December 7, 2007

  • Responses to Posting
    If you click on the comments under the last posting you'll see a couple (maybe more). Steve says that the set changes and rapid costume changes might be throwing people off. I totally agree; the show is a bitch in terms of role doubling, tripling, and quadrupling. Couple that with having to remember scene changes and people have a full plate. But Steve, the audience does not care or take into account our tribulations. They pay money; they want to see a good show. We want to give them a great show. I know I don't have any scene changes and only one costume change but I am on stage the entire show. My challenge is to stay fresh every minute; same as everyone else's. Last night I started to cough in the first scene. I was desperate for a drink of water. I began to worry that I wouldn't be able to sing or stop coughing. It was difficult to get my concern out of my mind enough to focus on the show. I think I pulled it off but I was late on a couple of cues because I was distracted. I won't allow that to be an excuse however. Me being distracted doesn't matter to the audience. If it happens again I'll handle it better. That's all any of us can do; deal with the distractions and show up on stage on point.

    Same pretty much for the comment by Sue. This show is musically difficult. It is difficult, if not impossible often for an entire pit band to follow us; to skip measures or vamp when a vamp is not written. A pianist can do this; not a band. The music in this show is vocally challenging. When I did it two years ago the cast was largely not up to the harmonies. This cast is superior vocally. We didn't have adequate time to work with the music; nothing to do about that now. My advice? Do your best and, if the music sounds strange, don't let it show. the audience either won't notice it or largely will ignore it unless we look over to the band or seem perplexed. As I said in my email; If you screw up; do it with panache!

    Folks, I hope no one is pissed off at my critical comments. If I didn't think we could be great, I wouldn't say anything at all; it would be cruel. Also, I am not the director and I hope Scott doesn't feel I'm usurping his role. Scott has done a great job on a deceptively difficult show. But once the show goes up, it belongs to the actors. A lot of directors don't even come to performances after the first couple although I know Scott will. I am merely one of the cast trying to act like a cheerleader, albeit a critical one. So GO TEAM!!!