I'm exhausted. Today was the first of two set builds for the kid's show, Movies!. 7 of the older group members came to help the adults hang the backdrop and then paint both it and the two side flats.
After two "Stupid question" phone calls to Setman on a) How to put up the large A frame ladder and b) which rail the drop should go on, we were underway apart from the fact that no one could fathom out how to work the overhead projector which we were going to use to copy the image onto the backdrop. After stupid question c) to Chairman as we couldn't get hold of Producer Him on the phone, we just did a rough line across the drop so that we could start painting before Producer Him arrived to do his thing.
The backdrop is an image of the Hollywood hills with the white sign and searchlights and the side flats are of Oscar statues. I have to say - it looks great - so good in fact that Director Rat and I are wondering if we can use the same backdrop for Rat Pack to save some money and set building time.... We shall see.
In between painting the youngsters asked for the show CD to be put on and proceeded to make more noise singing the songs than all 29 of the group made on Thursday evening when rehearsing. It appears that in order to make kids sing loud they have to have a paintbrush in one hand, an ice lolly in the other and a liberal covering of emulsion paint on their clothes, hands, feet, faces and hair.....
Meanwhile - in the costume corner .... (http://www.allaboutcostumes.blogspot.com/)
Lyric of the Blog: " There's something in the air in Hollywood. The sun is shining like you knew it would. You're ridin' in your car in Hollywood. You got the top down and it feels so good " Madonna
Sunday, 29 April 2007
Friday, 27 April 2007
AMBD Rehearsal - Thurs 26th April
Director Witch has been sick for the past two days so Producer Him and Producer Her were left "in charge" last night. Rehearsals couldn't start until 9pm as Room 1 was booked so we had to wait until the Academy had finished before we could start.
The first hour of the evening was spent with Producer Him doing character analysis with everyone, asking questions about what their names were, who they liked and disliked in the prison cell and why, how and why they thought they had been captured and generally expanding on what little we know for certain from the script with the other members of the cast asking each other questions.
Chairman then set up a microphone on my laptop and we recorded the entire script in 6 small chunks which were then ripped onto a CD to help everyone learn their lines.
Lyric of the Blog: " This is how you remind me of who I really am" Nickleback
The first hour of the evening was spent with Producer Him doing character analysis with everyone, asking questions about what their names were, who they liked and disliked in the prison cell and why, how and why they thought they had been captured and generally expanding on what little we know for certain from the script with the other members of the cast asking each other questions.
Chairman then set up a microphone on my laptop and we recorded the entire script in 6 small chunks which were then ripped onto a CD to help everyone learn their lines.
Lyric of the Blog: " This is how you remind me of who I really am" Nickleback
Thursday, 26 April 2007
Cuz
Someone asked a while back why Director Demon calls me "Cuz". Well. As I mentioned in an earlier entry on this blog, we're related. Sort of.
Are you sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin..... My uncle (My Mum's sister's husband) was brought up by his aunt and uncle rather than by his parents (I think I'm right in saying that they died when he was very young). Anyway. He was brought up by them and lived with his cousin who became more like a brother. That "brother" is Director Demon's uncle. Still with me? - thought not!
As a child, at family gatherings for that side of my family, Director Demon's Great Aunt & Uncle, Uncle and family would be there and Uncle M, Director Demon's uncle, would tease me relentlessly. My parents also went on several holidays to the USA and Australia with my Aunt and Director Demon's Aunt (sister of Director Demon's Uncle M!) after my uncle had died and have stayed with Director Demon's Aunt where she now lives in the West Country.
So the "relationship" is through two cousins who were brought up as brothers. My Mum and Aunt made the connection when they came to see the second show I was performing in with the group in 2000. Director Demon was in it was well in the JCS segue which he also directed, I think.
It may be a tenuous link but as far as I'm concerned, he's just my big Cousin!!
I'm not sure where Director Demon's love of the stage comes from though. Mine was almost certainly inherited. From a Grandfather who was a professional opera singer in Liverpool and sang with a stage name and his wife, my grandmother, who was a pianist and accompanied him. Mum has all the photos and documents in a box at home and Mum herself sang in a choral society for a number of years.
Lyric of the Blog: " Looking back it's so bizarre, it runs in the family, all the things we are" Level 42
Are you sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin..... My uncle (My Mum's sister's husband) was brought up by his aunt and uncle rather than by his parents (I think I'm right in saying that they died when he was very young). Anyway. He was brought up by them and lived with his cousin who became more like a brother. That "brother" is Director Demon's uncle. Still with me? - thought not!
As a child, at family gatherings for that side of my family, Director Demon's Great Aunt & Uncle, Uncle and family would be there and Uncle M, Director Demon's uncle, would tease me relentlessly. My parents also went on several holidays to the USA and Australia with my Aunt and Director Demon's Aunt (sister of Director Demon's Uncle M!) after my uncle had died and have stayed with Director Demon's Aunt where she now lives in the West Country.
So the "relationship" is through two cousins who were brought up as brothers. My Mum and Aunt made the connection when they came to see the second show I was performing in with the group in 2000. Director Demon was in it was well in the JCS segue which he also directed, I think.
It may be a tenuous link but as far as I'm concerned, he's just my big Cousin!!
I'm not sure where Director Demon's love of the stage comes from though. Mine was almost certainly inherited. From a Grandfather who was a professional opera singer in Liverpool and sang with a stage name and his wife, my grandmother, who was a pianist and accompanied him. Mum has all the photos and documents in a box at home and Mum herself sang in a choral society for a number of years.
Lyric of the Blog: " Looking back it's so bizarre, it runs in the family, all the things we are" Level 42
Wednesday, 25 April 2007
Rat Fans
It was my Dad's birthday today. He's 83!
It's been a weird day of not being able to stick to any one job for any length of time due to the fact that a) the volume of work to be done was mounting by the hour. b) the volume of show emails was completely mad following the Rat Pack rehearsal last night and c) I just couldn't concentrate on anything 100% work or shows, no matter how hard I tried. My mind was elsewhere.
Last night the Rat Packers were in the hall for a rehearsal for their 'Green Room' production called "Songs from the Rat Pack". A green room show basically is a show that someone puts on an invites the cast to perform in rather than openly auditioning for it. This is being done primarily as a fund raiser for the group as it's a medium of both song and theatre which we don't get to use too often in our other shows during the year and various members of the group love.
Eight singers - Mr Chairman, Director Demon (Devils), the Ginger One (Mort) and Sarah the Cook (Dick Whittington), Princess Keli & Footnote (Mort), Marta (Company) and Aladdin (Aladdin) along with Aladdin Jnr as Barman will be gracing the stage to sing Rat Pack numbers.
The band will be headed up by MD (Dick Whittington) and playing are MD, Mr Keys, Bass Guitarist and Drummer Boy.
Having handed over costumes to Aladdin for a fancy dress party and spoken to The Boss Man about wine orders for both Rat Pack and the summer show, I headed home.
Lyric of the Blog: " Fly me to the moon and let me play among the stars. Let me see what spring is like on Jupiter and Mars. In other words hold my hand. In other words darling kiss me.
Fill my life with song and let me sing forevermore. You are all I hope for all I worship and adore. In other words please be true. In other words I love you " Frank Sinatra
It's been a weird day of not being able to stick to any one job for any length of time due to the fact that a) the volume of work to be done was mounting by the hour. b) the volume of show emails was completely mad following the Rat Pack rehearsal last night and c) I just couldn't concentrate on anything 100% work or shows, no matter how hard I tried. My mind was elsewhere.
Last night the Rat Packers were in the hall for a rehearsal for their 'Green Room' production called "Songs from the Rat Pack". A green room show basically is a show that someone puts on an invites the cast to perform in rather than openly auditioning for it. This is being done primarily as a fund raiser for the group as it's a medium of both song and theatre which we don't get to use too often in our other shows during the year and various members of the group love.
Eight singers - Mr Chairman, Director Demon (Devils), the Ginger One (Mort) and Sarah the Cook (Dick Whittington), Princess Keli & Footnote (Mort), Marta (Company) and Aladdin (Aladdin) along with Aladdin Jnr as Barman will be gracing the stage to sing Rat Pack numbers.
The band will be headed up by MD (Dick Whittington) and playing are MD, Mr Keys, Bass Guitarist and Drummer Boy.
Having handed over costumes to Aladdin for a fancy dress party and spoken to The Boss Man about wine orders for both Rat Pack and the summer show, I headed home.
Lyric of the Blog: " Fly me to the moon and let me play among the stars. Let me see what spring is like on Jupiter and Mars. In other words hold my hand. In other words darling kiss me.
Fill my life with song and let me sing forevermore. You are all I hope for all I worship and adore. In other words please be true. In other words I love you " Frank Sinatra
Tuesday, 24 April 2007
Trials
We had our annual quiz night on Sunday evening which meant that Secretary and I spent our day buying and 'doing' food. After a trip to Costco at Reading we had a brief cuppa in the garden with the robin and blue tits who are nesting before heading off to PC World for printer cartridges for Director Witch so that he could print the rest of the answer sheets. Then back to Tesco to collect ourselves some lunch which we finally ate at 4pm (we were starving!) and a trip to the garden centre to buy Secretary some pots for her tomato plants.
Secretary was taken royal on Sunday. Not sure if she was understudying Queenie or Helene Mirren but she suddenly realised that she hadn't got her purse with her so her loyal subject paid. The loyal subject did let her carry the bags though!!!!!
Secretary is actually on Jury Service at the moment. Another trial!!!
We were doing a Ploughman's Supper. A good excuse for a dry run to see what it would look like for the food for the summer show audience. Secretary and I arrived at the hall along with Calm Woman, Treasurer and Matt to set tables and prep food.
Certainly didn't get any complaints about it so other than the fact that the paper plates were far too floppy and the pickled onions too big, maybe, it was deemed a success. If we sell out the summer show that's 384 audience plus cast and crew to cater for!!!!!
GuyMan is also on trial this week. He appeared at rehearsals last night with some sort of mobile ECG machine type thing wired to him with various sticky patches and insisted on showing us all his chest to prove it. (Wolf Whistle!) Can't remember exactly what it was for but I suspect it might be Asthma related as he's a fellow sufferer (and fellow chocoholic too!). At last check the machine seemed to think he was still alive.
Movies! Wardrobe Assistant confided last night that GuyMan saw rather too much of Producer Her's legs recently and reckons she's got a decent pair of pins on her. I'll leave it to your imagination as to the shade of red that Producer Her was at this point but she was very flattered. (Poor Guy. Am sure he must be able to think of something better to look at than Producer Her's legs!!!)
Lyric of the Blog: " The crown will plainly show, the prisoner who now stands before you was caught red handed showing feelings. Showing feelings of an almost human nature. This will not do." Pink Floyd
Secretary was taken royal on Sunday. Not sure if she was understudying Queenie or Helene Mirren but she suddenly realised that she hadn't got her purse with her so her loyal subject paid. The loyal subject did let her carry the bags though!!!!!
Secretary is actually on Jury Service at the moment. Another trial!!!
We were doing a Ploughman's Supper. A good excuse for a dry run to see what it would look like for the food for the summer show audience. Secretary and I arrived at the hall along with Calm Woman, Treasurer and Matt to set tables and prep food.
Certainly didn't get any complaints about it so other than the fact that the paper plates were far too floppy and the pickled onions too big, maybe, it was deemed a success. If we sell out the summer show that's 384 audience plus cast and crew to cater for!!!!!
GuyMan is also on trial this week. He appeared at rehearsals last night with some sort of mobile ECG machine type thing wired to him with various sticky patches and insisted on showing us all his chest to prove it. (Wolf Whistle!) Can't remember exactly what it was for but I suspect it might be Asthma related as he's a fellow sufferer (and fellow chocoholic too!). At last check the machine seemed to think he was still alive.
Movies! Wardrobe Assistant confided last night that GuyMan saw rather too much of Producer Her's legs recently and reckons she's got a decent pair of pins on her. I'll leave it to your imagination as to the shade of red that Producer Her was at this point but she was very flattered. (Poor Guy. Am sure he must be able to think of something better to look at than Producer Her's legs!!!)
Lyric of the Blog: " The crown will plainly show, the prisoner who now stands before you was caught red handed showing feelings. Showing feelings of an almost human nature. This will not do." Pink Floyd
Monday, 23 April 2007
Demon Rehearsal - Mon 23rd April
I was involved in the rehearsals for Movies! so wasn't around when rehearsals first started although Corinne did hand me a cheque for subs when I went into the room before read-though briefly. Producer Him started the rehearsal whilst waiting for Director Demon to arrive.
Unfortunately the part of Vicky will have to be recast for The Demon as the person playing her now has to be in Cologne for work on two of the show performance dates. She's gutted. So are we but she's going to help Director Demon instead so she'll still be involved.
After Movies! and Demon rehearsals were over Producer Him and I finally got chance to sit down for 5 mins to discuss the remaining items on the show budget. We also rang Director Witch, expecting him to be at home (it was 11pm) only to find him still in transit on his way home from work. 5 mins turned into an hour, as it does but we do at least have everything in place now, money wise.
Lyric of the Blog: " Money makes the world go around" Cabaret
Unfortunately the part of Vicky will have to be recast for The Demon as the person playing her now has to be in Cologne for work on two of the show performance dates. She's gutted. So are we but she's going to help Director Demon instead so she'll still be involved.
After Movies! and Demon rehearsals were over Producer Him and I finally got chance to sit down for 5 mins to discuss the remaining items on the show budget. We also rang Director Witch, expecting him to be at home (it was 11pm) only to find him still in transit on his way home from work. 5 mins turned into an hour, as it does but we do at least have everything in place now, money wise.
Lyric of the Blog: " Money makes the world go around" Cabaret
Saturday, 21 April 2007
AmDram Free Day!
When you're knee deep in costumes for a kids show, preparations for a revue, producing a summer show and shopping and catering for a quiz the following day - there comes a point when you need a day off. I needed one. Badly. I made a bargain with myself yesterday to have a completely and utterly CAST free day today as the weather forecast was good and it meant I could spend a much needed day in the garden, clearing weeds and re potting plants in the patio tubs.
I am a miserable failure!
At 12:15am I was still sewing white aprons.
When I'd just got back from parting with far too much hard earned cash at the garden centre -the Chairman rang! 45 mins later!!!!!!!......
I texted someone connected to the group.
I then had a phone call from a group member about a costume hire for a fancy dress party which meant that after I'd finished gardening I emailed her photo's of costumes.
and I've just done a "quick" ha! update on the group website. And I've Blogged.
Lyric of the Blog: " Oops, I did it Again!" Britney Spears
I am a miserable failure!
At 12:15am I was still sewing white aprons.
When I'd just got back from parting with far too much hard earned cash at the garden centre -the Chairman rang! 45 mins later!!!!!!!......
I texted someone connected to the group.
I then had a phone call from a group member about a costume hire for a fancy dress party which meant that after I'd finished gardening I emailed her photo's of costumes.
and I've just done a "quick" ha! update on the group website. And I've Blogged.
Lyric of the Blog: " Oops, I did it Again!" Britney Spears
Friday, 20 April 2007
AMBD Rehearsal - Thurs 19th April
Director Witch and I had discussed various options and his thoughts on how he wanted to run this rehearsal. When I got to the hall I raided the loft for night lights and a bin bag so that we could reduce the light levels in Room 1 to simulate a prison cell.
Having closed every door, barred the window and shut out all the light it certainly created the right cold chilling atmosphere - but no one could could see to read their script so we ended up with a light on anyway.!!! Apparently I didn't do much to aid the ambiance by eating raw carrot either. Hey Ho.
We read the script through 3 times with Director Witch listening. Once with different people playing each others parts. Once with everyone playing their own parts and a third time in our own parts with an American accent. This prompted a wide range of accents from across north america during the course of the read-though and great hilarity. Neat Woman was almost crying at one point. When I say 'our parts' I should clarify here that I'm understudying for Old Woman until we manage to cast someone in the role.
Both Boy and Girl both commented on how much they felt the 'darkness' of the play on the second read-through. Director Witch will no doubt add his own comments on he feels the evening went. I was amazed at this early stage how much thought had gone into each character and how they had got into the situation they were in (tried for witchcraft, imprisoned and awaiting hanging).
Lyric of the Blog: " cause its witchcraft, wicked witchcraft And although, I know, its strictly taboo" Frank Sinatra
Having closed every door, barred the window and shut out all the light it certainly created the right cold chilling atmosphere - but no one could could see to read their script so we ended up with a light on anyway.!!! Apparently I didn't do much to aid the ambiance by eating raw carrot either. Hey Ho.
We read the script through 3 times with Director Witch listening. Once with different people playing each others parts. Once with everyone playing their own parts and a third time in our own parts with an American accent. This prompted a wide range of accents from across north america during the course of the read-though and great hilarity. Neat Woman was almost crying at one point. When I say 'our parts' I should clarify here that I'm understudying for Old Woman until we manage to cast someone in the role.
Both Boy and Girl both commented on how much they felt the 'darkness' of the play on the second read-through. Director Witch will no doubt add his own comments on he feels the evening went. I was amazed at this early stage how much thought had gone into each character and how they had got into the situation they were in (tried for witchcraft, imprisoned and awaiting hanging).
Lyric of the Blog: " cause its witchcraft, wicked witchcraft And although, I know, its strictly taboo" Frank Sinatra
Thursday, 19 April 2007
Revelations
I suffer from a nut allergy which I've had since I was three. Eating them without realising it would, at best involve a lengthy conversation with God down the great white telephone and at worst it could mean a short ride in a sleek black taxi, a long sleep in a wooden box and a 'not so' eternal fire. So I avoid them - at all costs.
I was having a discussion at work about chocolate yesterday and recalled a conversation with the cast crowd about the idea about playing a game of Russian Roulette with a bag of Revels. At this point I got a very puzzled look from one of the guys as apparently there are NO PEANUTS in Revels any more. Masterfoods (MARS!) stopped putting them in, approx. 3 YEARS AGO and there are raisins instead. So I've spent approx. 1095 days of my life avoiding something which I could have been eating.
Did any one of my so called friends think to tell me this. NO!
This prompted a trip to the shop within the complex at work to peruse the wrapper of a packet, just to be 100% sure and to buy some. I had to know if I'd been missing out for the past 35+ years.
CAST readers are now at this point wondering what the hell this has got to do with the summer show......
Revelations is Act 2, Scene 29. Or, to put it another way, Book No 66. It talks of the second coming of Christ and of Satan, the devil.
Peanuts are the devils food!
Lyric of the Blog: " In the midnight hour she cried - "more, more, more" With a Revel yell she cried- "more, more, more" In the midnight hour babe- "more, more, more" With a Revel yell- "more, more, more" More, more, more.
I was having a discussion at work about chocolate yesterday and recalled a conversation with the cast crowd about the idea about playing a game of Russian Roulette with a bag of Revels. At this point I got a very puzzled look from one of the guys as apparently there are NO PEANUTS in Revels any more. Masterfoods (MARS!) stopped putting them in, approx. 3 YEARS AGO and there are raisins instead. So I've spent approx. 1095 days of my life avoiding something which I could have been eating.
Did any one of my so called friends think to tell me this. NO!
This prompted a trip to the shop within the complex at work to peruse the wrapper of a packet, just to be 100% sure and to buy some. I had to know if I'd been missing out for the past 35+ years.
CAST readers are now at this point wondering what the hell this has got to do with the summer show......
Revelations is Act 2, Scene 29. Or, to put it another way, Book No 66. It talks of the second coming of Christ and of Satan, the devil.
Peanuts are the devils food!
Lyric of the Blog: " In the midnight hour she cried - "more, more, more" With a Revel yell she cried- "more, more, more" In the midnight hour babe- "more, more, more" With a Revel yell- "more, more, more" More, more, more.
Wednesday, 18 April 2007
Another Birthday
It's Producer Him's birthday today. Two production birthdays in three days! Director Demon and I have to wait until October and December for ours.
Unfortunately, Producer Him has been AWOL since Saturday due to a heavy cold and vast quantities of snot (his words, not mine). Thoughtfully, he decided not to give it to the rest of the cast and stayed at home. Hopefully he's feeling better by now though as he's back in the land of email.
He emailed Box Office Boy yesterday to get him to prepare for us a database of all our audiences for the last three shows and forthcoming two. That will keep Boy busy for a couple of hours, possibly. I emailed him last week to ask him to prepare a snazzy 'forthcoming productions' leaflet to use for events such as our Annual Quiz night on Sunday to give to any outsiders. Six hours later I had the first draft in print on my 'desk'.
Lyric of the Blog: "Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday Producer Him, Happy Birthday to you"
Unfortunately, Producer Him has been AWOL since Saturday due to a heavy cold and vast quantities of snot (his words, not mine). Thoughtfully, he decided not to give it to the rest of the cast and stayed at home. Hopefully he's feeling better by now though as he's back in the land of email.
He emailed Box Office Boy yesterday to get him to prepare for us a database of all our audiences for the last three shows and forthcoming two. That will keep Boy busy for a couple of hours, possibly. I emailed him last week to ask him to prepare a snazzy 'forthcoming productions' leaflet to use for events such as our Annual Quiz night on Sunday to give to any outsiders. Six hours later I had the first draft in print on my 'desk'.
Lyric of the Blog: "Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday Producer Him, Happy Birthday to you"
Pieces of paper
There are lots of important pieces of paper involved in putting on a show. Most of mine are contained within the script. However two very important ones arrived in the post today. The licence quotation, which becomes an authorisation to produce our two plays on payment of the performing rights fees, and the form with which to pay the fees. This is the point at which the production becomes an official show.
It cheered me up to find that waiting for me when I got home. Over the past two days there have been so many negative emails going around about other aspects of our group that it was nice to return to the sanctuary of our two plays. At least producer her always makes sense. Well almost always...!
Went round the village tonight with secretary on another of those lovely chores - putting up parish council meeting minutes on their noticeboards. We got it down to a record 30mins tonight - only three pages of the minutes. It's a chore we do because it gives us access to the noticeboards whenever we need it to put up posters for our shows.
Also gave me a chance to pop a birthday card through producer him's door. He's six tomorrow.
Wise words: 'Two dinosaurs sitting in a pub drinking beer. One dinosaur says to the other: "If we have many more of these we'll be Tyrannasaurus Wrecks!"' On the front of producer him's birthday card. Secretary said the picture looked like him and me at the village hall bar. Charming!
It cheered me up to find that waiting for me when I got home. Over the past two days there have been so many negative emails going around about other aspects of our group that it was nice to return to the sanctuary of our two plays. At least producer her always makes sense. Well almost always...!
Went round the village tonight with secretary on another of those lovely chores - putting up parish council meeting minutes on their noticeboards. We got it down to a record 30mins tonight - only three pages of the minutes. It's a chore we do because it gives us access to the noticeboards whenever we need it to put up posters for our shows.
Also gave me a chance to pop a birthday card through producer him's door. He's six tomorrow.
Wise words: 'Two dinosaurs sitting in a pub drinking beer. One dinosaur says to the other: "If we have many more of these we'll be Tyrannasaurus Wrecks!"' On the front of producer him's birthday card. Secretary said the picture looked like him and me at the village hall bar. Charming!
Tuesday, 17 April 2007
First Job Done
I have been mostly talking in feet and inches. Every task involved in show production is a learning curve or minefield which once understood and mastered becomes considerably easier for future events.
So: I've done one of my first jobs today which was to get a quote and to book the large round tables which we use for our supper night shows. 4 foot round tables seat 8 comfortably. 5 foot tables seat 10. So now you know!!!!!
Whilst I was at it, I've also booked the tables for another fund-raising event we are doing in June, which is a Rat Pack show.
I've also been swapping emails with Boy about the measurements of walls (rivetting! but wonderfully acurate) and pricing up black fabric. More on that some other time.
Lyric of the Blog: " Inch worm, Inch worm, measuring the Marigolds. You and your arithmetic, you'll probably go far. Inch worm, Inch worm, measuring the Marigolds, Seems to me, you'd stop and see how beautiful they are. ...."
So: I've done one of my first jobs today which was to get a quote and to book the large round tables which we use for our supper night shows. 4 foot round tables seat 8 comfortably. 5 foot tables seat 10. So now you know!!!!!
Whilst I was at it, I've also booked the tables for another fund-raising event we are doing in June, which is a Rat Pack show.
I've also been swapping emails with Boy about the measurements of walls (rivetting! but wonderfully acurate) and pricing up black fabric. More on that some other time.
Lyric of the Blog: " Inch worm, Inch worm, measuring the Marigolds. You and your arithmetic, you'll probably go far. Inch worm, Inch worm, measuring the Marigolds, Seems to me, you'd stop and see how beautiful they are. ...."
Monday, 16 April 2007
Demon Rehearsal - Mon 16th April
The first of many. 6 of the 7 members of the cast assembled at CVH to start work on the play which will form the second act of the show.
The first task was to record the script with everyone playing their characters as this is a great way to help learn lines. I stood in for Emma who's an NHS Direct nurse and works shifts.
The remainder of the evening was spent with Director Demon doing character analysis and talking through various aspects of the play, which I wasn't involved with, as Producer, so I ended up in the bar talking through Production issues for Rat Pack, logistics for the forthcoming annual quiz and 'stuff'.
Called in on Director Witch on the way home.
Lyric of the Blog: "Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to You. Happy Birthday Director Witch. Happy Birthday to you"
The first task was to record the script with everyone playing their characters as this is a great way to help learn lines. I stood in for Emma who's an NHS Direct nurse and works shifts.
The remainder of the evening was spent with Director Demon doing character analysis and talking through various aspects of the play, which I wasn't involved with, as Producer, so I ended up in the bar talking through Production issues for Rat Pack, logistics for the forthcoming annual quiz and 'stuff'.
Called in on Director Witch on the way home.
Lyric of the Blog: "Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to You. Happy Birthday Director Witch. Happy Birthday to you"
It's my birthday
But then if you've read my profile you will know that already. Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me, happy birthday director witch, happy birthday to me.
Good news from the weekend. We have a great person now taking on the role of Girl, after audition by director witch and producer her on Saturday morning. The three of us plus secretary read through the script and really scared ourselves. It felt quite cold inside the house and I'm glad it was a bright sunny day outside. Girl said she felt she needed to walk into the sunlight afterwards. It really is a first rate script.
We also have someone great who is thinking about the role of Old Woman. I really, really hope she says yes. She has both the experience and acting skill that this show needs
Today has been barmy. I have had 31 emails come in related to CAST matters and have had to send out 20 myself. It's just like producer her says - it feels like you are playing email ping-pong at times. Only about a third of them were about this show, but it still keeps me very busy on my busiest day at work.
Good news from the weekend. We have a great person now taking on the role of Girl, after audition by director witch and producer her on Saturday morning. The three of us plus secretary read through the script and really scared ourselves. It felt quite cold inside the house and I'm glad it was a bright sunny day outside. Girl said she felt she needed to walk into the sunlight afterwards. It really is a first rate script.
We also have someone great who is thinking about the role of Old Woman. I really, really hope she says yes. She has both the experience and acting skill that this show needs
Today has been barmy. I have had 31 emails come in related to CAST matters and have had to send out 20 myself. It's just like producer her says - it feels like you are playing email ping-pong at times. Only about a third of them were about this show, but it still keeps me very busy on my busiest day at work.
Friday, 13 April 2007
Calm after the Storm
After the whirlwind that was yesterday - today was, well, very quiet! Only one reply to an email from Director Witch. Nothing else.
I was feeling somewhat jaded today having barely had 4 hours sleep last night. I dropped Director Witch home at approx. 12:30am, joked with him that I should have let someone else do the honours as now he would beat me to the computer and to blog about the experiences of the read-through and Auditions. I got home, decided that I really should just go to bed after all and of course then lay there, wide awake, mulling over the evening. I was wide awake again at 5am.
Twelve hours later, at just gone 5pm this evening, the email went out to everyone to announce the cast apart from a couple of parts which are still TBA. All I have to do now, when I've finished this entry, is update the main CAST website.
Everyone who auditioned last night was amazing, considering that no one had read the play previously, seen any audition pieces or even known what the character profiles were.
Lyric of the Blog: "It's. oh. so quiet. It's oh. so still. You're all alone and so peaceful until... the sky caves in, the devil cuts loose, you blow your fuse, when you've fallen in love" Bjork
I was feeling somewhat jaded today having barely had 4 hours sleep last night. I dropped Director Witch home at approx. 12:30am, joked with him that I should have let someone else do the honours as now he would beat me to the computer and to blog about the experiences of the read-through and Auditions. I got home, decided that I really should just go to bed after all and of course then lay there, wide awake, mulling over the evening. I was wide awake again at 5am.
Twelve hours later, at just gone 5pm this evening, the email went out to everyone to announce the cast apart from a couple of parts which are still TBA. All I have to do now, when I've finished this entry, is update the main CAST website.
Everyone who auditioned last night was amazing, considering that no one had read the play previously, seen any audition pieces or even known what the character profiles were.
Lyric of the Blog: "It's. oh. so quiet. It's oh. so still. You're all alone and so peaceful until... the sky caves in, the devil cuts loose, you blow your fuse, when you've fallen in love" Bjork
How did we get here?
It's all been a little bit mad really, this whole process. Up until lunchtime on Wednesday March 21, none of this had been thought of. Now, three weeks and two days later the read-through and auditions are all but over. Producer her has explained a bit of the background... here's a bit more.
I went out for lunch on that Wednesday, during the show week for Mort (see allaboutdeath.blogspot.com), with director demon. I put to him our problems with Return to the Forbidden Planet, our original summer show. And I said I had the idea that we should look at doing two one-act plays. And I said I would be willing to direct one, on Thursday nights. And he took the bait, said OK and that was it, the work began. We had to finish Mort, but on the Sunday, as we were taking the set apart he thrust a copy of the Joseph Weinberger's book of plays into my hand and pointed two out. Yes, I said, and he ordered them the following day.
Meanwhile I got box office to drop off my Samuel French directory which he had borrowed many moons ago on the Tuesday night. That evening, between 8pm and 1am I waded through the synopsis for 354 one-act plays for a mixed cast, 94 for just women and 33 for just men. At the end of it all I had selected 20 favourites as potential shows.
They included one by Dario Fo, one by Harold Pinter and one by Tom Stoppard. They were a mixture of comedies, thrillers straight plays and farces. I typed up the pieces about each show and sent them to director demon.
Then at home I asked secretary to pick the ones she liked the sound of. Then I went on the web to look at reviews and more information. That night I cut the list down to just 10. Some were out of print, some of them, on second thought, just didn't fit the bill, some of them I rejected because of secretary's advice.
The rest of that evening, and the following day and evening I spent searching for them on the net. I eventually tracked down and ordered them all ten. They arrived on Friday and Saturday and by Monday morning I had read the last two, travelling on the train to London.
I liked five of them. No that's not quite right. I liked all of them. There were a few I loved. One was David Mamet's Sexual Perversity in Chicago which I saw in the west end a few years ago. It is a masterpiece and filled many of the criteria I was looking for - a big challenge for me and a big challenge for the cast plus something different for the group. But ultimately I decided that using the c-word once when we did Stags & Hens was about as much as our Colnbrook audience could take and this would be four or five times too far. Stoppard's The Real Inspector Hound is wonderful, but staging it would have been too complex and expensive. But in the end it came down to the best five.
So on Tuesday April 3 director demon and director witch sat down in The George pub in Colnbrook and went through those five together with the two which director demon had ordered. Ultimately though it was obvious which ones we wanted to do. I had read the synopsis for After Midnight - Before Dawn and instantly been fascinated by it. I had read it - last, deliberately. And I had been amazed by it. In the same fashion, he had loved the sound of The Demon straight away. He took them away to read, and the next night I was able to tell the CAST committee meeting of our decision. The following night the EGM gave us the go-ahead.
From conception to acceptance in two weeks and a day. Phenomenal. If only we could get everything done as efficiently.
I went out for lunch on that Wednesday, during the show week for Mort (see allaboutdeath.blogspot.com), with director demon. I put to him our problems with Return to the Forbidden Planet, our original summer show. And I said I had the idea that we should look at doing two one-act plays. And I said I would be willing to direct one, on Thursday nights. And he took the bait, said OK and that was it, the work began. We had to finish Mort, but on the Sunday, as we were taking the set apart he thrust a copy of the Joseph Weinberger's book of plays into my hand and pointed two out. Yes, I said, and he ordered them the following day.
Meanwhile I got box office to drop off my Samuel French directory which he had borrowed many moons ago on the Tuesday night. That evening, between 8pm and 1am I waded through the synopsis for 354 one-act plays for a mixed cast, 94 for just women and 33 for just men. At the end of it all I had selected 20 favourites as potential shows.
They included one by Dario Fo, one by Harold Pinter and one by Tom Stoppard. They were a mixture of comedies, thrillers straight plays and farces. I typed up the pieces about each show and sent them to director demon.
Then at home I asked secretary to pick the ones she liked the sound of. Then I went on the web to look at reviews and more information. That night I cut the list down to just 10. Some were out of print, some of them, on second thought, just didn't fit the bill, some of them I rejected because of secretary's advice.
The rest of that evening, and the following day and evening I spent searching for them on the net. I eventually tracked down and ordered them all ten. They arrived on Friday and Saturday and by Monday morning I had read the last two, travelling on the train to London.
I liked five of them. No that's not quite right. I liked all of them. There were a few I loved. One was David Mamet's Sexual Perversity in Chicago which I saw in the west end a few years ago. It is a masterpiece and filled many of the criteria I was looking for - a big challenge for me and a big challenge for the cast plus something different for the group. But ultimately I decided that using the c-word once when we did Stags & Hens was about as much as our Colnbrook audience could take and this would be four or five times too far. Stoppard's The Real Inspector Hound is wonderful, but staging it would have been too complex and expensive. But in the end it came down to the best five.
So on Tuesday April 3 director demon and director witch sat down in The George pub in Colnbrook and went through those five together with the two which director demon had ordered. Ultimately though it was obvious which ones we wanted to do. I had read the synopsis for After Midnight - Before Dawn and instantly been fascinated by it. I had read it - last, deliberately. And I had been amazed by it. In the same fashion, he had loved the sound of The Demon straight away. He took them away to read, and the next night I was able to tell the CAST committee meeting of our decision. The following night the EGM gave us the go-ahead.
From conception to acceptance in two weeks and a day. Phenomenal. If only we could get everything done as efficiently.
Too good and very complicated
You never can pre-cast a show. Everyone assumes it happens, but even if you have people who you think: "They could potentially play that part really well", you end up with someone else either doing it better, appearing to audition when you didn't expect them to or not appearing when you thought they might.
Above all tonight though, the standards were a lot higher than I have seen in a while. One person was plenty good enough to have done four of the parts. Others excelled at the roles you could tell they really wanted, but still put every ounce of themselves into the ones they didn't want as much. The people who didn't get parts can count themselves unlucky. The numbers weren't huge, but the competition was tough for most of the parts.
Which all makes casting quite complex. We have done it all apart from two of the roles in my play. Both of these parts should be cast in the next few days. Depending on auditions to come of course. I hope so anyway. One person has got a role in both.
So it's all off on the mystery tour now. What will the journey through rehearsal-land be like. We will start to find out on Thursday.
Wise words: Kurt Vonnegut died yesterday. Another writing genius bites the dust. No Douglas Adams, no Hunter S Thompson and now no Kurt Vonnegut. Fewer wise words.
Above all tonight though, the standards were a lot higher than I have seen in a while. One person was plenty good enough to have done four of the parts. Others excelled at the roles you could tell they really wanted, but still put every ounce of themselves into the ones they didn't want as much. The people who didn't get parts can count themselves unlucky. The numbers weren't huge, but the competition was tough for most of the parts.
Which all makes casting quite complex. We have done it all apart from two of the roles in my play. Both of these parts should be cast in the next few days. Depending on auditions to come of course. I hope so anyway. One person has got a role in both.
So it's all off on the mystery tour now. What will the journey through rehearsal-land be like. We will start to find out on Thursday.
Wise words: Kurt Vonnegut died yesterday. Another writing genius bites the dust. No Douglas Adams, no Hunter S Thompson and now no Kurt Vonnegut. Fewer wise words.
Thursday, 12 April 2007
Table Tennis
I've been playing email table tennis all day so far, or so it seems...
Admittedly 95% of it has been work related (The end of a tax year and start of a new one brings numerous support issues relating to high trading volumes, hence high trade settlement volumes, statement runs etc). The other 5% was both show and quiz night orientated and if I tell you that there's 36 emails in the trash folder relating to CAST from today already, you'll appreciate how manoc it's been. Ok, I know, I wrote some of them too, but hey, in this game if you don't resolve (and reply to) each email, in order, as it arrives - you don't stand a chance of keeping on top of everything. I'll be glad to get home tonight to get to CVH for CAST Academy for a rest!!!!!!!!!
Director Witch has confirmed that the scripts have arrived in the posts today. A thin mouse as they were only ordered on Tuesday and we wouldn't have got far doing a read-through tonight without them.
I think it's fair to say that the first week when a show is auditioned, cast and starts rehearsing is probably the busiest there is, second only to the week before a show goes on. Not the week OF the show, it's too late by then, but the last week that everyone is at work prior to show week is usually bedlam and when everything gets remembered that had previously been forgotten.
Tonight we read-through both plays .... and audition the show. The script may be different, some of the faces may be different but as the Earwig said as he jumped off the highest tree branch..... "Earwig-O"
Lyric of the Blog: " and I've made up my mind, I ain't wasting no more time. Here I go again" Whitesnake
ok, ok. I know. I'm definitely NOT on my own but I've had the song going round in my head all day :-)
Admittedly 95% of it has been work related (The end of a tax year and start of a new one brings numerous support issues relating to high trading volumes, hence high trade settlement volumes, statement runs etc). The other 5% was both show and quiz night orientated and if I tell you that there's 36 emails in the trash folder relating to CAST from today already, you'll appreciate how manoc it's been. Ok, I know, I wrote some of them too, but hey, in this game if you don't resolve (and reply to) each email, in order, as it arrives - you don't stand a chance of keeping on top of everything. I'll be glad to get home tonight to get to CVH for CAST Academy for a rest!!!!!!!!!
Director Witch has confirmed that the scripts have arrived in the posts today. A thin mouse as they were only ordered on Tuesday and we wouldn't have got far doing a read-through tonight without them.
I think it's fair to say that the first week when a show is auditioned, cast and starts rehearsing is probably the busiest there is, second only to the week before a show goes on. Not the week OF the show, it's too late by then, but the last week that everyone is at work prior to show week is usually bedlam and when everything gets remembered that had previously been forgotten.
Tonight we read-through both plays .... and audition the show. The script may be different, some of the faces may be different but as the Earwig said as he jumped off the highest tree branch..... "Earwig-O"
Lyric of the Blog: " and I've made up my mind, I ain't wasting no more time. Here I go again" Whitesnake
ok, ok. I know. I'm definitely NOT on my own but I've had the song going round in my head all day :-)
Stopping for breath
Well did I stop for breath? Only you can say. This is the submission I sent to producer her in the early hours of yesterday morning following our meeting...
There is something very comforting about having producer her and producer him running a show for you. The spread sheets, the attention to financial detail, the experience, and, on director him’s part, the in-depth knowledge of Eurovision which can come in very handy in times of crisis. They have been in shows taking the focal role. They have produced and directed, and they will restrain my belief that the glass is always full.
There is also something a little bit scary. That budget thing. They will control everything. It’s great, but like I said, it’s a bit scary. Their two directors though can rest soundly in their beds knowing that it will all be done. Everything. To the last detail. Every crisis. Every eventuality. All of them will be allowed for. And neither of them will be in the show.
That means there will be four people on show nights who can cope. Not something we have had the luxury of in a long long time. Not since Stags & Hens in fact. But then director him for that show, yours truly, who was having to be producer too in many respects, ended up calling on their skills at the last minute to make sure everything was perfect. Like I say, it’s very comforting.
Tonight the four of us had a meeting. Well director witch and director demon had a grilling before the Spanish Inquisition under the guise of a nice little chat in the pub. It was alarmingly productive. We have a budget which predicts that the show will make a loss. That’s the way I like it. A challenge. The idea that we need to get some money in before we even start.
The cast will have to pay their subs by a certain date or get the boot. The reverse is that they get a discount if they pay up early. Carrot and stick. The box office will be used as a pro-active source of information. Two shows prior to this one will be used as points for publicity to get ticket sales. Publicity will be targeted. Producer him will act as Assistant Stage Manager, to use the professional term. He will keep the book of the show to use the amateur parlance.
Yes, it’s all very comforting. The directors can direct, happy in the knowledge that the producers will produce the goods. I will rest easy tonight.
Wise words: 'In general the worst thing you can do for anybody is to give them money, because in the first place it's easy-come, and in the second placeinstead of being grateful they think it mean of you not to give them more than you did.' Green Oranges. Lynn C Doyle
There is something very comforting about having producer her and producer him running a show for you. The spread sheets, the attention to financial detail, the experience, and, on director him’s part, the in-depth knowledge of Eurovision which can come in very handy in times of crisis. They have been in shows taking the focal role. They have produced and directed, and they will restrain my belief that the glass is always full.
There is also something a little bit scary. That budget thing. They will control everything. It’s great, but like I said, it’s a bit scary. Their two directors though can rest soundly in their beds knowing that it will all be done. Everything. To the last detail. Every crisis. Every eventuality. All of them will be allowed for. And neither of them will be in the show.
That means there will be four people on show nights who can cope. Not something we have had the luxury of in a long long time. Not since Stags & Hens in fact. But then director him for that show, yours truly, who was having to be producer too in many respects, ended up calling on their skills at the last minute to make sure everything was perfect. Like I say, it’s very comforting.
Tonight the four of us had a meeting. Well director witch and director demon had a grilling before the Spanish Inquisition under the guise of a nice little chat in the pub. It was alarmingly productive. We have a budget which predicts that the show will make a loss. That’s the way I like it. A challenge. The idea that we need to get some money in before we even start.
The cast will have to pay their subs by a certain date or get the boot. The reverse is that they get a discount if they pay up early. Carrot and stick. The box office will be used as a pro-active source of information. Two shows prior to this one will be used as points for publicity to get ticket sales. Publicity will be targeted. Producer him will act as Assistant Stage Manager, to use the professional term. He will keep the book of the show to use the amateur parlance.
Yes, it’s all very comforting. The directors can direct, happy in the knowledge that the producers will produce the goods. I will rest easy tonight.
Wise words: 'In general the worst thing you can do for anybody is to give them money, because in the first place it's easy-come, and in the second placeinstead of being grateful they think it mean of you not to give them more than you did.' Green Oranges. Lynn C Doyle
Wednesday, 11 April 2007
Withdrawal Symptoms
I think just maybe Director Witch is having withdrawal symptoms from Blogging. I only make this observation because I know that I did, when I stopped writing allaboutdick and because at the Production meeting last night, when I asked if either he, Director Demon or Producer Him would also like to be able to write contributions on here; his eyes lit up!!!
Director Witch said "No. No. I won't blog officially. I'll just add the odd comment now and then" Hmmm. At 00:21 this he had sent me a rather long 'comment'. I read Director Witch's quick comment and wondered whether he'd taken a breath during typing.
Director Demon won't be blogging for the time being at least. He's just started a new job and is very busy. He's also currently minus email, phone and car.
Producer Him said something like "Oh good. I've been waiting to be able to reply to Director Witch's comments in allaboutdeath where he called me THE RIVAL" Yes please.
So; Watch this space. Not only will you have my missives to keep you abreast of what's going on. You've also go the others to contend with too!!!!!!!
Lyric of the Blog: "I have a tale to tell. Sometimes it gets so hard to hide it well" Madonna
Director Witch said "No. No. I won't blog officially. I'll just add the odd comment now and then" Hmmm. At 00:21 this he had sent me a rather long 'comment'. I read Director Witch's quick comment and wondered whether he'd taken a breath during typing.
Director Demon won't be blogging for the time being at least. He's just started a new job and is very busy. He's also currently minus email, phone and car.
Producer Him said something like "Oh good. I've been waiting to be able to reply to Director Witch's comments in allaboutdeath where he called me THE RIVAL" Yes please.
So; Watch this space. Not only will you have my missives to keep you abreast of what's going on. You've also go the others to contend with too!!!!!!!
Lyric of the Blog: "I have a tale to tell. Sometimes it gets so hard to hide it well" Madonna
The Production Meeting
Producer Him and I sat down with Director Witch and Director Demon last night to discuss the scary bit of the show. MONEY! Simple stuff like where it's going to come from. In theory, this should be an inexpensive show with minimum costs. Two one act plays both on minimal sets. That's what Director Witch told the EGM last Thursday. Yeah Right.
Two one act plays equals two sets, however minimal. Two one act plays equals two show licences. Two one act plays equals two sets of scripts to buy. two one act plays equals less ticket sales than a musical, hence why we started doing 'supper night' shows as a smaller audience seated around large circular tables makes the hall look fuller for the cast. Supper night shows equal table hire.
I sat at the table in the George in Colnbrook with laptop in front of me, manipulating the figures and reducing costs left, right and centre to get us to just break even 'on paper' as we discussed first the hall hire costs and hall bookings, subs, script cost and script licences, group overheads, advertising, set, costumes etc. Director Witch (and most of the rest of the committee to be honest) take the mick about my love of Excel spreadsheets. Director Witch and Director Demon may come to hate them (and both Producer Him and I ) by the end of July. They have to reduce their costs or find more income. End of story.
Thought: In all the time I've been involved with shows we've never discussed the finer points of a show budget with the cast. It's always been left to the Production Team to get the sums right do the worrying about finances and the cast have only been advised about the ticket sales to date and how far on or off target we are. Should the show budget be open to the whole cast to see> There in black and white. Exactly how much everything associated with a putting on a show costs. Do members of the cast really know just how much it costs to put on a show? Do they care? Do they realise that until the ticket sale revenue comes in, the bulk of the expenses are met by the Directors and Producers out of their own pockets, often with sundry smaller items being written off or forgotten about.... I wonder.
One things for sure. My brain hurts.
Lyric of the Blog: "All the things I could do, If I had a little money, It's a rich man's world" ABBA
Two one act plays equals two sets, however minimal. Two one act plays equals two show licences. Two one act plays equals two sets of scripts to buy. two one act plays equals less ticket sales than a musical, hence why we started doing 'supper night' shows as a smaller audience seated around large circular tables makes the hall look fuller for the cast. Supper night shows equal table hire.
I sat at the table in the George in Colnbrook with laptop in front of me, manipulating the figures and reducing costs left, right and centre to get us to just break even 'on paper' as we discussed first the hall hire costs and hall bookings, subs, script cost and script licences, group overheads, advertising, set, costumes etc. Director Witch (and most of the rest of the committee to be honest) take the mick about my love of Excel spreadsheets. Director Witch and Director Demon may come to hate them (and both Producer Him and I ) by the end of July. They have to reduce their costs or find more income. End of story.
Thought: In all the time I've been involved with shows we've never discussed the finer points of a show budget with the cast. It's always been left to the Production Team to get the sums right do the worrying about finances and the cast have only been advised about the ticket sales to date and how far on or off target we are. Should the show budget be open to the whole cast to see> There in black and white. Exactly how much everything associated with a putting on a show costs. Do members of the cast really know just how much it costs to put on a show? Do they care? Do they realise that until the ticket sale revenue comes in, the bulk of the expenses are met by the Directors and Producers out of their own pockets, often with sundry smaller items being written off or forgotten about.... I wonder.
One things for sure. My brain hurts.
Lyric of the Blog: "All the things I could do, If I had a little money, It's a rich man's world" ABBA
Friday, 6 April 2007
Witches & Demons
It's not the actual name of the show, that can wait for the first Production Meeting next Tuesday evening but it will do for now. The show will be two separate one act plays, both on a similar dark theme.
Act 1. After Midnight - Before Dawn.
This a play by David Compton and it's set in a prison cell. The characters await death, having been sentenced for witchcraft. It is the late 1600s or early 1700s. Only the Calm Woman remains unmoved. On being questioned, she replies she will not hang. The Devil will look after his own. The others conclude she is indeed a witch - and beg her to tell them how they too may gain Satan's protection.
After Midnight - Before Dawn will be directed by Director Witch.
Act 2. The Demon.
This is a thriller by Martin Downing and it's set in a flat. Escaping torrential rain, six friends flee to a high rise apartment and hear a terrifying announcement: one of them may be a serial killer possessed by the Devil. Then one meets a hideous death. The survivors embark on a desperate quest to find and destroy the fiend in their midst before more blood is spilled. ....
The Demon will be directed by Director Demon.
And now for the really, really complicated bit ....... have you read http://allaboutdick.blogspot.com/ and http://allaboutdeath.blogspot.com/ yet ?
NO? Why not ? Right; Here goes....
Director Witch was Producer for Mort and wrote http://allaboutdeath.blogspot.com/. Previous to that he featured as Programme Editor in http://allaboutdick.blogspot.com/
Director Demon played the part of Albert in Mort and features quite a lot in http://allaboutdeath.blogspot.com. Director Demon is also my big Cousin. Sort of. More about that some other time.
Producer Him is new to the blog scene and new to Producing. He hasn't previously featured in any of the "All About" series. He's very artistic and often gets involved with designing and painting the sets for shows, in fact he taught me everything I know about set design and set painting. He's played the Dame in panto more times than he cares to mention and hates the fact that we all remember that he once said he'd be in a panto 'over his dead body'. He's still with us.
and finally there's me, Producer or to be more precise for this particular show, Producer Her as I will be sharing the role with Him. I wrote http://allaboutdick.blogspot.com/
It's all my fault.
Act 1. After Midnight - Before Dawn.
This a play by David Compton and it's set in a prison cell. The characters await death, having been sentenced for witchcraft. It is the late 1600s or early 1700s. Only the Calm Woman remains unmoved. On being questioned, she replies she will not hang. The Devil will look after his own. The others conclude she is indeed a witch - and beg her to tell them how they too may gain Satan's protection.
After Midnight - Before Dawn will be directed by Director Witch.
Act 2. The Demon.
This is a thriller by Martin Downing and it's set in a flat. Escaping torrential rain, six friends flee to a high rise apartment and hear a terrifying announcement: one of them may be a serial killer possessed by the Devil. Then one meets a hideous death. The survivors embark on a desperate quest to find and destroy the fiend in their midst before more blood is spilled. ....
The Demon will be directed by Director Demon.
And now for the really, really complicated bit ....... have you read http://allaboutdick.blogspot.com/ and http://allaboutdeath.blogspot.com/ yet ?
NO? Why not ? Right; Here goes....
Director Witch was Producer for Mort and wrote http://allaboutdeath.blogspot.com/. Previous to that he featured as Programme Editor in http://allaboutdick.blogspot.com/
Director Demon played the part of Albert in Mort and features quite a lot in http://allaboutdeath.blogspot.com. Director Demon is also my big Cousin. Sort of. More about that some other time.
Producer Him is new to the blog scene and new to Producing. He hasn't previously featured in any of the "All About" series. He's very artistic and often gets involved with designing and painting the sets for shows, in fact he taught me everything I know about set design and set painting. He's played the Dame in panto more times than he cares to mention and hates the fact that we all remember that he once said he'd be in a panto 'over his dead body'. He's still with us.
and finally there's me, Producer or to be more precise for this particular show, Producer Her as I will be sharing the role with Him. I wrote http://allaboutdick.blogspot.com/
It's all my fault.
The EGM
SHHHHHHH!!!!!! Don't tell anyone but I've started another blog and this time I can rightfully post as "Producer", well actually Producer Her to be more precise !!!!!!!
Not being able to secure the services of an MD, the group has had to put it's plans on hold to do our original choice of summer show which was Return to the Forbidden Planet, so tonight the group held an EGM or Extraordinary General Meeting to vote in a new show for the summer slot. When it came down to it, only one person actually put forward a suggestion for a show..... so it's in!!!!!!!!!!!!
I rang that person after the meeting to ask if I could borrow the scripts to get a synopsis of each play and character assassinations, sorry, descriptions on the group website asap for the read-through and audition night but there was no answer. I got a voicemail message from that person a little later which said " I assume you were ringing me to ask me what to call the blog. I think All About Devils would be appropriate, don't you ?, ring me back, bye!"
No, said I. It was just to get some info for the website. I'll do the blog at some point over the weekend but not yet.
I lied. I'm wide awake ....... and so another "All About" tale is about to unfold before you.
This time it's All About Devils!
Not being able to secure the services of an MD, the group has had to put it's plans on hold to do our original choice of summer show which was Return to the Forbidden Planet, so tonight the group held an EGM or Extraordinary General Meeting to vote in a new show for the summer slot. When it came down to it, only one person actually put forward a suggestion for a show..... so it's in!!!!!!!!!!!!
I rang that person after the meeting to ask if I could borrow the scripts to get a synopsis of each play and character assassinations, sorry, descriptions on the group website asap for the read-through and audition night but there was no answer. I got a voicemail message from that person a little later which said " I assume you were ringing me to ask me what to call the blog. I think All About Devils would be appropriate, don't you ?, ring me back, bye!"
No, said I. It was just to get some info for the website. I'll do the blog at some point over the weekend but not yet.
I lied. I'm wide awake ....... and so another "All About" tale is about to unfold before you.
This time it's All About Devils!
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