WEEK SIX - SITZPROBE

Monday 7th June

I had the company of Breen (the Assistant Director of OOTW) and the Giraffe on my drive down to Chichester last night. We talked about the week ahead, which is going to be … interesting. Within the space of the next five days we will have done our Sitzprobe (‘sitting rehearsal’ – the moment when the Company sing with the band for the first time), all the technical rehearsals, all the dress rehearsals … And previewed ‘Just So’ in front of a paying audience! I can hardly believe it.

This morning, I was out of bed as soon as my alarm went off – actually, it wasn’t my alarm at all, it was the Parsee Man’s alarm, but I’m too excited to go back to bed. I’ve been looking forward to this day for some time and I’m not going to waste a moment of it … I’m off down to Gunters to meet the musicians.

We’ve spent the last five weeks rehearsing the show to a solitary piano, but today we will hear the songs played by a 10-piece band.

George is just back from opening another of his shows in America (ah, the Jet Set life!). Before we begin he asks us all to introduce ourselves. One by one we call out our names, and characters/ instruments. “Simon” ... “Leopard”! “Louise” … “Piano”!

“Although you’ve all been rehearsing for five weeks” says George, “the band has had only three days! We may stop and start if it goes wrong, but bear with us”.
As the band strikes up, smiles illuminate the faces of the cast and creative team and all at once we are just one HUGE beam of delight. Words simply cannot express what we are feeling. There are so many different sounds and qualities to the music. From the earthy beat of the drums … to the breathy tone of the woodwinds … to the bluesy pluck of the double bass … to the funky twang of the electric guitar. The magic of the music brings ‘Just So’ to life!

David conducts us through the score, song by song. Unfortunately, the Kangaroo has a flat - not a flat note! - a flat tyre … on the A24 - he misses the start.

It is so invigorating to sing into a microphone, accompanied by a live band, and hear the sound booming back at you. The adrenaline is pumping, and when it is time for us to run our solo, the Jaguar and I go in to overdrive. We take the ‘Ladies Out’! And, boy, do we take the ladies out - the orchestrations are far funk-ier, and rock-ier, than I had expected. I LOVE it.

The big solos in Act Two sound wonderful. The orchestration adds to the emotions of the melodies and the lyrics.

During the break we catch up with George. His new show, ‘Tom Jones’, opened last week … in Boston! He’s flying back soon to do a cast recording.
I don’t miss my chance … “Any news on us doing a cast recording?” I ask.
“We really hope so,” replies George.
“So do we!” I add. Fingers crossed!

By 1:00 pm we’ve sung our way through the whole show … and the Kangaroo made it just in time (albeit in sweaty “leaps and bounds”!) to do his number.

I’m on a high. And although my heart is yearning to sing ‘Does the Moment Ever Come?’ with this wonderful band, my head is … taking the “Ladies Out”!

As we aren’t due to start our Tech until 7:00 pm, a few of us spend our long break in the garden at Old Bakery Gardens. It’s a lovely sunny day, too nice to be indoors!

When I get to the theatre the Kolokolo Bird is flying!! Yes, dear reader, she’s flying… in the auditorium… suspended on a wire… from the roof! The magic of theatre!

In MY dressing room (Yes, my own dressing room – No, no stars on the door though!), I find my costumes… all six of them. I’ve never had so many costumes before. Jess, one of the Dressers, (I feel like Laurence Oliver, with my own Dresser!) has set out my costumes and accessories ready for the start of our Tech.

At 7:00 pm we gather in the auditorium in our Amorphous costumes ready to start the evening Tech. Lined up in our white vests and long johns, we look like toddlers in their nightclothes. All we need are dummies and comfort blankets to complete the picture!

We stagger through the Opening Number, stopping and starting every time there is a technical problem. Our first entrance (all of us with the exception of the Eldest Magician) is through doors set in the back of the stage. As I wait for my cue, I remind myself to be patient - Techs can be slow, boring and frustrating for the actor. But the Tech is not about the actor or his/her performance. It is everything but that.

The ‘Tech’ is the first time that all the creative aspects come together; the lighting, sound, wardrobe, props and stage management. All these departments have been preparing for today. The only thing missing is the band. In musical theatre (other than for the Sitzprobe), the band usually only attends the Dress Rehearsals. (I suppose you don’t need a band sitting around for days while everyone else rehearses the technical issues).

As soon as Herr Director and Stage Management are happy with the technical issues in the Opening Number, we move on to the second scene, and the first quick change! We ten ‘bedtime kids’ have to ‘stroll’ off stage, and then fly around like whirling dervishes backstage, in order to transform ourselves in to Elephants, in time to … ‘lumber’ back on stage, on cue, for our next number.

Our first attempt isn’t too bad, but is not entirely successful. We struggle in to heavy grey trousers (skirts for some of the girls) and huge, long overcoats - to which we add a hat, gloves and small round sunglasses. Within seconds we are transformed from agile young actors in baby-grows, to pensioners with walking canes and cataracts. It’s really dark backstage, and in our sunglasses we can’t see too well. A great deal of bumping and stumbling accompanies our arrival back on stage!

Before we know it, the Tech is over. We have at least managed to get through one quick change – that from ‘toddlers’ to Elephants. I’m sure we’ll pick up where we left off tomorrow. There’s plenty more costume changes to practise!

TECH DAY

Tuesday 8th June

It’s the hottest day of the year so far, and we are set to spend the next thirteen hours in the theatre! However, the pollen count is also very high, so whilst it’s sad to miss a delightful summer’s day, I may at least get a break from my runny-hay-fever-nose!

I get to the theatre for 9:30 am. The dressing rooms are suddenly bustling. The guys from sound appear with our microphones (or “head-mics” as they are known) and the girls from wardrobe start checking that everyone has their correct costumes. I’m have been sitting in Room J contemplating the full day ahead, concerned about how much perspiration I am going to produce (I’m already a petty anorexic-looking Leopard!).

At 10:00 am on the dot we start from where we left off last night.

By lunchtime we have only got as far as where the Elephants leave the stage for the second time (which is only about four pages of dialogue further than last night).
We got stuck on a complicated scene change.

In the next scene the Elephants, having waved goodbye to the Elephant’s Child at the end of Limpopo River, exit the stage, tear around the back, take off their costumes, and then - reappear on stage (in amorphous-mode of course) pushing ahead of them the three large crates that make up the Parsee’s Island. All in the space of about forty five seconds!

Before we take a run at this, Paul goes through the change with us, step by step. Setting up a quick costume and set change, with ten actors (all needing to be very much on the ball) is an art form in itself, and we need to practise and master this very quickly. There are so many questions: where to go off, where to change, where to get the crate from, when to push it on. We’ve so exhausted ourselves with the questions that we end up breaking for lunch! Let’s hope everyone’s on the ball when we return.

Despite all the action, I’m managing to keep my ‘sweat-level’ in check. During a Tech is it essential to conserve (as far as is possible) one’s voice and energy. The last thing I want is to be worn out by Friday (our first ‘Performance’). There are no understudies, so none of us can afford to be overwhelmed by the pressure!

Our afternoon session seems to go much faster. Our lunch break did the trick and we have successfully mastered our costume and scene change.

Next is the Parsee Cake number. I put on my Commis Chef outfit … the expression ‘camper than Christmas’ springs to mind. Thank goodness they didn’t go ahead with the hot pants for the guys! These have been ‘toned down’ (wait for it!) to subtle white mid-thigh shorts … accompanied by (I did say, wait for it!) a chef’s hat and jacket covered in ‘sparkles’ … the jacket has the most amazing ‘buttons’ (but you’re going to have to come and see the show to get a glimpse of those!), and white boxing boots with silver laces. The ‘ingredients’ we use in the song are hilarious too. Giant fruits and accessories fly down from the roof!

The most enjoyable thing about the Tech process is seeing people in their costumes for the first time … and watching hats and wigs that don’t quite fit, fly off in all directions around the stage.

After this song and yet another scene change, we all rehearse our very quick, quick, change. Eight people are transformed into Wildebeest, and the Jaguar and I don our ‘spotless’ skins! We just get to the end of ‘The Chase’, and then it’s dinnertime! My Leopard trousers and jacket are made of a heavy woollen fabric, and they are lined… so, note to self, ‘expect to perspire … a lot!!

After dinner we run ‘The Chase’ into ‘Ladies Out’. Stephen has decided to change some of our choreography. Apparently, Mr CWEP preferred our Act Two Reprise to the actual ‘Ladies Out’ number itself. He felt that our moves, and the staging, were ‘too similar’. It is interesting to hear this because the Jaguar and I have been allowed much more freedom to express ourselves in the Reprise and have come up with moves that highlight the difference in our characters. The consequence of all this is that we are to introduce these moves in to the main number. Stephen is more than happy to work with the Jaguar and me, to create these ‘character traits’ in ‘Ladies Out’.

Before we run our number, with the new moves, Jeff asks us to stand in particular places around the stage so he can ‘light’ us. For our ‘finish’, or the button, as it is called, we are lit by a special light from above, in silhouette. It’s a wonderful image for the end of the song.

I have a few problems with my hat, but with some sponge on the inside, it finally stays on throughout the routine… and as for the suit, well it does look great, but I’m sweating so much my shirt is soaked through (I can feel the pounds falling off – it’s as well the Leopard is a very hungry fella in ‘Just So’!).

The cast is broken (AND I do mean broken!) at the end of ‘Hooves’ number, in to the scene change with the Wildebeest.

‘The Bell’ it is then… just the one, to unwind before going home.

SECOND TECH

Wednesday 9th June

My alarm must be having a nervous breakdown! I awake to the sound of crashing and banging! No, it seems there is a competition under way at Old Bakery Gardens; Who can slam their bedroom door the hardest!’ The Kolokolo Bird who stayed the night (it could be her LAST night!) was well ahead of the Parsee!!

The Jaguar and I aren’t needed for the first hour of the day, so we do a little ‘self-promotion’, and take some photos of each other in costume; The Customary Actor Photos - ‘Me as Leopard at the CFT’.

Back in the auditorium the Tech hasn’t moved on much. We finally get to our crossover, and then the set-up of the infamous Pau Amma Crab. We have a few dry runs at the change. Pau Amma’s shell is made up of big red dustbin lids (which are much heavier and cumbersome than any of us could have imagined), but we look great from the front… and in the end that’s all that matters!

To add to all the excitement backstage, the Jaguar and I attempt a quick change from Jaguar and Leopard into Wildebeest. I only just scrape in, but my mate the Jaguar is nowhere to be seen. He finally arrives onstage (for the second Wildebeest entrance) still wearing his Jaguar rings and jewellery. He looks an extremely affluent Wildebeest with all that ‘Bling-Bling’!

Two minutes later, it’s the end of Act One … and a break for lunch.

The start of Act Two takes some time - I have no idea why. My job is not to worry about what’s happening, or what’s not happening, it’s to be ready when I’m needed.

My quick change into Leopard from Wannaby Wallaby is not as quick as it should have been, but it will be next time, I’m sure!

Our next technical problem is how to bring on the huge packing boxes that we sit on during ‘Leaps and Bounds’. The Zebra (do you remember the Zebra? - she’s the … ‘petite African equine’) can hardly lift one! We run the number for spacing and Paul informs us “a solution will be worked out during dinner”!

The Kangaroo exceeds all expectations, his legs are hilarious, and the Dingo Dog (what a star!) looks as if she’s come as ‘Britney Oops-I-Did-It-Again-Spears’ (very white trailer trash!). You, dear reader, should ring the box office immediately (if you have not done so already).

I return from my break a very bloated Leopard! I have not eaten one of the Wildebeest, but a huge portion of pasta (carbohydrate, essential ‘stamina’ food)!

We run the scene change with the infamous packing boxes. The ‘dinnertime solution’ has been to cut a hole into the top of the each box to make it more manageable.

The very quick change after ‘Leaps and Bounds’ is… VERY quick! The Jaguar and I just make it, as we run on into the BBQ scene with the Kolokolo Bird. Our ‘transformation moment’ works well. The Jaguar and I hand our jackets to the Elephant’s Child, who drops them into the BBQ, and replaces them with our ‘new’ spotty jackets - mine is as heavy as the first one!

On the sweat Richter scale, I’m levelling out at number 12. After running ‘Just So Part Two’ a couple of times, I am wetter than the Limpopo River!

It’s slightly worrying to think that we have only one day left to finish the Tech, and we are ON the next night… with a PAYING audience!

A few of us finish early. We’re off to drink deep of the river – our river is called ‘The Bell’!

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