So, Sunday saw the first run for the cast of The Rivals, which (considering we have only been rehearsing for 4 weeks) isn’t bad at all. The cast ran the first four Acts and most of the last leaving only the final epic climax to be created before the full play has been worked through in the space on stage. And all things considering – it being our first run with furniture and on the correct sized stage- it went well.
It was also the first time the cast had all met together again after the first session we had back at the beginning of January because of my banning them from watching each other rehearse. And what was lovely (and this is of course the reason i forbade them watching the other scenes rehearse) was that they watched and laughed and found it entertaining! Ah, there was method to my madness after all.
And think all our hard work is paying off so far. And hard work it is because the other day wracked up a whopping over 7 hours of rehearsal – with only a total of 10 minutes worth of break- in an afternoon (or at least it was afternoon when we started!). I’m readying myself to win a sweep of awards including ‘Hardest Task Master’ and ‘Least Popular Director’.
But now, they’re back to being forbidden to watch until we meet again for our next run through. But having done the first run with almost precisely two months before we’re on, gives me time to fine tune to my heart’s content!
Or I may just put my feet up…as i’m sure the cast wish!
I’m only a handful of rehearsals in to the process and already I’m being told my method of working has got the whisper mill working overtime. So, my plans working then!
I don’t want to say too much give things away but i will confirm and deny some rumours.
1.Yes, my cast were all set a research task, you can see some of Matt’s research in his post on the Rivals. This has been invalauable for us to get a more distinct and fresh perspective on the whole play and period.
2. Yes, my cast have been asked to use the correct form of address. I’m referred to as Mr. Nicholson in rehearsals which i find very entertaining but i obviously use it for them also. I find it lends a formality which is peculiar to us but would have been common to our characters, so i thought i’d ask my cast to try it.
3. Yes they are required to dress correctly for Sunday rehearsals, but i shan’t say in what.
4. Yes, this play will have my characteristic quirk to it, it wouldn’t be mine truly if there wasn’t one! I don’t want to say too much but for those who saw my previous work Loveplay, there will be elements of that present and my excellent wardrobe mistress Miss Fielding has some very marvellous ideas on how to present the costume.
5. And finally, yes, my cast are not allowed to watch other rehearsals. The element of surprise is entirely mine!
I hope that has piqued your interest to what happens behind my very closed rehearsal room doors. Suffice to say we’re all having a smashing time creating the play – i’m currently working on the soundtrack!
The first rehearsal for The Rivals is tomorrow. So, with Winnie-the-Pooh having come to a end today (Sunday) it really is a case of the theatre never stopping.
Indeed, with Of Mice and Men still a few days away, there will be five shows in rehearsal this week – and that doesn’t even count the Youth Theatre who have begun work on their forthcoming production of The Tempest…!
When I was given the part and the necessary dates and details, I thought the work was going to start on our staging of Sheridan’s 1775 comedy of errors tomorrow. However, our Director Ian Nicholson has set the entire cast a range of tasks to complete ahead of our first meet-up. His joke about “homework” was not been entirely inaccurate – as we have, amongst other things, been collectively asked to…
:: Find out what the social rules of Bath were at the time
:: Find out about the trends in fashion
:: Find out about Bath’s demographic at the time
…and so on.
Never fond of homework, I approached my task of finding pictures of locations from the play with some degree of terror. Yet, with FiveLive, a pack of biscuits and a broadband internet connection, I soon found that I was quite enjoying what my search had conjured up and couldn’t stop! Two hours and twenty pictures later, including the following…
…and I was done.
None of the tasks we have been set directly relate to anything we’ll be saying or doing on stage. But the outcomes of these tasks will all aid our immersion and enhance the process we’re all about to embark upon…
Just a very last minute reminder that tomorrow (Sunday January 4th) will be the audition day for Sheridan’s The Rivals.
The day will start at 2pm up in the Crescent Bar and will finish at 6pm, and will include a brief read through of some of the script, a workshop on the approach I will take to creating the piece as well a chance for us all to explore the play and world it inhabits and then followed on by auditions.
The day will include some exciting surprises which I hope people will enjoy and will get involved in whole heartedly. I’m incredibly excited about working on this project and I’m sure that those that attend and get involved in the day’s work will be excited too.
I look forward to seeing YOU at the Crescent tomorrow (Sunday January 4th) for a day of The Rivals!
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