All About Guillotines

Scene Synopsis By Charles Darnay (the Minky)

2008-04-14T00:27:00.000-07:00

So for those of you who came to see the show and still left confused - here is a brief synopsis of each scene, written by Darnay.

ACT ONE

Scene One - Introduction
Principals take to the stage. No furniture.

Scene Two – Paris, 1757
Silent scene, incidental music only. Rape and murder of Peasant 1. Murder of Male Peasant by Darnay's Father and Evremonde. Imprisonment of Dr Manette by Soldier 1 and Soldier 2. No furniture.

Scene Three – London, 18 years later
Mr Lorry, Lucie and Miss Pross introduce themselves. Setting the tone. No furniture.

Scene Four – Paris, a wine shop
Mr Lorry and Lucie go to get Dr Manette from Prison. Madame Defarge and Defarge wait in wine shop. Bench of many shows and barrels on stage right. Other shoemaker bench on backwards left for Dr Manette.

Scene Five – Paris to London, the journey home
Lucie and Mr Lorry take Dr Manette home, with Defarge and Madame Defarge commenting.

Scene Six – London, The Old Bailey, 5 years later
Stryver, Carton, Attorney General, Judge, Darnay in court in London. Chair for accused, bench and chair for lawyers, lectern for Judge. Lucie and Barsad enter as witnesses.

Scene Seven – London, a celebration
Courtroom removed. Lucie, Stryver and Darnay chatting and congratulating after trial with Carton upstage left. Servant delivers drinks to all. Dr Manette enters, Lucie, Dr Manette and Stryver exit, followed by Servant. Darnay and Carton discuss friendship and alcohol.

Scene Eight – Paris, Gaspard’s child
Slow Mo scene. Evremonde runs over kid, everyone distraught. Defarge and Madame Defarge tell Gaspard to kill Evremonde and Revolutionaries to prepare for the fight.

Scene Nine – London, Dr Manette’s house, Soho
Carton declares his love for Lucie. Mr Lorry, Dr Manette and Darnay discuss hand gestures at table while Miss Pross watches. Carton leaves followed by Lucie, Miss Pross and Mr Lorry discuss custard. Dr Manette and Darnay discuss how long scene is. Then rise and discuss Lucie. Dr Manetter leaves, Lucie comes back. Three chairs, small table, tray of drinks.

Scene Ten – Paris, the Nephew of the Marquis
Peasant 2 gets scared by Evremonde wanting to pull her hair out. She runs away. Gabelle comes on, followed by Darnay. They say hello. Gabelle leaves. Evremonde and Darnay discuss family and detestable people. Gabelle comes back, Darnay and Gabelle leave. Gaspard sneaks on drags Evremonde off for hot love.

Scene Eleven – London, The Wedding
Dr Manette and Darnay say time is up. Here’s the truth. Front stage left.

Scene Twelve – Paris and London, the Spy and the Shoemaker
Barsad has a drink with Madame Defarge and talks about Lucie's marriage. Mr Lorry and Dr Manette discuss the merits of shoemaking during a wedding. Back to Barsad and Defarge discussing Evremonde and Gaspard. Miss Pross comes on to discuss Lucie and Dr Manette with Mr Lorry. Back to Barsad, Defarge and Madame Defarge still nattering. Bar bench and barrels back on.

Scene Thirteen – London, the Recovery
Dr Manette has disappeared, but its breakfast time, so he’ll be back. Realises he drank too much and lost 10 days, some hangover.

Scene Fourteen – London, 1782 - 1789
Carton and Darnay become friends and call each other by their surnames. Carton leaves, Lucie comes on, Darnay and Lucie discuss Carton and the fact he’s a git. Darnay leaves. Miss Pross and Dr Manette come on, Lucie's up the duff, baby arrives. Miss Pross leaves. Mr Lorry comes on talking about how times have changed. Where’s the baby? Darnay comes back on. Everybody leaves.
Defarge, Madame Defarge and the Revolutionaries have arrived on the other side. They shout and scream and storm Titanic with guns and flags.

End of Act One.

ACT TWO

Scene One – Paris, 1789
Defarge, Madame Defarge and Revolutionaries still storming Titanic, taking their time about it. Eventually they find what they are looking for, Defarge climbs up gets paper they all leave.

Scene Two – Gabelle’s Letter
Darney enters with chair. Sits down, reads letter. Gabelle comes on with Revolutionary 1 and Revolutionary 2, gets chucked about and booted. Darnay continues reading letter. Lucie comes on, Darnay and Lucie discuss a holiday, Lucie says she doesn’t like flying. She leaves. Darnay decides to go on his own. He leaves, Gabelle speaks, Darnay watches. Everyone leaves.

Scene Three – Paris, Place du Carrousel
Mr Lorry, Miss Pross, Lucie and Dr Manette have all gone to France. They discuss Darnay's holiday. Defarge comes on, followed by Darnay, Revolutionary 3 and Revolutionary 4. Defarge tells Revolutionaries to go. Defarge tells Darnay about his mum, the guillotine. Defarge pushes Darnay off.

Scene Four – Paris, La Guillotine
Executioner climbs up to Guillotine, Defarge and Madame Defarge watch with the revolutionaries and they all kill 22 people to nice dance music.

Scene Five – Paris, Madame Defarge pays a visit
Madame Defarge tries to go and see Lucie, but Miss Pross says she’s out. Eventually Lucie arrives and she and Madame Defarge talk about Darnay and his French letter. Madame Defarge leaves, Lucie and Miss Pross discuss Madame Defarge.

Scene Six – Paris, The First Trial
Dr Manette and Darnay sit on bench surrounded by Revolutionary 1and Revolutionary 4, with revolutionaries watching. French Prosecutor says Darnay is foreign, Darnay says sod off. Dr Manette backs him up. The revolutionaries say Ho!!!! Lucie comes on followed by Miss Pross. Revolutionary 1 and Revolutionary 3 come back and drag Darnay off. Lucie screams and faints.

Scene Seven – Paris, an Encounter
Barsad is followed by Carton. They talk about Barsad being a git. Barsad agrees.

Scene Eight – Paris, a Hand at Cards
Mr Lorry joins Carton and Barsad, Mr Lorry agrees Barsad is a git. They decide he should help. Barsad leaves. Carton says he’s going away, Mr Lorry says don’t leave me. Mr Lorry leaves. Carton leaves.

Scene Nine – Paris, the Second Trial
Madame Defarge, Defarge, French Prosecutor stand at the front, Dr Manette, Lucie and Mr Lorry sit down on bench and chair with Carton behind them. Revolutionary 1 and Revolutionary 3 stop Darnay from going to the bar. Revolutionaries all watch. French Prosecutor says Darnay is a git. Defarge says Dr Manette said Evremonde was a git. Madame Defarge says everyone is a git. French Prosecutor agrees with some of it and says Darnay should get a haircut. French Prosecutor, Defarge and the revolutionaries leave. Madame Defarge says she hurt her finger, she leaves. Darnay says I’m going away, Luice cries, Dr Manette cries, Carton says yes!!!! Revolutionary 3 and Revolutionary 1 take Darnay away. Lucie knackers her knees and Dr Manette carries her off. Mr Lorry is upset, but Carton consoles him. Mr Lorry leaves. Barsad comes on, Carton and Barsad leave together.

Scene Ten – Paris, the Conciergerie
Carton and Barsad come on, Barsad says you do it alone. Darnay sees Carton, Seamstress is asleep. Carton and Darnay talk about drugs and erotic literature. They change clothes. Carton drugs Darnay, Barsad and Revolutionary 2 take Darnay off to the bar. Revolutionary 2 say its time. Carton and Seamstress get a headache.

Scene Eleven – Paris, the Duel
Madame Defrage visits Lucie, Miss Pross says she’s out. Madame Defarge gets upset, Miss Pross says look you’re French, I’m English, means I win. Madame Defarge dies from the shame of being French.

Scene Twelve – Paris, Redemption
Executioner stands with big knife, Revolutionary 2 brings on Carton and Seamstress. Carton and Seamstress snog, Seamstress says goodnight, loses head. Carton says he’s never done anything like this before, but its good. Carton has subtle lighting.

End of Act Two.

I just have to accept it's over....

2008-04-14T00:20:00.001-07:00

I thought that if I didn't do my last blog it would mean it's not all over. But that doesn't seem to have worked, there's a new Director on the block and a new Producer and pretty soon a whole new cast too and the cycle starts all over again - although I don't know if there's someone to blog for them....

We ended our run on a massive high. The Friday night before curry was wonderful and we had our lovely Director in the audience who got the clap just after we did, which I think he was quite pleased about actually. On the Friday night of the show it is tradition that we all go for a curry and this show was no different! Now, some background information here will explain a few things to some of the cast who may not know where the song of the show came from.

During the day on the Friday of the show, Director Guillotine gave blood (my hero) and I worked from home. We had lunch together and put the TV on while we sat and ate. During which time "The Magicians" film was on. Now for those of you that haven't seen this film, it's a very funny British comedy with Mitchell and Webb in and also features a couple of scenes where the magicians assistant does a rather funny dance to "Gay Bar" which is by Electric Six - I think. So a discussion followed that instead of having the deeply moving and intense song by Kate Bush and instead of taking Darnay to have his head cut off, we could put "Gay Bar" in it's place. So the French Prosecutor, instead of saying "I pronounce this sentence, death, in four and twenty hours", would say "I pronounce this sentence, we're gonna take you to a gay bar, gay bar, gay bar!". Obviously, much hilarity followed with us relaying this throughout the curry evening to the rest of the cast, who thought it would be hilarious also. Evremonde went outside for a ciggy and could hear us all singing it through the windows of the curry house.

Saturday arrives (with no lie-in as Saturday is football day, although well worth it for a 6-0 victory!) and Director Guillotine and I spend a small fortune of crew gifts then went to Lucie and Defarge's house for some tea and to drop our stuff off as we were staying the night with them. The show is fabulous, the cast, magnificent and French peasant teaches us how to say "hello spider" in French (although I can't remember what it is now). Gifts are given out, including some beautiful flowers for me that I wasn't expecting! And Defarge and Lucie give out gifts to the cast - which was extremely thoughtful of them.

Aftershow party was held at Dr Manette's house (I do feel sorry for his neighbours) and went on to the wee small hours although Director Guillotine, Lucie, Defarge and I were quite lame and sloped off at about 2am.

Sunday set strike (with snow!!!), the usual suspects were missing, which is a shame because although it's a bit crappy and although no-one ever wants to be there to tidy the hall and take the set down, we do all go for Sunday lunch at the pub and it's a nice way to unwind after the show and would have been great for everyone to have been there.

All in all a very successful show, in terms of profits - we made £875! - in terms of audience appreciation - so many people said it's the best thing we've ever done - and in terms of cast morale - you just have to ask what the downer was like!

I have to, just one more time, say how proud I am to have produced this show, how proud I am of the cast and crew who did such a magnificent job and how proud I am of Director Guillotine.

To you all I say: Look what we did!

Halfway House

2008-04-04T01:33:00.000-07:00

Sometime Thursdays have a little curse on them. I don't know what it is but Thursdays shows sometimes are a little bit flat. The Thursday gremlin was lurking around in the first act, picking on a couple of people but we managed to jump on it and squash it's head flat by the end of the first act, making people jump out of their seats!

Last night I had a crowd in (who made themselves known at the end) and we had people who came on Wednesday night and enjoyed it so much they came back again last night - sure testament that we're doing something right! The feedback from my lot was very positive, which is great.

I stood in the wings for some of the show last night, I watched Director Guillotine lose it a bit during Lucie's scene (you know the one), I watched him also go a bit during the Seamstress' bit (so did Barsad apparently). I listened to Mr Lorry after Lucie's bit and amazed at the level of emotion he gets in his voice, you have surpassed yourself, Mr Lorry, Prompt was quite right all those weeks ago when she said it. It just keeps getting better.

Director Guillotine is watching the show tonight. He is a paying punter. He will cry, bless him. He has poured his heart and soul into this show and I know how proud of us all he is. I'm super proud of him too, I think we all are....

Short and Sweet

2008-04-03T02:13:00.000-07:00

We kick butt!!!! We scared the life out of most people when we stormed the Bastille (I didn't scream - because I can't), I remembered my knitting, everyone cried because of Lucie, it was ace.

Spare a thought today for Miss Pross. This is her third week of performances! I hope you have a lovely long lie-in today!

Cast and crew should be very, very proud, both Director Guillotine and I are over the moon. I'm not sure what we'll do next week when it's all over....

Only Aight People Night

2008-04-02T02:55:00.000-07:00

Our OAP nights used to be huge. Heaving at the seams. Unfortunately, we seem to have had the groups diminish over time (Chairman's alter ego has been at them again) and also maybe the groups aren't as well supported or attended as they once were. Perhaps it's an indicator that we're all living more active lives for longer and don't end up in homes so much? Well perhaps it's time we had a change. Darnay came up with a great idea. Perhaps we have this night as a free performance for the Cast Academy kids and maybe combine it with a free performance for schools night? We entrust you Darnay to discuss it at committee.

What also annoyed Director Guillotine (and Secretary and me) was that another mini bus load of oldies were due to come and at the last minute decided not to as it was too cold and windy, okay, these people are old and feel the cold more. But the annoying part of it was, they didn't bother to tell us! We had to call them and even when asked if they were going to call us and let us know they said no! It's just rude! Why don't people have any manners any more? We do this to provide a night out for the oldies, free of charge. We give them tea, coffee biscuits and we also do a raffle for them as well. Is there no sense of community any more?

Anyway, the troopers that we are, we gave them a sterling performance, regardless of the fact there were so few of them and they may not all have been fully "compus mentis". There were a couple things that I noticed - Darnay managed to knock a tray of cups over back stage during a scene where Lucie, Miss Pross and I were on stage, except we were the only ones to hear it?!? I'm telling you, it was loud and when we were trying to discover who the culprit was, everyone was looking at us as if we were mental (I mean more mental than usual). I forgot my knitting in one of my scenes, Director Guillotine hadn't noticed and I would have gotten away with it too if it hadn't been for that pesky Sound Man!!!!

After the show we were having a discussion in the bar and Evremonde was explaining that during the show the boys have little quizzes. He then proceeded to tell me a little known fact that had the potential to keep me up all night, but I was just too tired.... I will look out some quiz books for them to go through during the rest of the run, although I didn't get a chance to get one for tonight's show I'm afraid - sorry boys.

Sound Man was complaining that I don't mention him enough in my blog, so here you go, two mentions in today's one - actually I must say that Sound Man and his lovely lady have been such a help to us for this show - it is very much appreciated believe me!

Lucie gave me some vocalzone throat pastilles, which I have been taking sporadically throughout the day. My voice did come back a little bit a while ago which was a complete relief then I sneezed and it went again! I am praying for more voice for tonight as we have one or two more than last night....

Throat Bastilles

2008-04-01T08:02:00.001-07:00

I yelled too loudly last night when we stormed the Bastille and now I have lost my voice. Director Guillotine has told me to shut up, in the nicest possible way of course, but has promised me a glass of port later (purely for medicinal purposes obviously).

Well, how did last night go - I hear you cry. Marvelously is the answer. Our audience were thrilled with it, Lucie made Box Office cry and I think the whole cast felt just how wonderful it really was.

Tonight we have our OAP night. As we are a non profit making organisation we always do our first show for the local oldies, however this group is dwindling somewhat and Secretary emailed me today to say that one group isn't coming because they go to bed at around 8pm! It used to be that the OAP night was the one night we would be heaving to capacity but it looks like you can't even give it away these days. Oh well, they do have a habit of talking through the whole show anyway and they do seem to think that every show is a pantomime - I wonder if Evremonde will get booed!?!

I have to close by saying that I am so proud of this show, of what Director Guillotine has brought out in all of us. Yes, I honestly believe that this cast is one of the most talented I have ever worked with, but I also believe this show would not be as great as it is without the vision, passion and amazing direction we have had from the start. Now, I am biased. I can't help that. And I don't apologise for it either. It has been an amazing journey, one which we have been ahead of the game from the start, again, I think this is down to the cast wanting to make sure Director Guillotine is rewarded for his faith in us and we have pushed ourselves to excel and haven't we just done that?

I sent an email to the cast yesterday, I added a note to the end of it to say how proud I was of them all and how delighted I was to have my name as Producer for this show and while I was typing it I welled up a bit - I do cry at the drop of a hat it's true, but this show has moved me and continues to do so. Let's hope we move our audiences too....

Technically speaking

2008-03-31T00:12:00.001-07:00

I think I'm now supposed to blog every day up to the end of the show, hmmm that may be a challenge...

I (once again) apologise for not blogging after Thursday's rehearsal, but I have been incredibly busy, not only with show things, I do have a life outside of this show you know! Okay admittedly not a very big life outside this show but a life nonetheless! Thursday's rehearsal was fabulous - as now expected from Cast and Crew! We were still missing Miss Pross as she was still off not being Miss Pross somewhere else, but apart from her and one of our peasants we had a full cast (this is a rarity, we have not had a full cast for ANY rehearsal). We did lose Lucie at 10pm as she had to go to work but we still managed to get a run through in, which is great.

Over the weekend, Director Guillotine and I were rather busy, on Friday we were at a wedding, Saturday we went to see Miss Pross moonlighting in another show and Sunday we spent the day at the hall. Final preparations to be made yesterday were made although I still have a list of things to manage/sort/source longer than I'd like.

The last Sunday before the show is normally the frantic one that seems to go on forever. We normally start at 10am (some arrive earlier than that) desperately try to finish painting, building, constructing and all the other things we hadn't managed to do in the previous days/weeks before the performance week and finish at some point before the sun comes up! Yesterday went a little differently;
Director Guillotine and I arrive at 10am to find Sound Man and Researcher already on the scene but with no keys to get in the hall. Director Guillotine and I thought that Gabelle was going to arrive an hour early to start getting on without anyone being around. Unfortunately he forgot that the clocks went forward on Saturday night and arrived at 10am, instead of his planned 9am (just as well he'd planned to come early eh?!)
We get into the hall and start work, there is a problem with the lighting desk - mild panic ensues - which Gabelle solves (I knew you would).
I painted guns. The guns were going to be brown and Evremonde assured me that if I just bunged a load of different coloured paint into a tray I would eventually get brown. I got purple. The guns are now black.
I hemmed gowns for Stryver and Carton. I took up Attorney General's gown as he kept stepping on it and I also took up Seamstress' dress to stop her falling up the stairs.
Tea lady kept me in tea, for which I am sure she will go to heaven!
The cast arrived for a 1.30pm run through which didn't actually start until 3pm as we were still missing lots of people at 1.30pm. We had to start without Miss Pross who was still sewing/recovering from her previous incarnation, Strypard was buying a kitchen and Barsad was working (but now has a week off, the lucky devil).
Dangerous watched for his scene changes, Attorney general delivered his lines from up a ladder fixing lights and Evremonde had a fully made up face (thank you make up mistress). Apart from a sticky guillotine, the run through went very well.
After this we decided to do the technical rehearsal in full costume again and everyone was dismissed to return after a trip to the pub/shop. A dinner party was held in the kitchen, I sewed, Miss Pross gathered material to make me a head scarf and got into her costume (which looks great).
Technical run through started at 7.15pm (a little after planned but way before we usually do it) and we were finished by 10pm! We think this may be a record! Lights, sound and actors are now primed and ready.

Tonight is technically a dress rehearsal, however Chairman, Secretary, F&B Supervisor and another helper can't make any of the performances so they are paying to come and see the dress rehearsal. So tonight is a performance, like any other one this week. And off we go....

Wine-ding up for the main event

2008-03-25T11:09:00.000-07:00

It is a long time.... I know it is a long time between blogs, but as we draw ever closer to the show, there's no time for me to draw breath, let alone have time to sit and write for you lovely lot.

Let's catch up shall we? Last week we had a mixed bag. Monday was a Monday like pretty much all the others, only worse. It was only when we got into Act 2 and reran Act 1 that we all started to feel our parts again (and that's not feeling our body parts, that's our roles - thought I should clear that up before I got emails of complaint). It was possibly the fact that everyone was overwhelmed by the site of the fantastic art that Evremonde and I created or that it was Monday - and who likes Mondays? I seem to recall a very famous song about the crapness of Mondays, so maybe we're just sensitive souls with the Boomtown Rats in our subconscious brains (I was going to put Psyche but I couldn't think how to spell it).

Thursday however, was magnificent. It was like we all discovered the show again. We had costume (and everyone looks great), we had tears (from several of us actually - Lucie strikes again) and we had the press (see pictures in the local papers out this Thursday).

This weekend, Director Guillotine and I were mostly decorating our bathroom and loo, but stopped to have a takeaway (and SEVERAL bottles of wine) with Lucie and Defarge AND we still put together the programme!!! Aren't we clever children?

So, what is there still to do? I still need to source a few props, I have some more wine bottles - er, yes after the weekend I seem to have one or two - I need to make a sack for Mr Lorry (not big enough to put him in, one for him to carry). Now I have visions of Mr Lorry in a sack with rope tied round the top and Director Guillotine is wondering why I am giggling to myself! And there needs to be some hemming on courtroom robes (as Attorney General is not as tall as you might think) and Seamstress' dress needs to be taken up so she doesn't trip up the stairs. So sewing will take place when the lights are going up on Sunday - just when I thought I was finished with the sewing!

Thursday is our last rehearsal before dress (which is a performance as we have people paying to see it), which is a little bit scary when you think about it for too long so I won't....

It's art Dahlink....

2008-03-17T03:21:00.000-07:00

South West Trains, how I do hate thee - let me count the ways....

I swear that the train station I have the misfortune to use daily, has the most unhelpful staff in the history of people working at train stations and that it is on the employment form that they are under no circumstances to have any kind of customer service skills. I also believe that they are actually pleased when people miss their trains - honest, I'm positive of it. Let me explain what happened today:
I arrive at the station 15 minutes before my train leaves to buy a travelcard and a car park ticket. The queue of people buying tickets is out of the door so I go to the machines outside to see if I could get a car park ticket from the machine (I can't), I then ask the evil Scottish woman (I'll explain in a minute why she's evil) if she could help me with the little hand held machine so that I could buy the tickets and still be in time to catch my train. She makes me wait until all the people getting off the previous train have gone through the gate before coming out to the main machine and saying to me "Can you buy car parking tickets here? Oh no you can't you'll have to queue" So I am finally served by the slow lady, who is ssssssssssssslllllllllllllllooooooooooowwww 4 minutes before my train arrived and I still had to park my car. So I missed my train and the station staff laughed (I swear I heard them) and had to stand in the cold for half an hour till the next one came - and I left my gloves at home, so, not a good start to the week....

However, I must now do some luvvy gushing about my wonderful set build team of yesterday.

The set looks fantastic, the artistic department (Evremonde and me, and a little help from Defarge) painted the set. Evremonde's vision has now come to life and we are going to sell it to the Tate modern or the Saatchi bloke (who's wife Evremonde would like to cook for him - among other things) as it is a work of art. We did good.

The Construction Department did a sterling job as well, creating some safe platforms for us to fight on and in front of, they put the guillotine in place and did some other stuff as well (I think). Carton brought with him his tool pouch which is the power tools version of the "pencil case".

The Painting department painted everything that didn't move for a couple of minutes, but we used no black paint - did we Evremonde?

Leaflets were distributed by Mr Lorry and peasant girl and Mr Lorry got lost (as he does normally during a leaflet distribution I seem to remember) as did Director Guillotine and his helpers.

Astoundingly enough we have only one small job left to do and we are still two weeks away! AND from a Producer Guillotine perspective, the set cost us £34.48 for two pots of paint, that wasn't black....

The pictures don't lie

2008-03-14T10:14:00.001-07:00

I need to explain a couple of things readers; One of these things is about Evremonde.

He thinks that I pick on him and don't say wonderful things about him in this here blog. This is a lie. I am always saying how great he is.

He thinks that I laugh at his pencil case. This is also a lie. I covet it and just might steal it when he's not looking (just don't tell him, right?)

When I joined the group, Evremonde was the first person I spoke to (and I still came back) so he holds a very special place in my heart. Add to this that he is not only a very talented actor but an amazing artist as well and what's not to like? He is also funny and smart and dresses well with nice cardians, but I don't want his head to get too big....

The other thing is about me. I am tired. I have a busy job. My whole life outside work revolves around this show.

Box Office came to my house the other day to collect the tickets and I (very kindly) made her a cup of tea. Director Guillotine arrived home and said hello and started talking to me about the show. Box Office jokingly asked us if we ever talked about anything else, well, the truth of it is we don't at the moment, not really. Director Guillotine remarked to me last night actually how much easier it was to Direct when the Producer lives with you. Perhaps this should be a pre-requisite in the future - if you want to Produce a show for someone, you have to move in with them for a few months.

We have just 3 more rehearsals until the tech. Nervy. We are clearly far ahead of the game with the show, but Director Guillotine now wants us to "get serious". This means, no smacking people in the head as you walk off stage, no silly dances, no taking off and buckling down on lines. The cast need to relax into their roles and the words will come. You all know you know them. We now have a prompt - I shall call her Prompt (original huh?) who is learning the show and fell apart completely at the end of Act 2 Scene 9, like we all do. Well done Lucie.

I have also given everyone in the cast a target number of tickets to sell. If everybody sells 10 tickets we will have a superb audience, plus the fact that there is always a prize for the person who sells the most tickets and at the moment I will be giving that to Director Guillotine and that really can't happen now guys can it? We have an amazing show, full of drama, emotion and some damn fine acting. Be proud and get people to come see it, it will be worth every penny.

Darnay also sent me the other "Death of Darnay the Minkey" pictures which I will attach to the bottom here and will see you after another lovely set build on Sunday. Let's hope it doesn't rain....

Set Build and Sarnies

2008-03-10T10:18:00.000-07:00

So the washing machine saga goes on. We have a new one. It doesn't work properly. I wouldn't joke with Director Guillotine about it - you could be on very dangerous ground....

Speaking of Dangerous, he and his good lady wife (Char lady) came to stay with us on Saturday night. I cooked. Well I heated. And managed to burn an Apple Pie.

Yesterday was our first set build and we had a small, but incredibly dedicated, crew, who worked their socks off from the start and we achieved great things! The walk out is up. Titanic is up. The back and side flats are undercoated, ready for me to paint next weekend. Char lady supplied everyone with bacon sarnies, innumerable cups of tea and her and Security guy went to Tesco and provided us all with lunch. In addition to all this she also joined the sewing circle and helped me out a load, so many, many thanks for that.

The boys worked very hard and Director Guillotine supervised, once he had returned from collecting the guillotine, which is fabulous and will provide Set Man with a whole load of stuff to do next week. There was much rudeness from some of the boys (you know who you are) but we were seriously outnumbered in the blokes to girls ratio so it was inevitable really, boys will be boys I suppose.

The girls (all three of us) formed a sewing circle and stayed in the main hall instead of going into room 1 - in the spirit of togetherness. Peasant Girl was a stellar help, cutting strips of fabric for me to sew together for revolutionary sashes. There's still loads of work to do for those so I know what I'm going to be doing tomorrow night....

2p or not 2p?

2008-03-07T23:46:00.000-08:00

I know, get me. It's Saturday and I'm blogging. It is a first (and possibly a last).

Thursday's rehearsal was great for several reasons:

1. We had almost a full cast - I don't think I've ever seen so many revolutionaries on the stage together - minus Lucie and Defarge who are still in the land down under.
2. Director Guillotine and I managed to arrive early (mostly a struggle as I work quite a way away and South West Trains don't seem to like me very much).
3. Sound man was down to talk publicity with me. He has spoken to the editors of all the local papers (and some not quite so local) who are going to write a piece on the play from the perspective on having someone from their area in the show.
4. Most people are now without scripts which means Director Guillotine can work on the Directing side of things (which makes him quite happy).
5. Peasant Girl has recovered from her spectacular acrobatics of Monday and was trooping through like a good 'un, with no visible bruising!
And some other things that I have conveniently forgotten.

I continue to surprise, throwing and hitting Evremonde, although he has been providing me with 2p's which are much easier to throw, which, when you consider I'm throwing them at him is quite kind isn't it?. Strypard and I thought we were in the money as we had a whole 18p thrown at us, not bad for a days work. Evremonde also created two new "death of Darnay the Minkey" pictures which Darnay did take photos of which I wanted to attach to this blog but he hasn't sent them to me, so maybe the next one.

I've been standing in for Lucie so that the cast have a person to play to rather than a voice from across the room and I have to apologise for losing it during one particular scene. You see, Darnay cracks a joke to Miss Pross, Dr Manette and Mr Lorry and then they're all supposed to laugh - except they didn't. This meant that Darnay ended up laughing at his own joke which looked so sad and made me lose it completely.

Director Guillotine was pleased with this performance, especially from Carton (I completely agree by the way) and from our answer to Alan Rickman, except for the song and dance routine with the cane....

Taking a leak....

2008-03-05T04:35:00.000-08:00

Ever have one of those days? Well I think I'm having one of those weeks....

A busy weekend prevented me from blogging after Thursdays rehearsal last week, which, with hindsight, was probably a good thing for reasons best left alone. Suffice it to say that it was a good rehearsal with lots of folk dropping scripts prior to Monday's deadline! Great stuff.

Monday was a different story. We had three revolutionaries absent. One of our flag bearers was late so we waited to start rehearsal for her to arrive, which she did at around 9pm. Some others of the cast were also late so it felt a little disjointed and I think there was a bad Monday cloud hanging over lots of us.

Peasant Girl did a most spectacular somersault (this is acting not gymnastics) landing on her knees and headbutting the door (it's okay, there's no damage to the door). When icing her knees she then revealed that she had been in a car accident that day and had come from the hospital (now that's commitment!!!)!!! I think she's okay now though although she'll probably stay away from the scary Evremonde for a while.

The second act gained a bit more momentum than the first, I think we'd all relaxed a little more into it by then. Luckily we have a 2 hour show so we managed to run straight through to the end, although we have a strict 8pm start on Thursday!

Last night, Director Guillotine and I were going to have a production meeting to go through the minutes of our last meeting and see what was outstanding, draw up a props list and sort out what the plan is for Sunday's set build. However, the best laid plans and all that....

I'd better give you some background information. We have a leak. Not bodily, but under our sink in the kitchen. And the washing machine keeps retaining water, so we have done no washing for about 5 days. Director Guillotine has been saying for a couple of weeks that he was going to call a plumber to come and have a look at it, instead of just mopping up the mess, so yesterday we have a date with the plumber. He comes and spends three hours at our house and goes away. Only for us to discover that we have a leak from a different place and the other leak is still leaking (no, I'm not joking). We decide that as we are running short of clothes, we need to do some washing so Director Guillotine puts the washing machine on and it finally gives up the ghost completely, covering the kitchen floor in water. Now, Director Guillotine has a habit of trying to hurt inanimate objects if they upset him and I am certain that he would have launched the washing machine up the garden had he been able to lift it (ask him about the "Strimmer" incident to elaborate on his launching things). So we now need a new washing machine.

Anyway we got the plan for Sunday finished and the props list which I now need to distribute to all and I updated the minutes whilst Director Guillotine was sloshing around in the kitchen. Let's hope the later half of this week improves....

Empty Chairs at Empty Tables

2008-02-28T09:00:00.000-08:00

I think everyone had the Monday blues on Monday night as we were VERY thin on the ground!!! Obviously Lucie and Defarge are on their hols, Mr Lorry was called to a meeting so couldn't make it and Carton ran out of juice (well, not him, his car), we had a peasant missing, Barsad was working late and a revolutionary was absent so there were people standing in for others all over the place; which could have been very confusing had we not all been complete professionals. I thought perhaps we could have a video or a conference call and then we could have everyone doing their own parts, wherever they are.

We've had our first two tickets sold - well done to one of our revolutionaries - he will win a prize (although I'm not yet sure what that prize will consist of). I must just add (to prevent further outcries from Director Guillotine) that yes, I know you have reserved two tables Director Guillotine, and yes that is 16 tickets but you haven't paid for them and revolutionary has!!! So you can't have the prize.

My practise at throwing things has obviously helped as I hit Evremonde first time, although I must admit that he was quite close as Strypard (not Stryvard apparently) hadn't moved across quite far enough. However, in my mind, a hit is a hit - I'll keep practising.... On the subject of Stryvard, he has done exceedingly well and knows his words! Astounding work there, as his scene with Barsad is quite a tricky one - the two of them have worked hard on that and we can see it's paying off already. Well done to you both. Peasant Girl also did very well with her lines and with the flag bearing and twirling with Seamstress - looking good girls, great timing now.

Darnay was encouraged to "take Gabelle first" which I think I saw him do, although he did get away with not having to kiss him, even though it's the French thing to do and I wouldn't take it personally Gabelle.

Evremonde, despite his cries of outrage at the mickey taken out of his pencil case, showed me another addition to this little collection of art equipment, that I hadn't seen before. He has little pot with an eraser and a pencil sharpener inside (along with a few pencil shavings). Upon closer inspection, this pot came from Boots and once contained setting lotion. Evremonde explained that he had had this pot since 1981 - ah, bless! He had hair to put setting lotion on then....

We are family....

2008-02-25T06:26:00.000-08:00

Ever noticed how work gets in the way of a social life? Well, at the moment work is getting in the way of a good blogging!!! This is why, readers, you have been deprived of an update on rehearsals and some of the other junk that's in my head.

You'll get a double helping today then - you lucky, lucky people....

Monday night we started with a costume call and yet again Wardrobe Mistress has come up trumps, having collected costumes for us all to try on and allocated different costumes to various members of the cast. All good stuff. To be this far ahead of ourselves is great, as it's not often that a show has had costume trying on so early in production!!!!

Monday night last week was also Lucie and Defarge's last rehearsal before they go off together (it's okay, Darnay and I are fine about it) for a fabulous trip to Oz (that's Australia, not the Oz where the wizard lives). We'll miss them and wish them a wonderful time, but ask them to be careful of sharks, spiders, snakes and munchkins...

Evremonde (and his amazing pencil case) told tales of freezing conditions in the men's room, I'm sure he was going outside to smoke (disgusting habit!!!!). I also need to practise throwing coins at him as at the moment I'm a lousy shot, I'll endeavour to throw coins at him every chance I get - and not enjoy it, of course.

The new Stryver/Gaspard (who has taken the name Stryvard) has joined the family and slotted in very well (we always knew he would actually, but it's still great to see) so well done Stryvard and thank you for your enthusiasm and commitment to the show, it is truly appreciated by both Director Guillotine and myself.

Words continue to be learnt, Mr Lorry, Dr Manette, Seamstress and Carton have done well on this front and we continue to be ahead of schedule with line learning, blocking and running through - woo hoo!

Thursday night saw some flag flying (sorry, I know I'm not supposed to mention them again but I have to commend our flag bearers don't I?) with some great choreography to a fab piece of music to start off Act 1 Scene 2, which looks so good it sends shivers up my spine.

My knitting continues to grow. It's quite amazing really as I sit on stage knitting with imaginary needles and wool and the knitting grows - how cool is that? Magic!

On the downside, we have lost one of our newbies who is doing another show with a different group, but who will hopefully come and see our show and bring some of his other group with him!?! Bless him, Stryvard has stepped in to help us out with filling the spots missing due to losing the newbie - so thanks again for that.

I have to plan another Production meeting for Thursday, do an agenda for that, sort out the wine and tables, redo the budget and now I have had a chat with Chairman and Secretary I can start planning the programme, leaflets and posters, so no rest for the wicked eh? Hopefully I won't leave you so long next time but who can tell, as the devil makes work for light hands or something like that.....

Killing Me Softly with Jelly Babies

2008-02-18T05:33:00.000-08:00

Miss Pross is bad. She brought Jelly Babies to rehearsal and I cannot resist their sweet jelly bodies.... mmmm jelly babies...... Oops, sparks flying as I was drooling on my 'puter thinking about the babies - must have more self control. Note to self - Resist! RESIST!!!

Thursday was a run through of Act 2. With music, as my ipod is now working again (hazah!) and with the Soldier a.k.a. Barsad. We played out a scene from The Life of Brian with more than one of us saying "stwike him vewy wuffly centurwian", although I do think there are a couple of people who haven't seen the film (where have you been?). We had a small issue with the crowd not cheering like a crowd and I'm sure that Seamstress pronounced the verdict Not Guilty when he was in fact guilty, guilty, GUILTY! Although she can be forgiven as she does know all her words (well done you!)!

Evremonde continues to say imigrant instead of emigrant (or perhaps that's just the way he talks) and now I know the difference I shall have a word later on tonight and I will also make sure he's taken his Joe Longthorne DVD home with him (that's a little bit scary isn't it?). Talking of scary, I frightened Lucie (which is good, trust me) although not like Noddy, who, let me tell you is pretty terrifying! Likewise, I was little disturbed by Carton who sat in the corner muttering to himself, either he was learning his lines or casting a spell, I couldn't say for definite which it was.

There seemed to be some general craziness in the air as several of the cast had a little boogie (yes boogie, not bogie, two very different things) despite having been told on numerous occasions, this show does not have dancing in it!. Mr Lorry denounced Kate Bush, which I thought was a little unfair and Evremonde decided that Darnay should be killed and so decided to draw different ways in which to despatch him. I have attached them to the bottom of this blog (if I can work out how to do it), I think I need to give him other things to do to keep him occupied...

Another good solid rehearsal, Director Guillotine was very pleased with us all and I really felt the love in the hall (especially as it was Valentines Day!) for all of us....

Dyeing for your Art

2008-02-12T00:19:00.000-08:00

Hi readers, back again after yet another Thursday off! I must say Sound man's kids did him proud last week - well done to all involved.

From a production perspective, we have had some great news in terms of sponsorship (woo hoo!), Sound man has agreed to help with the publicity (another help for me), Chairman and I are really close to setting some time aside to look at the programme and we have the food pretty much sorted, so tickets can now be sold. I might give a spot prize to the person who sells the first ticket through Box Office.

So, last night was the night to finish the blocking, all of it, the whole show. There are some really meaty scenes in the last bit of the second half, with something for us all to get our teeth into.

As always, we had a couple of challenges, Miss Pross was poorly sick - Get well MP! Our usual suspects with their late arrivals due to work, courses and other hold ups (not hold ups that go on your legs, mind, that wouldn't be a reasonable excuse). Carton expected to be late after a work thing but actually did really very well and arrived long before expected, pleasing Director Guillotine no end.

To enable Miss Pross to go home and tuck herself up in bed with a hot toddy (or a hot body), Director Guillotine went through her scene first as she only has one in the last section of the show. After running through that a couple of times, she was sent home to avoid passing along any of her disgusting germs to any of the other cast members.

The rest of the blocking went well and Director Guillotine is delighted, as always, with us all (a big pat on your backs, lovely cast). Barsad looks suitably scared (fantastic facial expressions) in his scene with Carton and Mr Lorry is great to watch. Defarge is learning to hug me (his wife) without crushing me, somehow CJ from Reggie Perrin made an appearance (in 1789?), I bruised my knees, Evremonde and I had quite a bizarre conversation without saying anything and Lucie made everyone cry, including herself.

Seamstress and I have shown our devotion to the show and to Director Guillotine by removing our usual hair colour and replacing it with more muted tones and to once and for all prove that brunettes have more fun. Oh, except for what happens to us both....

Room at the Inn

2008-02-05T10:22:00.000-08:00

No rehearsal last night as Sound man's kids are getting ready to do their thing this week, so in order to not waste the time, we planned to record the script to aid with line-learning (it really helps me, especially as I have rather a long journey to work a lot of the time, where I can listen to it on my ipod (which is now fixed, by the way)).

A local establishment very kindly lent us a meeting room for the evening (thank you very much Marriott) and the principals gathered with a recording device (thanks to Gabelle's Brother). We were missing some people who were helping out with the kids so the peeps that were there had to do a wide variety of voices including Miss Pross, Dr Manette and Gabelle. Mr Lorry was called to a meeting last minute and Barsad (pronounced Bar-Sad, not Bar-sard or B'sard) and Seamstress were unable to make it due to sickness, so listening to the CD should be quite funny!!!

Tea, Coffee and Hot Chocolate were bought (Darnay had a beer) and some lovely cookies arrived along with them, although eating them whilst recording is not easy (eh Lucie, Carton?). Defarge and I shared ours (in the spirit of our marriage) and they didn't last too long at all!

We have Thursday off this week, due to the other show going on, so respite from me and my drivel for a week - Hey! Not so loud with the woo hoo's please!....

He's just a guy who can't say no...

2008-02-05T09:16:00.000-08:00

I honestly meant to blog, it's just that I didn't have time on Friday and then the days just get away from me...

Anyway, to update...

Thursday, during the day, Wardrobe Mistress, Director Guillotine and I went to a couple of costume places. At the first one, we hit on a bit of luck as they have guns. Not real ones, ones made of wood and are in the vague shape of guns. That should satisfy those fw's I was talking about when I was on stage last week...

As you may know (or not if you didn't read the "All about Devils" series of blogs), there is a body of people who just want to spoil everyone's fun and they really get on my wick. They all work from home (as it's just too risky to go out) and they are making life increasingly more difficult when you want to put on a show (unless your show is about people who stay in one place the entire length of the show - and even then there's risk of DVT isn't there?). Anyway, we had some issues with them in the last show as we wanted to fire a starting pistol (that's right, a starting pistol, not even a gun that fired bullets) but we couldn't. It was a bit of a mare actually, but anyway, I'd better not get started on them, I may not be able to stop...

So we have guns. We also found some frock coats and a couple of dresses for Lucie all at very reasonable rates. At the second place we found a possible look for Mr Lorry (one I particularly liked) and some great wigs for our barristers. So well worth doing.

I also got to finish the flag that I was working on, yes I know I've been going on about them, but I am rather proud of them and they did take a rather long time - but okay I'll shut up about them now.

Thursday evening went quite well, unfortunately we were missing Barsad and Seamstress who were poorly sick, as was one of our Newbie peasants. We also discovered that the Second Revolutionary is actually an aristocrat in disguise, trying to hide from the guillotine, Mr Lorry cant say NO! and Evremonde can be persuaded into all sorts of things if you buy him a pint. I promise I won't say anything else about your pencil case...

Cowardy cowardy custard!

2008-01-30T09:14:00.000-08:00

Hi there readers, sorry it's been so long - did you miss me?

The challenge laid down in my last blog was, unfortunately not taken up by any of the people I mentioned so either;
a) they are cowardy, cowardy custards
b) no-one actually reads this blog except Director Guillotine and Miss Pross and maybe she doesn't even read it, just logs in to make sure I've written one.

Let me bring you up to speed with the world according to Producer Guillotine...

At the weekend Director Guillotine and myself stayed at a fabulous hotel in London, meaning two things;
1. No flags were going to be finished
2. We could visit the Dickens Museum in Bloomsbury

We first went to Soho, Dr Manette's house actually is (not Dr Manette as in the person in our show, I mean Dr Manette in the book by Charlie boy himself, whilst wandering around we found this little side road off Greek Street called... wait for it... MANETTE STREET!!! Am I too excited? I thought it was very cool but maybe I need to get out more... Anyway, with a little bit of ingenuity, a text service that answers any questions and a belly full of lovely pizza we wandered down to the Dickens House museum. It's basically his house that he lived in for a couple of years, but there was lots of interesting stuff there, including a flatulent old lady. We also pushed our luck a bit and asked them if we could send some flyers for the play to display on their counter in the little shop area - and they said YES!!! Woo Hoo! Director Guillotine will liberate an A5 envelope and we get get these on their way to them, how cool, it's almost like Charlie himself is giving us his approval...

So, onwards to Monday night, slightly later start on Monday due to Sound man's kids but it gave me a chance to do a little more flag sewing - nearly there on the Union Flag now...

Director Guillotine wanted to do a complete run through of the first act tonight and suggested we might get two run throughs in (in 2 hours?!?). We did have some challenges however; newbie victim girl can't do Mondays at the moment so she wasn't there, Darnay's Father was also absent along with other newbie peasant and Defarge had been very careless and "misplaced" his voice. Evremonde was a little too excited at having to run a small child over in his carriage, I missed, Dr Manette stood in for the Attorney General and became Churchill again and everyone wanted to see Miss Pross' custard...

On the very positive side, Barsad's new voice was a winner (well done), Lucie is putting everyone to shame with line learning (teachers pet), we have ANOTHER two newbies (welcome, welcome) and Evremonde showed me his pencil case, after a conversation about some correspondence from Boulogne...

Waiting for the train that never comes....

2008-01-23T04:50:00.000-08:00

Hi there readers, just wanted to give you a quick update on Monday's blocking and to let you know that there will be no blog after Thursday as I have a work event to attend, unless one of the other cast fancies writing something for me to post??? Evremonde? Miss Pross perhaps? Maybe Lucie would like to try her hand at it? Darnay? You're always moaning that my grammar is wrong, fancy a go yourself?

Let's see shall we?

So, anyhoo - Monday ah yes - Tardy notices given to a few of the cast, Director Guillotine and myself included (those wonderful people at South West Trains making an hours journey 2 and a half hours and then leaving me stranded 2 stops from my car)!!! So we started a little late in Room 1 (as Sound man is putting the kids through their paces for their show, he has the hall until 9 for a couple of weeks) with the runaway carriage scene. Director Guillotine has choreographed a piece to music (no it's not becoming a musical) for the beginning of the scene that I think is excellent! In fact I think that his vision for the show is quite inspirational - okay I am a little biased, but this show will be fantastic and I've already sold three tickets!!!

We have also located a guillotine for a bargain price (one which as Producer I am happy to sign off on), Wardrobe Mistress has yet more fantastic costume bargains and has started to match cast members with costumes(wonderful work WM, we are utterly delighted), Barsad will also be Soldier in scene 2 (thanks so much), Defarge will also be a Judge and Miss Pross has got some fabulous fabric for her costume!

Blocking is going very well, Director Guillotine is delighted with everyone especially as lots of people already have good characterisations going on and we're not even working on that yet!

We could still do with some more men, so if anyone knows anyone who has some free time....

Spare a shekel for an ex-demon?

2008-01-21T02:32:00.000-08:00

This weekend I have been mostly making flags.

To the extent that I went to bed last night still thinking about them as I hadn't finished (I made a boo boo and had to redo a whole section which probably cost me two hours or so). Besides from the muck up I made, I am extremely proud of the one and a bit that I have done. My living room is covered with bits of thread and I keep forgetting to pick up the pins from the kitchen (I'm surprised Director Guillotine hasn't moaned about it - actually he's been very understanding and I left the house in quite a pickle!!!).

Last week ended with the first blocking session of the show, Carton cried off the rehearsal using some flimsy excuse of 120 mile round trip for one line, whilst Darnay came for his one line's worth of blocking... The scenes were set to music (all v.dramatic) and everyone had to learn to count to 10 (easier for some) although Director Guillotine thought that 60 divided by 6 was 12 (!). The peasants were outstanding and got a special mention in Director Guillotine's lovely email sent out on Friday to the cast. He was also chuffed to bits with Darnay's father and Evremonde in their rather difficult scene and was completely luvvied out with how great we all were.

Miss Pross took on the usual seamstress role (and I don't mean Seamstress, as that's someone else completely) and unpicked elastic from fitted sheets (for the flags) which was a great help and saved me loads of time at the weekend, so thank you very much MP.

The last scene that was blocked involved Lucie, Defarge, Mr Lorry, Dr Manette and myself and it was quite amusing to note that all of us had been Demons in the summer when Director Guillotine was Director Demon (we all love him see?)!

Blocking for scenes 6-10 tonight, a big court scene and some more set to music and Wardrobe Mistress will be setting up shop at the back to try some things on the cast for size, pheasant costumes if Carton and Darnay had anything to do with it...

Yes, Mistress!

2008-01-18T07:47:00.000-08:00

Wednesday - my first production meeting as a participant rather than a chauffeur. I had drawn up an agenda and even circulated it to the production team and to be honest I was quite proud (yes, I know, little things....). Even better, we'd found someone to do lights for us (yet another worry off my mind)!

Sound man sent his apologies as did Lights guy so in the end it was just Director Guillotine, Wardrobe Mistress, Researcher and me and a long, long list of things to discuss. Director Guillotine and I had assured Wardrobe Mistress that we would be done by 10pm (Ha!) and I was hoping that we would be done even before that (ha ha!).

Anyway, I could go through what we talked about but it would send you all into a coma and I'm feeling nice today (well, I do sometimes). To cut a long (I think we finished at around 10.45pm) story short, we had a very successful meeting (well I thought so), with some great ideas batted around and Wardrobe Mistress was outstanding!!! I will not have to worry about costumes at all as she has it all in hand and then some!

Obviously we've come out of it with lots of things to do and think about (yes, more) but Miss Pross is proving to be a positive mine of information so I think I might have to pluck a few gems from there....

Reading with Subtitles and Heavy Metal

2008-01-18T04:33:00.000-08:00

Oh my, where does the time go? Is it Friday already?

My apologies readers, for not having blogged sooner, but this week has been rather busy, I can tell you - and I still haven't made the flags (but more of that later).

Last week when I wrote, I seethed at having to stand most of the way to work on the train so I couldn't sit and write some fantastic prose for you all. However, on Tuesday morning I took a slightly later train that was much less busy and had time to sit and write to my hearts content. That should have formed the basis of my blog. I could have just typed up what I had written straight into here and it would have been witty and insighful and informative. Except it wasn't, it was drivel. Looks like you had a lucky escape last week!!!

So let's start with Monday Monday (laa laa la la la la). The first read through with the cast in their roles. Carton and Darnay provided subtitles for Evremonde which I thought was a little mean (stop teasing him or you won't be allowed to sit together any more), I'd never tease Evremonde in such a way - would I? (Do you have your pencil case with you today?)

We had yet another newbie to add to our brood, a friend of the Revolutionary who said she didn't mind what she helped out with, so she'll be on stage as well!!! As well as that we had one of the not so newbies return to the fold and will now take the part of Peasant woman having been very poorly sick, (glad you're feeling better again).

Some of the music was also showcased by Director Guillotine although my ipod player was on batteries and kept stopping - not very helpful when you're trying to create atmosphere... Barsad was delighted with our choice of end song - we're pleased you're pleased!

Overall Director Guillotine was delighted with the read through, asked some of us to be less girly (the boys) and some of us to be less posh (the peasants) and all of us to come back next week!! Hoorah!!!!

The Things we do for Love

2008-01-14T05:59:00.000-08:00

So, I'm sitting here looking at the long, long list of things I need to either do or think about as Producer Guillotine and the tune that's going round in my head is "The Things we do for Love". There's so much more to this than I ever imagined and it takes up my every other thought. Don't get me wrong, I never thought it would be easy, I just didn't know....

Director Guillotine and I had a "TOTC free" night on Friday, but then Saturday and Sunday were not, from buying stuff to make flags and working out how to make said flags, through to producing prop lists and a set list. We have had some rather excellent news to ease my worries a little bit; Setman and Dangerous have joined the team and Setman is already on the case with the props (hoorah!).

Wardrobe Mistress is hard on the case as well and is making me think about yet more things I didn't think about before (my brain hurts) and Stryver has joined the fold once more (well done, you won't regret it). Tonight is the first read through with the principal characters and I must admit I'm rather excited....

I wonder if I could get myself an Assistant....

CASTing

2008-01-11T05:57:00.000-08:00

So, this morning I thought I could sit and write a lovely long prose with lots of interesting quips and observations about the read through and auditions whilst on the train on my journey to work (which takes an hour). What better way to spend the time than giving you, the reader, some insight to the world of amateur dramatics? Well, thanks to South West Trains, you're not going to get that now, as instead of providing a train with 8 carriages, they thought it would be great to just have 4! So I spent 45 minutes of my hour journey standing, not really conducive to writing witty and remarkable stuff! So this is what you've got instead. Don't blame me, blame South West Trains!!!

Anyway, where were we? Oh yeah, read through on Monday. The first outing of the script that Director Guillotine and I spent painstakingly adapting. It was nervy I can tell you. The turnout was pretty good, the script seemed to go down quite well (except for one who had to see me after class for a little extra tuition) and enthusiasm for the show seemed to be building - not just from Director Guillotine and myself. Everyone got to read for different parts and hopefully gained an understanding of the play and what parts they wanted. Oh, except for my little pupil who needed the extra help and had to be put back on the right track after being given the panto version of the play - including dancing pheasants!!!

So audition night rolled around, quicker than you can say antidisestablishmentarianism and Director Guillotine and I were VERY excited (and I was more than a little nervous as I was auditioning myself). Everyone who was at the read through, except two people (I think), turned up to put themselves forward for a part which pleased Director Guillotine a lot. He has told me since that the quality of auditions was exceptional and made his choices and decisions incredibly difficult, so well done everyone who auditioned.

The die has now been cast, or the show has anyway (hee hee)! You can see the full list of actors and their roles at http://www.cast-online.org.uk/ as I can't be bothered to type it all out here, suffice to say that someone who wasn't going to take a lead role has taken a lead role, we have a peasant woman who thought she might not be in it, a newbie who will be handled quite nastily in her first show and someone who hasn't been on the Colnbrook stage for over 5 years - I told you Director Guillotine was persuasive!!!

Anyway I must end this, as I'm being bombarded with emails from Miss Pross to help me produce, so to finish I just have to say, the cast is FABULOUS, the show will be AMAZING and I am so excited about the whole thing, I couldn't get to sleep last night until the wee small hours. Now, when exactly do I order tables????

In the beginning

2008-01-08T03:43:00.000-08:00

Am I crazy? Hmm a tough question. Maybe you need to be a little crazy to be into amateur dramatics. Actually, thinking about my fellow thespians I think that's probably true...

So, anyway, here we are again, new show, new Director (who will be known as Director Guillotine for the purposes of this blog) and new Producer (that's me, that is). Now, I need to get you, the reader, up to speed with a few things.

Director Guillotine put forward a play for the spring at the AGM last year. He wanted to do the Elephant Man (then this blog would be all about elephants I suppose), then he discovered that the license for amateur performace had been withdrawn as a touring group were going to be doing it and had refused amateur performance at the same time - nice I thought. So we then had an EGM and Director Guillotine put forward a Tale of Two Cities, which was voted in. Fabbo.

Then Director Guillotine needed a team, so he asked me to produce the show, now I have never produced a show before and had no idea what to expect or what I really had to do, so foolishly I agreed, perhaps because I live with him and he can be very persuasive... So that's me now, Producer Guillotine with spreadsheets, a producers book with Paris on the front (I thought that was rather clever) and no free time from here to the show... What have I let myself in for????