Measure's first preview
November 22, 2011
So Measure for Measure is up! In a blaze of corsets, spiked heels and nipple clamps (I kid you not) we have had our first preview. After an EXHAUSTING tech week of working 10am-10pm most days, I think we were all surprised to actually get through it without any major hiccups - of course yours truly exited the wrong way and had to sneak back across the stage in a Scooby Doo-esque manner... but the less said about that the better.
During tech we encountered a few difficulties, the tendrils being one. Now the stage for Measure is of black leather with many a different texture, giving it a sensuous and raunchy appeal; the back area of the stage however, is hidden by a forest of black rubber tendrils dangling from the ceiling- S & M stalactites you might call them. And it is with these tendrils that I began a long and arduous battle. Lives had been lost in those tendrils, but not mine I tell you, NOT MINE!
You may wonder why I was waging war with what is essentially a rubber fly catcher, and I shall tell you. During the scene changes I have to manoeuvre, sexily I might add, various furniture and Perspex paraphernalia, which ordinarily would be fine; however, when faced with an Amazon of black tubing, one becomes less sexy and more Bambi on ice.
But we did it, and now the real work begins. During previews (the shows before press night) there is the opportunity for the director to tailor the show to the audience's response in order to get it to its pinnacle before press.
This involves performing at night and then rehearsing in the day, adapting and changing various elements of the show, highlighting what worked and deleting what didn't. However, this also results in a bunch of slightly hysterical, exhausted actors... the climax of this has to be Jamie Ballard performing Angelo's 'What's this? What's this?' speech, centre stage, in the style and voice of Richard Burton. It's the little things that get us by!
by Laura Darrall
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