Fyse February 16th, 2007
Last night we well and truly rocked. In fact we practically bouldered, if you see what I mean. On Wednesday night we barely gravelled, and occasionally sanded. Tonight we’re pebbling, or perhaps touching on stoning. And I think that’s about as far as I can push that particular metaphor.
Brief pause as Fyse goes on stage carrying two dead rabbits and a shotgun.
Having been out there, I think I’ll revise my estimate. Going much better than I thought, and the audience are really responsive. The family Fyse are out there somewhere this evening, so looks like they’ve caught a good’n so far. Hopefully we wont have anymore duff performances.
In other news, I’m in the process of growing some bonsai trees. Think I might start posting some ‘work in progress’ shots.
Right, back to the stage again…
Fyse February 14th, 2007
Here I am back stage again, so perhaps this ought to have been called ‘Backstage bulletin II’. Instead the title is the name of a scientific paper I came across at work today, which I thought I’d share. Made me laugh, anyway.
The first night of the show went really well, with a three quarter house and no major disasters. One pyrotechnic detonating early caused something of a disturbance, but other than that it was all very smooth. I get a big shotgun to point threateningly at people, but unfortunately without firing it. Other people get pistols loaded with big, beefy blanks. Putting entertaining explosions to one side, I think it’s probably the best first night I’ve ever had and here’s hoping we can build on it. Five and a half performances to go…
Coming back to my laptop ten minutes later, I can reveal that it is not going as well as last night. Our director insists there is no such thing as a bad audience, only bad performances. A sound point, by which logic the distinctly flat feeling is our own fault. Whatever the reason, there’s not as much laughter as considerably less rapturous applause.
The act one finale fast approaches, so I’d best be off. Isn’t this on-the-spot reporting wonderful? Just knew you’d all be enthusiastic…
Fyse February 13th, 2007
Well, I just found a wifi hotpsot at the theatre, so here I am with my new laptop tapping away in the wings. The network is conveniently called ’stage’. We’re half way through the first act of our first night, having completed a successful dress rehearsal earlier this afternoon. It’s all going quite superbly well, and since I’m hardly required in the first act it gives plenty of time for me to type this post. On in the finale however, so I’d best concentrate.
Not sure if I’ve given details on the show. It’s a production of ‘Oklahoma!’ at the Cambridge Arts Theatre, and I’m playing the role of Andrew Carnes. That’s the grumpy old man, which is pretty typical. The rehearsal schedule has been intense, and truly shattering while trying to hold down a full time job as well. Taking a couple of days off work this week, and my whole lab are along for the final night on Saturday.
In other news, I’m applying for PhDs over the next couple of weeks. Controversially, not in Cambridge but at Warwick and Bristol. That’s news for another post though.