The Story So Far...: Murder, Mayhem and Merriment

In the great tradition of all awards and luvvie-fest's, we'll go in reverse order and begin with:

MERRIMENT

We tend to have a bit of a laugh at the most inopportune moments sometimes...usually after violent death or some sort of physical attack scenario. However, we usually start the rehearsals with some sort of warm-up that, these days, involves throwing a ball and thinking on our feet. We're great at putting on a show but the hand-eye co-ordination can get the better of us sometimes!

That's what's been so fantastic, as far as I'm concerned, about everybody who's involved with this year's production: their willingness to get stuck in and do things that, to some, might seem a little off-the-wall. But they shrug and go along with the bloke who has these strange notions as to what constitutes a rehearsal...or at least, the start of a rehearsal! I'm not a great one for 'inclusive games' or 'bonding sessions' (too many years spent working in certain governmental departments that thought these were a valid way of getting more out of you!) yet, I have to say, I think that what we do at the outset is of value; on a sub-conscious level, maybe, but of definite value. And we get to start this dark and deadly play with a laugh...which is a commodity sorely lacking in Lear!

MAYHEM

Blood and Thunder. There's a lot of it about! I actually get a little nervous watching the zeal with which the actors go about their alotted tasks: plucking beards, gouging, stabbing, thrusting and slapping. It's all little suspect, if I'm honest. It needs to be practiced though. Gotta look realistic enough to make the audience shudder...or, as happens in some really good productions, laugh nervously. That's what we're aiming for: a nervous giggle or two. It means the audience is unsure as to whether they should actually be watching, let alone be enthralled by, what's happening on stage. And I do chuckle, to myself, and also try to persuade myself that it's 'only play-acting'. Yeah. Right.

Regan and Goneril doing what they do best!

Listen to some of the conversations that precede the more confrontational scenes and you can't help but be amused.

" Can you scream a little more loudly? It needs to get the skin crawling'

" If you move back a bit, I can get a better swing at your face."

" Stab him a bit lower; it'll look as if the knife's actually going in."

Lovely.

MURDER

Sword play. Odd phrase, when you think about it. There are, obviously, swords involved, but something less playful would be hard to find. Those who have to use hardware in this production have, for the most part, found the level with which they are comfortable and we've choreographed (honestly!) the engagement to suit the combatants. I think we've overcome the problem of getting the bodies off stage, but we'll only know if that works properly when we get to the dress rehearsal. The crash mat(s) are coming! It's a fine line we have to walk. As with other scenes of violence in the play, they need to look realistic, but there's always the safety aspect to be taken into consideration. A small example is the blood we're using for Gloucester's eye-gouge sequence. Xowie, who's doing the make-up and prosethetics for this, has spent hours searching for the right gloop so that, should Ernie be unfortunate enough to get a little in his eyes, it won't hurt. It needed to be the theatrical equivalent of no-more-tears shampoo. Johnson and Johnson could make a fortune! We have the potion we needed, so it's all good. Well done Xowie!

Just a few examples of our enthusiastic ensemble

And just to prove that they're all really the very best of friends...

...Jason and Vern had a little dance after it was all over!

The thing with a production such as this - and, I'd hazard a guess, with many non-professional shows - is that, with all the SFX we have going on, we can't really see exactly what it's all going to look like right up until the last minute.

Many of the effects lighting and machines won't be on set until the Saturday before we go live. It's kinda scary, but the thing is, with a team like I'm so fortunate to have, it will be all gathered together and look, sound and feel precisely the way we want it to be!

And in other news...

Thanks to the amazing talent of our Lyndall, Vern's now got his great big flag to wave at the end of the battle sequence...and mightily impressive it is too, dear.

And, sad to say, that one of our long-time actors, who was due to play the part of Knight 1, has had to withdraw from the production, for the time being. We're are really going to miss Shahar (..knowing me, knowing you...), he's been in every production since 2005 and has always been a huge supporter of the company and DSW. He will be back! However! We are also extremely pleased that James has agreed to step into the breech and play Knight 1. All the very best to him...he's a quick study, so he says. That's him below, with Gil, doing it all for the first time. Thanks James.

Kent (left) and our brand-spanking new Knight 1: James.

And to finish this session of notes from an unquiet mind, here are a couple more shots from last Tuesday's rehearsals - and thanks to Keith for sorting me out with this lot...and absolutely NO THANKS WHATSOEVER go to Microsoft for generally playing merry-hell with my email!! So there.