The cast have practiced in the UT theatre for two full days before giving a 'work-in-progress' showing on Sunday. This showing is for only a handful of audience members that are selected to give constructive criticism.
The cast present their work with some costume, little tech support and some of their musicians due to time limits. This leaves good focus on the plot and the script before the finishing touches are done to the sets/costumes etc. The production as a whole will be perfected before the company go on tour.
The performance runs smoothly. The costumes add to the feel of the play and at the end, positive feed back is given by the audience. Sam notes these down in order to touch up the script. Some members wanted to see Beast angrier, some wanted Belle to ask her father why he sacrificed her etc. All of this was taken on board and will help build the play.
All meet for social drinks after and look forward to picking the play up again nearer the tour dates.
Tuesday, 23 March 2010
B.O.B Work In Progress 21/03/2010
B.O.B Rehearsal 18/03/2010
To run through songs, practicing vocals with Joseph. The rest of Joseph's band are unable to make it due to sickness but will be having regular rehearsals until the touring begins. Sam Grogan, Belle and Beast not present.
*warm up*
The cast practice through the beginning scene in Unit One with Joseph on Keyboard. Next the cast practice the song 'coatless hooks' and the office dance. Despite Joseph not having his full band to accompany him, he plays beats and chords on the keyboard to let the cast practice their dance moves with his scored timings. Joseph runs over his cues with the cast to double check both the music and the scene marry up.
Practice the end of 'my new best friend' and the scene where father wakes up in Beast’s house. Joseph practices chords until the cast reform as the house. He scores the time.
Cast practice Father's turmoil dance with Joseph on keyboard chords. This helps the cast get used to the basic music Joseph has scored and it also helps Joseph map out the timing with each scene. Next Beast and Belle run through their relationship scenes and Joseph again notes the times with his chords.
Joseph explains the build ups in music for Belle escaping the room and that he has written the music for the still images of Belle and Beast for the 9 still images. He states that he has added plucking for strings with haunting viola solos to add to scenes.
Joseph moves briefly through the end scenes. He explains how that strings will keep the classic chords used through out the whole play.
Joseph adapts his score for the last scene. It has been noted that the music is a little long than expected so Joseph is to work on this again with the full cast and the full cast of musicians at the next rehearsal.
Cast end early as due to low on numbers but all leave with a better understanding of the basic music.
B.O.B Rehearsal 10/03/2010
Aim: To run through with full production team and Joseph the composer. Joseph has scored all of the music so far but is yet to work on harmonies and the finer details of the songs with the cast.
*warm up with vocals*
Practice starts from the opening of Unit One. Progress has been made; the cast begin in a line, whispering their fearful experiences with Beast before moving into the whispering wall of Beast's home. The cast run through each unit for the production team and composer. The run through is timed so cues can be worked out.
Belle and Father has shown they have built up on their own monologues, revising their lines by heart. In Unit 5 father shows he is acutely aware of the bodies that make up the walls and furniture of Beast's house. Beast lets Father know he knows more about him by talking about a photo of his wife. Beast now demands Father's Daughter rather than setting the previously scripted ' you will give me the first person you see' which is a bit more fairy tale like.
The cast run through the dances without and music. 52 minutes was recorded. Sam Grogan talks the production team through lighting cues and the cast take a short break before developing notes for improvement.
Next the cast practice their vocals and the songs for their performances with Joseph. He works with the cast to improve the songs and tailor their singing in with what he has already scored. Joseph constructively works with the cast to erase any out of pitch notes or errors. Sam asks the cast to run over all they have practiced with Joseph. He listens acutely with his eyes closed. Sam is very pleased with the vocal growth and improvement of the company.
**Sam has set a 'work in progress' performance to an invited audience. This will give the production constructive criticism from fresh perspectives; leading the final piece to be perfected prior to the tour**
Cast go and visit the Costume Team at the end to begin their fitting
Wednesday, 10 March 2010
B.O.B Rehearsals 04/03/2010 UNIT RUN THROUGH
Aim: To run through everything with Theatre Production member Luke. To give him an idea of what is going on with the new version of the production; he worked on the previous production.
*warm up*
Working on the Units:
The cast shoot through several scenes briefly. Sam wants to brush up and touch up newly developed scenes.
The cast shoot through several scenes briefly. Sam wants to brush up and touch up newly developed scenes.
The cast have built up on the back ground of the house being alive. It whispers Beast's thoughts and enhances the sinister surroundings e.g. when Beast puts Belle into her room in unit 7. The rest of the cast huddle and crowd Beast as he walks with Belle's sleeping body, acting as an extension of his conscience and his dark history. The corridor of whispering dead becomes animated with each scene. It has been incorporated into the first scenes when Belle is being visited by Beast. As the cast runs through each scene, Sam states lighting cues and tells Luke of any props required for the scene.
The whispering wall practices acting as a corridor that shows Belle the way to the red ribbon. The movements are laid down quickly and the wall continues to act as a dark backdrop to Belle and Beast's relationship.
**
The cast skip onto scene 10 when Belle and Beast share a slow and intimate dance. The background cast in the scene practice breaking from the whispering wall and dancing with the shadow of a loved one.
Development has been made on unit 11 when Belle makes her way to Father. The rest of the cast whisper around Belle as she makes her journey back to her Father. The group begin to brainstorm ideas of what they would say to Belle as she crawls home. Belle runs through the manic group as they cry out to her to with each of their own pleas e.g ' tell my mum I love her', 'run'..etc. The scene has developed more with the background cast.
*five minute break*
Super fast movements through all units so cast revise their individual journey in each unit. Here are a few photos from a few of the scenes practiced:
Unit 5- Father wakes in Beast's house. The furniture is made from previous victims.
Unit 7- Father returns home hoping Belle not to be in but weeps as she runs into his arms and greets him.
(sorry the video has no sound)
Tuesday, 2 March 2010
B.O.B Rehearsals 24/02/2010 UNIT RUN THROUGH
(ASM/ DSM prop production team of three (one missing due to illness), Sam Grogan, Kelcie (in-house writer) and full cast.
* warm up*
Aim; To run through the play to illustrate the plot to the visiting production team. The cast, over the course of the past two weeks, have completed the tail end units. They aim today to iron out pieces. Kelcie is to tailor the script from watching the run through today.
*Cast warm up and Sam Grogan discusses the backdrop of the play's stage to the production students; ideas of London, large paper piles, very Tim Burton style, 'urban tramp' are outlined for the general style of the play * (Click here to see Sam's reference for costumes and sets)
The cast practice the office dance to warm up.
The run through is cut down to save time and so the cast can practice particular scenes. Each cast member has the first draft of the script that Kelcie has sent round, referencing this in scenes.
Each cast member maps out his/ her's path through each scene. Adaptations are made to song patterns, harmonies and the office dance is mutually agreed as too long, so plans are set to shorten it. The cast skim over the long unit that shows the development of Beast and Belle's relationship. The cast move on to the recently mapped out units, beginning with the end of unit 9.
Unit 9.
Belle has asks to leave. Beast pleads, yet Belle leaves. Beast cries after Belle that she'll see him as he really is. Beast then starts throwing the surrounding cast which mimic stiff dead bodies of his last victims. Bodies lie awkwardly on the floor, out sprung.
Unit 10/11
As Belle makes her journey home; the cast create a storm of twirl of sinister laughter surrounding her. Belle runs through and cries out for her father in the storm before being sucked back into the emotional whirlpool. Pulling through, Belle runs back into her father's arms, sharing a hug before an argument begins with her father. Belle realised that her farther sacrificed her giving her to Beast. Belle returns to beast and, for the first time, sees the bodies. Beast states it was a bad idea for her returning but she is the cure, the cure for him.
Round up at the end of the session:
* Beast's monologue in unit one has to fit with the music by being a little shorter and Bijan has to speak to the corpse prior to putting her in the wall.
* Unit two's first section of the text is too aloof requiring more of convocation with the self, directs Sam.
* Street scene needs a little tidy, more thoughts of random walking and all cast must please note Bijan's (beasts') monologue to know their cue's perfectly
*After reminiscing (father) of I loved her so much and now she has gone, father’s text must fit the music better * Kelcie to work on*
*Suggestion of chair of bodies to be formed around real chairs to minimalise the shaking and increase stability for the scene. 3 chairs to be used and large butchers table (if possible)
NEXT SESSION:
Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday
** There now needs to be separate rehearsals for scenes, songs and choreography so that parts are perfected. Monday, the groups will be split into separate rooms, (Belle, Father and Beast in room one due to little participation in dancing/ singing), room two will have the rest of the cast.
** Tuesday will bring the two groups together
** Thursday will have Joseph watch all together and have him work on the music for the play.
** I have adjusted the setting on the Beast of burden youtube account. You should be able to all view them. If not, just drop me an email!
Friday, 19 February 2010
Posting
Unfortunately I've been posted out in the sticks, so posting blogs has proven impossible, indeed, getting internet has been the stuff of dreams.
I hope I can post soon when I move locations back daaan saaaaff to Essex the 2nd (Hertforshire)
Speak soon,
Keep well,
Yours in Theatre
Sam