Lots of news today!
First, welcome Robert Lewis!
Thank you for stepping in to fill the role of George. I want to encourage
everyone to not only welcome Robert, but help him find his place. He has a lot
of ground to cover, but we’re an ensemble; we all work together to make this
show the best that it can possibly be.
Second, it’s time to start
bringing in costume pieces. Some of you already have; this helps you define
your character even more because you move differently when you wear different
clothing. Try to wear something that you would wear to do the same activity
that your character does. What would you wear to attend school or to fix breakfast?
How about addressing a meeting? Leading a cart horse around outside? Attending
a wedding?
Overall the rules are simple.
- Keep colors in a neutral palette. See July 8 blog entry for color swatches.
- Keep options simple. Most of you should be able to manage just fine with a pair of trousers, two shirts, a jacket and overcoat, for instance. You don’t need a completely new outfit every time you set foot onstage. Try and use pieces for more than one scene.
- Dress for the weather. Act I is a mild spring day and evening. Act II is rainy until the drug store scene. Act III starts off rainy and mild but during Emily’s regression, it’s bitterly cold.
- Try to avoid a major shopping spree. That is, unless you just like to buy new clothes.
Note: There is now a costume rack backstage
for you to keep things on. I'll add individual dividers to separate your stuff from everyone else's. If you hang it up correctly, you should have no trouble finding it again later. Put smaller things, like gloves, into the pockets of
your coat. If at all possible, label the all small stuff!
Third, I’ve made an executive
decision: We won’t be recording the song “Blest Be the Tie.” I know you all
sound lovely and we’ve already devoted a few hours to working on it. But Robert
needs the rehearsal time more than I think you guys need to hear yourselves
sing during the show. (Did you know that our Robert actually recorded our ASTB
tracks? He’s apparently an amazing music director also! Please thank him for
doing that, particularly since we won’t be using them now.)
Lastly, I’m seeing absolute gold
onstage. The Webbs and Gibbs spouses look so real, so MARRIED. I can see the
longing and frustration in your faces even as you go through the motions of
your day. Doug, your Sam Craig has a whole range of subtle feelings going on
during your one scene in the cemetery. Patrick, you communicate that you care
very deeply about the people in Grover’s Corners. And that care is going to be
translated to the audience in a very short time.
Kids in the show, I would suggest
that you watch these actors every night; you can a learn an awful lot.
Fun fact # 10
 |
| This man cared about his congregation so much! |
"Blest Be the Tie That Binds" was
written by John Fawcett (1740-1817.) He was a preacher at the small Baptist
church in Wainsgate, England in 1772 when he received a call to move to a
much larger, more prestigious church in London. He preached his farewell sermon, then loaded his family and belongings on a wagon for the move. As his tearful
parishioners surrounded him to say their goodbyes, he made a snap decision to
stay with these people whom he loved. He wrote “Blest Be the Tie” to
commemorate that event.
It’s fitting that Wilder chose this
song, which speaks to community life in such a poignant way, to frame his play.
The touching melody that you guys
learned was written by someone else, a Swiss composer named Hans Georg Nageli.
rehearsal quote of the night wad said by Reed, "I feel like I'm in groundhog's day"
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