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Only a few more days until our opening night

Aug 2

Posted by Bruce Strachan in Ae fond Kiss, Cast Comment, Productions | No Comments

Eeeeeeek! Only a few more days until our opening night, and my word, that is an alarming, yet thrilling, thought!  I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the rehearsal process; it’s absolutely flown by – time flies when you’re having fun, I’ll tell ye! Because it’s been a relatively short rehearsal period, I’m almost saddened by the thought that it’s coming to an end, as I’ve only ever performed shows for a week or less. But I keep forgetting that it’s actually running for a few weeks, and therefore this is a whole new ball game for me.  So, no tears yet!!

Over the next few days I’m going to concentrate on the deeper, more emotional moments for my characters.  There is one scene in particular which is completely heart-rending and poignant.  The concept of having to give up her daughter beacuse she can’t afford to look after her is something I’ve never experienced and hope to never have to, so I need to just think about what must be going through my character’s head at that point in time, the will and counter will being played etc.  She’s typically a very strong, valorous character in the play, but here I think she must have to show a tiny ray of weakness because she doesn’t want to have to go through it at all.  However, she has guts and she knows what’s best for her child and so she makes the right decision.  The stakes are so high for her here, and for Burns, and I just need to think about them more.

Another character that still needs a bit of work is Mary Campbell (Highland Mary).  I just need to take her further, think about how she is different from Anna Park; what is her rhythm, her physicality in contrast to that of Anna?  I realise I’m making it sound like there’s still so much to be done and it’s only a few days before lift off, but that’s not the case at all!  I think it’s just because I have four very contrasting characters, none of which the audience get to see for very long or feel like they get to know well enough, so it’s simply a case of portraying all the different sides, dimensions and idiosyncrasies pertaining to each character fully – nevermind successfully!

I’m really enjoying performing my two solo songs and feel I’m coming into them more now.  They’re both challenging, but the more I perform them the more confidence I gain and therefore the more rewarding the experience becomes.

All in all, I believe the show has tremendous potential, and I have complete faith that the audiences will adore it!  There are some beautifully moving moments, full of poignancy and truth, which is well counter-balanced by the Laugh Out Loud comedy.  It’s a real gem of a show and I think we now just need to let it sparkle and soar, and it’ll be fantastic!!

Jennifer Macdonnell

A Fan of the Bard

Jul 21

Posted by Bruce Strachan in Ae fond Kiss, Blog, Cast Comment, Productions | No Comments

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

The End of Rehearsal Week 1

Jul 18

Posted by allan in Ae fond Kiss, Blog, Cast Comment | No Comments

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…?!

First Degree Burns

Jul 15

Posted by Bruce Strachan in Ae fond Kiss, Blog, Cast Comment | No Comments

Ever since my earliest recollections of primary school Burns recital competitions, I have enjoyed a fond affection for the insightful and lyrical wordsmithery of our national bard. Not since Shakespeare has a man so aptly surmised our existential trials and hardships with analogies and imagery so exactly appropriate, you marvel that they had not existed before.

One such example comes from the very poem I recited as a child, and which began my love affair with Burns’ work; A Man’s A Man For A’ That.

“The rank is but the guinea’s stamp;

The man’s the gowd for a’ that.”

It is a couplet that could easily be used to refer to Burns himself; despite attaining the various trappings of celebrity and success within his lifetime, he seemed to have scant regard for its worth to him; possessed instead, as he ever was, with his quest for true love and the succour of the human soul.

In this regard, he was a man after my own heart. Little surprise then that I should have auditioned for Nonsense Room’s ‘Ae Fond Kiss’ – and less even that I should be thrilled to have landed a part. Or, rather, six parts.

The challenge ahead may be great but so was the man and so is the material so I can but do my best to do his great works justice.

Here’s tae ye, Rabbie!

Wha’s like ye?

Gie few an’ they’re a’ deid!

Six Roles For Breakfast

The joint read-throughs of Ae Fond Kiss and our Nonsense Room sister-show, Treasure Island went very well, with plenty of lovely characterisation coming through from everybody already – and this was rehearsal day one! Both casts are full of the kind of people you hope you get to work with as an actor; generous, fun, considerate, enthusiastic – this should be a fantastic two months.

So the script has been perused and it seems I have a generous helping of both characters and gags! I am to play: Burns’ father, Gilbert (his brother), William Creech (his publisher), John Armour (Jean Armour’s father), Tam (a pub-dweller – perhaps of O’Shanter fame?) and last but not least, Annie Wilson (landlady of The Edinburgh Inn).

 The most obvious challenge is making all the characters different enough in voice and physicalisation but also believable as representations of the actual persons concerned… and then there’s making sure they’re all funny.

Yes, it is certainly a hilarious script, aptly described by Bruce, our director and the co-writer, as a ‘romp’ through Burns’ life and many loves. It is full of raunchy encounters, saucy one liners and some larger than life characters that had me in stitches just reading it. I guess this is a good thing since I have to portray a few of them now!

Round The Old Joanna

Ah, but I do love a good old sing-song! Just as well really, as there is a considerable amount of it in the show.

Today we were learning our parts for the five-part harmony versions of Ae Fond Kiss and Auld Lang Syne, just two of the Burns songs arranged for us by our musical director, Matthew. He is rather talented; the harmonies sound lush! There is nothing quite like the ecstatic sensation of being a part of creating complex and beautiful harmonies with other people. It gives me the shivery shivers! I’m really looking forward to performing these for an audience now.

I’ve remarked to others in the cast and now I’ll tell you guys – I reckon this show has a near perfect balance of raucous comedy and moving, poignant moments of real emotion and it moves seamlessly between the two. Many of the most touching moments are provided by Burns’ own work; his poems and also his songs performed by each of the three girls in the cast, portraying the characters for which the songs were originally written, which adds a bittersweet edge to the laments in particular – especially in the case of Highland Mary.

(sniffle, sniff)

Gilchrist Muir

Last Entry

Sep 4

Posted by Bruce Strachan in Blog, Cast Comment | No Comments

Last Entry
 
 
Its Friday night. Having a few glasses of wine and reflecting on the shows, the run, the process.
 
It's all over. No, we have not dreamt it.
 
After each production I do I read a passage from a piece by Auden entitled The Sea & The Mirror. It ends with the most incredible poem to Love. But before that is the most inspiring few words on acting I've ever read. Re-affirms why I do this and what the rewards can be. The genius who founded my drama school (Drama Centre London) read it to us on the final day of our year and it's poignancy is incredible. Read it.
 
How do I feel?
 
Sad. Exhausted. Adrift. Proud.
 
It was a great production. A wonderful process. A show that on most nights was magical and lovely and entertaining and comical. On some nights it was brilliant and we all knew it. I moved forward as an actor and a person. It was wonderous to be in creative company and try to live up to the standards set. I learned from each actor involved and from every audience. I wish the rehearsal and show process had been longer. Another month would have been fascinating. We'd have hit a wall and then gone through it, and who knows what we'd have found on the other side?
 
What do I do now?
 
Off to Paris for a few days. A break and chance to explore another culture. And be anonymous for a while. Then back to London for the foreseeable. My theatre company has a production coming up at Theatre503 called "Blue on Blue" and I'll be organising stuff for that as well and keeping the Actor's Gym ticking over.
 
A plea. Go see Rosslyn Chapel!! Its beautiful. And now the tourist season is moving away from its peak, it's nice to experience it in a quieter atmosphere.
 
A thing of note. Our director stayed with us EVERY NIGHT. Except when the football was on. But each night we'd do group warm up and sing songs and play games. Bruce would give us notes, ideas, new gags and ask for objectives for the evening. This is unbelievably rare. Directors usually leave the show for the run and return only for the final night drinks and celebrations. We were lucky to have a director who was not satisfied and wanted to develop the show each night and make us work harder and pursue the characters' objectives further and further. Just playing. With a serious goal in mind. But I don't think we realised our fortune. The opportunity was there for us to create anew every night and when we did it paid off handsomely. I want to make the very most of what little talent I've been given, and am dedicating my life to doing this, and to have a director who's equally driven and enthused is very special and inspiring. Gotta make the most of these chances. Cos now it's all over.
 
I'll end with more Memories and Thoughts:
 
"Diiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeee…" Every night a joy.
 
William The Cat giving us his blessing and meeting me after the show most nights.
 
The cutest Lion you've ever seen spinning and spinning and spinning…
 
The first time I saw the fairies doing their scene outside and watching with my mouth open.
 
The director, one of the most laid-back people I know, cramming furiously for his emergency performance that evening, and then acting us off the stage, getting all the laughs and his surprise when he came across lines in the script as they really are, rather than how we've mis-learned them.
 
Furious games of Woosh (Trademark Bruce Strachan Inc.) who's final standings I'd like to take a look at.
 
The comments of surprise, delight, warmth, gentleness, happinness, joy and more we'd elicit from audiences who had no reason to come see us or say what they thought. Their kind words are the best encouragement to our profession.
 
Many people having this as their first taste of Shakespeare which hopefully will encourage them to explore his work more.
 
The LOVE put into this production and the COMPASSION it took to make it work. Everyone should be proud of their work and it proves the age-old adage true: "What you put in you will receive ten-fold."
 
"Mind there's a step here."
 
 
Finally thank you to everyone who's read this blog and all the comments and advice and postings and the audiences who've made this an amazing journey for me. Thank you.
 
 
End of blog.

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Only One More To Go

Aug 31

Posted by Bruce Strachan in Blog, Cast Comment | No Comments

Only One More To Go
 
One final Midsummer Night's Dream then the whole run is ended.
 
We did the second extra show last night to our biggest audience yet – 89 tickets sold! They were like sardines in the chapel. I thought it'd be a goodly number, though on Mon only 30 had been sold – dunno were they all came from. Of course thoughts turned to what would have happened if we'd tried to sell Fri and Sat too – though sod's law we'd have probably sold none. So it was a good night to end on. We have a Corporate Evening tonight with post-show discussion, buffet and wine so that'll be interesting.
 
Sun came up this morning. Opposite to last night when grey coulds covered the sky. Just as we were about to begin (15 minutes late after getting all the audience into their seats) it started to rain. So we went inside. It was a raucous opening – I was still using my outside voice and had to tone down. Though plenty of energy and aggression. Did a lot of running outside as Deme and Helena don't charge through the chapel as the audience is coming back in. Really enjoying Demetrius. It'll be a shame to let him go. Second half was excellent I thought. Really enjoyed scenes and watching others playing and creating.
 
I'd like another month to run the show and develop it. It'd be interesting performing in different venues. Or doing the whole thing outside. Or playing on a procenium arch stage. Endless possibilities.
 
 
Thoughts of the shows:
 
Forgetting a pencil to write down the Lion's prologue and pretending instead
 
Sitting in the crypt trying to shut out the shadows that looked like strange ghostly figures
 
A dog belting around chasing its tail in the garden whilst Titania and Oberon argued
 
A large proportion of babies and kids coming to see a show that finished after 10pm
 
Bottom's tail repeatedly falling off and finding its way into other scenes
 
More anon.

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OUR FINAL WEEK

Aug 28

Posted by Bruce Strachan in Blog, Cast Comment | No Comments

OUR FINAL WEEK
 
Strange situation. Seems light years away at the start, then it just flies and here we are now. We've done a lot of shows, had a few dramas, had amazing audiences, lovely criticism and its been a brilliant journey. We have 4 more shows – 2 extra "normal" ones, plus a Corporate Event and a Charity Evening. An eventful final week.
 
Last shows last Frid and Sat were great. Friday because we began slow and had to encourage the audience and draw them in, and Saturday because similarly the audience were a little reserved. I loved that one particularly. Its been my favourite show so far. Now got 4 chances this week to top that and I'm gonna give it my best shot.
 
A friend of my Mum's is over from Australia and she came to see us last Tuesday. She liked it so much she made some truffles and brought them all the way out to Roslin for us. They were delicious. She's known me since I was wee and has seen a few things I've done now and she really loved MSD. That means a lot.
 
Don't think the audience is gonna be full tonight so it'll be interesting what happens. We started with a few smaller audiences and it was nice to build up to sell-outs. It might be a shock to see less in the crowd tonight, but they've all paid their money so we have to give it our all, as usual.
 
A lot of people have been interested in what the company is doing next. For the record, it is "The Canterville Ghost" – an Oscar Wilde story adaptation. We now have a core audience, a growing mailing list, and a lot of email contact with people and organisations interested in Nonsenseroom. It'll be healthy to keep building the audience – amazing that its taken as little as under 4 years to establish and grow such a thing – now there is a tradition of theatre at Rosslyn Chapel – one of the best performance spaces in Scotland – and the company should be proud of this. It listens to its audience and hopefully in tandem with them it can produce better and better shows in the years to come. And because of the ambition, the dedication, the talent and excitement of the company, its members and supporters, I want to be involved whenever possible.

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Final Friday Night

Aug 26

Posted by Bruce Strachan in Blog, Cast Comment | No Comments

Final Friday Night
 
 
Our last Friday. It was raining.
 
So we did our 3rd indoors show. Started at a real lick. Lotsa pace and aggression. I forget how darkly the play begins – threat of death to a girl who disobeys her father's will. I got the impression the audience was pretty clued-up about the play. They were following it really closely. So we had to encourage them to like the silly, knockabout stuff as well as the beautiful, profound things. And they did. All of us told the story very clearly. And they were laughing a lot and enjoying themselves. The final play within the play was excellent – really took off.
 
The director challenged us to shake ourselves out of our complacency and comfort zones which we've all fallen into in the last few weeks. Its kinda natural. We get used to doing things – standing here, moving there, delivering the punchline like this – mostly because it has worked well so far. But if we treat the audience and the event as a new one each night we have to discover everything afresh and this makes the production spontaneous and immediate. It was very rich last night. I found all sorts of new things and wondered why I haven't been doing this before. Demetrius had a whole new dimension to him. I was a little distant – thinking about a friend of mine who I just seen off on a train back to London and I was missing her. It was a kicking show therefore. Especially the scene where Demetrius tells Hermia that he loves her and she rejects him. Don't remember too much about that one. Pretty emotional. Coupla pints after helped.
 
Totally forgot to plug my Mum's show. Her drama group do a Fringe production each year and this year are doing "Lord Arthur Saville's Crime" – based on an Oscar Wilde story. I saw a dress rehearsal because our shows overlap. Its very good. They got 4 Stars in the Evening News and thoroughly deserve it. They're very good at Oscar Wilde or Shaw or anything 19th/20th Century. Their actors know about those old-fashioned essentials like posture, deportment, projection, etiquette, even a simple thing like how to fold their hands and cross their legs. Its amazing watching them because they do it unconsciously – younger actors like me have to work hard at these foreign manners. Its an education to observe. A current trend is that it doesn't matter how actors stand, sit, behave on stage because its more about their pyschological landscape and their emotional agonies than anything else. I think this is misguided. And obstructive when it comes to performing anything older than John Osbourne's work. I don't particularly care about what actors personally are FEELING. Feeling is a byproduct of Though. I do want to hear what they're saying and know what they want and I hope they have the stagecraft to best display this to an audience. I think this is what we spend a lifetime learning. There is always a better way to present something, a better way to say it. We're lucky we've had a long run at this play to discover all the ways we can. And watching older actors like those in the Makars diligently going about their work is the best inspiration we have.
 
A Dutch lady saw us in the pub after and she offered her congratulations. She liked the play very much. And she said the audience and the players "Were as one". There is no higher compliment.
 
 

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Start of Final Week

Aug 22

Posted by Bruce Strachan in Blog, Cast Comment | No Comments

Start of Final Week
 
 
 
Bizarre we're now at this stage. Always seems years into the future and now its upon us. 6 shows in the final week.
 
Last saturday was our second Gala Night. It went off really well. The audience has a glass of wine to begin with, then the show, then a post-show discussion, then more wine and buffet and finally a tour of the chapel. Finishes late but it's a nice thing to be part of. The discussion was really interesting. People ask fascinating questions. I've been part of some of these events where it becomes more about the cast displaying their knowledge and opinions which is always really boring. Its much more interesting to find out what the audience has to say. And so it proved. I spoke to a couple who divide their time between here and Chichester which has a thriving theatre that stages diverse, interesting shows and gets very good reviews. Others had never seen a Shakespeare play staged before. Hopefully they'll be encouraged to experience more of his work. A kid asked if it was easier to learn Shakespeare than other work. It is. The rythmn helps. The syntax and grammer creates the most perfect way of capturing a thought and it's easier to learn perfection than the next-best.
 
Talking of which I went to see "Troilus and Cressida" last night. Its part of the International Festival. It wasn't very good. Very long with no flow, no excitement, no pace to it. A lot of blackouts. And most actors couldn't do what's demanded of them in this highly complex, political and social love/war story. The leads were young and poor and it was unfair to expect them to carry this epic. A huge set and live music obstructed the actors. The exception to all this was the actor playing Ulysses. He was extraordinary. The clarity, stillness and economy of speech and movement was amazing. He had a lot to say but I could watch and listen to him all night. If our current political leaders spoke and performed as he did, held authority and bound us to their particular spell, they'd be very powerful, dangerous men indeed.
 
The challenge is to start this week with a bang and get some momentum behind us. Really push to a brilliant run until the end. I hope we can sustain it because I think last week we ran out of steam on Fri and Sat.
 
There is was a rumour we might be doing extra shows. It looks like we are. There'll be extra performances on Monday 28th and Tuesday 29th.

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Just When You Think It’s Safe

Aug 19

Posted by Bruce Strachan in Blog, Cast Comment | No Comments

Just When You Think It's Safe
 
 
Turned up at the chapel on Wednesday to discover that a cast member was very ill and wouldn't be doing the show so the director was stepping in and reading the part. Drama at the chapel! Amazing how focused we all became! I lent him my script to peruse all his new lines. He hasn't performed onstage in 3 years. I salute his bravery. Another cast member offered to play the other character part at the beginning and we went thru the opening scene several times to get him up to scratch.
 
Got ready early and went through all the scenes with the director. He knew most of the blocking and the comedy business – mostly his ideas after all. Got him dressed, a few words of wisdom and we went on and did the show.
 
It was great. The audience had been informed of the circumstances and there was a good atmosphere to begin with. I've done one of these before when someone was sick and someone else stepped in and it makes it a great occasion. I think it makes the audience more involved – the night becomes a one-off for everyone.
 
The director was very very very good! He didn't need much prompting for blocking.  He did all the physical stuff and got the gags and the audience loved it. Though he was holding a book for all of it, apparently people didn't notice. It was a cracking show. We gave the director a special acknowledgement at the end. Then we ran to the nearest pub. I asked if there was any part of it he had enjoyed – he said: "The End."
 
I loved the excitement of the night. We all raised our game. Through fear perhaps. But it made the show zing. We need to bottle that excitement, that adventure, and release the cork every night. Anything that breaks us out of our comfort levels and makes us be uniquely involved in the drama of the show every single night. Then it becomes this wonderful one-off event each time we do it.

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