Busy weekend
Back in January I was prompting for a play at an amateur theatre near work. I had just finished a run in their pantomime - hard work, but fun, and very glittery. One night I spotted a notice asking for volunteers for a "Playathon" in July. Older members explained that this was a show to be staged and rehearsed in 48 hours. In a burst of enthusiasm I put my name down...
Friday, 7.30 pm
After hanging around in the bar for about 20 minutes with about 40 other members, the moment of truth arrived. The organiser of the Playathon, one of only three people who knew the identity of the production we would be performing, made his announcement:
"Half a Sixpence"
I had been hoping for something I knew. I was sure that it would be a musical, as they tend to be a very flexible format - as long as you have enough people for the main characters, you can bung as many others into the chorus as turn up and stay the course. The two things I knew about Half a Sixpence were that Tommy Steele had starred in a film version and that the most famous song was "Flash Bang Wallop" (for those who've never heard it a highly entertaining and very fast song about the joys of photography).
We adjourned to the rehearsal space in a nearby hut for a read-cum-sing through. I only had a couple of lines of dialog, but the songs, while lovely, had intimidatingly complicated tunes. Panic!
At 9.30ish we finished the reading and got down to serious business - blocking out scenes and working on the dances. Three choreographers and three directors divided the scenes and musical numbers amongst themselves. "Flash Bang Wallop" got started straight away - I couldn't even sing the lyrics fast enough, let alone co-ordinate them with the steps. Dancing has never been one of my strong suits (to put it mildly).
Saturday 1 am
Let out for good behaviour, with instructions to be back by 8 am. Finally get home and go to bed at 2.30 am (the theatre is convenient for work, not home). Set alarm for 6.45.
Saturday 8 am
Legs ached, felt absolutely knackered. Had serious doubts about my sanity in signing up for this. Rehearsed all day until we were released at 11 pm. I started out with a script, but had to donate it to a choreographer because we were short of copies. Tried to memorise lyrics, scenes and cues by pouncing on scripts temporarily abandoned by other players. Gradually began to master "Flash Bang Wallop" and the other fast numbers, by sheer repetition - a reliable method, but very hard physically. Compared notes with the piano player, an amazing lady who could keep up with any number of cuts, key changes etc. She complained that hours of sitting on a hard piano stool were proving hard on her backside.
Just when I thought we were getting the hang of things, we moved from the various rehearsal spaces (anywhere with enough room, including the foyer and the bar) to the stage. I expected this to feel like a total shambles - the first time on the actual stage always seems to be - but the fact that the performance was only a day away made it seem much worse.
Got home about half past midnight, with instructions to be back by 9am at the latest.
Sunday 9am
Legs now felt as though they were about to fall off. My fitness levels aren't that bad, but I'm not really up to that level of activity without serious pain. The Wardrobe Department found me a fabulous dark blue Edwardian-style dress. Costume for the chorus and minor characters was allocated on a "first to fit, gets it" basis. I was extremely lucky the dress was quite glamorous - the lady who ended up in a dress worn by one of the Aunts in "Arsenic and Old Lace" was less fortunate. Had great fun finding a jacket to wear over the dress to make it look like a business suit, a feather boa for the pub scene and a great big hat for "best".
Lots more scrappy rehearsals of scenes/dances, one quick read through to help the principals with their dialog and then a dress rehearsal. Mike, the head of the Wardrobe Department, put up my hair in a proper 19th century "cottage loaf" hairstyle. I will always regret not having a camera so I could take a photo to show Mum!
By this point, felt in awe of the people playing big roles, especially John who is playing Kipps (the lead). Cannot imagine how they managed to cram so many cues, lines, lyrics and dance routines in so quickly.
Sunday 6 pm
"Nursery tea" - cakes and biscuits - provided in the bar. Crammed as many sugary things in as possible. I didn't have time for a full meal all weekend, so I hadn't had anything more substantial to eat than a sandwich since Thursday. Adrenaline arrived right on schedule though, so felt quite lively.
Sunday 7.30 pm
Show time!
Theatre was about 1/4 - 1/3 of capacity. Not bad for a Sunday night, with no advertising and no notice of what the show would be. From start to finish, we went down a storm (honest). Prevailing comment afterward was that it looked as though it had had a full set of normal rehearsals. Left post-show drink at about 11pm. Got home at about 12.30 (lack of taxis).
Monday - all day
Shambled around like a zombie all day. Left the office as early as possible, before I had the chance to do any damage. Co-workers kept asking what I'd done to myself as I shuffled around - every time I sat down for a while all my muscles stiffened.
I would do it all again if I got the chance. BUT I would:
1. Book the day afterwards off and spend at least 12 hours asleep
2. Avoid stairs or anything else challenging to legs / feet for a couple of days afterwards.
3. Make a serious effort to be a bit fitter when I started.
Friday, 7.30 pm
After hanging around in the bar for about 20 minutes with about 40 other members, the moment of truth arrived. The organiser of the Playathon, one of only three people who knew the identity of the production we would be performing, made his announcement:
"Half a Sixpence"
I had been hoping for something I knew. I was sure that it would be a musical, as they tend to be a very flexible format - as long as you have enough people for the main characters, you can bung as many others into the chorus as turn up and stay the course. The two things I knew about Half a Sixpence were that Tommy Steele had starred in a film version and that the most famous song was "Flash Bang Wallop" (for those who've never heard it a highly entertaining and very fast song about the joys of photography).
We adjourned to the rehearsal space in a nearby hut for a read-cum-sing through. I only had a couple of lines of dialog, but the songs, while lovely, had intimidatingly complicated tunes. Panic!
At 9.30ish we finished the reading and got down to serious business - blocking out scenes and working on the dances. Three choreographers and three directors divided the scenes and musical numbers amongst themselves. "Flash Bang Wallop" got started straight away - I couldn't even sing the lyrics fast enough, let alone co-ordinate them with the steps. Dancing has never been one of my strong suits (to put it mildly).
Saturday 1 am
Let out for good behaviour, with instructions to be back by 8 am. Finally get home and go to bed at 2.30 am (the theatre is convenient for work, not home). Set alarm for 6.45.
Saturday 8 am
Legs ached, felt absolutely knackered. Had serious doubts about my sanity in signing up for this. Rehearsed all day until we were released at 11 pm. I started out with a script, but had to donate it to a choreographer because we were short of copies. Tried to memorise lyrics, scenes and cues by pouncing on scripts temporarily abandoned by other players. Gradually began to master "Flash Bang Wallop" and the other fast numbers, by sheer repetition - a reliable method, but very hard physically. Compared notes with the piano player, an amazing lady who could keep up with any number of cuts, key changes etc. She complained that hours of sitting on a hard piano stool were proving hard on her backside.
Just when I thought we were getting the hang of things, we moved from the various rehearsal spaces (anywhere with enough room, including the foyer and the bar) to the stage. I expected this to feel like a total shambles - the first time on the actual stage always seems to be - but the fact that the performance was only a day away made it seem much worse.
Got home about half past midnight, with instructions to be back by 9am at the latest.
Sunday 9am
Legs now felt as though they were about to fall off. My fitness levels aren't that bad, but I'm not really up to that level of activity without serious pain. The Wardrobe Department found me a fabulous dark blue Edwardian-style dress. Costume for the chorus and minor characters was allocated on a "first to fit, gets it" basis. I was extremely lucky the dress was quite glamorous - the lady who ended up in a dress worn by one of the Aunts in "Arsenic and Old Lace" was less fortunate. Had great fun finding a jacket to wear over the dress to make it look like a business suit, a feather boa for the pub scene and a great big hat for "best".
Lots more scrappy rehearsals of scenes/dances, one quick read through to help the principals with their dialog and then a dress rehearsal. Mike, the head of the Wardrobe Department, put up my hair in a proper 19th century "cottage loaf" hairstyle. I will always regret not having a camera so I could take a photo to show Mum!
By this point, felt in awe of the people playing big roles, especially John who is playing Kipps (the lead). Cannot imagine how they managed to cram so many cues, lines, lyrics and dance routines in so quickly.
Sunday 6 pm
"Nursery tea" - cakes and biscuits - provided in the bar. Crammed as many sugary things in as possible. I didn't have time for a full meal all weekend, so I hadn't had anything more substantial to eat than a sandwich since Thursday. Adrenaline arrived right on schedule though, so felt quite lively.
Sunday 7.30 pm
Show time!
Theatre was about 1/4 - 1/3 of capacity. Not bad for a Sunday night, with no advertising and no notice of what the show would be. From start to finish, we went down a storm (honest). Prevailing comment afterward was that it looked as though it had had a full set of normal rehearsals. Left post-show drink at about 11pm. Got home at about 12.30 (lack of taxis).
Monday - all day
Shambled around like a zombie all day. Left the office as early as possible, before I had the chance to do any damage. Co-workers kept asking what I'd done to myself as I shuffled around - every time I sat down for a while all my muscles stiffened.
I would do it all again if I got the chance. BUT I would:
1. Book the day afterwards off and spend at least 12 hours asleep
2. Avoid stairs or anything else challenging to legs / feet for a couple of days afterwards.
3. Make a serious effort to be a bit fitter when I started.