Our meeting was at BCC's Hall rather than the usual school down the road; I had my last-minute doubts about whether I had correctly remembered this change but was heartened by the poster outside the school's car park with the relief-inducing words: BCOS at BCC Hall. The Hall is quite a bit larger than the school's central room, unsurprisingly, and with just enough chairs for our rehearsal, there appeared to be a lot of extra space. Did we fill it with sound? Martin never said.
It was a much prompter start than last week, being called to sit down at 7.35, and then Martin took over at the piano and made us do vocal warm-ups! Perhaps we should have guessed something was up; the first exercise was a series of ay-ay-ay (as in Bart Simpson's expression of imminent disaster, ay-caramba!), followed by some me-me-me. A definite warning. But we got quite high and squeaky and so carried away with the warm-up that we never noticed that Martin had started back down the scale. More Stockhausen. :)
Then we went through Follow the Fold, the mission's hymn, gradually building up the different parts until we were able to sing them together, in harmony. Sounding pretty good, we thought, totally failing to notice that the parts are not sung by the cast in general but by specific individuals. More warm-up! But Martin had his reasons, because then we started, as promised last week, on Sit Down, You're Rocking The Boat.
This is tricky, not for the harmonies particularly, but for the rhythm. Most of the song has a rest at the beginning of each phrase, but the final section, which is even faster, doesn't. We tried saying it in rhythm as Martin beat time, then we tried saying it in rhythm as Martin clapped the beat. Then we tried singing it, without the lengthy s that appeared at the beginning of the second line, as we all attempted not to be late and were consequently far too early. Eventually, with Martin clapping at us (not in an applause way, apparently!) we got into the swing of it, worked through the other sections of the song and then - completely failed to get the rhythm right again for the final bit. Well, the show's not until November. We still have time...
This was the point at which we took a break, in part because Ali had finished teaching a dance routine to all those who wanted to audition for the Hot Box Girls next week. Ali had had quite a large group of girls/ladies for this rehearsal, which left the alto section at a rather depleted two. Here's hoping this situation is improved in weeks to come!
Once everyone was sitting down again, we looked at the song Happy Ending, with added rhythms that it turns out Martin doesn't want. It's also still coming through with a rather delightful North Oxfordshire accent, so unless we want to set the whole musical in Banbury, this will have to change. (It seems that setting it in Banbury isn't really an option. I feel for Banbury!)
And then we had another go at Sit Down You're Rocking the Boat. Oh dear. And we really had worked quite hard at this. The harmonies are mostly there, though, so it's a start.
Most folks were able to go early now, so that anyone who is auditioning for a solo role could have a go with Martin at the song they need to learn. A couple of Sue Me, then seven ladies having a go at If I Were A Bell, and then onto Adelaide's Lament, during which some male voices could be heard joining in! Well, it is a fun song.
One of the problems with rehearsing at BCC is that they need us out by 9.30pm, so the men will have to wait until next week to rehearse their audition songs. At least next week, we're back at the school. And if anyone wants to take notes for me next week for this blog, that would be much appreciated, as unfortunately I have to be elsewhere.
A few photos of the principals involved:
This is our usual view of Joe, our amazing repetiteur.
Ali surveys her Hot Box Girls as they pack up their dancing shoes.
Martin, deep in thought: how else can he possibly encourage us to get the right rhythm for that final section?!
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