Thursday, Public Performance, November 18

Thursday, November 18, 2010, Public Performance
• So proud of you! You finally improved as a cast from the last performance. Keep this up. Sorry the critiques were late. We had a high school rehearsal after your performance.
• At the VERY beginning before the curtain opens, the side light showed the silhouette on the wall near the steps (audience's right) of a person back stage moving around. Crew people – be careful that your shadow is not seen.
• Macy, begin talking with the music underscoring your words – about 5 seconds before the music ends. Mac is doing well on the music, that I believe we will be able to hear you over the music.
• Seanachais – slower on handing the Bard’s rod to each other. In history, the Bard’s rod signified who would be talking, who would be the focus. We can’t do that, but remember when a person is talking – all attention should be on them. So, Macy, Tucker, and Sheree, you may have to cheat just a little – turn in so that it will be easier to look at the speaker without having your back to the audience. Look over your shoulder.
• When the sea mither comes to tell Brigid about the bard’s rod, be surprised that it is so magical and moves.
• STEP ON LINES
• VILLAGE PEOPLE – LOUDER in murmuring.
• EVERYONE, tiptoe . It is way too loud when everyone moves at once.
• Bread basket?
• Louder murmuring during village scene. Make noises either positive or negative when the villagers are insulting Macy. In real life, you would react in some way – usually audible.
• Tucker – when moving to meet Sheree and Macy – just walk with purpose to them. We might change your Seanachai position to be closer.
• Show yourself worthy – use more authority and be distinct – just slow down on that line.
• Point the way – slower
• Macy – Out of this world – both out and world should be stressed.
• Supreme kelpie – we need people noises here – react to her announcement.
• “Now, Now” Seanachai -giggle – react in some way
• Humans are strange – Seanachai -giggle – react in some way
• Well human – Seanachai -laugh- react
• Helpless hopeless human - we need people noises here – react to her announcement.
• Brooke, move if you are being blocked. You can get up and stand in a different place. Move by the Sea Mither. Let her wecome you and put her arm around you.
• Tatum as the horse: 'galloped' in step with Macy a few times and nearly looked as if she were limping along with her. Tatum might make sure they are not on the same 'step' or prance (knees up) a bit more....like pause a beat in between the steps of left-right,slight pause before the next left-right. This is when you first go on your journey. Tatum, prance light a horse – Macy, limp. Then the longer you travel, Tatum, you are not prancing so much.
• GIANT – ONE MISSISSIPPI – We have to rehearse that.
• My father will have to kill you - we need people noises here – react to her announcement
• 7 days old - we need people noises here – react to her announcement
• Jake, when you fall – people noises- grunt – groan – you are an old man. Picture me having a tug of war and falling on my ____.
• Tatum – MORE HORSE NOISES and vary them
• Giant scene – ever again - we need people noises here – react to her announcement - You are happy – yell – clap
• GIANT – ONE MISSISSIPPI – We have to rehearse that.
• Darlin girl - we need people noises here – react to her announcement
• More horse noises.
• STEP ON LINES
• Macy – exaggerate being still – not moving at cue when the serpent enters.
• Hannah as the serpent - but her hands were just hanging. maybe she could do her fingers in a claw-looking hang rather than just a soft-fisted hand.
• From a friend whose criticism I value - Sheree looks to the audience out of the corner of her eye. ...she was great! - just needs to look over our heads rather than looking like she is looking for approval from an audience member. Nathan Caballero did it a couple of times too...but he is very good. :-) If anyone else did it, I didn't notice.
• We need a light on Meredith during the sea serpent scene. She is standing right stage by the bench.
• Destined to do - we need people noises here – react to her announcement
• Ayers, put the wreath on your head before you come in. Just hold the serpent’s mask and hand it to someone downstage. Ayers, don’t cover your face with your hands, it mutes your line – oh my….. Instead you might make a “Jewish” mother gesture and have your hands over your head as if to say – God fix these humans.
• Great job overall – your best performance to date. Remember step on lines and people noises.
• Ms. McLellan, can you bring the DVD back – it might work on my laptop – didn’t think about that. We can watch it at the very beginning at 1PM.
• Next week, I will have you from 11:30-1:30 on Tuesday. We will be in the middle school auditorium.
• Next Sunday , November 28– it is Thanksgiving, but we need the rehearsal. You have never traveled to a place to perform the play, so this is what we will concentrate on – Next Tuesday, November 30, we will rehearse from 3:45-4:45. This will be after your school performance. Thursday, December 2, we will rehearse from 3:45-5:45.
• Friday, December 3, we will leave school at 9AM., rehearse at 10AM, eat lunch at noon and go to the mall. We will return to Shallowater about 4Pm.
• Saturday, December 4, eat a protein breakfast. We will leave the high school (door back at the loading dock) at 10AM. We will have pizza brought to our holding room. I will buy water. The directors’ meeting is at 1PM, and I would appreciate it if two mothers could stay in the room with the kids. We go on at 2PM. The rest of the plays are on the hour, so our kids should be cleaned up and ready for the second play. All students need to wear dress clothes after our performance. Boys, slacks if possible and collared shirts; girls, slacks or dresses. No T shirts. Remember, you are representing Shallowater, Shallowater Middle School, and our theatre department. There are four plays – three in addition to ours. The last play should be over with by 6. I look for critiques to be no later than 8. All students must attend the critiques.
• Because we were about $400. short of funds , I have written a grant and anticipate it will be accepted for $500. We will be working with high school students. A high school student will film and edit Sunday’s performance. Then he will interview our students on bullying and how it feels to be in middle school, how it feels to be accepted/ not accepted. He will edit these interviews – about 15 minutes. We will duplicate these and use them for a presentation at the Service Learning conference in Austin this summer.