29.05.13 - Extra Rehearsals In Half Term

Today we came into college to do extra rehearsals before our shows next week. The first thing we had to do when we got there was put the staging back up, as due to exams we had to take it down before half term. We also made a few rearrangements to the staging. Instead of having a slope down the middle of the stage, we decided to just use blocks as its a lot easier to walk up and it was very slippery with the slope and there were a few hazards in rehearsal. We also changed the levels on the other side, where the Heartbreak Hotel is. We changed the left hand side staging(for the hospital scene) because it works a lot more when Galieo and Scaramouche have to sit up. There's a higher block in the middle to show that they are laying in two separate beds. This scene is key, as it's when they both first meet, so it has to look like they don't know each other. We didn't change the right hand side, but we made it clearer that it was the Heartbreak Hotel. We established concepts for Heartbreak Hotel. We found various different relevant props/set pieces and fabrics to arrange the area having a character. We had things like tyres, bottles, signs, ragged fabric etc.

As we had changed the staging for the hospital scene, we had to go over that scene and some other scenes, so we could reblock bits of the scene to fit to the new staging. Also one of the main songs, I Want It All, that me and Megan sing was on that side of the staging. Originally we were on the staging where the Heartbreak Hotel is clearly labelled, as it has high levels and shows that we have lots of power as we are high up and the song is a very powerful song. Unfortunately, now that its clearly marked as the hotel, we can't sing on that side because in the scene where we sing I Want It All, we aren't at the Heartbreak Hotel yet. So we said we need to have a re think about blocking on Monday, when we have rehearsals next.

As today we were focusing on tech/lighting runs. We introduced Max and Harvey to operating tech for the show and to record the cues in the script.  It was key that us guys were patient whilst they get everything perfect. There were a few more lights to be readjusted as they weren't in the right place. The tech team found the follow spot and set that up. As they needed to know the cues, for each scene, we had to go through the song cues as well, because in some songs there is dialogue as the music comes on. It was key that we run through it with them and they knew the cues. Unfortunately we had a missing track on the disc, which was the full length of 'Headlong'. We only had the reprise, which was only a verse long. We explored various options, but couldn't find anything. Fortunately we came up with an idea and ended up singing the reprise version. It still worked well in rehearsal. The 'car' was made from two old seats pulled from out a car and strapped to a large stage block on wheels. We used this for headlong as we had to look like we were in a car. Brit and Meat sat in the front, with Meat driving and Galieo and Scaramouche knelt on the back of it behind Brit and Meat. We stuck an old stirring wheel onto a mic stand. We came up with the idea of just dragging it on whilst there is along instrumental at the beginning of the song, and even not having the long versions it still worked well.

Whilst the tech team were sorting out lights and cues, everyone else sorted out the costume cupboard and the dressing room area, as it was a complete mess. We made sure the costume cupboard was clean and everyone could access there costumes on the rails and the props without trouble.Everyone put their costumes on hangers, clearly labelled with their names on. We also found lots of old/torn spare bits from the costume cupboard, that would be useful for the Bohemians. On that note, Rachel made sure we all had our Bohemian outfits done. We then all rearranaged both of changing rooms to establish the usage during shows. To make it less hectic and busy, we had the Year 13's (main cast) changing in one room and the Year 12's (extras - bohemians, yappees, teen queens) changing in the other room.

As I didn't have a full Bohemian costume, I did some research online and looked at Bohemian costumes. In these pictures I saw that they are wearing lots of colours and have crazy hair styles. There is lots of lace and cut up clothing. As I die in the first Act as Brit, I come back as a Bohemian in Act 2, so i had to have a different outfit/image. I decided to buy some lacy clothing and wear some old camouflage leggings I have and wear a denim jacket. I don't really know what to do for my hair for Brit, but I know that I want to have it down, with lots of colour in. So for a Bohemian, I came thought I should have it up as they will change my image quite a bit, from Brit to a Bohemian. Plus I want my Brit outfit to be much better than my Bohemian one, as Brit is one of the main characters.

For my Brit outfit I've been finding it hard what to wear. In the proper musical Brit is played buy a man. So we decided to make Brit a lesbian in our version. I thought it wouldn't be a good idea wearing a corsetor a skirt as I'm not very girly. As a girl, I'm supposed to be a bit feminine. So i thought it would be a good idea to have my hair down, and really messy as in some of the pictures above, that's how the girls have there hair. Also I thought I should put different colours in my hair, so I put clip in strands of purple in. This shows me more as a feminine character. As for clothing, I thought I'd rip up a pair of old leggings and a lacy top and where lots of fish net stuff, to show my rock chic side. In a lot of the pictures I've seen lots of denim too, so I thought of denim things I have at home and found a denim waistcoat that would look perfect with the rest of the outfit. 

In these pictures you can see Brit wears a lot of dark colours and its very simple(trousers and vest tops) and things to wear on his hands, so that's where I got my ideas from.

Whilst these things were happening through the day, I made sure I kept myself busy by going over scenes and songs with Megan, as we were together in all of each others scenes. We carried on building our relationship and making it more and more believable. We made sure we stuck together in the scenes and not drift apart, as we are very close. We also made sure we made a lot of eye contact with each other,but not too much as we aren't one of these lovey dovey couples. Throughout the day, we practised these scenes, our relationship started to look more and more believable.

The last thing we did was start the cue to cues. Rachel said to us all that we are going to have to be really patient as it takes a while. We only did the first scene for cue to cues, as we had spent a lot of the day doing other productive things. Rachel then told us that we will be rehearsing all day on Monday and Tuesday. So on Monday in the morning we can finish the cue to cues. As me, Emily and Megan are absent for the whole of Tuesday, due to exams, Rachel has scheduled for us to do one run through on Monday for each cast.