Lana
Ensemble Enthusiast
If only life were a song and dance number...
Posts: 169
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Post by Lana on May 8, 2003 17:05:33 GMT 11
Took me rather a long time to start this thread.
But anyway.
I'm in Hello, Dolly!
Rehearsals are going well.
Male ensemble are enthusiastic and wonderful, female ensemble are good, but we have a lot of catching up to do.
Um.
We're beginning choreography now, so soon I'll have a better idea of what the show's going to be like.
Frankly, I don't care anymore. We've been shown costume designs and I get three pretty dresses! And three hats.
Oh, my last rehearsal was on Monday, and Peter (Musical Director) had another classic comment:
"If you sing it fast, you sound like an ambulance!"
That lead to all the female ensemble making siren noises for a few minutes... *g*
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Post by Buff on May 9, 2003 10:35:51 GMT 11
Oh, my last rehearsal was on Monday, and Peter (Musical Director) had another classic comment: "If you sing it fast, you sound like an ambulance!" That lead to all the female ensemble making siren noises for a few minutes... *g* He does come out with some classics! Last year in "Anything Goes" it was "Take it from the James Bond Theme!" In the song "Blow Gabriel Blow" Reno is singing with the ensemble "ooo'ing" underneath. In rehearsing the ensemble part, we realised it sounded like the James Bond theme. So we had to sing it over and over and he got the basses to sing the Bond theme rhythm as well. I'll be seeing the show at some stage. Don't know which day yet, but I'll let you know so you can make sure it's a good performance!  Buff  |
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Post by Buff on Jul 21, 2003 11:44:16 GMT 11
If anyone is interested. In today's paper there was a double page spread of rehearsals of Lana's production of "Hello, Dolly!". To have a look, click on the link below and scroll down and look at photos 145-200. Click on each one to enlarge. stallards.onpix.com/viewfilm.asp?uid=015177600&flm=EXM200703Seeing these pics makes me miss performing even more. The costumes, lighting look great and so many of the pics contain people who are good friends of mine. Lana, can we see you in any? There's a few of Kate Carswell there - looks like she's a featured dancer. If you know her well enough (and feel comfortable) could you tell her Buff says hi. She's the only other person who knows my "secret identity". Thanks! Buff |
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Post by Talissa on Jul 21, 2003 14:42:25 GMT 11
Thanks for that, Buff! Yep, I think I saw Lana in a couple of those. Lana, you're right. Your costumes are prettier than mine were I get a kimono for Mikado, though  And pretty Japanese wigs. ~Julia |
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Post by Buff on Jul 28, 2003 16:42:23 GMT 11
I'll be seeing the show at some stage. Don't know which day yet, but I'll let you know so you can make sure it's a good performance! I've got my tickets - closing night! I'm looking forward to it. There was a good review in the local paper saying everything was excellent, except the sets  Buff |
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Post by magic8ball on Jul 29, 2003 8:11:21 GMT 11
He does come out with some classics! Last year in "Anything Goes" it was "Take it from the James Bond Theme!" In the song "Blow Gabriel Blow" Reno is singing with the ensemble "ooo'ing" underneath. In rehearsing the ensemble part, we realised it sounded like the James Bond theme. LOL. The musical director of the production I was in used the same analogy for this!  |
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Lana
Ensemble Enthusiast
If only life were a song and dance number...
Posts: 169
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Post by Lana on Aug 3, 2003 18:09:35 GMT 11
It's been awhile, I forgot about this forum.,. sorry Julia!
The review in the paper amused me because they didn't like the sets - little did they know the sets were still being painted 12 hours before our opening show. Some costumes were still being made, as well. We cut it a little fine.
Yep I was in a few of the photos - the big one was the parade - I was.. well if you saw the show after we marched in single file, I was the leader from the right and second in line down the middle.
Buff, sorry I didn't say hi to Kate, for you, I didn't read your message! *g* Kate and Jay were our two ensemble members who were also dancers.
I liked the show but I don't miss it. Towards the end some stuff had happened that just.. yeah. But mostly it was fun and I made some good friends.
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Post by Buff on Aug 4, 2003 16:09:01 GMT 11
The review in the paper amused me because they didn't like the sets - little did they know the sets were still being painted 12 hours before our opening show. Some costumes were still being made, as well. We cut it a little fine. That's standard practice! ;D In "Godspell", the set was being modified the morning of opening night because of problems in the dress rehearsal. As were some costumes. Talking to the reviewer's wife (I work with her) she said they looked like they were a rush job while the rest of the show looked really good. Buff, sorry I didn't say hi to Kate, for you, I didn't read your message! *g* Kate and Jay were our two ensemble members who were also dancers. That's OK. I'll catch up with her at some stage. I noticed about half way through the first act, after the dance troupes first big number, that Jay grabbed his left hamstring during the blackout as they left the stage. Had he damaged it before or was it a fresh injury? He did so well to keep going for the rest of the show. I did spot you a few times during the show, but especially during the parade (you walked right past me and didn't wave ) and for the bows (the row of females after the dance and 2nd from the left, or was it on the far left - one of those  ) Overall I enjoyed the production. The actual show itself isn't the most riveting (nothing to do with the performance, just the actual show). Dolly and were good. Cornelius always had a surprised look on his face (but that is standard for him - every show I've seen with that actor is the same). Barnaby stole the show - he was just so likeable as the naive young guy. Ermagarde must have got sick of crying the whole show! But she was still good. Irene was up to her usual standard. Minne Fay was the best role I’ve ever seen her play. The ensemble didn’t have much to do but what they did do was excellent. A really good balance with no one sticking out. The bits I really enjoyed was seeing Di the choreographer as a part of the male ensemble in their first song in the store! Plus the people in the parade I recognised as mainly back stage and production crew – Di as the Statue of Liberty (I saluted her and she just glared at me!) Danny as a cowboy but looking like he was from the Village People. I went with my wife and our best friends (who are also married). The wives said that it was unusual for all four of us to be sat together for a show. I told them not to get used to it! Buff |
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Lana
Ensemble Enthusiast
If only life were a song and dance number...
Posts: 169
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Post by Lana on Aug 4, 2003 19:37:23 GMT 11
Jay grabbed his left hamstring during the blackout as they left the stage. Had he damaged it before or was it a fresh injury? He did so well to keep going for the rest of the show. It was a fresh injury, I think. Poor Jay had one drama after another - after one show when the dancers are doing their bit in the purple at the end his pants split. We were rather amused. I did spot you a few times during the show, but especially during the parade (you walked right past me and didn't wave ) I looked for you! But that was sort of futile since I didn't know what you looked like. *g* Barnaby stole the show - he was just so likeable as the naive young guy. Agreed. Wil played Barnaby so well, he was my favourite character. The bits I really enjoyed was seeing Di the choreographer as a part of the male ensemble in their first song in the store! That was great. We were all sidestage watching. One of our ensemble members pulled out ages ago, and since Di choreographed it and all she just took his place. We told her afterwards it was good but she didn't interact enough with the other cast - something she told the others all the time. My hair is naturally curly, but I got Michael to give me ringlets for the Sat shows. I bounced around all the dressing rooms announcing, "I've got ringlets!" At one point we were all heading up to the stage for the matinee and Di said, "Make way, make way, let the girl with the ringlets go first." *g*. I didn't like the show itself much, but the cast were great and we had fun. Apparently they're trying to get the rights for Cabaret next year - Danny wants to play the emcee. |
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Post by Buff on Aug 5, 2003 8:34:19 GMT 11
I looked for you! But that was sort of futile since I didn't know what you looked like. *g* And you call that an excuse I should have yelled out "I'm Buff!!!" - maybe not  My hair is naturally curly, but I got Michael to give me ringlets for the Sat shows. I bounced around all the dressing rooms announcing, "I've got ringlets!" At one point we were all heading up to the stage for the matinee and Di said, "Make way, make way, let the girl with the ringlets go first." *g*. Di is such a lovely lady. I met her first when she was co-ordinating the hair and makeup for Les Mis and then she did choreography for Anything Goes last year. I didn't like the show itself much, but the cast were great and we had fun. Apparently they're trying to get the rights for Cabaret next year - Danny wants to play the emcee. Jamie had told me that they were looking at that or "7 Brides for 7 Brothers". The other local group (Launceston Players) are putting on "Fiddler on the Roof". I plan to do a show next year so I'll have to decide which one! Buff |
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Lana
Ensemble Enthusiast
If only life were a song and dance number...
Posts: 169
|
Post by Lana on Aug 5, 2003 23:41:52 GMT 11
The other local group (Launceston Players) are putting on "Fiddler on the Roof". I plan to do a show next year so I'll have to decide which one! Buff Like there's a comparison! *g* Do you know when they're planning to have that performed? Only I'll be gone from Tassie by late July and therefore probably can't do the major LMS show again, if they stick to similar dates. edit: By the way, I never realised there was so much drama in Tassie productions. I guess it's much like professional theatre in that everyone knows everyone.. but oh, the rumours and gossip and bitching were rife, as much as Danny tried to stop them. *g* Come to think of it, a certain amount of the talk was about him, anyway... |
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Post by Buff on Aug 6, 2003 13:14:07 GMT 11
Like there's a comparison! *g* Do you know when they're planning to have that performed? Only I'll be gone from Tassie by late July and therefore probably can't do the major LMS show again, if they stick to similar dates. No idea yet. Most major productions are July-Sept which gives a long rehearsal time, although Les Mis was later (Sept-Oct). edit: By the way, I never realised there was so much drama in Tassie productions. I guess it's much like professional theatre in that everyone knows everyone.. but oh, the rumours and gossip and bitching were rife, as much as Danny tried to stop them. *g* Come to think of it, a certain amount of the talk was about him, anyway... Launceston is a small place - everyone knows everyone so gossip is bound to fly. Having said that, last year in "Anything Goes" wasn't too bad from memory. The trouble with LMS is that there are a lot of people in the society who have been there a long time. They kind of think they own the place and want everything to suit themselves. Danny is trying to change the culture of the group, but it's a long hard process. BTW, I'll be having a meal with Danny in a couple of weekends just to catch up. It will be interesting to grill him over the goings on. Buff |
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And pretty Japanese wigs.
)