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| Third Preview |
| Press Night |
| The End |
 Just So ( No More) |
PRESS NIGHT!
Thursday 17th June
Despite a restless night of hay fever, learning new lines and worrying about my cards, the morning brings inspiration! Next to the quote from Kipling I will add personalised “Simon Greiff quote”.
| For example, for the Cooking Stove: “Pretending to be a Cooking Stove? Beats working for a living!!” – Simon Greiff |
| For Herr Director: “Writing words and poems? …” |
| For Stephen: “Making up steps? … ” |
| For George: “Writing songs? Beats working for a living!!” |
When I get to the theatre there are cards, and ‘gifts’, waiting for me! Gifts?! I didn’t think of getting gifts for everyone!
I have Champagne from Stephen, and a Parsee Cake … from the Parsee! It’s all too much - I decide to save the excitement for after the Matinee.
People are very upbeat considering we have two shows today.
The Matinee, our last preview (!) goes … Okay! Unfortunately, ‘Ladies Out’ was a little off. The Jaguar and I were struggling to hear ourselves - it really is quite tricky onstage - and added to that, the tempo was a little slow (the number is still relatively new to the band). This all resulted in us getting out of time, which ruined the end of the number. We have to be in-sync, otherwise it’s never gonna work!
It wasn’t a full house, but that said, the two school parties that were in enjoyed themselves.
Once out of costume, the Jaguar and I return to the stage to run our number with David and the band. George is on hand to help. Sue from the Sound Department works her magic, and with a tweak here, and a tweak there, the number - and the musical balance - is so much better. Fingers crossed for tonight … the BIG night!
My GG has journeyed down to sunny Chichester and is waiting patiently outside the theatre for me. We go straight back to Old Bakery Gardens. I have a much-needed shower, and then we enjoy a relaxing dinner.
Before I leave for the Theatre, my GG presents me with an intriguing looking leopard print gift bag. There is also a gorgeous hand-made card with a photo of me in my Leopard attire (you see, dear Reader, what I have to live up to on the hand-made card front!?) The gift is a framed photo of the Jaguar and me!
When I get back to the Theatre Clare, our in-house photographer, has been busy putting up our production photos. There are some great shots … some of me too! I pick up my ‘parties’ tickets for the evening show and give my GG a “see-you-later” kiss. She wishes me ‘Luck’ … “have fun my love” she says, “I can’t wait to see it. I know you’ll be great!”
I really hope she enjoys the show … and of course I really want her to like my performance. Although I have been getting positive comments and feedback from colleagues, nothing beats getting a thumbs-up from the people closest to you!
I head for my Dressing Room and am overwhelmed by the cards and gifts, covering every available space. It’s like Christmas come early!
I have to contain myself! First I must make the rounds and deliver my humble offerings.
When last in Vienna (visiting my best mate), I came across a toyshop that sold ‘hackie-sacks’ (small bean-filled balls) with animal prints. To my delight, I found a Giraffe, Zebra, and a Jaguar (unfortunately there wasn’t a Leopard ‘hackie-sack’ for me!). There was also a tiny stuffed Rhino. Sadly, I couldn’t find ‘animal’ presents for everyone, but I just had to buy these.
At 6.15pm we are all called to the Green Room. Herr Director wishes us luck for tonight’s show … Oh, and gives us some notes from last night’s performance! As we return to our dressing rooms Mr D, Steven (Pimlott) and Ruth (MacKenzie), the Artistic Directors of CFT, arrive to wish us luck too!
Lou announces the half hour call. 30 minutes, and counting, until Showtime! Aaaarh!! There is so much pressure on Press/Opening Nights. I always try to tell myself that it is ‘just another performance’, and I should ‘go out there and do what I do’! Easier said than done!
The Theatre is buzzing with nervous energy and excitement. There is still a bustle of cast and creative team wandering the corridors with cards and flowers. I can hear shrieks of ‘Good Luck’, and nervous laughter. I decide to spend a few moments opening my cards to steady my nerves … and take my mind off the fact that I have a show to do!!
“Your Leopard is spot on and you ‘re gonna be fab!” writes the Parsee. His cake is nice too!
“I can’t imagine the Leopard being played by anyone but you!”, kindly writes the Eldest Magician.
The Rhino has made a gift donation, on behalf of the Company, to the ‘Save The Rhino’ Fund.
David has bought livestock for an African family, directly through the Christian Organisation Send-A-Cow … in fact, thanks to David, the JS Company has bought a pig and two goats. What a wonderful idea.
“You’re great! End of story”, simply writes the Kolokolo Bird.
“Congratulations on a great performance” writes the Elephant’s Child. His gift is a photo of the Jaguar and me at the Sitzprobe, and a homemade JS key-chain.
And there are more key-chains: a cat from the Giraffe, and one of a Wildebeest from the Cooking Stove.
Charlotte (ASM) has bought me a tiny clay cat, and Peter has presented the Company with our very own tiny clay ‘Pau Amma dustbin lid’!
The lovely Wildebeest thinks my Leopard is a “Tour de Force”, and I make the Dingo-Dog “laugh … a lot” - she thinks I am “truly brilliant”.
Stephen says he “loves all the personal touches I have given the Leopard” (I was really hoping he would), … and G&A thank me - with flowers - for “making a magic”. I hope I don’t let them down … and I hope the flowers, beautiful as they are, don’t get to my nose!!
After all these wonderful, generous gifts and wishes, it’s back to reality … and I climb in to my long johns!!
“Beginners Call” announces Lou.
This is it then! The agonies and ecstasies of the past two months have been in preparation for this moment. Not that tonight’s show is a one-off of course, (there will be over 30 performances before the end of the season), but tonight signals the moment when Herr Director and Stephen hand the show over to the cast. Thus the circle is complete!
As Paul asks us all to take our places backstage, people are still wishing each other ‘Good Luck’. The air around us is electric!
I take my place behind my door. I can’t help but sneak a look through the crack to see if the auditorium is full. It is! I wonder where my GG, Aunt and Uncle are sitting? I have just a moment to worry that they have good seats …..And, then the lights in the auditorium dim, the audience settle down in their seats, and the show begins!
The cheer from the audience after the opening number is amazing. We are on our way!
We have such a wonderful mix of people out there. Friends, family, colleagues, children and … press!! And I can feel they are all really behind us. Every musical number receives enthusiastic applause, and every witty lyric and gag is rewarded with genuine laughter.
‘Ladies Out’ has never felt so good. Thank goodness we got it down in the rehearsal earlier today.
Act Two, and the audience’s fervour has not abated! The applause is deafening - they cheer, they hoot, they whistle! By the Finale, the entire cast are on cloud 9!
Without a doubt, we have a show we can be proud of! I can’t quite believe how quickly it went. And, I’m pleased with my own performance ... my next achievement will be to sustain it through to the end of September.
As I get myself ready for the after-show party, I can hear Juno from OOTW in the corridor. She is so proud, “You are all my talented children!” she says “What a wonderful show!”
George pops his head around my door “Congratulations, Simon” he says, “Really well done! I’m so pleased we’ve finally had the chance to work together!”
“So am I!” (I only hope that I will get another chance one day - maybe even have the opportunity to sing ‘Does The Moment Ever Come’ for him!).
Party time! My GG is waiting in the doorway of the Minerva Theatre, along with my Aunt, Uncle and their friend Roy. The delight on their smiling faces says it all - I think they might have enjoyed themselves!!! “It was wonderful” they all say, amidst hugs and kisses, “You were brilliant – You were all brilliant!”.
“I’m so proud of you,” says my GG “You were so funny. It’s a great show. You should be very proud!”
We celebrate well in to the night to the sound of excited laughter and popping champagne corks. If the critics enjoyed the show half as much as tonight’s audience, we’ll be fine. Maybe even a ‘hit’!!
In fact – Becoming … Just So!
REVIEWS!
Thursday 24th June
On the day after we opened, the theatre page headline in a certain London newspaper, famous for its bad reviews was - “IT’S SO NEARLY A HIT” …..
“… Drewe, who also directs, has penned lyrics that are a delight of rhyme and wordplay”. Well, that’s positive! “… the songs themselves are unmemorable” Ooops! “… if the storyline were stronger, this could be an undoubted family hit.” Oh well! I must remember that it’s only one man’s opinion! |
To be realistic, one must remember that this paper was also the only National who panned OOTW too. Hey ho! Fingers crossed the other critics disagree.
When it comes to reading reviews, Actors tend to fall into one of three groups:
1. Those who read reviews and let what the critics say get to them;
2. Those who read reviews and totally ignore what the critics have to say;
and
3. Those who don’t read the reviews at all!
Now, I haven’t met many Actors who fall into either group 2 or 3. I myself fall in to group that meets somewhere between 1 and 2 - I always read the reviews, and I always try not to let either the bad, or indeed the good, reviews get to me! Time has already taught me that the only thing worse than an Actor whose performance has been influenced by a bad review, is an Actor whose ego has grown out of all proportion due to a good review! I am fortunate that with the wonderful company I am keeping at the CFT, “ego” doesn’t even come into it!
It has been nearly a week since we opened JS and the show is going well. The theatre going public haven’t particularly come flocking to see us, but we are hopeful that the more positive of the reviews (not forgetting those that fall within “audience word-of-mouth”) will entice them. Time to check out the local paper - and the Actors’ trade paper - to see what they have to say.
Both publications are very positive :
“FAMILY SHOW THAT’S JUST SO GOOD! … Delicious wit in Anthony Drewe’s lyrics … George Stiles rings the musical numbers beautifully …” - most characters get a mention and the Jaguar and I come off well too, apparently we “…are wonderfully louche as the dodgy Leopard and Jaguar”… “CFT’s Summer Season gets more impressive by the day”. |
The Actors trade paper is as good:
“… an exhilarating and visually exciting show … an ensemble activity in which all the cast play a full and committed part … the subplot gives the cats a well taken opportunity to make a significant contribution with singing and dancing … a very good evenings entertainment of fun, music and amusing couplets.” |
The Publicity Department at the theatre, have them all …….
*** Three Stars and a photo of The Chase! : |
There’s more …
“KIPLINGS ANIMAL MAGIC …it is a little gem – tuneful, witty, imaginative and accessible to all ages … Drewe’s outstanding book and ingenious, witty lyrics … Stiles’ music is full of bright vitality, ranging form cod-calypso to power ballads … spivvy Leopard … Elephants Child played with charm … Kolokolo Bird is both funny and touching … the whole show is an effervescent treat for all ages” |
And more …
*** Three Stars and with a photo of the Giraffe: |
And more …
*** Three stars and with a photo of the Elephants Child: |
And more …
**** Four Stars: |
Even …
“… if every review were negative, it would still sell out - on word of mouth … the Jaguar and Leopard, cartoon villain duo all stylised movement and slow uptakes – both clear Friday night sexual predators … the whole confection of dance, colour, design, and terrific performances should keep Chichester humming through the summer.” |
And then …
**** Four Stars and with a picture of the Rhino in mid song: |
But one critic felt that Kipling’s Elephant’s Child has been -
“soppily reincarnated as a socially responsible seeker of justice in this witty but ultimately wearisome musical version … alas, merely so-so.”!! |
But, never fear …
**** Four Stars |
And finally …
“Drewe and Stiles have conjured more animal magic … witty lyrics …a marvellous mishmash of musical styles, wonderfully catchy and well worth catching …it is through the characterisation of the animals that this piece comes to vigorous theatrical life … the Giraffe and Zebra are highly accomplished bimbos … fast and randy barrow-boys, Jaguar and Leopard … Chichester has a hit on it’s hands. A funny, feel-good triumph that’s just so, so good, I can’t wait to take the children”!! |
Wow!
Everyone involved in putting Just So on stage should feel very proud. The important thing now is to ensure that the residents of this lovely town of Chichester know what’s going on at their very own Festival Theatre. And on cue, the Publicity Department have been busy. A review board has been placed outside the Theatre to entice our local audience. Fingers crossed! This ‘wonderfully louche, spivvish, randy, wide-boy’ of a Leopard is HUNGRY FOR AN AUDIENCE!!
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Read the next part of Simon's diary - "The End"
