your lines aren't quite there yet'. It's not too bad an experience, but is just embarassing enough to make them put in a bit more effort. And if people don't turn up for more than two rehearsals in a row without a good excuse they are booted out. And if they drop out for no good reason their chances of getting another part in a future play drop dramatically.

The ironic thing is that unlike the operatic society my drama group has no committees, no 'politics' and no procedures that are followed slavishly from year to year, never mind whether they're useful or not. But everyone knows they need to commit to putting on a good performance.


Half a Sixpence rehearsal diary

Post 104

Lbclaire

An all-afternoon rehearsal yesterday, going through the whole show. I was really looking forward to it, having practised the dances like mad so I knew them really well, having gone through the songs etc so I was more sure of them.

But...

The first chorus number was 'Money to Burn', where there's a banjo player along with the orchestra. We only have a piano at the moment, of course, and amongst all the dancing feet and singing, the banjo player got hopelessly out of time with the piano, we didn't know who to keep up with as we could hardly hear the piano either, and it was complete chaos. Plus the director screamed at us to act and look happy all the way through, which was very constructive, as you can imagine. The atmosphere after that wasn't very good. She said 'you've worn your costumes today to get into character'. No. We wore our costumes so we could work out how we would have to adapt our dancing to cope with costumes that are too long, too tight, too heavy, too restrictive etc. You can't really think about acting when you're busy thinking 'oh bugger, I can't kick my leg out in this skirt'.

Plus the props person had a go at me when I deigned to ask whether we could have tables for the dance (which are an important part of it as several of us have to do stuff on top of them). She blasted out 'give me a break, I can't be expected to do everything' etc. etc. smiley - huh. So I suggested we got some tables from the art room (the theatre's in a school) as we usually do, and she refused. So we had to use the chairs that were onstage, and at a couple of points they'd all been taken so I was left standing there like a lemon.

In the few scenes after that, everyone was on edge, and the principals kept dropping lines and looking really nervous. smiley - sadface

Problem is, the director is starting to panic (I'd have been panicking a long time ago) and her way of trying to get people to learn what they're doing and perform is to shout. Hmmm. Not the most effective training method. If you want people to look happy and effervescent, the way to do it is not to stand there screaming at them in the middle of the number.

Anyway, we got through it, but I was knackered afterwards. One of my dresses needs taking up, which I'm going to do (can't sew properly but I'll just tack it up) and another one that has a broken zip exposed me wonderfully during one of the posh numbers, so that's gone back to the costume lady to have a new zip.

I had a parasol stuck into my hand for one of the numbers, so I have to figure out how to work that into all the arm movements. And I turned around to jump across my partner in another number only to find that he wasn't onstage. He'd been making a phone call, apparently. smiley - rolleyes. And in the disastrous 'Money to Burn' number, I got into my position as the corner of the diamond shape, only to find the clueless one right in front of me. She said 'oh, I'm in the wrong place' (NO, REALLY??), then pushed past me into the line behind (still in the wrong place), making me unable to do any of the first few bars of dance moves.

So many of these issues should have been worked out weeks ago. I've no doubt it'll be ready but it won't be as good as it could be (or maybe my standards are just too high), and the process shouldn't have to be this stressful. Everyone just says 'oh, it's always like this'. But isn't that a reason to change it??


Half a Sixpence rehearsal diary

Post 105

Pimms

What a laugh costume rehearsals are, eh? Really enjoying the voyeuristic glimpse of other people's panicking smiley - biggrin

More smiley - choc, smiley - zensmiley - dontpanic


Half a Sixpence rehearsal diary

Post 106

David B - Singing Librarian Owl

smiley - goodluck Be thankful that you have costumes this early!

Hopefully, the director will be more smiley - zen next time.


Half a Sixpence rehearsal diary

Post 107

Lbclaire

Yes, smiley - choc, smiley - choc, smiley - choc. Must keep energy levels up, eh? smiley - winkeye

And I'm sure you'll have your own panics for us to enjoy at some stage soon, Pimms - or do you always keep your smiley - cool?


Half a Sixpence rehearsal diary

Post 108

Lbclaire

I know we're lucky to have costumes so early - I just wish each member of the production team would communicate with the others and appreciate that the cast might need to concentrate more on one thing at a certain rehearsal than another.

Never mind the director, I need to get more smiley - zen! Maybe that smiley - choc will help...it's nearly Easter, after all...


Half a Sixpence rehearsal diary

Post 109

Pimms

I'm sure you were enjoying my smiley - yikes moments in Scrooge, such as when my wire got caught on the scenery, or when I had to make very restrained hops in the Nutcracker Suite to prevent my wig falling off.


Half a Sixpence rehearsal diary

Post 110

Lbclaire

smiley - laugh - amateur theatre eh, don't you just love it! Mind you, I bet professional theatre has its fair share of howlers and anxious moments. I certainly heard of one in Phantom of the Opera where the boat got stuck in the 'lake'...


Half a Sixpence rehearsal diary

Post 111

Lbclaire

Well...

I hate to count my chickens and all that, but last night's rehearsal actually showed a glimmer of 'performance' about it. It was as if everyone's 'on' button had suddenly been pushed, and everyone was acting away like mad. Even the dances didn't go too badly, although we still got a bit out of time with the piano and banjo in that one number.

Although...we were back in our nice acoustically-helpful, cosy little rehearsal room, with no-one struggling with costumes and with tables and chairs where we're used to them being. So I suppose you have to factor that in. But even so, the standard was much better than it has been before.

Sadly, the clueless one has been taken out of the one number she's worst (and most obvious) in. I feel pretty awful about this, as even though she is absolutely hopeless and gets in everyone's way, she's been asking to be excused from it for ages and they've always said 'oh, it'll be alright'. Now it is even more embarassing for her as it looks as if she's been dropped right at the last minute.

The dance looks much better, of course, but I still feel bad for being so impatient and intolerant. smiley - sadface

They tried to set up an extra rehearsal next Friday but as Kipps can't make it they decided it wasn't worth it. They're obviously still panicking (as they should be) but will just have to manage with the rehearsals we have left (four, including band call - smiley - yikes!). Mind you, I think they will be feeling a little better about it after last night. And we didn't get shouted at, apart from when people were chatting, so that's a bonus.

I actually quite enjoyed it, even though my head and neck were KILLING ME as I'd had quite a big chiropractic adjustment that day.

I need to buy hatpins...


Half a Sixpence rehearsal diary

Post 112

Lbclaire

We did Act 2 last night, which wasn't quite as good as Act 1, as it has the hardest dance in it (and the hardest singing - good idea to put them both together, eh? smiley - winkeye). Plus the MD has decided to increase the speed fourfold so we can barely keep our legs and hands (it's a hand and leg-slapping sort of dance) in time with the music. Which is made even harder by the fact that the dancing isn't in time with the music anyway - at one point the music goes : da DAH, da DAH, da DAH while the dancing goes : da da da, da da da, DAH DAH, da da da, da da da, DAH DAH. If you catch my drift. smiley - huh

But it wasn't too bad. And the principals stuff is looking very good - the two leads have a real chemistry and are good actors. Their singing voices aren't the strongest in the world, but they're tuneful and pleasant, and I personally prefer to see a good performer than a fantastic singer who stands there like a block of wood.

My main problem last night was my neck - I have a dodgy neck and keep it at bay with chiropractic treatment. I'd been suffering recently and had a treatment on Tuesday, which by Wednesday had left me feeling much better. Then I went and slipped down one of the stairs at home last night as I was rushing to go out to rehearsal and jarred my neck again, as well as my back. smiley - dohsmiley - groan. So it was feeling a bit stiff and sore. I avoided the twenty spins and told the choreographer why, but I just hope it gets better in time for Tuesday when we have to do the whole thing. It's a bit stiff this morning still, but I'm having a massage tomorrow so that should help. smiley - injured


Half a Sixpence rehearsal diary

Post 113

David B - Singing Librarian Owl

"I personally prefer to see a good performer than a fantastic singer who stands there like a block of wood"

I agree entirely. For a musical, they must be able to sing in a tuneful and pleasant way, but they must also be able to act, otherwise when they sing, you don't care about what they're singing about.

I hope your neck recovers sharpish.


Half a Sixpence rehearsal diary

Post 114

Pimms

smiley - goodluck with the neck recovery.

As long as you can keep relatively together as a grup (with no Mexican waves or chaotic collisions) and finish with the music, the number should look good to the audience smiley - tongueincheek(you *have* to believe this)


Half a Sixpence rehearsal diary

Post 115

Lbclaire

Exactly, David.

smiley - ta re. neck. smiley - smiley


Half a Sixpence rehearsal diary

Post 116

Lbclaire

Thanks, Pimms.

Yes, we all finish with the music, and I'm sure it'll all look fine to the audience. Although the choreographer did make the point last night that there are a couple of people who stand out because they don't know what they're doing, and they are the ones people will be looking at. Well, yeah! smiley - doh

Trouble is, a week and two days before the opening night is a bit late to start pointing this out. And the people concerned won't ask for help anyway and even if they did it wouldn't make any difference to their performance, not at this stage. One of them is the clueless one, of course, and she has a male counterpart, who is now known among everyone I know who came to see The Mikado as 'the bloke with the sticks' because he was always two beats behind everyone else in the banging sticks dance at the beginning of the show. And in a number that relied on banging sticks together at certain beats he stood out rather a lot. Of course, being taller and larger than all the other men, and being stuck in the middle of the line didn't help the audience not to notice him. Sigh.


Half a Sixpence rehearsal diary

Post 117

Lbclaire

Won't be spinning again tomorrow night... my neck got worse on Friday and I got home in lots of pain and went straight to bed. I'm off to get it put back into its rightful place again tomorrow, so I'm hoping it'll be alright by Sunday, when we have our tech and dress rehearsals. Timing eh? smiley - sadface

This has also meant I haven't been able to do my daily dancing practice, which is a bit concerning.

I have to miss band call on Thursday as I have a Twelfth Night rehearsal (I'm missing two TN rehearsals for show week and I can't really miss three in a row), but my friend is going to tape it for me so at least I get a chance to hear it before Sunday.


Half a Sixpence rehearsal diary

Post 118

David B - Singing Librarian Owl

smiley - sadface I shall keep my fingers firmly crossed for your neck, you memory of the steps and your friend's tape recorder.


Half a Sixpence rehearsal diary

Post 119

Lbclaire

smiley - ta David. smiley - smiley


Half a Sixpence rehearsal diary

Post 120

Pimms

What a pain in the neck smiley - yikessmiley - vampire

smiley - goodluck with neck &c.


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