Midsummer thoughts
Aug. 20th, 2006 10:11 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ceebeegeeSo tired. SO tired. The joints between my thighs and my hips especially hurt. But a good tired. Midsummer went pretty well this weekend, all things considered. We had four EXCELLENT performances, and we'd never had a runthrough in the space, and most of the cast had never even seen the space before Saturday.
Jason and I got there a little after 11:00 on Saturday and we were running around trying to set stuff up. Set balloons to define the audience area, lay out the programs, make sure the permit is on hand, get water for the actors, test out the space (jump off the rocks, etc.), lay out blankets for the props and the actors, warm up, put on makeup...blah blah blah. Lots and lots of running around. Then we had our first show--Dana had a ton of people there, something like 30 people. They'd all chartered a bus from Connecticut. Melissa's mother was there, as were Clare's family. Tesse was also there. A LOT of people talked to me (and, I assume, others) after the show, telling me how much they enjoyed it. Melissa's mother was raving about the show, and has come to every single performance so far. Clare called me over and introduced me to her family and they were also extremely complimentary which of course made me feel fantastic.
We did have some problems with the roller disco show that was going on behind us--they started "sound testing" (loudly) a little before 2:00 and Alex went over to open up a can of whupass. They did have a permit, but I went over between shows to try to coax them into lowering the sound a bit. I wore my Puck costume (flame-edged suede halter top and black britches), thinking a blonde in a skimpy top might soften them a little. I have a feeling it was wasted, since everyone was so damn baked there, I'm not sure they knew which was up! I tried talking to the DJ who waved his hands around vageuly and said they had an 85 decibel limit and pointed to the meter (which, uh, said they were at 86 decibels). He pointed to some skinny older guy flying around on skates and said that he was the one in charge--I tried to flag him down but he never noticed me. Finally I left in frustration, and filed a noise complaint during the second show. Interestingly, today, during the first act of the second show, that guy was walking by and started talking to me. He introduced himself and was asking about the show. He was MUCH more approachable than the DJ the day before--I explained about the noise and said we just wanted it down a little, so the actors weren't so distracted. He said that "they" (the DJ, I guess, I didn't talk to too many other guys there) thought I was a member of the Central Park Conservancey! In that outfit? I said to Jason, that just proves how baked they were!
So, it was annoying but not insurmountable. My bottom line is, the audience didn't seem affected--as I said they were all very complimentary. I was watching them during the show and they all seemed quite involved, plus I talked to Melissa's mother and some others, and they all said "yeah, it's noticeable but no big deal." Jason was pretty unhappy about it but I was thinking, I think it affects him more than it does the actors or the audience. The actors don't notice it as much, because we are in the scene, we're expending energy, we're doing something--the same with the audience because they're in the scene as well. Jason is the director--he is watching the audience, watch us. It's a more passive role, and of course he's a worrier. So--what are you going to do? It's outdoor theater. *Shrug*
I LOVE playing Puck. LOVE it. I am having so much damn fun stomping around, jumping off rocks, rolling around on the grass. Goddamn, I love this role. It does take a lot out of me though--I'm naturally pretty high-energy anyway, and I kick it up a notch for this. I have one monologue in the 4th act where I really have to watch myself--I am almost breathless by the end of it, because I'm literally jumping around so much.
I had fun between shows throwing around the football between shows. Today I was tossing it with Silas and then Mickey. I called myself a tomboy and Mickey said he didn't think I was. OH YES, I am! I earned three varsity letters in high school! (which I told him) I am not butch though; I'm a girly tomboy. But damn, I love throwing balls and climbing rocks and trees.
Both 5:00 shows seemed to bring out a greater crazy quotient. Saturday there was a guy sitting behind us on the rocks (behind the fence) working his weedy piece of meat (I called him the Weedwhacker). Sami was mocking him but Melissa was horrified, saying she thinks her innocence was gone. She's so cute. All the fairies look so beautiful--I'm very proud of them. They really look great. I love it during what I call the Clash of the Titans scene (the first Oberon-Titania scene) when they're all sneering at me. I give them mean looks right back--the subtext is all very West Side Story. Anita gives me the best snotty looks--she has this very prim look and very calmly sticks out her tongue. Love my fairies!
More thoughts later. Tired. But very happy. We pulled it off. I love my cast and crew.
Jason and I got there a little after 11:00 on Saturday and we were running around trying to set stuff up. Set balloons to define the audience area, lay out the programs, make sure the permit is on hand, get water for the actors, test out the space (jump off the rocks, etc.), lay out blankets for the props and the actors, warm up, put on makeup...blah blah blah. Lots and lots of running around. Then we had our first show--Dana had a ton of people there, something like 30 people. They'd all chartered a bus from Connecticut. Melissa's mother was there, as were Clare's family. Tesse was also there. A LOT of people talked to me (and, I assume, others) after the show, telling me how much they enjoyed it. Melissa's mother was raving about the show, and has come to every single performance so far. Clare called me over and introduced me to her family and they were also extremely complimentary which of course made me feel fantastic.
We did have some problems with the roller disco show that was going on behind us--they started "sound testing" (loudly) a little before 2:00 and Alex went over to open up a can of whupass. They did have a permit, but I went over between shows to try to coax them into lowering the sound a bit. I wore my Puck costume (flame-edged suede halter top and black britches), thinking a blonde in a skimpy top might soften them a little. I have a feeling it was wasted, since everyone was so damn baked there, I'm not sure they knew which was up! I tried talking to the DJ who waved his hands around vageuly and said they had an 85 decibel limit and pointed to the meter (which, uh, said they were at 86 decibels). He pointed to some skinny older guy flying around on skates and said that he was the one in charge--I tried to flag him down but he never noticed me. Finally I left in frustration, and filed a noise complaint during the second show. Interestingly, today, during the first act of the second show, that guy was walking by and started talking to me. He introduced himself and was asking about the show. He was MUCH more approachable than the DJ the day before--I explained about the noise and said we just wanted it down a little, so the actors weren't so distracted. He said that "they" (the DJ, I guess, I didn't talk to too many other guys there) thought I was a member of the Central Park Conservancey! In that outfit? I said to Jason, that just proves how baked they were!
So, it was annoying but not insurmountable. My bottom line is, the audience didn't seem affected--as I said they were all very complimentary. I was watching them during the show and they all seemed quite involved, plus I talked to Melissa's mother and some others, and they all said "yeah, it's noticeable but no big deal." Jason was pretty unhappy about it but I was thinking, I think it affects him more than it does the actors or the audience. The actors don't notice it as much, because we are in the scene, we're expending energy, we're doing something--the same with the audience because they're in the scene as well. Jason is the director--he is watching the audience, watch us. It's a more passive role, and of course he's a worrier. So--what are you going to do? It's outdoor theater. *Shrug*
I LOVE playing Puck. LOVE it. I am having so much damn fun stomping around, jumping off rocks, rolling around on the grass. Goddamn, I love this role. It does take a lot out of me though--I'm naturally pretty high-energy anyway, and I kick it up a notch for this. I have one monologue in the 4th act where I really have to watch myself--I am almost breathless by the end of it, because I'm literally jumping around so much.
I had fun between shows throwing around the football between shows. Today I was tossing it with Silas and then Mickey. I called myself a tomboy and Mickey said he didn't think I was. OH YES, I am! I earned three varsity letters in high school! (which I told him) I am not butch though; I'm a girly tomboy. But damn, I love throwing balls and climbing rocks and trees.
Both 5:00 shows seemed to bring out a greater crazy quotient. Saturday there was a guy sitting behind us on the rocks (behind the fence) working his weedy piece of meat (I called him the Weedwhacker). Sami was mocking him but Melissa was horrified, saying she thinks her innocence was gone. She's so cute. All the fairies look so beautiful--I'm very proud of them. They really look great. I love it during what I call the Clash of the Titans scene (the first Oberon-Titania scene) when they're all sneering at me. I give them mean looks right back--the subtext is all very West Side Story. Anita gives me the best snotty looks--she has this very prim look and very calmly sticks out her tongue. Love my fairies!
More thoughts later. Tired. But very happy. We pulled it off. I love my cast and crew.
