Deep into The Tempest
March 29, 2012
So now we're deep into the Tempest tech. The stage is somewhat challenging, with several holes through which the unwary or unfamiliar might fall.
As the actors' Health and Safety Rep I have some of the responsibility to ensure that risk to the cast is minimised. I had suggested, for instance, that we rehearse with rope delineating the edges of the irregular stage margin and of the holes, so that we could become more 'hole-aware'. It worked - we no longer walked into a 'hole'.
We have implemented some prophylactic measures, including two young women being stationed permanently on stage as 'hole-watchers' until we are confident that everybody is super-acquainted with the risks. April and Polly are stage management drama school placements, and I hope many hours of sitting Lorelei-like on the poor island's rocks is compensated by an understanding of what a full-on tech rehearsal involves.
Richard III has opened in The Swan, next door. I wasn't called for rehearsal on Monday night, so took the opportunity to see it. It was great. So clear. Some really energised and muscular performances with impressively easy command of the text.
I loved Jonjo's take on Richard which has an insolent, almost priapic, cheek. The women are so strong. It was lovely to see Sandra Duncan, with whom I did many months of An Inspector Calls, taking the RSC stage with verve and aplomb. We had dinner afterwards in my little cottage where she told me how wonderful it is to work here. Seconded.
During one of Sandy's scenes a mobile phone went off very loudly in the circle where I was sitting. It ran through its whole gamut of 'dee-dee-der-der, dee-dee-der-der, dee-dee-der-der, deeee' three agonising times.
I cannot comprehend the insouciance of anybody who does not think to turn off their mobile phone in a theatre. Greg Doran has a most effective mobile phone bye law here: a £5 fine for rehearsal and £25 for a run-thru. It works, I can assure you. If only we could impose a fine on those people whose phones go off with such infuriating regularity in the theatre
Pictured this time is Heidi, our Stage Manager. Now she IS awesome.
by Nick Day
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