Audience member Nikki Fletcher shares her thoughts on The Miser.
The cast of The Miser singing “Money Makes the World Go Around”, dressed in part costume before going into rehearsal.
Cast members Rachel Donovan and Keith Faulkner give us an update on how rehearsals for The Miser are going. Watch out for some surprise interruptions!
Towards the Arty Fish
A busy and productive week. Marco the Lighting designer has been in - he’s going to do me a special - a pool of black light I think he said.
Notes from now somewhat cloudy memory: The Miser (Andy Gray) is only truly happy at the begining and the end of the play - alone in the cold and dark, Hamish wants to encourage this more; Lyn, clicking too early and don’t come too far across for Quimph; Andy G and Kenny caught responding to Quimphs aside, “you don’t hear the aside” - Kenny said it was Andy but Andy said he only turned bcause he saw Kenny turning; Andy hockley produced some well crafted bad teeth for his role as the Magistrate, Hamish told us “They’re the same ones he uses in every show”.
For the run through on Friday I had the Scrolls - I’m trying to see a doctor about it this weekend. Forgive me - I know that’s bad but I cant say scrolls without … anyway, Hannan from stage management made a great first stab at the contract (Scrolls - can I get away with it again? No!) but as is in real life, it wasn’t long enough, and the writing not tiny enough either. At least i have magnificent magnifyers to look at it now. The Scrolls …
Quimph (Will Tacey) is always getting his mucking fords wuddled and David Johnston, the writer of this new translation, added in a new one for Snake in the Grass - any guesses? Made us all howl, thanks David.
Hamish has been adding in Music played on the flute and clarinet by our very talented musician Helen Bennett. He is using it to underscore certain speeches in the final act, to heighten the scene and build the artifice. And in my humble opinion it certainly works.
Final week of rehearsal begins tomorrow. Can’t wait to get on the set.
Rob Wilkinson.
Don’t worry about the doors
Sat through a whole day of rehearsal yesterday without being used … or abused. Not to worry, it’s a real joy watching the rest of the cast on their feet and enjoying the rehearsal process. Remained perfectly sober despite polishing off half a packet wine gums.
Andy Hockley and Will were in London having a costume fitting yesterday so we talked about them all day. All good. All Good. DSM Jane read in their voices when required and the actors obliged by reacting to their vacant places with vacant faces. I do this all the time anyway - walking down the road, either learning lines with my invisible friends or generally just talking and singing to myself, so it was nothing unusual.
Andy Gray spent some time sporting Lily’s hat - he suggested it might be a voyageur’s hat and the discussions went on for some minutes about whether he was one of those blokes on a gondola (I put that as I’m not sure if they are called gondaliers, gondolas or just goons), and the discussion could probably have continued until the following Thursday - thankfully Hamish brought the proceedings to a close “I’m so glad we’ve resolved that issue”.
Real treat to observe Hamish working with the actors today. I’ve seen some great performances over the past couple of weeks, but going over scenes in some detail today he began to dissect and refine, drawing out the story and heightening the humour. The scene between Harpingon (the Miser - Andy Gray) and his son Tristram (Keith Faulkner) grew from very funny to real pissing your pants stuff.
Keith was not sure which way to open the door for the ladies (he’s not used to doing it anyway, he told me) - and Lily was concerned that if we didn’t know which way they opened it could add at least two days to the Tech. Hamish told her not to worry as he would happily have the doors remounted if we came to the Tech and they were not right for the actors - rather that than trying to get the actors to change something!
Rob Wilkinson
