Wednesday, November 16

Macbeth Matinée- November 16

Today was our first run through with an audience. We had about 5 or 6 schools come to watch us perform. We had to leave school early, at around 12, to get hair and makeup and costume, as well as have time to practice fights and scenes we found difficult. Everybody was a little nervous about todays performance, we were worried about the smoke machine/lights not working, missing lines and cues, backstage was not the loose environment that it usually is.
The first act was really good. Nothing went wrong at all. Since a majority of my scenes are in the first half (discussion with Macbeth, killing of Banquo), so it was very rewarding to get through the first half with no problems. Knowing that the first half was a great success, some of the pressure I felt started to go away so by the second half, I (and i think the whole cast) got to enjoy and relax.
The second act was good as well. Other than some small slip ups with "Birnam Wood" scene and the tree we had to hold up, everything went quite well. The audience did laugh and some peculiar things, for example when the other murderers and myself killed the kids, they laughed vivaciously and cheered. They also laughed at other scenes that were not meant to me comical, for example, the scene in which Gabby wails and tries to wash the blood off of her hands.
Overall, the audience really enjoyed our play and we enjoyed performing it for them. It was a great experience in terms of what it feels like performing with an audience.

Tuesday, November 15 2011

Macbeth Practice-November 15 

It has been 2 weeks since my last blogging about practice. The improvements and developments that the cast,  crew as well as props, set etc. is flabbergasting. Today we had our first full run through, without stopping for "line" or to change blocking, which is a big important step. We all felt a little bit unstable and nervous before this practice, we had not had finished our Cue to Cue (which focus heavily on lights and tech etc.) . We accomplished so much today, not only did we finish (with few flaws) our Cue to Cue, but as previously mentioned we got through a full run through without stopping. 

The last 10 or so days have been difficult. Since opening night is fast fast approaching, practice has been from 4pm-8pm. Morale has been a little low, everyone is tired, stressed and overworked and is general not in the mood to act; we all question "Why did i do this in the first place?". In my previous experience this is normal, before Opening Night we regain the energy and passion and everything works out, but for some reasons I had a ill feeling that we weren't going to pull out of our "funk" . That all changed today. Once we finished that final scene, and the lights slowly dimmed, there was this overwhelming feeling of triumph and relaxation at the same time. We all cheered and gathered on stage for Ms.Hargrevas to dismiss us and give us details about tomorrow (the matinee). 

This has been an important play rehearsal. not just for the moral and trust between cast, crew and director , but for myself as an actresses. When we are putting in all this hard work, sacrificing weekends and after school free time, and everyone is tired and cranky, I forget why i love to act. Moments like tonight, on the contrary, having fun with my character and owning the stage when i was on it, is why i love to act. At the end of the day the sense of being a part of our little cast and crew family, creating memories on and backstage and getting to share and show that with an audience, it's an amazing, rewarding feeling. Tonight's practice reminded me of why acting and being on stage is my passion.