Having Fun

Last night was our last rehearsal before we get-in.

I decided we needed to have some fun with it, to remind everyone of why we take part in am-dram, before we get into the serious (and seriously quick & intense) business of getting the play working in the actual theatre.

So, after playing a concentration game, I announced that we would be doing a speed-run. Everyone was to play their parts at double the normal speed, only without gabbling their words.

It was great fun. Barely a prompt was needed and everyone picked up their cues with no problem. So hopefully the exercise will have given everyone confidence that they don't need to worry or be nervous about what they're doing.

The speed-run also gave everyone a bit of license to mess about with the show a bit. They exaggerated certain expressions and ad-libbed bits of business as it occurred to them. Hopefully this will give everyone the confidence to leave a little freedom in their performances, without losing the intention of the author.

Unfortunately, in amateur theatre, we are discouraged from 'exploring' the text of a play. The terms of the license from the publishers do not allow us to change any of the words without prior permission - even though a good actor will be able to find acceptably alternative ways of expressing the same feeling, emotion or opinion that the author intends.

Anyway, it's nice to be able to start the get-in and work on all the technical stuff (building sets, plotting lights and sound) without having half a mind worrying about the standard of the performance. I know it's going to be something very special indeed.