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My Fair Lady:                        

 

 
11th October - My Fair Lady- for young and old

What a great week.  I wasn't expecting the turn out I got from the first My Fair Lady rehearsal.  In fact I hadn't printed enough handouts for everyone.  The most encouraging development is that we have 4 new youthful members, 2 male and 2 female, I'm really exited about this show.

I thought that I might be struggling for a chorus a couple of weeks back and had visions of  youthful looking pensioners as barrow boys! But no more, I have a real young barrow boy, not only that but I've young pretty maids and elegant Ladies and Gents for Ascot.

I've even tempted 2 members out of retirement! The last show (a triple bill) was so good that they didn't need much persuading, well perhaps a bit of bribery, to tempt an old friend back into the fold.  The guy who designs our sets is well past retirement age and tends to do a spot of globetrotting now and had effectively retired, however my powers of persuasion know no bounds and he's now not only designing the set but is going to learn the music and perform a character part for me.

I think that I owe  this enthusiasm to the momentum built up over the last two shows and I really hope that I can carry it over into this production.  I'm sure I'll have many hilarious moments and near disasters to relay along the way, so keep reading

19.3.2007 - Musical Dramas  Box Office now Open - Sat sold out

Long time no see or rather read!! I've a lot of catching up to do.  I have been so engrossed in this mammoth undertaking that it has exhausted me.  But its a kind of exhilarating exhaustion that's nearly reached its climax.  I'd like to share the trials and tribulations of the last few months with you, or indeed if there is nobody to read my diary, just to get it off my chest and on to paper.

The new younger members have been a real asset to the society and have been a treat to see develop and form their characters in My Fair Lady.  They are like a breath of fresh air and I'm really pleased that they will bring new blood to our small, but select, group - notice I avoided using the word ageing, in light of the recent Ageism Laws!

We have had a few problems musically, changing our accompanist and our Musical Director mid production, being two of them! We were well ahead with the production side of things but understandably lagging in the musical department, and it didn't help that this year the show week had been booked a good two weeks earlier than usual.

Everyone put in extra effort and before we knew it we had: guys walking across the stage on their hands, cart-wheeling, doing the can-can; twirling like whirling dervishes and singing at the same time - no problem.

All the principles are putting in such marvellous performances I now have to take a hanky to rehearsals.  There is a marvellous scene when 'I could have danced all night' sung by Eliza, features two attractive maids, in nighties, gracefully de-robing Eliza in full song and putting her into her robe and slippers - wonderfully touching and sort of naive.

The leading man (Higgins) broke his foot and has coped with a cast - he refused a plaster cast- trouper that he is!  The cast is due to come off on the day of the technical rehearsal - he hopes! One of Doolittle's mates, Harry, has put his back out and hopes to be back for the last rehearsal this Wednesday,  he also plays Zoltan Karpathy so I'm treble crossing my fingers!  I've had a really bad problem with my vision and have had to rely on memory (lucky that's still OK.) Now where was I ? ...oh yes -so if there was ever a good reason for encouraging younger members to embrace our society this is it!!!

I won't bore you with the details of the set build but I would say that its a fabulous set and well worthy of the Turner Prize. Damien Hirst eat your heart out!

The final rehearsal is next Wednesday which I hope will see us running the show for the first time, albeit not in quite the right order, but needs must! I'll let you know how we get on ...promise!!

23.3.2007 - Costume Heaven    Box Office now Open - Sat and Fri sold out

Well we nearly got there.  The run through started at the end of act 1 at the Embassy ball, so that we could all have a jolly good waltz to get us in the mood!  We ran through, with the scene changes and props and nearly made it...but not quite!  Still a good effort by all and on Monday (the technical rehearsal) it'll be ---- or bust! 

I think that everyone is now in need of an audience and a good audience every night is guaranteed!  The Box Office phone line has gone red hot, according to Front of House, the calls have increased 300% !! Wow get in there quick they'll be selling on e-Bay soon!

Today I picked up the costumes with Bob and my MPV was loaded to the roof.  The costumes alone are worth the price of a ticket, the wardrobe mistress (not me this time) has done us proud.  I can't wait to try mine on. That reminds me I must go to the gym  all of next week (and not eat chocolate) so that the dress's will fit me - I'm not that small am I?  If they fit I'll be very grateful and pleased.

Big day on Sunday - band call at 10- 12 plus  setting up the sound and lighting. Dressing the set / costumes at 2 - 4pm.  Then all stations go for Monday.

If you come to see My Fair Lady I hope that you enjoy it and are touched by it.  If you are a reader of my diary then I'll let you know how it went next time.

 
7.4.2007 - It was more than all right on the night!!!

What a week the week of the show was. It all started on Monday with a fairly fraught technical rehearsal.  The scene changes were taking so long the MD ran out of music and the accompanist had to improvise; the sound guy just couldn't get the balance right - well he did eventually; the costume changes were challenging for everyone (myself included) and particularly for Eliza and there was a little matter of the words seemingly not secure!  No matter we finished by 11.10pm and I've known worse.  The dress rehearsal was by contrast 100% better.  Scene changes were slick, the words were secure and it all came together.  I was in the production and found that I had to give myself notes for forgetting my gloves and not coming in on time! 

The first night was an outstanding success and was followed by three further excellent performances.  All the cast worked their socks off and we all had a marvellous time.  For such a small company this was an outstanding achievement ,even though I say so myself.  Someone mentioned to me that they had thought CROADS had perfected human cloning when the same person popped up in 2 or 3 different guises ( with the cunning use of wigs and hats)

The stagehands were gradually demolishing the props - and the set as the week went on- we had just 2 cups saucers and a teapot with a broken lid by Saturday.  The stowage problem behind our tiny stage meant that they had to store furniture in such a way - given the sight lines- that Paul Mckenna would have been proud of them.

There was a case of a dressing gown that had a life of its own and two nights out of the four Eliza was wrapped in a large blanket instead of the said gown.  What happens to gloves?  Why do they always disappear never to be seen again? And why do zips always burst open on stage? We had all of that.  On Saturday night at the Embassy ball Higgins had put on the wrong trousers - 2 sizes too big - and the zip was undone, as he announced to us in polite conversation!  I wished I could've seen the guy that was wearing the trousers 2 sizes too small but I couldn't turn around as my zip had bust!  However it was the last performance and what a night, the best yet!.  Eliza and Higgins gave their all in remarkable style.  The acting was full of emotion and touched us all - not a dry eye in the house!  Doolittle and co. were in fine fettle and gave the audience a fun filled time.  The dancing was superb the youngsters gave their all and I was very pleased that we had ages from 13 to 79 on stage, in such a small cast!  All the principles gave top class performances.

Thanks to all..you made my dream come true that week.

Now what next...... see you soon.

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