Month: October 2008

Report: Performances in the park

Posted on by Dale

After one last runthrough on Saturday morning, we hammered our way through it at 3:00 pm before a crowd of about 30. Although the final scene was dicey, we finally made it through the whole show without stopping.

Again on Sunday, much more relaxed this time, we performed before a crowd of 30-40.

As usual with these kinds of things, there were high points for each performance as well as low points. Meh, it’s live theatre.

Post mortem in comments, and we need to begin discussion of how we’re going to adapt this roving production to a proscenium space.

Report: 10/18/08

Posted on by Dale

Missed reports for last week’s extra rehearsals

Present: Dale, Marc, Jeff B, John, Greg, Dan

Our goal was to run the show. We did not succeed, although we made it to the end of IV.5 (the Aufidius scene) before we stopped. We think the remainder of the show should take us no more than 30 more minutes. That means that the show is probably going to run about three hours, which is OK.

It was agreed that we really need to run the show every day next week, despite not everyone being able to be at every rehearsal.

Schedule for next week:

  • Monday: 6:00, in the park
  • Tuesday: 6:00, at Dale’s house (There’s a big thing in the park that evening.)
  • Wednesday: 6:00, in the park
  • Thursday: 6:00, in the park
  • Friday: 6:00, in the park
  • Saturday: 9:00 am, in the park
  • PERFORMANCE: SATURDAY, 3:00. Plan to be there at 2:00 to set up. The publicity promises a chat with curious audience members at 2:30, but you don’t have to be a part of that. Dale and Marc will be the front men for that; if you want to play, dive in.

We will run the show every night.

NO BOOKS ON STAGE starting Monday night. Call for line if you need it. Be planning where you need to end up and where poles, chairs, et al., need to be.

Report, 10/11/08

Posted on by Dale

Present: Dale, Marc, Greg, Dan, John, Jeff B

We worked through Act III twice, and it’s shaping up to be the exciting political thriller we’ve been telling people it is. It all boils down to having one’s lines memorized, doesn’t it?

Michael Dean, our Martius Jr, came to watch. He played young Patrick in Auntie Mame back in the production that actually gave Lacuna its start. He’s now a freshman in high school and will be with us next Saturday to do his one line.

Here are the cuts and assignments we made today:

  • III.1: Jeff A, play all Senators, Patricians, etc.; Scott, play People/Plebians/Citizens; Dale will play the Aedile
  • III.1: CUT lines 246-253
  • III.2: Jeff A, play Senator
  • III.3: Dale plays the Aedile; Jeff A, Scott, play plebeians/people
  • III.3: CUT from COMINIUS: Hear me, my masters… to ALL: It shall be so!
  • IV.1: CUT
  • IV.3: CUT
  • IV.5: Scott, play the THIRD SERVINGMAN
  • IV.5: plan on condensing the ending “comedy” scene
  • IV.6: Who’s playing the messengers in the “café scene”?
  • V.4: CUT
  • V.5: Scott, play SENATOR
  • V.6: Scott, play SECOND LORD

We’re stepping up our schedule these last two weeks:

  • Monday, October 13: 6:30!!!!, in the park, Acts IV and V.
  • Tuesday, October 14, 6:30, in the park, whatever we decide on Monday night, but I’m thinking we need to run Acts I & II.
  • Wednesday, October 15, 7:00, dance studio, “Menenius Night,” i.e., all of Menenius’ scenes

Report, 10/8/08

Posted on by Dale

Present: Dale, Marc, Jeff B, Jeff A, Greg, Dan, John, Scott, Kevin

Back in the park. We worked for over an hour on the Battle Ballet, aka I.4, and by heavens we got it! We will now need to run this at least once a rehearsal in order to keep it in our heads.

We decamped to the Newnan School of Dance’s new digs downtown and worked Act II, since Jeff B had to go home and we needed him for Act III and Kevin and Dan had missed last Saturday’s work on II.

GENERAL ASSESSMENT: We are at the point where we all have to be off book within the next week. This show goes up in two weeks. It is also time for us to discuss a heavier rehearsal schedule during the week. Be thinking how you can make that work.

NEXT: Saturday, in the park, Act III.

Report, 10/4/08

Posted on by Dale

Present: Dale, Marc, Greg, John, Scott, Jeff B

We met in the park and worked on Act II. It’s so short that we ran it twice. No real problems to solve: the play’s action is wound up and set loose in this act, so the whole thing moves along quickly.

NEXT: On Wednesday, we will learn the Battle Ballet, and start on Act III. Place TBA. Watch this space.

Report, 10/1/08

Posted on by Dale

Present: Dale, Marc, John, Jeff A., Jeff B., Kevin, Greg, Dan, Scott

We began running Act I in Dale’s back yard. We made it through scene 1 one and a half times before decamping to NCTC’s lobby, courtesy of Jeff A. Dale never thought that the sun set at 7:30 when he offered his back yard. (Saturdays will be fine, since it’s daylight.)

We worked on getting more crowd-ness into the scene.

I.2 and I.3 moved very smoothly, very short and well-played.

We ran I.4 a couple of times, finally agreeing that we would work the Battle Ballet next Wednesday when everyone could be there. We will devote the time to learning it and making it work. We ran a facsimile with Dan and Dale fluffing their way through it while Jeff gave his speeches front and center, shifting to the defeated Romans when he could. Marc watched it from out front and says it works.

I.5, short and sweet, and then we decided to cut 1.6 and 1.7, heading straight into the Grudge Match in 1.8. Again, we have to (have to!) get the fight choreographed. Dale will work on this over the weekend.

1.9 is very stodgy, but will probably prove more interesting after everyone starts to learn lines.

1.10, short and sweet.

NEXT: We will meet on Saturday at the park, 10:00, to work through Act II.