Having just finished my 2nd Year at Queen Margaret University, this is my first professional paid show. To have landed a part in “Ae Fond Kiss” is not just a personal achievement but (not to sound too cheesy) an honour. Being such a fan of the Bard from a young age – to be acting in a show all about him is a terrific endeavour which I am rather looking forward to being a part of. Each time I read the script I seem to enjoy it more and more. It has everything you would want in a play – sincerity, humour, music, tears, laughter, some fantastic characters whilst still paying a respectable tribute to the legend that is Robert Burns. I really do think, without sounding like a PR, that it has something for everyone whether you’re an avid fan of Burns or have never heard of him (heaven forbid!)
When I first found out about my assigned characters I was more than pleased. I can’t wait to get them up on their feet.
Day one consisted of a read through and our first singing sesh with our very talented MD, Matthew. As much as I love and enjoy singing, it has never been a forte and I can see it perhaps being a bit of a challenge, however, the songs are beautiful and I can only hope I do them reasonable justice!I am extremely positive about this show; the cast are great and it’s just brilliant to be a part of something which is spreading the word and educating people about my favourite poet.
So far we have finished uniting the text, made plenty of progress on the songs and are just beginning to getthe first scene up on it’s feet.
Alison McFarlane
Archive for July, 2009
A Fan of the Bard
Jul 21
The End of Rehearsal Week 1
Jul 18
Well, we’ve reached the end of rehearsal week 1…and what a week it’s been!!
It all began on Monday morning as the cast of ‘Ae Fond Kiss’, as well that as that of our sister show ‘Treasure Island’, congregated at the Powerhouse Room (our show venue) in the Mining Museum in Newtongrange. It was wonderful to see so many familiar faces, as well as a couple of brand new ones, which really made me feel immediately at home in the company and filled me with an instant sense of fervour for the weeks ahead.
My fellow Nonsenseroomers have already charted the events of that morning in previous blogs, so to save repeating ourselves I’ll move swiftly along to the rest of the week’s endeavours…
Firstly the songs! Our first ‘sing-through’ with our wonderful MD Matthew took place on Monday afternoon. It was so uplifting to hear these beautiful arrangements of some of Burns’ most recognisable melodies…and also to hear a couple of his lesser known ditties, one or two of which were previously unknown to me. A couple of the girls have truly beautiful songs, in ‘Ay Waukin, O’ and ‘Highland Mary’ (and voices to match based on our first few singing sessions) which I eagerly anticipate hearing once the girls have become suitably comfortable with them. I was also thrilled to learn that the song I chose for my audition, ‘We’re A’ Noddin’, had made it’s way into the show on the back of that audition…and even more so when I discovered it would be sung by a man in drag!!
Of my own songs, ‘My Love is like a Red, Red Rose’ stands head and shoulders above the rest, both in terms of the basic melody itself and the scope it gives me to truly perform and make the song my own…Burns was, after all, a wee bit o’a showman at heart! Thus far, the complex harmonies in ‘Ae Fond Kiss’ are proving to be the greatest challenge, however once we’ve nailed them I honestly believe it will sound beautiful enough to have inspired the great man himself! (no pressure then…)
Away from the world of the sing-song, we have made some excellent progress in putting the basic shape of the show together this week. There are some fairly intricate scene changes and some truly manic costume changes…but it just wouldn’t be anywhere near as fun if everything was straightforward, now would it?!
Well, that’s about enough from me for one blog…I need to get myself ready for a rehearsal of my other Fringe show, King Arthur, now anyway! (figured this is as good a time as any for a wee ‘plug’…check out http://www.siegeperilous.co.uk/king_arthur09/cast.htm for cast & production info as well as ticket sales).
Tattie-bye for now,
Allan.
Here tae us, wha’s like us…?!
And so it begins…my first taste of life as a professional actor! This will be my first Fringe performance, and after years of attending numerous Fringe productions, I’m ecstatic at the prospct of actually being involved in one! All last week I’d been really excited about starting rehearsals, so much so that I think nerves came into play on Sunday night as I had the most restless sleep ever!! It sounds ridiculous and, yes, rather dramatic, but it’s just that feeling of embarking on a new project, a new journey and it being something you’re so passionate about.
This is my first involvement in Burns’ works since the tender age of eleven. Och aye, the days of primary school Burns recital competitions, I remember well, and even better the day I won the Burns Competition and was invited to recite my poem, “O For Ane An’ Twenty, Tam” at the Kinghorn & Burntisland Rotary Club Burns supper. I have fond memories of my parents hosting annual Burns suppers with a group of friends, each guest taking their turn at a different part of the preceedings. As well as entertaining their pals, we also had family Burns suppers and to this day, I am not a fan of cock-a-leekie soup and detest haggis! But it was never so much about the food as it was about celebrating Burns insightful, prolific work.
Anyway, to return to the more immediate topic, I am absolutely LOVING the Burns’ songs in the show. They sound awesome! When I first got the sheet musicand heard Matthew, M.D, play my two solo songs to me, I was amazed – they both had the most fluctuting range I’d ever heard in any song arrangement. I thought, “I can’t possibly sing that!” Nonetheless, after a few rehearsals I feel I’m getting increasingly confident with them and am actually totally enjoying singing them now! Yes, Wednesday was a successful and progressive day for me
The Highland accent, required for one of my characters, is actually posing fewer problems than I thought it might. Oh aye, Cathie assures me I’m on the right tracks. Yet, I fear, even though it’s still fairly early days, it’s coming out a tad Welsh. But alright boyo, I’ll work on it!!
Jen
Treasure Island Shenanigans
Jul 16
Well I thought it was about time that I joined in on the blog shenanigans especially after Lee’s epic post. Where to start? I am really enjoying myself, there is so much banter going on (hard work too of course) and of course every boy’s dream sword fighting! So far we have worked our way through half of the script and it is already beginning to take a good shape. As I am controlling the Jim Hawkins a lot of the time I am getting sore arms but its all for a good cause. I just need to get on those press-ups and build up my guns!
The sword fights are looking good, still need to work on how I use Jim properly during them though. It been quite tricky to make sure that its Jim who is fighting and not me even though it is actually me who is doing the fighting – a complicated concept indeed. I do feel like I’m getting better each time I pick up Jim. I had some great news today….. we now have our ‘real’ Jim in rehearsals which is brilliant!!! So now we can bond with him and work on bringing him to life.
I am enjoying the freedom we have with the script and the opportunity to really be creative, its so much fun. We are coming up with some classic material each day.
So far so good and now to leave u with a joke.
What is a pirate's favorite type of music?
Arr and B!
Rhys