January 13th 2010
A major update! ^^ Tomorrow is my first day back at lunchtime rehearsals; the mocks are finally over! Today we had our second of two after school rehearsals and I was actually able to attend rehearsal on the Monday before the mocks at lunch. Here are some relatively brief update/summary thingymajigs…
Monday 7th January
Went through Act Two, Scene One- Oliver in Court. A very interesting and fun to play out blocking choice, but myself, Dodger and Nancy are in the public gallery watching what's going on. It really adds something to Fagin I think; I also have Bill's line in Scene Two ('We've got to get him back…three days since I've seen him'). It's as though Fagin is concerned enough about saving his skin from the traps that he himself risks spying on Oliver and not just sending Sykes, Dodger and Nancy to do it for him. ^^ Very fun. Also, another funny moment as always seem to crop up…
FAGIN: He could still blab!
NANCY: Leave him be!
FAGIN: Dodger! Don't lose him!
(Dodger takes off after Oliver and Brownlow)
The scene is officially run through. Pause.
DODGER'S VOICE FROM BEHIND THE CURTAIN: Lost 'im!
FAGIN: (very out of character) Darn-nabbit!
That was quite funny if I do say so myself; even the director laughed! The acting coach was considering having us gallery members actually sitting in the audience to bring them closer to the show but sadly since our theatre is very small and we have limited seats this nifty idea will probably not come to fruition.
Speaking of my acting coach; Drama Workshop on Monday nights is back on with Fagin, Dodger, Charley Bates/Noah Claypole, Bill Sykes, Nancy, Bet, Mrs. Sowerberry and Oliver in attendance! Fun fun fun! Our homework is to write a brief summary in character; who are you, where have you come from, where are you going, what do you think of yourself, what do others think of you….etc. Great fun to write. I also got to read the chapter from Dickens' original text after Sykes and Nancy bring Oliver back to Fagin's and do all the voices… =P My drama coach knows me all too well.
Wednesday 9th January
The first after school rehearsal! –squee- First ever sing through of Pick A Pocket; our musical director is amazing. Seriously. Here's what he said after the first ever sing through, which I somehow spoke-sang instead of actually singing as normal (something about the piano just catches me off guard, got to work on that!)…
"Now Cat, she's in character. She speaks it, she sings it, she lives it, she breathes it. She is Fagin."
I love this guy. He's so calm and funny and always has a kind word to say to anyone. He's a brilliant musical director (and I should know since I've been in his orchestra for two years!)
Also looked in on Nancy and Bet singing 'Fine Life'. I then joined them in an attempt to sing 'Who Will Buy' and discovered the un-nerving fact that I may be some sort of soprano…
O___o
"Any miiiiilk today?"
Wednesday 13th January
Sang through Pick-A-Pocket again; it was pronounced that it's going to be fine and that my musical director 'doesn't need to worry about me'. XD I still need to work on singing it; for some reason I want to follow the piano and not just sing by myself; the fact he says 'You just sing, I'll follow you' is a disconcerting concept to me as I'm so used to singing with a backing track. It's very fun; he gives me little intervals between verses; as many bars as I want to say something ('Who says crime doesn't pay?') or just have a brief one bar break before going onto the next verse. Great fun.
Nancy sang 'Fine Life' and 'As Long As He Needs Me'. She was quite sick today and out of breath a bit but OH MY GOODNESS. Who cares?! Her "ALAHNM' was perfect. Seriously. She didn't copy Shani Wallis or anyone, she just did it her own way with some different inflections on different notes etc and…honestly, I was tearing up a bit at the end. Gadsooks, she's a wonder. 8D
Also, when she sang 'If you don't mind having to deal with Fagin…' she (standing) smacked me (sitting) with her script. XD It was hilarious…just the sort of thing I hope they'll put in the choreography (without the script though). =P
I also sang through 'Be Back Soon'; its fine except for the phrase itself at the end of all my verses. XD I have to bring it down an octave. Also, since the gang was off blocking 'Consider Yourself' I sang the boys parts too; the whole song, now I come to think of it. I can trill out sweet little urchin voices no trouble but going down an octave on that 'Be back soon' bit? –head desk-
MUSICAL DIRECTOR: It's odd…you've got such a weird, opera soprano-y thing going on there…I like that! XD
OTHER EQUALLY AMAZING MUSICAL DIRECTOR CHAP: Maybe add that into when you're singing Fagin –sings the line in an amazing Fagin-y way-
ME: -thinking- OH SNAP…AM I A SOPRANO PRETENDING TO BE A MEZZO PRETENDING TO BE A BARITONE?
After rehearsal had ended however my musical director and I had a chat; he said I was perfect, this was my role to do with what I want, my voice is perfect for the part so I don't need to panic about not technically singing in 'Pick-A-Pocket'. I'm meeting him tomorrow morning for a twenty minute singing session before school starts…this will probably become a regular slot as Nancy has Mondays and Wednesdays so it only goes to follow that I have a slot as well. He said we'll work on Reviewing The Situation then sing through all three! –excited but nervous-
Also tomorrow I'll be running through Act 2 Scene 2 (which I missed blocking due to mocks) and Act 2, Scene 3 (where Bill steals the money I steal from Oliver, Nancy yells at me, and Bill and I have that discussion about chickens)! –excited- Two of my favourite scenes! 8D
Approximately eight weeks before the curtain rises on Saturday the 6th of Match 2010! –bites fingernails-
On that note; a change to the rehearsal schedule which may be of interest although (sadly) you, my dear readers, won't actually be able to come and see me (and trust me, I'd love to meet you guys…hope that doesn't sound creepy!)
On Saturday 6th March we have a full run through dress rehearsal with an audience in the morning then officially open the season that night with a 'Grand Gala Performance'- adults only, wine and nibbles, audience come in formal wear or character costumes….
I'm really looking forward to that! Also, after every show we meet the audience in the foyer and, still in costume and character, sign their programmes/t-shirts and just generally have a mingle. It's great fun; the little kids loved me last year as Frenchy with my pink wig. XD They'll probably be scared of me this year. =P I've already planned what I'm going to write on people's programmes…
"Shut up and drink yer gin!"
Classic.
On that note I must skedaddle…so long fare thee well, pip pip cheerio…