The Diary of the New Girl.
“Are you playing my aboriginal clackers?” – the quote of the week, from Michael (playing Alonso & Stephano), which sent us all into hysterics. Laughter has been a big theme this week in the rehearsal room, which is a useful tool as a company. Sometimes when a group of people care so highly for the work and the play, laughter can be the first thing that leaves the room – not for us. We laugh about Michael’s guilty pleasure T.V. Show (Take Me Out presented by Paddy McGuinness), we laugh at Waggy’s (playing Prospero & Antonio) love for his cats & halloumi sandwiches, they laugh at my self proclaimed incredible knowledge of Taylor Swift, we laugh at moments in the play that don’t make sense yet, we laugh when we feel silly trying something. In this room laughter equates to acceptance, and love, and safety. Note to self – carry this out of the rehearsal room into my life.
The opening quote of this weeks blog came from one of our two musical half days this week with the wonderful Tom Chapman, we added texture to scenes and transitions using bells and shakers, imagining an island full of snakes and magical creatures. We try on all our costume, create props lists & discuss important things to bring on tour. We rip pages out of books and make bottles that look like they’re made from the bark of a tree and buy metres and metres of fabric. Sam and I play with a jacket until it’s just right. We dissect the Ariel speech in Act 3 and as we gradually make our way through the beats & meaning, the sense of what Ariel is trying to achieve becomes clearer, and although there are moments when I feel vulnerable or (to be totally honest) rubbish, the other four kindly and intelligently communicate their thoughts in a way that makes the notes land on me, and I am (hopefully and slowly) beginning to access them.
We stagger the second half for Jenny Higham, who helpfully comes in to be on book, take some pictures & give notes. Miraculously, we make it through pretty unscathed and Jen seems really pleased with what we have so far, giving some really helpful thoughts and points for us to work on. We all found the stagger so helpful, each knowing what we need to work on individually and as a team now. Anna has tears in her eyes and says she’s moved by how proud she is of us all, and I am relieved I’m not the only one holding back happy tears.
By the time Friday rolls by we’re all exhausted, hopeful & happy (the dream triumvirate for a good week). Final week in the rehearsal room next week, first stagger of the whole play, and more laughter.
Special mention for this week goes to Michael for his genius idea to get Adrian off stage in act 5 – when you watch the show, keep a look out!