Only A Few More Grey Hairs.

Well, it's all very interesting, this business of getting a play up and running; particularly at relatively short notice! But this is really working. There's an amazing air of collaboration about this production of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'...to quote one of the actors: 'Whatever's good for the play.'

Not that there hasn't been a problem or two; life is just never that easy or obliging. Poor ol' Ant had to drop out, having damaged his back (get well soon mate!), and we needed a Lysander at even shorter notice! Rich, who was playing Theseus, stepped up to the plate when we asked, and took that role on...even though he was pretty much word-perfect with Theseus! Good man. However, now we needed a Theseus. See how it all goes round and a round? 

Anyway, there was, as you might imagine, much head-scratching and chatting with various actors and then...bingo! Another fabulous-o gentleman said 'go on then'. And so we now have a full-head of steam and a full cast! Huge thanks are due to David Kinnair, who is not only doing this but also learning his part for J.B. Priestly's 'When We Are Married' in November! 

Everyone loves what they do. David's a fine example and so are several of the cast, who are also in rehearsal for other productions. Like Lucy and Freya, who are working on 'Miss Saigon' (actually Freya is also rehearsing a pantomime too; busy girl) but the point is that, despite everything that's going on their lives, our actors are there for the show; I think our motto should be 'Whatever's good for the play', because that seems to be the prevailing attitude...thankfully! 

As is the case with pretty much every production, everyone is 'involved'; by which I mean that they not only turn up to rehearsals and know their characters and lines, but have great ideas that get incorporated into the show: everybody adds something extra, over and above their performances. The Royals, the Faeries, the Mechanicals...it's really brilliant.  

Still got a few things to sort out in relation to costumes, set and lighting/sound but that's all in the pipeline and under control...he said, trying to type with crossed fingers. Looking forward to this one...and I've almost got all the lines learnt...and to paraphrase Eric Morecombe, 'I've got all the lines learnt, but not necessarily in the right order!'.

Only just over a week to go until we showcase some of the play at the Dart Drama Festival. The Festival audience are being treated to a few of the scenes with the Mechanicals and the play-within-a-play at the end of The Dream. Good practice and a nice little bit of publicity for the production, but also a little extra pressure for the actors involved, who have to get their lines down that much earlier than everybody else.   

AND IN OTHER NEWS....

We're also moving rapidly along with the 2014 Dartmouth Shakespeare Week production, which, as you are no doubt aware, is 'The Taming of the Shrew'. Oh, does Janie have plans for this one! No doubt. It's all very exciting.
After her trip to the director's workshops, there has been a flurry of activity from the RSC and we hope to be able to get one - or maybe even two! - of there excellent and inspirational practitioners to come to Dartmouth and run a couple of movement and speech workshops that tie-in directly with the Commedia d'ellarte aspect of the show. Can't wait...although the bleed-over between The Dream and Shrew will be interesting to contend with; shaping up to be a busy ol' winter/summer!
Shaunnagh, bless 'er, has also been beavering away at the artwork for Shrew and you can see the rough draft below: catches the mood beautifully, I think. What a clever lady she is!