Tonight, I am going to do something that I haven't done for ten years. I am going to have a singing lesson.
This is as much as anything else a sort of "getting to know you" lesson, where I shall meet up with the singing teacher, and we will work out whether we reckon we can work with each other. After all, we luvvies are such demanding types. But it does represent a step back towards doing things that really have not been practical since the children came along!
Not only is there a singing lesson, however, but it will be followed by two dancing lessons at The Dance Studio in Dunfermline. The first class is Tap, and that is followed by Jazz. I've also not been to dance classes for ten years... That too will be an interesting couple of hours!
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
This blog
It's worth noting that the timestamps on this blog are at GMT-8. I think that this post and subsequent ones should have the correct time...
(edit) Oh, of course, it's now chosen to fix them all, now that I've made a post. Forget it, the times are correct!
(edit) Oh, of course, it's now chosen to fix them all, now that I've made a post. Forget it, the times are correct!
Sunday - coming home
Got up around 8am, and went down to breakfast. Sat with Niamh and a few others, having gotten very wet in the short distance from the dormitory to the cafeteria. Then I went back to my room and somewhat frantically packed.
With that done, I walked down to the office to return my score and lib. Then back to my room, where I got the large suitcase and wheeled it down to the car. What a shame that I didn’t have my car keys with me. So I left the case in the pounding rain, and went back to my room. There I picked up my other case and the keys, and got everything into the car.
By this time I was totally soaking. I went back to the room and collected the final bag and, after a quick check that I hadn’t left anything behind, went back to the car. A few (damp) goodbye hugs on the way, and I was in the car. I towel-dried my hair and my feet, set the heater on “high” and started on my way.
The portion of the journey from Scarborough to Whitby took almost an hour. The clouds were low, and I was quite often driving through them. After that, however, things opened up a little and the journey home was uneventful and congestion-free. I had a slight detour to collect some things from my office, but even so I was home around 3pm.
And that was that. Summer school over for another year. I managed to chuck a few photos onto Flickr and Facebook (http://www.flickr.com/photos/atp/sets/72157606787776630/), but had to crash to an early bed.
I wonder if I’ll manage next year? La Cage aux Folles is not a show that I would expect to get many chances to do; it would be great fun. But DisneyWorld is going to be expensive. Mmmm…
A few stats on the journey home:
Distance 250 miles Average speed 45mph Time 5hr 37min Ave. Fuel consumption 55.8mpg
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Saturday - Performance Day
So, yesterday was dress rehearsal day. Today is performance day. It's the same deal as yesterday, running classes in the order A, B, C before dinner, then C, B, A after dinner.
Before that, we had a short rehearsal in the morning. There were lots of tired faces in the class, but we went over a few areas that didn't quite work yesterday. That took us until around 11am. We then gave some presents from the class to the production team, and broke for lunch.
A rush to get our makeup done and a photocall, and then it was time to go to the theatre. Class A was first, with Man of La Mancha. No crying this time - just - but another excellent performance. Class B came next, with Kiss Me Kate and then it was our turn.
I was surprised at the difference in my attitude this time. Yesterday I was very nervous about things like prop and costume placement, this time not nearly so bad. I was more able to concentrate on what I was meant to be doing onstage. This worked in contrast to my fatigue, and resulted in a performance that I felt was very similar to yesterday's!
When we came out for the break it was lovely to chat with many previous students who had come to Scarborough specially to see the performances. Then it was straight back into the thick of things. A run of Class C, this time with Julian, my opposite number, playing Steven and I was playing Rico. No "boo" this time... shame :-)
After that, Class B and then Class A. I was on for an instant at the end of Class A, as an agent of the Spanish Inquisition. My job was to pick a spot and stare menacingly at it for about two minutes. For the first time, my spot was occupied by an audience member. I feel sorry for her; she probably didn't know that I couldn't see her!
Then a shower and a first-class party and singalong. It's now 0245 as I get this ready to upload. I've got a five hour drive tomorrow.
In summary, another great Summer School week. I feel very pleased with what the school let me achieve this week. I had a wonderful time, and made some lovely new friends.
To anybody involved in amateur musical performance, I cannot recommend this week too highly. The compressed nature of what is done lets you manage more than you would have thought possible in a week. The multiple costume changes force you to learn how to organise and discipline yourself. The friendships to be made are priceless.
2009 information can be found (soon) at http://www.ross-online.org.uk. I am so wanting to be there!
Before that, we had a short rehearsal in the morning. There were lots of tired faces in the class, but we went over a few areas that didn't quite work yesterday. That took us until around 11am. We then gave some presents from the class to the production team, and broke for lunch.
A rush to get our makeup done and a photocall, and then it was time to go to the theatre. Class A was first, with Man of La Mancha. No crying this time - just - but another excellent performance. Class B came next, with Kiss Me Kate and then it was our turn.
I was surprised at the difference in my attitude this time. Yesterday I was very nervous about things like prop and costume placement, this time not nearly so bad. I was more able to concentrate on what I was meant to be doing onstage. This worked in contrast to my fatigue, and resulted in a performance that I felt was very similar to yesterday's!
When we came out for the break it was lovely to chat with many previous students who had come to Scarborough specially to see the performances. Then it was straight back into the thick of things. A run of Class C, this time with Julian, my opposite number, playing Steven and I was playing Rico. No "boo" this time... shame :-)
After that, Class B and then Class A. I was on for an instant at the end of Class A, as an agent of the Spanish Inquisition. My job was to pick a spot and stare menacingly at it for about two minutes. For the first time, my spot was occupied by an audience member. I feel sorry for her; she probably didn't know that I couldn't see her!
Then a shower and a first-class party and singalong. It's now 0245 as I get this ready to upload. I've got a five hour drive tomorrow.
In summary, another great Summer School week. I feel very pleased with what the school let me achieve this week. I had a wonderful time, and made some lovely new friends.
To anybody involved in amateur musical performance, I cannot recommend this week too highly. The compressed nature of what is done lets you manage more than you would have thought possible in a week. The multiple costume changes force you to learn how to organise and discipline yourself. The friendships to be made are priceless.
2009 information can be found (soon) at http://www.ross-online.org.uk. I am so wanting to be there!
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Friday is dress rehearsal day
Friday is dress rehearsal day.
We started in our own rehearsal room with a run-through without costumes. That went okay, with a couple of notes. Then it was tea break, and we had another run. This time we had costumes. I counted them; when I am Steven/Tony I have five costumes; when I am Rico I have four. All in a forty-five minute extract. Well, if the first duty of an actor is to come on in the right place, at the right time, in the right costume, this certainly helps encourage us to learn how to do that!
We got through both runs, and had lunch. Then it was time for lunch. After that it was dress rehearsal in the threatre. My first venture on stage was as a representative of the Inquisition for Class A. I sorted out where I was meant to be with the director, and luckily I was able to sit at the back of the theatre and take lots of photos before I was needed at the very end of "The Man From La Mancha". I admit that my biggest concern was that there would be makeup running down my face after I blubbed during "The Impossible Dream". It was beautifully sung and had a huge effect on me.
After that I watched Class B perform an extract from the new version of "Kiss Me Kate" before it was time for Class C.
I'd love to say that I was perfect in my role as Steven/Tony. I wasn't. I went straight to dialogue at one point, missing a short sung section. And the dancing probably wasn't quite 100%. But I did get a wolf-whistle when I stripped down to my boxers, so it's not all bad! Overall, the extract went very well. Even one chap who wasn't convinced he'd be able to get his head around the dancing danced and did just fine!
Then dinner, then we ran the whole lot in the opposite order. My class, with me being the baddie this time (I got booed as I walked off), then Kiss Me Kate, and finally Man From La Mancha.
Then a shower and a trip to the bar. You can bet that the first pint went down a treat!
We started in our own rehearsal room with a run-through without costumes. That went okay, with a couple of notes. Then it was tea break, and we had another run. This time we had costumes. I counted them; when I am Steven/Tony I have five costumes; when I am Rico I have four. All in a forty-five minute extract. Well, if the first duty of an actor is to come on in the right place, at the right time, in the right costume, this certainly helps encourage us to learn how to do that!
We got through both runs, and had lunch. Then it was time for lunch. After that it was dress rehearsal in the threatre. My first venture on stage was as a representative of the Inquisition for Class A. I sorted out where I was meant to be with the director, and luckily I was able to sit at the back of the theatre and take lots of photos before I was needed at the very end of "The Man From La Mancha". I admit that my biggest concern was that there would be makeup running down my face after I blubbed during "The Impossible Dream". It was beautifully sung and had a huge effect on me.
After that I watched Class B perform an extract from the new version of "Kiss Me Kate" before it was time for Class C.
I'd love to say that I was perfect in my role as Steven/Tony. I wasn't. I went straight to dialogue at one point, missing a short sung section. And the dancing probably wasn't quite 100%. But I did get a wolf-whistle when I stripped down to my boxers, so it's not all bad! Overall, the extract went very well. Even one chap who wasn't convinced he'd be able to get his head around the dancing danced and did just fine!
Then dinner, then we ran the whole lot in the opposite order. My class, with me being the baddie this time (I got booed as I walked off), then Kiss Me Kate, and finally Man From La Mancha.
Then a shower and a trip to the bar. You can bet that the first pint went down a treat!
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Thursday's over
Oh my gosh! That's Thursday over! Tomorrow is dress rehearsal day, then Saturday is the "public" performance of the extracts. Ulp!
It might be worth a word of explanation here. On Friday we present the work we have been doing to the rest of the school. Technically it's a dress rehearsal. Indeed, it's normal for the extract to be interrupted by the director fixing positioning, etc. But to many of the students, this is the performance that matters - it's the performance that's for the people they have been lunching with and sharing the bar with for the past week.
Anyway, that's another day. Today we started in the theatre. Each class gets one half day in the theatre before dress rehearsal. Ours was quite a good time to be there, because we had managed one run and were ready for another. So we did a run where I played Steven/Tony.
I thought this went okay. This was mainly because we got to the end of the extract without me having to resort to the book, I think that everyone else felt it was awful, and our director had to work hard with some positive words to raise everyone's spirits.
After tea break, we did another run where Julian played Steven/Tony and I was Rico. As far as I was concerned, this was a shambles. I failed to strike a pieve of furniture, and didn't show up at a point where I was meant to show a new tablecloth to the boss. I was devastated; everyone else seemed to think that it had gone much better than the previous run!
Then it was lunchtime, and a free afternoon. At lunch the classes for next year (2009) were announced. They are La Cage Aux Folles, A Funny Thing Happened... and Die Fledermaus. I would love to try La Cage, but I am just not convinced I can make it work with domestic life. Hmmm.....
During the afternoon Jo, our assistant director, helped us out a lot with dancing. I spent most of the afternoon dancing then went back to my room for a shower before dinner.
Another thing I did was try to write down my costume plot. As explained previously, there is no changing room, and there is an open curtain at the back of the stage. That means you cannot go from one side of the stage to the other - you must have your costume set at the correct side of the stage. So I spent about an hour writing down my notes of where I exit for each scene (for each character) and which costume I need to have pre-set.
While at dinner, three of us were talking and decided we wanted some more dance time. There was one chap who had only ever done one show before the school, and was feeling slightly overwhelmed. Then there was a girl who is a great dancer, and felt that any error was unforgivable. Somewhere in the middle was me, who realised that in "Dancin' Fool", he would have nobody to copy as he was right in front of the entire chorus...
We spent about two hours in the evening with my iPod and an active speaker, my notes and our collective memory, but by the end of it we had a pretty solid grasp of both Dancin' Fool and the opening. I feel that I might be able to do them both without humiliating myself. Which is a great step forward. For me, that represents the best of what summer school is about - the students getting together to try to do things just right!
I was determined to have an early bed, but here I am after 11pm writing my blog...
It might be worth a word of explanation here. On Friday we present the work we have been doing to the rest of the school. Technically it's a dress rehearsal. Indeed, it's normal for the extract to be interrupted by the director fixing positioning, etc. But to many of the students, this is the performance that matters - it's the performance that's for the people they have been lunching with and sharing the bar with for the past week.
Anyway, that's another day. Today we started in the theatre. Each class gets one half day in the theatre before dress rehearsal. Ours was quite a good time to be there, because we had managed one run and were ready for another. So we did a run where I played Steven/Tony.
I thought this went okay. This was mainly because we got to the end of the extract without me having to resort to the book, I think that everyone else felt it was awful, and our director had to work hard with some positive words to raise everyone's spirits.
After tea break, we did another run where Julian played Steven/Tony and I was Rico. As far as I was concerned, this was a shambles. I failed to strike a pieve of furniture, and didn't show up at a point where I was meant to show a new tablecloth to the boss. I was devastated; everyone else seemed to think that it had gone much better than the previous run!
Then it was lunchtime, and a free afternoon. At lunch the classes for next year (2009) were announced. They are La Cage Aux Folles, A Funny Thing Happened... and Die Fledermaus. I would love to try La Cage, but I am just not convinced I can make it work with domestic life. Hmmm.....
During the afternoon Jo, our assistant director, helped us out a lot with dancing. I spent most of the afternoon dancing then went back to my room for a shower before dinner.
Another thing I did was try to write down my costume plot. As explained previously, there is no changing room, and there is an open curtain at the back of the stage. That means you cannot go from one side of the stage to the other - you must have your costume set at the correct side of the stage. So I spent about an hour writing down my notes of where I exit for each scene (for each character) and which costume I need to have pre-set.
While at dinner, three of us were talking and decided we wanted some more dance time. There was one chap who had only ever done one show before the school, and was feeling slightly overwhelmed. Then there was a girl who is a great dancer, and felt that any error was unforgivable. Somewhere in the middle was me, who realised that in "Dancin' Fool", he would have nobody to copy as he was right in front of the entire chorus...
We spent about two hours in the evening with my iPod and an active speaker, my notes and our collective memory, but by the end of it we had a pretty solid grasp of both Dancin' Fool and the opening. I feel that I might be able to do them both without humiliating myself. Which is a great step forward. For me, that represents the best of what summer school is about - the students getting together to try to do things just right!
I was determined to have an early bed, but here I am after 11pm writing my blog...
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
The Wednesday Wall
A busy day. After breakfast, we went over some of the work from yesterday. Then the boys had a slightly more relaxed time while the girls set two numbers - the rehearsal scene (a tap number) and Ay Caramba (an all-out Latin number). Then after lunch we set all the Rico scenes, and finally the finale. That meant that after the afternoon teabreak we were able to do a "run" of the whole show.
Around lunchtime, we had the costumes delivered to the school, and I was one of the small army of helpers who ferried the hampers in from the van to the rehearsal rooms.
Before dinner I went for a drive to try to find a black shirt. I had one set out, but somehow it just didn't get packed. I managed to find the only large, 24-hour Tesco in the world that doesn't sell clothes! I ended up just getting back to the University in time for dinner.
After that, we went to the rehearsal room to collect our costumes. I have ended up with five costumes, one of which I have to share with the other Steven/Tony. They are:
white suit, for the opening number
blue suit, used for Rico in Havana and for the time when Steven is going off to rescue Lola
evening suit, used for Rico's walk across the stage
black sequinned outfit, used for Dancin' Fool
dressing gown, for the opening
In addition, I also have a robe, crucifix and hat for the moment that I am onstage for Man of La Mancha.
Wednesday is traditionally the day of the "Wednesday Wobbles" or the "Wednesday Wall". People tend to reach their capacity, and start doubting their ability to do what is required. I can identify with this - there are lots of pieces of dialogue that I stumbled over, and I am nervous about some parts of the dances. There are a few bits of Dancin' Fool that I have trouble with, and the opening is far worse...
Tomorrow (Thursday) is going to be a day for consolidation.
Around lunchtime, we had the costumes delivered to the school, and I was one of the small army of helpers who ferried the hampers in from the van to the rehearsal rooms.
Before dinner I went for a drive to try to find a black shirt. I had one set out, but somehow it just didn't get packed. I managed to find the only large, 24-hour Tesco in the world that doesn't sell clothes! I ended up just getting back to the University in time for dinner.
After that, we went to the rehearsal room to collect our costumes. I have ended up with five costumes, one of which I have to share with the other Steven/Tony. They are:
white suit, for the opening number
blue suit, used for Rico in Havana and for the time when Steven is going off to rescue Lola
evening suit, used for Rico's walk across the stage
black sequinned outfit, used for Dancin' Fool
dressing gown, for the opening
In addition, I also have a robe, crucifix and hat for the moment that I am onstage for Man of La Mancha.
Wednesday is traditionally the day of the "Wednesday Wobbles" or the "Wednesday Wall". People tend to reach their capacity, and start doubting their ability to do what is required. I can identify with this - there are lots of pieces of dialogue that I stumbled over, and I am nervous about some parts of the dances. There are a few bits of Dancin' Fool that I have trouble with, and the opening is far worse...
Tomorrow (Thursday) is going to be a day for consolidation.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
