Week ending 3rd October

Week Ending 3rd October

We’ve reached a milestone this week – we’ve finished blocking the play. In theory this means that everybody knows where they’re supposed to be in each scene – well that’s the theory! As with all huge cast plays not everybody has been to every rehearsal and will have to be slotted in to scenes.

Next week we’re running the play in 2 halves so we all get the feel for the flow of it. Richard, our stage manager, has written all the moves down. His backstage crew are due down too to help with finalising the props plot and work out the necessary traffic control for getting people on and off in the limited space we have in the wings. Wheelbarrows and carts full of corpses don’t help as they take up a lot of room.

On a personal note, one of the cast has had to drop out due to family commitments and I’ve acquired the role of first leper. This isn’t unusual in a large cast play. Our drop out rate has been very small – touch wood – but it does happen. The new role gives me some lovely sad lines but a costume made of rags! Can’t win – good frock not such good lines, nasty frock sad, lyrical lines. I’m currently toying with the idea of making my toes up.

Once we’ve staggered through the play, we start working on the detail of each scene. Not long to books down now, so people are starting to do bits without the book. Having learnt Camille, I now have to start again with first leper.

On the practical side, the wardrobe mistress has started making and sourcing costumes. She and I are looking at the props plot to decide what is costume and what props so that things don’t get done twice or not at all. For example, Ian, the director, would like Dr Antrechau to have a mask. This is partly to give him a mysterious and slightly scary look, but also to disguise the fact that the same actor is playing Patrice.

We’ll need a full production meeting soon to sort out how the flying Ian wants affects the lighting rig, where we are with the props and costumes. All of these have an impact on the risk assessment so we have to go through things closely.

All this and real life too!