4/17

Happy Birthday to Nick, Happy Birthday to Nick

Today for my birthday my actors gave a an excellent rehearsal. I'd like to think it was thanks to me and my planning, but in truth they are the ones to thank. We started off with the following plan.

Hey!
What a Todo to Die Today/Mother Pheasant Plucker
I Was At Home
Run Through
Hitty Hands
I Was At Home
Run Through

I cut hitty hands and did more "I was at home". My intention was to teach them how to hold a silence, without rushing through the lines. And yes there is still some rushing, but that's expectable. Besides, I like Rush; it's my favorite band. What, that's unrelated and I'm rambling?

Sorry, but I'm just in a good mood. Why? Because the run through was great. I played it through them with film noire music, and though it worked better in the close acoustics of the lobby than the echoing theatre, I think it got them in the mood. Did Julian adopt a phony gangster accent because of it? Maybe. Can I get him to harness that cheesiness and direct it into somewhere great? God I hope so.

Oh, and I taught Athena and Seabass to waltz! Let me explain. There is a dance scene in the play, no? Yes! So when that came up, I played korobeiniki (my favorite Russian folk song, see here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lkxixp8O1gk), start playing from 1:15) and they didn't know what to do. So I taught them and lo, they did it! And the music played into the flashback scene too perfectly, with Athena looking fearfully at the audience as if a madman from the country was forcibly waltzing with her. My actors can attest that I was giddy.

On that note, I started making the music list. I have it here, and will put it up at the end. Its random 30's era speakeasy and noire music, a Russian folk song, etc.

Are there problems? Of course! Blocking. I got to get them working the diagonals soon. Athena's face isn't seen for half the play. But after that there are no direct problems that can't be solved by repetition. I'll get them props, I'll get them music, and I'l get speakers to rehearse with in the future. All is looking well.

And here is that music list, with times I recommend starting and when I plan for them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsHoDndFkA0  (opening)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lkxixp8O1gk (1:15) (dance)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sTP994tOMk&feature=kp (0:06) (new york)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GNDjy6T2Ww (gun to head)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsHoDndFkA0 (closing)