WELL DONE, ALL! Shaving big chunks of time off Act I - huge! I'm so proud to have worked on this show with you. Tomorrow I will be a regular theatre patron in the audience with my Sweet Babboo and we're looking forward to being swept away into the story of Monty and his pals.
I do, as you may have suspected, have a few final thoughts, to wit,
Also, please review last night's notes. Too many of them still apply to tonight's performance.
EZRA GETS an A! for saying Get instead of Git - that was one I heard. I heard git a few too many times.
All of you can be more full voiced in your lines. Just because you're mic-ed doesn't mean you can mumble.
Please avoid looking down to convey any emotion - Sibella, your part seems to lend itself to rueful downward glances. Please do not - A) you can't be heard; and B) you have no light on your face.
Speaking of light - too many of you do not find the light to be in. I saw several of you singing your hearts out in the dark, standing next to a pool of perfectly good light.
Speaking of singing your hearts out - when you are facing down stage where the MONITOR is, there is NO EXCUSE for NOT LOOKING at the CONDUCTOR!!!! Nick is up there waving his arms around like a banshee and no one is looking at him!!! Please use that resource. It could have saved many slices of bacon tonight.
MONTY: At top of show, please use full voice for your lines as well as the song.
SHINGLE: Better diction, can still up your game there.
MONTY: Foolish - still swallowing the words. Sing on the vowels; lose the breathiness. Picture yourself as a 250 lb baritone.
JOHNATHAN: You MUST get the pronunciation of Chartres right! Everyone in the world knows how to pronounce this and they will be able to tell if you don't get it right. SHART. (not quite, but close enough) The Rev. is a well-educated man with a classic British public (which means private) school education and the equivalent of a Masters Degree in Divinity. He knows his stuff.
MONTY: We would like to see a smile of satisfaction every time someone dies by your hand!
EVERYONE: Pick up the cues. No space between lines. You can take time to say the line but you must start it immediately after the previous line finishes. Plan to breathe while the other person is talking so you can get right in.
JOHNATHAN: Every time you put on a jacket you must make sure the collar is folded back. The rest of the outfit can look like heck but the collar of the jacket will make you look dressed if it's in place.
SIBELLA: Still mumbling through the "My husband" of the wedding scene verse. We really need to hear you realize how awful Lionel really is and what's wrong with him.
JOHNATHAN: Better With... The Wrestle with and Boarding School notes are way too high. Try to stay calm and listen so you can harmonize with Monty.
MONTY: Bee scene with Phoebe, don't sit on the bench with your hands clasped behind your back...you look like you've been arrested.
MONTY/SIBELLA: You both must talk louder in the dialogue with underscoring in the middle of Look At Him...in order to be heard over the music.
MONTY: Grin with glee at the end of ACT I!!!!!!
MONTY/PHOEBE/SIBELLA: BEST TRIO EVER!!!!! You all need to have that level of energy for the whole show.
MONTY/PHOEBE: Can you enter more quickly after the butler announces you in the dinner scene? Big gaposis there.
SIBELLA: Can you let us see more shock when you hear the engagement announced, please.
SHINGLE: We really need to hear 39 years better. And a bit of a twist of the knife as you aim the comment at Sibella.
EVERYBODY: IF SOMETHING FALLS ON THE FLOOR, PICK IT UP RIGHT AWAY. IF YOU DON'T IT BECOME THE ONLY THING THE AUDIENCE IS LOOKING AT!
MONTY: Watch the conductor during Stop! Wait! What? Move more energetically so you make it over to the pool of light each time
MRS. CHARD: great accent, but LOUDER and a bit SLOWER describing decanting the port.
BREAK LEGS, ALL!!!! See you on the stage!
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