Who wants to be commuting anywhere at that time, let alone outside of London? The production began at 7pm, coming down just after The audience however, conditioned to a much shorter sit, struggled in part to sit still and enjoy the drama. At every possible opportunity people were up and off to the toilet, swapping seats with the person next to them, and in the case of the obnoxious woman in front of me - whipping out bed socks, sticking their feet across their partner and giving themselves a full French plait, only to meticulously undo it during the final act.
Despite enjoying The Nether and its swift run time, I couldn't help feeling somewhat cheated. With ticket prices at an all time high, audiences are looking for as much bang for their buck as possible. Could it have been paired with another play to create more of an 'evening', or would that diminish the overall effect? I won't lie - I love being home before the 10 O'Clock news.
By far the worst example of minute-per-dollar spending was the recent Broadway production of The River , which holds my prize as being the worst play I've ever seen. Yes - Hugh Jackman was indeed pleasant to look at, but the combination of Butterworth's incoherent and pretentious script, along with the a full ten minutes of silence whilst we watched a fish being cooked resulted in the worst value for money possible.
So what's the answer? There is a great deal of variety on the West End currently, especially when it comes to plays. I can't help feel however that musicals aren't offered the same level of freedom. Producers face higher rental costs on one-act productions to cover the cost of the loss of interval bar sales for the venue, but surely this can't be the most discouraging factor?
The recent revival of A Chorus Line showed how difficult audiences found sitting without a 'comfort break' - people were wandering out all over the place which was distracting for both performers and fellow audiences.
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Sophie Thomas. Incredible facts about the history of the Olivier Awards in London. Who won the Olivier Awards? Come From Away Tickets. Some find it practical to include a planned meal break, ordering in pizza or having everyone brown bag it. It is not unusual for tech rehearsals to run into the wee hours. Scheduling this on a Friday or Saturday, most people won't be as concerned with running late.
An even more sensible option is to divide your tech into two rehearsals, one per act. This may be less traditional, but it beats people dragging themselves home at 3 AM. Example: Doolittle runs the tech rehearsal on two nights. Despite the inevitable headaches, the tech crews work things out.
Bottled water, apples and pretzels are on hand both evenings. With the pressure spread over two days, both rehearsals finish at civilized hours. Why are dress rehearsals necessary? You can click on the photo at left to get a closer look at me during a dress rehearsal for my college production of Camelot. During dress rehearsal the director noticed I was still sporting my trusty wristwatch -- not a standard item in a medieval wardrobe.
This is your last opportunity to correct any remaining costume and tech issues. Preliminary dress rehearsals are a great time to stage curtain calls. Keep the bows simple and swiftly paced, giving all featured players recognition. Schedule the final dress rehearsal two days before your first performance. This is a tough moment for stage directors. After today, their baby will have to walk on its own.
At this rehearsal, directors must let each act flow from beginning to end. Behave as if this is a performance. The director only intervenes if there is a genuine emergency. If you want, the final dress rehearsal can take place in front of an invited audience.
One high school I've worked with invited some folks from a local senior center, a small and receptive audience. Before the rehearsal begins, explain that the performance might be stopped in case of problems.
Director Tom Moore came out to explain the problem, and star Carol Burnett delighted everyone by stepping on stage to take questions from the audience.
You may not have such an ace in the hole, but you'll find that anyone previewing a show for free will be on your side if something goes wrong.
The licensing company may consider a rehearsal that plays to a large audience as a performance, for which additional rights should be paid. After any guests leave, keep final notes to the cast brief and positive. Stress what is going well. Those who are having problems should be encouraged privately -- this point, you switch from authority figure to chief cheerleader. Make it clear to one and all that they have your confidence, even if they don't! Amateur performers often ask what special things they can do to prepare for the opening.
It helps to avoid screaming their lungs out at sports events, or consuming any illegal drugs or booze.
Other than that, the best thing anyone can do is to follow their normal routine. The rehearsal goes pretty well. Some voices sound a little strained, and one or two lines are flubbed, but the cast and crew keep the show running a lot smoother than the last few rehearsals led anyone to expect. The small invited audience offers compliments. After all guests leave, Doolittle and Pickering bring the full cast and all crews into the auditorium for notes. They stress the positives, and wish everyone a relaxing day off.
Some experienced directors will scoff at this idea, saying they cannot afford the time. My answer is that this final day off is something you can't afford to do without. In fact, if you only take one piece of advice from this website, make this it!
My college director introduced me to this concept, and in the ensuing years I have successfully followed it with both amateur and professional productions. In many cases, I have seen it work wonders. The extended strain of tech and dress rehearsals is exhausting for everyone involved -- including you. By giving your company a one day breather, you give vocal chords and nerves a chance to recuperate.
One day is all you need -- more could cost your cast their "edge. Our college production of Carnival looked like a disaster at dress rehearsal. The cast and crew were literally shocked. That day-long chance to catch our breath made a tremendous difference. On other occasions when dress rehearsals went well, taking the break day only made the opening night all the stronger.
Example: Wednesday is a day off for the cast and crew. They still go to school, but the auditorium is off limits. A few techies may double check some wiring, but that's it. That evening, Doolittle enjoys a quiet dinner with friends, while Pickering stays home with take-out and a favorite movie. The leads commiserate a bit, but otherwise take it easy.
Tomorrow will be a big day. Scheduling Plan your full rehearsal calendar of six to eight weeks.
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