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Published: July 22nd 2008
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Theatre 10 minutes before the show
So interesting sitting up in the lighting box behind the audiance... you see some interesting happenings... it's like people know that there are people behind them but they don't seem to care. What a run. After eight weeks of assisting with the preparation of a community drama group show I’m one step closer to my dream of performing on the stage. At the beginning of the new year I would not have guessed that I would have come as far as I have … numerous drama classes, voice work, 48 hour film festival producer role and now this participating in a successful drama production.
Who knows what’s next?
During the nearly week long run of the show I’d show up directly after work to prepare the lights and set up the stage. The show would run from 7:30 to 10pm. I’d close up for the night, be home by 11pm and back up the next morning for work - a bit tiring.
Sitting up in the lighting booth with the producer, June a woman who taught drama at Selwyn full time for more than 30 years until she retired in the last few years, was a true treat of the whole show. Such a different perspective to watch the same show night in, night out with a person that has been eating, sleeping and thinking the show for the last
Act 1 Stag set up
The stage was originally black up until sunday night when I along with three other people painted it the battle ship gray you see here. Also helped with the preperation of the props on stage two months. It got to the point where I knew nearly all the words, dances, movements and timing - and found the greatest delight in the smallest triumphs…. While each show was good to great there was always a slight variation plus/minus from each of the actors… the nights that an actor was on fire their voice, actions, dance and whole presence was different from their average/safe performances. While the audience had no perspective I had weeks of perspective and as I mentioned got to the point that I found the greatest satisfaction with the smallest of deviations from a safe performance. For example an actor could duplicate the lines and facial expressions that the director instructed them with, however when they owned the character the line sounded much more realistic, their facial expression appeared honest and sincere rather than forced…. Etc, etc, etc…..
I’ll see how much longer it takes before I’m up in the lights facing that black void of the audience… Yes, when the lights are full on you can’t see the audience. Also, I noticed that the performances were always better when the audience was into the show and willing to laugh/clap spontaneously. Of course
one could argue that they were freed up to do this because the actors were doing a good job, After watching seven shows I’d have to say it’s a dance between the audience/performers - however the performers seem to benefit the most from an audience willing to give positive feedback - so remember next time you’re at any kind of performance - get off your hands and start to clap…. It will improve the show dramatically.
Saturday night we had an after show party… that was an experience. Such a fun group of people actors and creative people are…. I’ve spent god knows plenty of time and bars, clubs and dance venues… but here was a group of people free and ready to express themselves in dance… never before have Michaele Jackson's songs been better celebrated in dance - well I might be wrong there but here was a group of people enjoying the music. We painted the stage back to black at 3am in the morning… and I then caught a cab back home to sleep until 3pm Sunday afternoon - the longest and best sleep I’ve had in a number of weeks.
Wishing you all well.
Two of the starts in the show
Tracy (Mdme Dubonette) and Kirsty (Poly) I've started the preperation of my stand up comedy act that marcos and I are supposed to do at the Classic before the end of October. If I can survive those two minutes I can do nearly anything....
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joy
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You amaze me!
You never mentioned a theatrical bent... have you made it onto the stage yet? And how did the comedy act go?