Rehearsal Process

 

Monday 3rd June:

Today was our first rehearsal. I found out that I would be puppeteering Schnitzel the cat. I must admit, at first I was a little disheartened by this, however, as this term is about our target audience, which are children aged between 7-11, I realised that my role in this show is rather important because it gives the children something else to focus on other than actors, which will make them more interested in the show. We ran through the whole show just so the actors knew where they were coming on and off. I felt I didn't do my best today, possibly because I don't know many people so I wasn't very comfortable around everyone, but also because I did feel a bit stupid being on stage with nothing to do or say, however, I know that when I get the puppet, I will feel much more confident and part of the company. 

Friday 7th June:

We were able to see all the designs for the characters and the set. It all looks so good and I'm really looking forward to the dress rehearsals. After seeing the designs for Schnitzel, I can't wait until Liam (the designer/maker of the puppet) has created it. Today we focused on singing. I'm not amazingly confident with singing, but as I knew the tune of 'This Is Halloween' from the film 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' I was excited to be learning our version of the song.

Monday 10th June:

Today was mostly a dance rehearsal. We learnt a routine for 'This Is Hamelin', however, as I am puppeteering Schnitzel, I don't think I will be doing much of the dance, which I'm quite disappointed about because I really enjoy the song and the routine. I thought I conducted myself with a high level of focus and I listened well to Corin, however, I didn't have my hair tied up, which was a bad idea as it kept getting in my way, so in the future, I must remember to bring a hairband. Also, half of us learnt the final song for the show. I was put in the higher section, however I felt it may be too high for me. I was also shown the first prototype for Schnitzel. It's much bigger than I thought it was going to be. I hope I have some time to learn and to perfect the movements of it, as it looks rather difficult, however, now I've seen it, I feel more confident about my role in the show. 

Friday 14th June:

Today we ran through the dance, and changed it slightly. I was told, that perhaps I might be able to loose Schnitzel for the dance, which if it true, I will be delighted, as dancing is something that I very much enjoy. I feel that I put in a lot of effort into the dance today. Also, I hope I'm able to use the prototype to practice with on Monday, just so I know how to operate it and where it could go in a scene, as the show isn't that far away, and I haven't used it in rehearsals yet.

Monday 17th June:

Today we were in the Obie theatre and we began piecing the beginning together. This was the first time we had all of the market stalls with us. This helped with spcing issues. We've added an opening which includes me onstage with Schnitzel. At the time, it was very hard to imagine where he would be sitting as I still didn't have the puppet to practice with. We also learnt the routine to the song 'Let's rid this town of Rats', however I was taken out as I will be operating Schnitzel during this song. Right at the very end rehearsals today, Liam entered with Schnitzel. I must admit, at first I thought this was rather pointless as the practice was over, however I was proved wrong. Once everyone had left, I was given the chance to work with Schnitzel. It's so much heavier than I first thought! It's also a lot harder to operate than the prototype, but I need to get used to that, as I will have to be holding it for practically the whole show. 

Friday 21st June:

Today was the first time I had Schnitzel to use in rehearsals. Since Monday, it's been painted slightly and they've added a tail. Surprisingly it's not as heavy as I remember it being. I found it hard to move at first, and to concentrate on making sure all four legs where on the ground and not floating in the air.

Monday 24th June:

This morning, we finished blocking the end of the show. Since Friday, Schnitzel has been painted completely back, which in my opinion probably wasn't the best colour because I'm wearing all black and some of the back cloth and the flats are black, so I feel it might get lost, but I might be wrong. In the afternoon we ran through the whole show for the first time. I was also told to improvise a little scene with Schnitzel which showed him wondering around the stage at the beginning. When I did this the first time, I realised that I was on the wrong side of the puppet, which meant my body was blocking most of the puppet so the audience couldn't see it. So in the future, I must remember to make sure I'm not standing in the way of it. When we ran through it the second time, we had a small audience, which included my form tutor and one of my friends from my strand. I wanted to impress them, however, for me, I felt this rehearsal was worse than the first time we ran through it, because quite a few times the back legs of Schnitzel kept getting stuck so I had to try to get them in the correct place which, while holding the puppet up, is rather difficult. Also, we used the yellow tags to show who had a microphone. I had to swap with Eleanor (Queen Rat), and the first time we did it, I had it for the first scene, then I gave it to Eleanor and then I never got it back for when I went back onstage. The second time we ran through it, after the rats scene I asked for the tag back, however it had been passed to someone else. I don't think the three of us sharing the same mic will work. At the end of the day, I was told that I also need to physicalise my movements and make them more 'cat' like. However, when trying to make sure that all four paws are on the ground and the back legs aren't folded up, trying to make my movements like a cat is possibly the last thing on my mind. I want Schnitzel to look like a real living cat, but sometimes I feel like it just doesn't happen. Of course I'm going to work on my movements, but I think I'm more focused on making Schnitzel come to life.

Thursday 27th June:

Today was our first tech run. Fortunately I was wearing all black because I didn't know it was also a dress run. When I walked in and saw the set, one thing I noticed was how big the statue is in the middle. Before we began, I tried to work out where I would be spacing wise in the first song, and where I would put Schnitzel. Before today, I put him behind one of the market stalls, however I never got back in time for the beginning of the song, so today I decided to leave it on the statue, and I think this is a much better choice of where to leave him as it's not in anyone's way. When I saw Schnitzel today, it had been spray painted and had eyes. Now it definitely looks like a cat! I thought I was meant to have a mic however when I wasn't called by the sound guys, I went over to them and it turned out that they didn't have any left. It was very useful having the tech/dress run today as it means we all know what we're doing for when we run through it tomorrow. Overall, I think it went well and I found it easier to handle Schnitzel and I think today was possibly the best performance I've done with the puppet because I was also focusing on making my movements cat like. I was given praise for what I had done today which shows it was probably my best performance.

Friday 28th June:

We had our second technical rehearsal today and when I walked in, one of the first things I checked was if I was to be miced, and again they said they wouldn't have enough. Today ran smoother than yesterday and we were able to run through the show twice. The first run through, I wasn't wearing a mic, however the second time round, I was given one to wear for the beginning. This was something new to me as I've never performed with a mic before. I'm going to have to work on my cat sounds over the weekend, as I have the 20 minutes at the begin to wonder around the stage and I need to be making some sort of noise.

Monday 1st July:

Today we began the day in hair and makeup. As I believed I wasn't having my hair and makeup done, I was watching everyone else getting ready. While observing people, I realised that I think we will definitely scare the children as the makeup really brings out everyone's character's. As much I wanted to have crazy hair and scary makeup,  I was quite relieved when I saw how long it took.... As for my costume, I change my top as I kept pulling up the over one, and it didn't cover my shoulders, which I think when puppeteering, is important because you don't want to see much of the puppeteer. At this stage of the process, I don't think our performance today was brilliant. We need to up our game tomorrow, and as we're at Ashcroft tomorrow, I hope it doesn't throw people off, because today's run through wasn't the standard that it should be and I think everyone felt that. Personally, I felt I didn't do well today because Schnitzel's paws kept coming off the ground (which isn't realistic.) Also, we added the pre-set, where I spend 20 minutes wondering around the stage. After a while, I found myself walking round the same place. I need to find something new to do when we go through it tomorrow.

Tuesday 2nd July:

Tomorrow is our first show, which is very exciting! We arrived at Fairfield Halls at 1pm today to have a rehearsal in the Ashcroft theatre, with full hair and makeup (although I was told I wasn't having any). It was decided today, that I would be sharing a mic with Parris, so I would have a mic for the pre-set, 'This Is Hamelin', and the first scene. At first, I thought it was going to be a quick change, however it turned out it wasn't. I noticed people were being called to get miced up, however I still wasn't sure if I was going to be having a mic on. When I asked James, he said that they didn't have enough. We rehearsed the pre-set, where I come on and wonder around the stage. This was a very strange feeling as I could see the seats and no one was sitting in them. Honestly, I wasn't too sure what to do, but I came on stage right, and walk to the down stage right, where I sat down with Schnitzel. This would hopefully give the audience on the left a good view of the puppet. Then I walked over to the centre downstage, were again, I sat down, giving the centre block of the audience a view of Schnitzel. Then I walked over to the downstage left and sat down, giving the right hand side of the audience a good view of the puppet. Then I manoeuvred Schnitzel to the centre stage and onto the platform with the statue of the mayor. When I was in this position, I made Schnitzel turn to the rat under the Mayor's foot, and made a hissing noise, which signifies he doesn't like the rats. When a market person would enter the stage, I would wonder over to them and try to interact with them. Once the 20 minute pre-set was over, we began the show. I think everyone really enjoyed the fact that we were finally performing on the stage at the Fairfield Halls, as I think everyone performed so much better than yesterday! I can't believe that the show is tomorrow, I'm very excited for it!