Tomorrow... and Tomorrow... and Tomorrow

Hi guys!

Tomorrow, Friday 7th Dec, I will be making my way from a meeting and won't be at Holloway Road probably until 1.45 if I'm lucky. So, we have three hours and I want to try to do all of the following:

• A fast and energetic physical group or individual warm-up BEFORE the class starts so that we hit the ground running at 2.00 SHARP with... Please start this without me if I'm not there before 1.45.
• The three tables and two chairs set up and the line of audience chairs set up ready to go.
  
• At 2.00 on the dot, a speed run of our whole text (Kendra, you've only just got a new bit of text so I will be more forgiving..) No pauses. Knowing your cues. Knowing the scene that proceeds yours and your cue from that scene... THIS SHOULD TAKE NO MORE THAT 20 MINUTES....
• Then, we will work the LEAST worked FOUR scenes. Please put your claims/worrries/reasons on the blog for which ones merit being worked on the most urgently. If I there's nothing on the blog tonight, I'll decide this evening.
• We'll spend half an hour on each of these four scenes, have a short break and then do a stagger-through of the whole thing, starting around 4.15. No-one will leave the room during the rehearsals. If you're not rehearsing one of these scenes, you can just sit quietly learning lines (particularly the 'thanks to your majesty' tricky bits and pieces), learning cues, making a list of any props you will need, how you're going to get them, costume issues, a plan of where you are at any point during the show, assembling the lines for your part of the 'prompt-copy'* etc
• Notes. We won't have time for notes afterwards, unless you can stay beyond 5.00. Those who can I will give notes to. Those who can't I will put any notes I have onto the blog over the weekend. I will also respond to feedback if you still have concerns or, on reflection, don't understand any notes I give. We can use the blog to communicate from now on. And you all have my email if you want to ask me something less publicly. I'll do my best to respond helpfully in all instances.

Props, Costumes etc.

We have to provide all of these. Generally, if you use a prop, you provide it. Pilots thumb, for example: Gemma (piece of Parsnip?)

Costume is black. You should all know the rules and regs for this. Good to have a pocket or something where you can secrete a prop you'll need later though some can be put somewhere in the room.

Hair. Something to get your hair right away from your face. Scarf. Black Stocking. Skullcap. Piece of Black Material.

Witchification Mask Issue. This still has not been resolved. I will bring in a number of things for testing tomorrow. Bands, clingfilm and mudpack being the most prominent. But we all have to have the same.

Props List:

• Pilot's thumb
• Two Cups or Mugs for Banqueting Scene (for M and Lady M)
• Mallet or Shoe or Gavel or Something to do good Knock Knocks with.
• Cloth or Cloth handkerchief for Porter. Red?
• Muffin or Slice of Cake for Lady M on a paper plate (Chanatelle) to be holding when she starts 'Know you not he hath asked for you?' Scene etc..
• Letter that Lady M reads
• Daggers - two plastic knives from the canteen?
• Blood - tomato ketchup, ditto,
• Towel to wipe your hand after
• Candle for Lady M - sleepwalking (this can just be one of the T-lights already there)
  
• Doctor's notebook and pen. Or slate and chalk. Anyone got?
• Swords for Battle Scene at end - one for each actor. Plastic Knives?
• Sword for M in Banquet. Plastic Knife again?
• Brush, Jacket for Lady Duff and Child
  
• Candles (T-lights from IKEA) - I WILL BRING THESE TOMORROW
• As many torches, maglites, penlights as we can find. Even those big ones you have in the boot of your car in case of breakdowns... Lighters too.
• Something for 'Behold the Head of a Tyrant'. Any ideas?
  

Please add to this list if I've forgotten anything...

AND REMEMBER:

This is THE WITCHES doing our little show. They are having fun. They are never po-faced. They can be tongue in cheek. Ironic. Spooky. They are 'taking off' the story of their so-called betters, so keep looking for fun things to do with yourself. For one small example that springs immediately to mind: we can make the Doctor and the Lady in Waiting much more witchy than they have been up to now...

Tuesday and Friday next week will also give us LOTS of time to work on scenes so don't think tomorrow is the END of any process. All problems will be ironed out even if they aren't ironed out tomorrow. And all worries will be dealt with!!!

See You Tamarra


*'Prompt Copy'. It would be really helpful if you and your partner(s) could do a photocopy of your scene indicating the acted text so that these could be put together in a readable 'prompt book'.