Sunday 6 November 2011

Dress Rehearsal with orchestra


The dress rehearsal with orchestra starts at 2.30 officially so when 'beginners please' is called at 2.35, we're clearly doing quite well. Most of the cast have been here since 1, and everyone is in starting costume and make-up, transformed in some cases into someone unrecognisable.  Ali was on a scaffold when I arrived, inserting branches into a palm tree.  One of the tarts is a little worried about the skimpiness of her outfit, but she looks really good. Sister Sarah, on the other hand, thinks she has the unsexiest skirt in the world, but since she is supposed to look unsexy, the rest of us think mission accomplished.  The urn is on, the orchestra is tuning up, microphones are attached where necessary and the chocolate biscuits have been opened. A word of warning from Ali about the flats - don't trip over them and if they start to fall, don't try and catch them, just get right out of the way.

And so Act One gets underway.  The orchestra has been cut to fourteen members plus keyboard player, although this is augmented by the Army members once we start to Follow the Fold, with several tambourine players. The trombone and trumpet on stage don't get used, though. Possibly a shame.

It doesn't take long before the distance from the changing area to the stage door is seen to be greater than previously realised, as Harry is called several times before the scene proceeds without him.  But at the next available opportunity, he is on stage with the rest of his partners in crime and the Oldest Established goes ahead full steam.

We get to the mission after some complicated scene changing and Sky and Sister Sarah have their first meeting. Ali has to get up briefly when she realises that the stagehands have forgotten to put the banners up, which normally wouldn't be a problem except Sky has to refer to one of them. But by the time Sky has to comment on it, the banner is in place. 

Picking up the starting note for I'll Know when the orchestra is playing is a little harder but after one brief false start, Sister Sarah is sorted and the song progresses. At the moment, the orchestra sounds a little loud compared to the singers, but sound levels are still being balanced.

Returning the stage from the mission to the Hot Box Club demonstrates the necessity for this kind of rehearsal, with the opportunity to rehearse the scene-change just as important as the opportunity to rehearse the singing, dancing and acting.

Even more eye-catching, however, is the rendition of Bushel and a Peck - the audience will enjoy the sight as well as the sound. This is followed by Adelaide's revelation to Nathan of the size of their family, although their partner in this scene is not Mimi, who hasn't made it to the wings in time, but Martin, apparently searching for his earring, which generates some laughter.  The balance between singer and orchestra seems better now though there is a gentle breeze rustling through the Hot Box backdrop, drawing attention to the step ladder that probably shouldn't be there.

The stage-hands have another detailed explanation of how to move the current bit of flat and I really hope they remember what they're doing because we're not going to be able to include the instructions during the performances!  I take the opportunity to check on the coffee 'backstage' (i.e. the classroom doubling as green room) and am somewhat concerned to see Kim in her next costume. There is nothing wrong per se with her costume but I have now seen here three times this afternoon and she has been wearing progressively less and less. What will she be wearing for the finale? Only time will tell.

Meanwhile, back on the stage, the next street scene is underway, successfully completed and then we're off to Havana. We have palm trees! I was a little worried for them during the fight scene, but they remained upright and untrembled.   Back to New York for the repercussions of Sarah's absence and then it's the interval.

A break for coffee and the mystery of the step ladder is explained, as we continue to decorate the Hot Box Club. All too soon, however, the break is over and it's on with Act Two (time - 4.35pm).  The girls are on at the newly decorated Club to perform Take Back Your Mink, and I'm pleased/relieved to report that Kim is wearing more than when I last saw her (though I appreciate some people might be disappointed). Although as the song progresses... Hey ho!  This is a number where the wardrobe mistress comes into her own, as demonstrated when Ali wants to run the dance section of the song again.

I miss the next section of the show as I have some tedious tidying to do but the strange sight of the Hot Box girls rehearsing in scanty costumes in the middle of the foyer is a reminder that the show is still going on. I'm back in time for Sky to roll with Lady Luck. Halfway through his solo, it seems, the microphone is turned on although in this scene and the next the lighting levels still seem a little erratic. There's a sense of continuing experimentation but they settle eventually and we can see who's on stage.

After Adelaide and Nathan have done Sue Me again, we're back to the mission. It might be my imagination but I think the scene shifters are getting quicker at the job and needing less guidance from Paddy. This bodes well for Wednesday as they still have tomorrow for further practice.

Once the Boat has been suitably Rocked (or not), the scene has to change again for Broadway. This is slightly more time-consuming as there are props to be carried on and this is the first time they have set the stage for Broadway under pressure, but we're soon at the final scene. The two girls who had some trouble on Wednesday with their words have clearly spent some time checking them as they are far more fluent today.

It's gone 5.30 and the orchestra pack up to go - most of them have been here since about 10.  Ali asks people to walk through the finale steps and song, singing a capella (we're a choir, we can do that).  In the meantime, there's a rehearsal with the piano tomorrow and I have a pantomime rehearsal to go to tonight! Keep your fingers crossed for us all.

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