Rehearsal Report--6/24

We started on sequencing the show and worked with the middle section.  It went fairly well.  My biggest struggle right now is working around conflict schedules.  We were hampered with three of the principals having previous conflicts.  It wasn't insurmountable, but it does deflate the moment somewhat. The fun part was of course cast-fun afterwards.

Fortunately, I was able to pre-block some of what we were going to cover with some of them earlier in the week, and I was able to  use the principals that were there to cover some stuff that is coming up where there are previously scheduled conflicts.  There was some really great work with Anne and Slender, in particular.  We were able to block some stuff out of the pre-planned sequence.

Rehearsal Report--6/22

Servants dropping Falstaff

A transformative rehearsal tonight with the ladies Ford and Page.  We were focusing on the A-plot and the two assignation scenes primarily--blocking the servants and Robin into the sequences.  Then afterwards I focused on the two merry wives.

The blocking went fine.  It was our first rehearsal with the actress who plays Robin, and I think she's going to be quite funny.  The servants (now officially nameed Juanita and Roberta) are two of the really fine adult women actresses who auditioned.  I have given them the chioce to improv their parts as much as they desire.  I trust both women and know they won't steal focus.

Rehearsal Report--6/16

Tonight we focused on the A-plot.  The duping of Falstaff by Ford (Brooke) and the merry wives.  This is a great groups of experienced actors with a mix of exposure to playing Shakespeare.  They took to it very well.  I had abandoned the concept of reading through scenes first at the previous rehearsal and we jumped right in.  We got a fair amount accomplished.  In fact we were just one Falstaff/Quickly scene and one Falstaff/Ford scene away from doing all of their blocking.

Rehearsal Report--6/15

We rehearsed the B- and C-plots this evening.  The B-plot is the romantic element of the show (Anne's suitors), and the C-plot is Dr. Caius and Sir Hugh Evans revenge on the Host of the Garter.  Most of the Shakespeare comedies have an A-plot and a B-plot.  What's interesting about Merry Wives, is that the B-plot, then fractures into a tiny C-plot as well.  I have the intent of strengthening the C-Plot to be as powerful as the other two.

First Read-Through

We had our first read-through of the script this evening, and while I wish we could have gotten just a bit farther, I was very pleased with the results.  A lot of what I was hearing in the script at auditions, I was hearing more of in the reading tonight.  Actors instinctively understand it, and we were getting plenty of laughs.  A lot of the humor is physical, and as we add physical action the show will really grow.

One of the things that was apparent was how strong the acting company really is.  We have a nice collection of actors in all areas of the company who are willing and wanting to give their all.  That's an exciting thing to witness and thrilling to be a part of.