February 28th 2010

Today was a dress rehearsal; sets, costumes, fake beard and all! The director said at the end of Act One:

"I want to cry. –pause in which everyone looks around worriedly- Because seeing this all coming together just makes me so happy….I feel really emotional, it's fantastic." She was, as you can probably tell from the aforementioned speech, very pleased. We had quite a lot of mistakes and bloopers but for a first full costume run through methinks it went very well indeed.

Nifty Stuff & Bloopers:

. Fagin was in full costume hair and makeup today; scaring her own mother (and everyone else). XD One time I was walking past a dressing room, two of the younger kids came out and literally jumped backwards, terrified. The director hadn't seen the full effect (crazy hair, beard, old guy makeup) until the curtains parted for my first scene; I heard her gasp with shock. XD It was great fun.

.I actually managed to sing Pick A Pocket OK today! ^^ Our musical director changed the way he's playing the piano, even without my asking, so it works much better now. 8D

. I and one of my gang members waltzed down the corridor as Nancy sang 'As Long As He Needs Me'…don't ask. XD

.During Reviewing The Situation, my moustache nearly fell off. I salvaged it with some hastily improvised 'creepy beard stroking' type action and carried on singing. XD

. Also during said song, as part of my cheoreography I shake someone in the audience's hand for 'wonder who my boss'll be'. My old English teacher, a somewhat strict but excellent chap, happened to have arrived to watch the rehearsal. I shook his hand and he looked very surprised. =P It was funny, and afterwards he told me he'd be in the same seat on Saturday night when we open! XD

. After said song….my most embarrassing moment ever. EVER.
I left my mic on…totally forgot to switch it off. D8 Wandered about, had a conversation with Bet (practicing her drunkenness for Oom Pah Pah!), talked to self about something… XD Was hailed by my mother and several backstage people '!!!!!!'

Luckily they managed to turn the mic volume down from the main control so most of what I'd said wasn't heard (not that anything rude or awkward was said at all but still…) So embarrassed. Luckily I wasn't singled out for my stupidity during the directors notes, but it wasn't just me who forgot to turn the mic off…is that a good thing or not? XD I can hardly see the thing as its tiny and the pack is in a pocket under my coat; I just forget it's there…

.The smoke machine was used to great effect during the London Bridge scene, so much so that Nancy's line to Oliver ('There he is, see him?') seemed almost comical. Loadsa smoke. XD It was fantastic though, really creepy and atmospheric. 8D –excited-

. The strawberry sellers for Who Will Buy didn't have their fake strawberries yet; their baskets had print outs of pictures of strawberries in them. =P My mum (prop/Faginy shoe finder extraordinaire) and I went out this afternoon and bought some fake ones, so the crisis is resolved.

. The Who Will Buy soloists, Dodger, the rest of the gang, Nancy and myself will be performing some numbers in an assembly for the school on Wednesday! =s First 'proper' audience as it were...meep!

.Today's Lesson #1: Turn off the microphone!

Today's Lesson #2: Ripping a fake beard of your face hurts.

Today's Lesson #3: Attempting to eat a tuna sandwhich with a fake beard on is a stupid idea.

Today's Lesson #4: Try not to trip over own props or shoes, no matter how pointy.

And finally…

Today's Lesson #5: Don't forget you have old guy makeup on your face even when your fake beard has come off. You still look creepy and acting like yourself makes it weirder.

XD