Dress Rehearsal 1. Weds 29th Nov

Most of the production team headed to the hall today from approx. 3pm to put the final pieces of the jigsaw together in readiness for the first dress rehearsal. 'Dick' and 'Alice' helped me shred the UV painted fabric into strips and then they bundles them up whilst I spoke to two ladies from Slough Grammar regarding a possible costume hire for their production of Ali Baba. Looks like some of our costumes from Dick, as well as others from Aladdin, may well get reused very quickly afterwards which is fantastic.

The tiredness from all the long days and working into the night has now kicked in big time. I feared that tonight would be a big struggle as by lunchtime I was shattered and felt like I'd hit a brick wall but the adrenalin kicked in where needed and saw me through. I think a lot of the others feel the same.

Three highlights of the evening.

1) Director's wonderful Mum turned up and handed 'Dame' a pair of bloomers she had made for him TODAY because he didn't have any and the ones we had previously used had been hired. 'Dame' was grinning from ear to ear. It was the final straw for this overtired emotional wreck.

2) Everyone's reaction to the contact lenses! No one was able to look me in the eye with them in. If an audience react in the same way on performance nights as the cast did tonight, It'll be great.

3) I literally "stopped traffic" tonight. Well, there's a first time for everything, I guess!! I was stood outside the hall in full costume during the interval and a taxi drove past slowly. The occupants obviously clicked that something wasn't quite normal and a couple of minutes later, the same taxi drove past in the opposite direction with a white van following fairly closely behind. The van driver did a double take and promptly stalled the van!!!!!

Lyric of the Blog: " So look at how, I'm taking the make-up off my face. Before I forget who I am now' Cause I'm not here to let you down, but the Costume Makes the Clown" Shakira

Technical Day

I arrived back at the hall at 11am (Tuesday!) to set up the dressing rooms with all the costumes. Each cast member has all their costumes labelled and hung on rails whilst any hats, gloves and accessories are put in a clear plastic box which has their names on the front. It took ages!

Eight other members of the production team came and went as the day rolled on to finishing lighting plots, set and painting. The last three of us left the hall at 1:30am. IT'S FINISHED !!!!!! The last thing that we did before we left the hall was to set the stage for each scene and take photographs.

Everyone worked their fingers to the bone today. Even the band.

Lyric of the Blog: "We have arrived at a moment in our lives, when the future passes into our hands. We can find out, are we really strong enough,to fulfill what the future demands.. Bring on tomorrow, Let it shine. Like the sun coming up on a beautiful day, it's yours and mine " Fame

Technical Rehearsal. Mon 27th Nov

Yep - It really is after 3am.

I got back to the hall at 11am (Monday morning) and a core team of people arrived at various points during the day to paint, finish props and get everything ready for 'tech'.

By the time we had stopped painting to allow everything to dry and all the drop cloths had been hung it was well after 9:30pm. The band, principals and stage were sound checked for both speech and song and then we ran every song with the band and full choreography but no script.

At 11:50pm the majority of the cast went home and the production team set to work again to continue painting the set to try to get it finished. Most of the sets 'work' however there were a few glaringly obvious errors/problems and by the end of tech I had 4 pages of scribbled notes of things to be changed and/or finished.

Still lots to do .....

Lyric of the Blog: " When I get home it's late at night, I'm black and bloody from my life, I haven't time to clean my hands, Cuts will only sting me through my dreams. It's well past midnight as I lie, In a semi-conscious state. I dream of people fighting me Without any reason I can see. In the morning I awake, My arms my legs my body aches, The sky outside is wet and grey. So begins another weary day. So begins another weary day " Madness

Set Build 6. Sun 26th Nov

Just when you think it can't get any worse.....

I drove back to the village hall for 10am this morning and as I drove down the road towards the car park there was an almighty bang and the clutch pedal ceased to exist. A phone call to the RAC and 15 minutes later I had two RAC vans and men who ascertained that it was the bolt holding the clutch cable to the pedal that had sheered off. 2 hours later it was fixed.

Large volumes of painting done again today but unfortunately only two sets out of six completely finished, the sewers and the sea scape. Amusingly they were the last two to be started as well, both on Friday evening.

Make up artist did the seascape and two side flats almost entirely on her own on Friday night and this afternoon whilst Programme Editor and Box Office spent the entire day today working on the sewers set. Both look great. I'm surprised that PE and BO didn't kill me though as I did ask them to alter the perspective on the brickwork on the tunnel roof as it wasn't working and the bricks were getting too narrow too quickly. I THINK they forgave me once it was "right" and could see how much better it was. They did a great job and I shall be happy to reside there!

I should also mention "Alice" who spent 10 hours stencilling 8 DW initials onto the stage fronts, band pit front and exterior stage wall, then revamping the background colour and borders. She also did an amazing job and didn't moan once.

Still a vast amount of work to do on both the shop and village hardbacks and no drop cloths hung.

At 7:40pm we all downed tools and had a drink in the bar whilst waiting for our curry to be delivered. 17 of us sat around a vast square table to eat together by which time there were some incredibly tired, weary faces. I bought all the drinks, so apparently I'm "not such a bad boss after all"!

Painted to the strains of War of the Worlds and We Will Rock You followed by Madness, a summer dance mix and various other CD's to keep our spirits up but all stopped painting for 5 mins to let our hair down to a very raucous of Bohemian Rhapsody

Left the hall to come home at 1am. Several "Wills to live" lost during the day and sadly never recovered. I guess we may unearth them at set strike on the 10th December. Far too much still to do before tomorrow night's technical rehearsal.

Lyric of the Blog: " Insanity laughs under pressure we're cracking" Queen

Set Build 5. Sat 25th Nov

Arrived back at the hall at 9:50am (Saturday).
Left hall at 1:50am (Sunday).

12 people worked their butts off for 16 hours on both the village and shop hardbacks, side flats, the band surround, stage fronts and props.

I painted - lots.

I'm too tired to blog properly. In eight hours time I'll be back at the hall again.
Lots still to do, especially painting details and we have to hang all the drops and rig the sound tower. Another very long day ahead.

Lyric of the Blog: "Some people like to stay out late. Some folks can't hold out that long. But nobody wants to go home now. There's too much goin' on " Eagles

(The lyrics of the majority of "Heartache Tonight" seemed insanely amusing by midnight, especially the above and "Somebody's gonna hurt someone, before the night is through")

Set Build 4. Fri 24th Nov

Arrived at the hall at 6pm to find some of the lads already dragging sections of walk out across the hall and laying down tarpaulins for the drop cloths to be painted on.

I spent my entire evening working on the village hardback whilst various other people painted props and pieces of set, all to the strains of the entire War of the Worlds soundtrack, one of my favourite albums, followed by Queen and Air Guitar hits!

10 of us all all sat down in the kitchen to a fish and chip supper at 8pm followed by Krispy Kreme doughnuts for pudding! Washed down with gallons of tea over the course of the night.

Finally gave up and came home at 1am for a few hours sleep as we start again at 10am tomorrow morning.

Lyric of the Blog: " Take a look around you at the world we've come to know. Does it seem to be much more than a crazy circus show. But maybe from the madness something beautiful will grow. In a brave new world, With just a handful of men ... " War of the Worlds

When it rains

...it pours and sometimes you get thunder and lightening thrown in for good measure.

Text message from one of the cast ...
"Can you ring me" .... Answerphone.

Text message 2 hours later ...
" You haven't rung me" ...Oh Yes, I did.

"Oh ok. I've been asleep. I've been to the doctors this morning - and I have mumps. Thought you might need to know ...."

So; Do I

a) Tell the whole cast and have them all concerned for the next however many days if they haven't had it or the MMR jab.
b) Tell no one and wait to see what happens.
c) Tell Director and leave it with him, having ascertained that the most important person who I can't do without (MD) has already had it. Phew !!!

Errrrr. C !

I had a poster hung in my room as a teenager, of a teddy bear, looking sad, holding a tissue to it's nose with the following phrase underneath..

"When my mother told me there would be days like these, I never realised she meant so many!"

Lyric of the Blog: " Don't you know I'm still standing, better than I ever did. Looking like a true survivor, feeling like a little kid. I'm still standing after all this time .." Elton John

Thursday Rehearsal 23rd Nov

The last full run-through of the show before the dress rehearsals next week.....

Act 1 - Still far, far too long. Looks like there will be a song cull of either whole numbers or verses/choruses in the next few hours. EMail discussions continue as I type.....

Act 2 - Ran ok but now there's the possibility of an extra 2 pages of script to cover what was supposed to be a 10 second gag and just isn't necessary at this stage especially as we're looking to cut the running time of the show and haven't factored in time for the Community Song yet.

Some of the songs look great, others very weak.

Last day at work today until 12th December. Roll on 4pm......

Ticket sales 544 sold out of 938 ....

ONE week TODAY is opening night - Scary !

Lyric of the Blog: " Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road. Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go. So make the best of this test, and don't ask why. It's not a question, but a lesson learned in time. It's something unpredictable, but in the end it's right. I hope you had the time of your life " Green Day

Plastered!

I've just had two texts from "Shovel"

"Hi. I've just had a little accident - nothing broken but my arm is in a splint. Can I still be in the show? - it'll be ok in a week or so "

"Fell and bent my wrist and thumb much too far forward on landing. Nice bruising already and it was only a couple of hours ago. Got muscle and ligament damage!"

Have just texted her back and asked if she's been to hospital. On the second Saturday of Cinderella in 2000 she put her hand through a door having locked herself out between the matinee and evening performance. After the after show party, set strike and Sunday lunch the two of us spent a fun filled three hours in A&E only to find that her wrist was broken......

I held my head in my hands at this point and decided that if this is the worst thing to go wrong over the next 19 days before the show is over, I'll be relieved!...

Lyric of the Blog: " I'm calm, I'm calm, I'm perfectly calm, I'm utterly under control" Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. Sondheim.

The Long Weekend

This is where it all starts to get a bit manic in order to get everything finished in time to run the technical rehearsal on Monday evening. In fact the majority of the production team and cast will now see each other every day from tonights final run through until Monday December 11th. It's a good job we all get on well!

In theory we will set build tomorrow evening from approx. 6pm until 11pm, Saturday from 10am until 11pm and Sunday from 10am until 11pm. In practice, if any of us leave the hall on the same day that we arrive at it, it will be a miracle and it's more likely to be the small hours before we head for home.

One of these days there will be a row of sleeping bags or hammock's strung up at the hall and we just won't bother going home!

Food wise, it'll probably be fish and chips for tea on Friday night, sandwiches for Saturday lunch and either a chinese or curry on Saturday night, then the same on Sunday with gallons of strong tea and coffee to keep us going.

The walkout needs to be collected from the shed and erected, the sound tower needs to be constructed and I have 8 A4 pages of notes of stuff that needs making or painting! The stage also needs to be set and the back drops hung.

Usually it's a core team of people in over the weekend and a great atmosphere even if everyone is damm tired by the end of it, but it's easier to work as you can just move from one painting job to the next and leave stuff to dry.

Lyric of the Blog: " You got big dreams? You want Fame?, Well fame costs and right here is where you start paying - with sweat!" Fame

Snakes and Ladders

My main focus for the last year and the work I have done for this show have been centred around one night. Friday 2nd December 2005.

It was the second Friday of Treasure Island's two week run and I was playing the principal boy, Jim Hawkins. I had a fantastic day as I had spent it with approximately 18 of the cast at Browns restaurant in Windsor celebrating my birthday, which is actually December 3rd but as it fell on a Saturday last year and we had both a matinee and evening performance to do, the only celebrating I was going to be doing that day was on a stage. I have to say - there is no better way to spend your birthday than being on stage surrounded by some of your closest friends.

The production team of which I was a part had already spoken as unfortunately we had only sold THREE tickets to that nights show. We can seat 134 at capacity. Despite numerous competitions and attempts to get last minute block bookings from corporate groups, nothing was forthcoming so we made the decision, in advance, to pull the show without telling the cast.

The three tickets were moved to another night, the cast arrived and were told to wait in the hall just in case we suddenly got 30 people through the front door as walk-in's and could put on a show. It didn't happen. We got two and they were given free tickets to another night. It's very hard work having a very small audience and takes longer to 'get them going' but however demoralising a small audience is, it was nothing compared to this.

The youngster's all played giant Snakes and Ladders on an empty stage whilst the rest of us ran bits of script and choreography. Some opted for an early night and others of us headed off for a curry and talked some more.

I cried buckets in an empty dressing room that night. I was so disappointed and I resolved that if I had anything to do with it, we wouldn't ever have to cancel another show in the same way as it was heartbreaking.

Lyric of the Blog: " Empty spaces - what are we living for. Abandoned places - I guess we know the score. On and on, does anybody know what we are looking for... Another hero, another mindless crime. Behind the curtain, in the pantomime. Hold the line, does anybody want to take it anymore. The show must go on, The show must go on. Inside my heart is breaking, my make-up may be flaking, but my smile still stays on " Queen

Monday Rehearsal 20th November

Our first complete run-through, or it should have been if I haven't taken up so much of Director's time getting chorus costumes tried on ten girls, the fairy costume tried on both Bowbelle's and Shovel and Spades costumes.There was also choreography to be run for those who had missed last Thursday evening.

In the end we only got through Act 1 and it took far, far too long as some people are still hesitant over their lines. The pace needs to be quickened and the whole thing tightened up.

I had an awful night stage wise. The lines were fine but I need to work with my little rat to get the timing for picking her up in one scene sorted. I don't have any choreography done for either of my Act 1 songs either, both of which were awful. The duet with Bowbelle was wrong and I just didn't have the enthusiasm and confidence to do Rat Out of Hell justice and sing with any emotion after Sunday. I'm just glad I didn't have to sing Wild Boys last night.

I need to find something to get me back on track but I don't know what. We have the long weekend ahead which drains everyone and with a huge amount of both set painting and costume stuff still to do it's going to be hard.


Lyric of the Blog: " I thought I had it this time. I thought the dream would be mine. Hoping to fly I fall. Oh how I wish I just didn't care at all. Coz when you don't care, you don't cry. It wont hurt if you don't try" Fame

Ticket Sales

A momentous occasion worthy of a (short) blog in it's own right.

Ticket Sales. We've sold 487 tickets out of 938. More than 50%. Yippee!

However, 9 people out of a cast of 28 have yet to sell a single ticket I often wonder if all amateur theatre groups have this problem. Are their members of the cast who are ashamed of being seen on stage by people they know. Do they know no one outside of the group at all - or can they just not be bothered to even try and promote the show and the group, however good the show is.

Lyric of the Blog: " Oh, we're half way there. Oh Oh, Living on a prayer. Take my hand and we'll make it I swear, oh oh, Living on a prayer" Bon Jovi

Dobbin: The Red Nosed Reinhorse

There's been descent in the ranks ever since the read-through over the community song and what to sing with the audience and get the kids on stage etc etc. Jingle Bells was suggested originally but no one was keen, nor could they come up with anything better that anyone wanted to sing.

The original front end of Dobbin, the pantomime horse which we used for Cinderella, has been cajoling Director and I for weeks to have Dobbin in the show, preferably as Flora, the Sultan's ugly daughter's pet but we weren't keen. Dobbin went out on hire last week and when he came back the subject came up again and we were asked whether Dobbin could appear in the Community Song with the kids instead.

And, as usually happens, at this stage of the proceedings, imaginations have been running wild....

Dame texted me on Thursday am and so ensued a hasty phone call to MD who agreed that as long as the band can play the music in a style which the audience suggest on the night then it's ok by him.

The plan is that "Dame" mentions that Dobbin looks absolutely nothing like a reindeer, at which point Dobbin disappears off into the wings and comes back wearing a pair of antlers on a headband and a red nose on a bit of string.

Obviously this means that the back end of Dobbin has to be someone not in the last scene of the show so that they can get into the back legs in time for the Community Song and someone who is in the walkdown towards the end so they have time to get back out of the horse legs and do the walkdown as their proper character.

Hmmm. Like someone evil who has been killed in the previous scene, maybe? Yep You got it. That'll be me then!!!!!!!

And so it came to pass, that the original duo who first brought Dobbin to life in 2000 will be back. Hee Hee!

"Lyric of the Blog: "Dobbin, the red nose reinhorse, had a very shiny nose. And if you ever saw him, you would even say it glows" Trad.

Set Build 3. Sun 19th Nov

Another long day with people working very hard. Dame even got up a ladder and painted the sky at the top of the hardback as I was called away and he hates heights!

The hardback is now 90% block painted for the village whilst the other side for the shop has been undercoated and base coated but has no details painted on. The Sultan's Palace drop is complete and the dungeons drop just need some details on the windows. Only the seascape drop is left to do from scratch but it has been undercoated in readiness.

Lots of work done on props today as well. The shark, octopus and yellow submarine have been cut out and undercoated and all the fish have already been painted in UV paints. The pie for the shop and the jelly boulders for the dessert island have been made.

I had some light relief from set painting at lunchtime when one of the guys who does battle re-enactments taught me how to sword fight for the duel with Dick Whittington towards the end of the show. I've never done anything like that before. Another new experience.

The band were rehearsing again until 2pm and get better every time I hear them. I came away from my own rehearsal very disheartened though as "Bass Guitar" now reckons I'm singing Wild Boys wrong. I've sung it with MD enough times and I've sung it with the band twice already, but all of a sudden Bass says I'm not singing it right. Then MD suggests getting someone else to sing the correct melody from the wings over the top, which just made me feel completely inadequate. Not only that but with Bass, Guitar and Drums playing I can't actually hear MD playing the keyboards very well even stood next to him and I'm worried I'll go off key.

Nobody likes being told that they're doing something wrong but I thought I was doing ok and I've loved all of my songs up till now so it completely floored me. Other than at the first rehearsal when Director did initial character analysis with us and just told me to "be evil", I haven't had that much direction from him at all, positive or negative. Director did say today that I'm singing the songs too well for the character but I'm scared that if I overdo it, I'll lose my voice completely like I did once before from shouting and cackling and I will be so croaky that the songs will sound awful.

Who knows. I'm too worried about getting the sets finished at the moment but we have a complete run through of the show tomorrow night and it's dented my confidence.

Lyric of the Blog: "And I hope you know, That it's touch and go. I hope the tears don't stain the world that waits outside. Where did it all go wrong?" Oasis

Too Good to Resist ...

The weekend was planned. Friday:-Quiet night in sewing and getting the washing done. Sat:-Trip to B&Q for paint etc and Sunday:-Set Build 3 ....... then I saw an add on a Forum I post on.

It was for a 24ft by 12ft stage in 9 sections - for FREE, 4 miles away and it was going to be put in a skip this morning if no one wanted it. A hasty phone call to Chairman/Director ensued who agreed that the group could make use of it both as a stage but also possibly as band/drum risers for band night/shows, raked seats, shows in the round.... if only we had somewhere to put it.

We have a shed, on a farm, which we rent to keep all our sets in but it's full. Very full.

After two hours of phone calls, texts and emails yesterday afternoon I had a van and it's driver, a fellow Forum poster who volunteered! (I owe him a beer!), Setman had Director, Box Office and Father Christmas on standby to lift and shift it all AND we had the keys to the unused Community Centre across the road to the village hall to store it in.

Result. I arrived at the pick up point at 11:30am this morning to find Director grinning. Apparently he had been wondering what condition the staging was going to be in and was VERY happy. By 1:30pm it had all been moved and we've also ascertained in the process today that the said unused Community Centre would make a great base/storage facility/wardrobe department etc with a few days of manpower to clean it and make good the ceiling IF the church would be willing to rent it to us. Maybe a project for next year. Who knows, if we could rent that instead of the shed all our storage issues would be solved.

Lyric of the Blog: " The world is a stage, The stage is a world of entertainment! " Band Wagon

Thursday Rehearsal 16th Nov

3 hours have never disappeared quite so quickly as they did last night!

The cast worked exceptionally hard in the hands of "Dame", "Alice" and Director to get the last three (and biggest) songs choreographed for the opening number, Let Me Entertain You, Who Will Buy and I'm a Believer. They all looked fab by the end of the evening and Dame especially looked very pleased with himself for choreographing a song! - forget them by Monday at your peril!!

I scaled the ladder and hung one of the drapes of fabric for the Sultan's Palace set from the stage roof to check for length with the help of Setman. I had this idea that I wanted the set to look like the inside of a Bedouin tent with wide drapes of fabric in front of a plain dropcloth, so having bought the fabric and worked out how we are going to sew loops on it and hooks to the hardback and side flats it was time to see if the theory would work in practice or if the cast would have material on their heads!

I think it will work as the set crew are going to have the completed 'tent' in a large plastic box with a carabina attached, ready to hoist the centre up into the roof space and then attach each panel of fabric to the back and sides of the set.

All the harem girls tried on their costumes for Arabian Nights which Director's Mum has made for me. Apart from a couple of gripes over bare stomachs most are happy (ish!) and Bilgewater FINALLY has a costume. Phew.

I've broken the back of the sewing now and just have 2 dames costumes left to alter, one dress for Alice and lots of bits (fairy wings to customise, my hat to embellish, remaining sultan's drapes to hem). My main concern & worry has switched from the costumes to getting the set finished. We have no drops completed yet, the double hardback still to paint and I have another shopping list for B&Q on Saturday. More ******* shopping!

Let the hall wide awake, grinning like a Cheshire cat and unable to go to sleep. Ticket sales up to 454 out of a possible 938. We only sold 560 ish for Treasure Island last year - including door sales.

TWO weeks today is opening night!!

Lyric of the Blog: " Take your passion, and make it happen. Pictures come alive, you can dance right through your life" Irene Cara

The Rest

... of the team!

Come on there's only two weeks until opening night so there's no way I was going to be talking about sleeping!!! and having introduced the band last week, It occured to me that maybe I ought to do the same for the rest of the mob.

Director - Also group Chairman. Works damm hard for the group. He may have been absent for a few rehearsals but he has put together what is promising to be a fantastic show. He's great at knowing what he doesn't want, but sometimes not good at telling you what he does want. Hence the reason why a member of the cast is still going on stage in their underpants next week as Director can't tell me what he wants said character to wear. Frustrating for a Producer.

Setman - Refuses to go on stage other than in blacks to change it. Joined the group having refused to buy tickets to watch panto because he hated it but volunteered to help build the set instead and got roped into helping out backstage. He ended up working for 8 out of 9 performances that year and has built revolving platforms, staircases which light up, a working windmill and has put running water on stage. Apparently it's all my fault. Nothing new !!

Choreographer (s) - There always has to be one aspect of a show that causes problems. We've had trouble this year both getting a choreographer and then keeping the one we did eventually get. However two of the girls within the cast for the show have come up trumps and have saved the day. They choreographed one song each last year, this year they've done the whole lot.

Box Office - Almost as proficient with an Excel spreadsheet as me!!!! Box keeps track of who's sold what in the group and encourages everyone to sell more, as well as monitoring the online ticket sales, managing his team of female telephone operators (hidden in a secret location, so he tells us) and allocating tickets to seats to ensure that front of house know what's what on the night.

Programme Editor - Not in the show this year but doing a sterling job in the background with the artwork he was presented with to produce postcards, flyers, posters and currently the programme itself. He won an award from NODA in the summer for his programme for Moby Dick the Musical which was very well deserved.

Then in the background are a whole host of bodies including the committee who have done leaflet drops and put posters up, helped build the set, make props, written letters and made phone calls and made costumes.

and then there's me!...Producer.

Lyric of the Blog: " Forget cold glances and rejections. Leave the things that separate. Build on a trust that we can stand on. Like to get to know you well, so we can be one, we can be one together. Howard Jones

Famous Footsteps

Well famous boots anyway .....

When we did Treasure Island last year, I acquired some costumes from someone who is involved with re enactments and living history recreation and included in the swag were a pair of black, thigh length, pirate style boots which unfortunately weren't deemed suitable for either me, as Jim Hawkins or anyone else to wear at the time.

When I was first cast as King Rat and had the idea of going "Goth", the boots sprang to mind. They are a bit too big and will need to be padded out with extra socks but it doesn't matter as I'm not dancing as such for any of my songs.

and the famous bit? .....

They were worn by Kevin Kline in the 1983 film version of Pirates of Penzance and were acquired from Shepperton Studios where the film was shot as they were left behind when filming finished. After a few Google searches, I managed to find posters advertising the film and pictures of Kevin Kline actually wearing them.

So:- Thank you Mr Kline, for forgetting your boots because I love 'em!!!!

Lyric of the Blog: " Wouldn't it be good to be in your shoes, even if it was for just one day. And wouldn't it be good if we could wish ourselves away. Wouldn't it be good to be on your side, the grass is always greener over there. Wouldn't it be good if we could live without a care " Nik Kershaw

Monday Rehearsal 13th Nov

It really is the little things that mean the most sometimes ...

The majority of the group were hard at work last night learning choreography for the final songs before we start complete run-throughs next week, so I spent the entire rehearsal behind closed tabs marking out the hardback for the village street scene in pale pink paint so that it can be painted this coming Sunday.

This was always going to be a challenge as there's always been someone else to do it in the past. Drawing and painting are definitely not my strong point unless I'm shown what to do and can copy verbatim. I draw like a 5 year old but I do quite enjoy doing paint effects on things.

One of the 10 year old girls came onto the stage having tried her a jacket for a costume and came to show me that it fitted and asked what I was doing whilst looking sideways down the length of the hard back, so I got her to stand at the front of the stage and tell me what it looked like - without showing her the picture I was copying.

"Cool" she said "It's a village"..... I could have hugged her.... Lots! It really made my evening.

I opened the tabs at the end of the evening to have a look at the whole scene from the back of the hall and MD asked why the QE2 was sailing across the rooftops. (it was supposed to be a chimney but I couldn't really argue as it did look like a ship!!!)

Ticket sales up to 418 last night.

Lyric of the Blog: " The mist is lifting slowly, I can see the way ahead and I've left behind the empty streets that once inspired my life" The Moody Blues

Sold Out!

Two blogs in one day - can't be bad!

This deserves a mention in its on right though and I'm grinning like a Cheshire cat beacause...

Box Office have put a message on the website this morning to say that the matinee performance on Saturday 9th December has sold out. Apparently there is only limited availability for Friday 8th in the evening as well. I'm SO chuffed.

The only downside is that the second week shows are being booked and not the first. Logic says that word of mouth and advertising will mean that we get more and more bookings as time goes on and obviously we can't move people to the second week if the first week performances have already taken place.

I'll be gutted if we have to turn people away on the second week but play to smaller audiences with spare seats on the first week.

Lyric of the Blog: "Take your seats now, folks. It's show time. Hey, Patrick hit the lights, There's something in the air There's magic in the night. Now here's the band, they really play, I'll count the first one in I don't know where it's going We all know where it's been" Bon Jovi

Raffles & Charities

CAST are a non profit making group. We cover the cost of the show were are working on and keep a reserve to cover the cost of the next show, assuming we've made a profit that is, and then all our remaining funds go to charity.

Each year, members of the group are asked to nominate charities and give their reasoning behind the nomination and then the committee have the arduous task of whittling down the nominations to just three.

Our nominated charities for 2005/2006 were Alzheimer's Research Trust, ARC Noddy appeal and BAAF adoption and fostering. Representatives from each charity will be coming to the first Saturday evening performances to collect their cheques. Our nominated charities for 2006/2007 are Victim Support, Berkshire, Iain Rennie Hospice at Home and The Starlight Foundation.

The proceeds from the sale of our programmes, raffle tickets and any competitions we run in the foyer before shows also go to the charities. This year we are running a 'Where's Bear? competition with a huge old map of London which has been gridded and the audience can buy a square for £1.00. The winner who picks the square where bear is hiding will win a 4ft high teddy bear which has been donated to us.

For the raffle we ask the cast of the show to provide prizes but we also write to approx. 50/60 companies per show and ask for donations. Most of these are companies who are local to us but we also try to write to companies who supply goods which are relevant to the show or where the company is being mentioned within the script.

Having written the letters for the last 3 years or so, I am now well used to the routine. If the letters go out on a Monday, then by the Thursday I will have received at least 5 standard letter 'No' responses where the companies support their own chosen charities directly. There'll be the odd immediate 'yes' but the yes replies tend to take longer to arrive. Then I'll start getting parcel delivery slips through the door because companies have sent prizes and not told me they are 'in the post' - and I've been at work, so redirection or collection has to be arranged.

We're doing exceptionally well so far; we have a camera, a decorating tool, 4 passes for a days racing at a nearby racecourse, a meal for 2 at a local restaurant, some toiletries, a few vouchers and some energy saving lighbulbs!

Lyric of the Blog: "And The Rhythm Of Life is a powerful beat, Puts a tingle in your fingers and a tingle in your feet, Rhythm in your bedroom, Rhythm in the street, Yes, The Rhythm Of Life is a powerful beat" Sweet Charity

Set Build 2. Sun 12th Nov

Another cold 10am start at the village hall and not one of my best days as I've felt rough through most of it. A combination of both being overtired and not feeling well, I think, as I've got a bit of a temperature and headache.

We all downed tools at 11:00am for the two minutes silence but other than that and lunch, everyone was very busy for the majority of the day.

The set is coming along nicely. Both drops for the Sultan's Moroccan palace and the dungeons are well underway and the double hard back is not complete and has been undercoated.

The Band were all there this morning rehearsing and sound fab.

The large posters are now up on the noticeboards around the village.

Also started work on a couple of the props today. The safe has been made and base painted and just needs distressing and the fish for Under the Sea have been cut out of hardboard and painted white. They just need painting with the UV paints now.

This afternoon, everyone except the essential 'wood team' went and sat in the bar and did a script run-through, sat around the tables when they weren't required for painting.

One very tired, achy blogger heading for a hot bubble bath and an early night.

Lyric of the Blog: " I'll be back for you someday, it won't be long. If I can just hold on 'til this bloody war is over. The guns will be silent on Remembrance Day. There'll be no more fighting on Remembrance Day " Bryan Adams

Remembrance Day

I've been reminiscing...

A year ago we were busy rehearsing for our 2005 pantomime of Treasure Island. I was lucky enough to play the principal boy, Jim Hawkins, last year and thoroughly enjoyed the experience, especially as I got to sing normally rather than having to put on a character voice and I still HAD a voice left at the end of the two week run.

Parts in shows are like days in your life ....

Most of the parts you play are all right....

One or two are best forgotten and left on the stage at the end of the show run.

But some. ... Some are special. They leave a lasting impression on you. It may be the song that you sing and the memories it evokes. You may have wished that the run of the show would never come to an end or that you could hit the proverbial pause button and freeze that moment in time or even repeat it again.

So: One year on ....

Lyric of the Blog: " Somewhere over the Rainbow, Skies are blue and the dreams that you care to dream really do come true ..... " The Wizard of Oz

Thursday Rehearsal 9th Nov

We ran Act 2 last night, first without songs to get the blocking right then again with no scripts and all songs included. It's looking good but there is a visible difference between the amount of script that people have learnt for Act 1 and Act 2.

Next week we must finish all the remaining choreography so that the week after we can do complete show run-throughs. There's still a lot of hard work ahead.

Ticket sales continue to come in, slowly, but steadily. We've now sold just over 350 over 7 performances, although we have performances which are almost sold out and others where there is not even one row of audience.

A couple of the cast spent Wednesday distributing postcards through doors of another local village for me and a couple of people have taken batches of posters from me to go up in the next couple of days.

The 'pantomime pullout' should be published in the local paper next week so News Editor has been furnished with a poster, postcards and pictures from the London trip to use. He's also been given the details of the winners of the Dame Costume design competition to publish as well.

I sat down when I got home last night and updated both the show budget and my expenses which now exceed £1000.00! Ouch ! The receipt envelope is expanding rapidly.

Three weeks today is opening night ...........

Lyric of the Blog: " This is the story of my life, and I write it everyday. I know it isn't black and white, and it's anything but grey " Bon Jovi

Apron Strings

I spoke to my parents on the phone yesterday and after ascertaining that yes, I was still alive and no, I didn't have a life as we were 3 weeks away from another show, she asked what I was doing - to which I replied " shortening a dress ".

Raucous laughter followed stunned silence and eventually both parents picked themselves off the floor (it takes a while at 76 and 82!). They were both laughing like drains at the idea of ME sewing costumes. I was a bit put out to start off with, until my Mum reminded me of THE APRON!

I was in the 2nd year of secondary school and I was supposed to be making the obligatory apron in needlework class. My mother was an accomplished dressmaker and made most of my clothes when I was small so I was given a piece of absolutely hideous 70's psychedelic fabric in purple and lilac from 'the sewing drawer' to take to school to make this apron from.

I seem to remember sitting in class adding a stitch or two when forced to or the teacher was looking over my shoulder and eventually being told that I would have to finish it at home.

Apparently there were many arguments and tantrums usually culminating with bits of apron being launched across the dining room table or floor and the semi-completed end result being screwed up in a ball and buried at the back of my wardrobe out of site.

It never did get finished.

Much of the remaining conversation yesterday revolved around my mother wondering if any of the costumes I was working on would ever get finished or would fall apart on stage on the wearer's. She can't wait to see the show !!!!!

Oh yeah - and the fact that she still has THE APRON!

I've always been far happier with two knitting needles than one sewing needle. Mum taught me to knit when I was 7 and I have numerous photographs of baby blankets, christening shawls in 2ply wool and picture jumpers which I have made over the years. Now - if I was allowed to KNIT all the costumes for the show there wouldn't be any problems!!

I wonder if any of the cast are now reading this and it's dawning on them that their costumes are in my hands!!! Hee Hee.

I just wondering how long I should leave it before I admit to my parents that I am thinking I might like a sewing machine for my birthday.... Maybe I'll leave that for when they come and see the show so I can see their faces when I tell them and have my thumb poised over the third '9' on the mobile !!!!!!!!!!!

Lyric of the Blog: " Because of all my pride, The tears I gotta hide. Ah, Needles and Pins " The Searchers

Band on the Run ...

I've mentioned MD with regard to rehearsals but I haven't mentioned the band as a whole so far, other than when they had their first band call at SetBuild 1...

For the past couple of years we have worked with MD's who use electronic midi files for panto so it's been very exciting to know that we were going to have a completely live band this year for the whole of this years show.

MD has worked incredibly hard putting together all the music for the band, having changed the keys of the songs to suit the performers and has been working on arrangements that will suit the songs and make them fun, not only for the band but for the audience and those singing.

He's also very good at stretching people's capabilities and getting them out of their comfort zone to perform songs, styles and in ranges which they wouldn't do otherwise. What more can I say...

So: In the band for this years show we have;

Keyboard (MD) - One VERY talented guy. If truth be known he'd far rather be playing Jazz and Boogie Woogie than Ronan Keating (crisp packet song) or Robbie Williams (cul-de-sac song, goes nowhere) but is happy that there's some Meatloaf to play in the running order.

Guitar - New to the band although he's sat through enough shows in the audience in the past. Also happens to be younger brother of Director/Drums.

Bass Guitar & Banjo - A long serving, talented guy who's so laid back he could play horizontally (and has been known to after a few Jack Daniels at aftershow parties!!)

Drums - Director is stepping into the spotlight to play drums as well as he plays with a band in his spare? time. After all he won't have anything to do once we're all on stage anyway - would he?!!

Lyric of the Blog: " Softly, deftly, music shall surround you.... Feel it, hear it, closing in around you... Open up your mind, let your fantasies unwind, in this darkness which you know you cannot fight. The darkness of the music of the night " Phantom of the Opera

Monday Rehearsal 6th Nov

Director finally back at the helm (phew!) after nearly 4 weeks of working away from home and only at a couple of rehearsals. Am I glad he's back or what!

Act 1 run-through - script free and including songs. 1hr 40mins. Far too long. What the hell happened there when we did it in 1hr 20mins last week.
Act 2 run-through - some scripts and including songs. Messy and disorganised.
Continual run-through's of Act 2 planned for Thursday to get everyone up to speed.

Choreography also still needs a lot of work. Nearly everyone had forgotten a dance that they had spend 1 1/2 hours learning last week. Very frustrating.

I completely blanked on several of my own bits of script in Act 1. Damm annoying. More work required, on both those and Act 2. Must set aside some time inbetween sewing to learn them.

Lyric of the Blog: " Take a look around, this is what I see. Is there anybody else that feels like me? " "I'm smart enough to know what I don't know" Bon Jovi

Sandwich Club

One subject I forgot to mention yesterday, was food!! I've just 'been' to Tescos and ordered everything for lunch for next Sunday's set build so now is as good a time as any to blog about 'Sandwich Club'.

It all started a couple of years ago, when after a long weekend of setbuilding we'd eaten Fish & Chips, Pizza, Indian, Chinese and KFC within 3 days and were all sick to death of take aways.

So, having no food in the house anyway I went food shopping prior to setbuild and stocked up on bread, ham, cheese, crisps, doughnuts, cakes and drinks so that we could have a DIY picnic. Not only was it a far cheaper and healthier option but it meant that we didn't loose two people to whichever takeaway venue to collect all the stuff, only to eat lukewarm food when it finally arrived back at the hall.

And so Sandwich Club was born. Now the food is ordered online and delivered to me with the weekly shop ready for the Sunday rather than me going to the store and we don't have doughnuts because they would be like bricks by the Sunday, but that's the only change.

Everyone has their favourite sarnie fillings and combinations and the boys usually try to outdo each other for the strangest sandwich filling mixture of the day. One of the staple components is Laughing Cow cheese triangles which have become affectionately known as "HaHa Moo" or "Hilarious Bovine".

The tradition of Sandwich Club has also spread to show weeks themselves as when members of the cast take annual leave for shows we often get together either at lunchtime for a pub lunch or alternatively early evening for a Sandwich Club tea at the village hall together, prior to setting the stage and doing the box office ticket orders for that night.

It's also really nice to break from whatever we are all working on at the time and all sit down around a large table together, reminiscing about setbuilds, shows and parties of the past or the logistics of completing the jobs we are doing.

Lyric of the Blog: " Food, glorious food! Eat right through the menu. Just loosen your belt Two inches and then you Work up a new appetite. In this interlude --The food, Once again, food Fabulous food, Glorious food - Lionel Bart

Set Build 1. Sun 5th November

CAST are very lucky not only to have people with a wide variety of acting, singing and dancing ability but also a team of people who are able to build and paint our sets making our shows very much a team effort.

We have a shed on a farm where all our sets are stored so the first morning of the first day is always spent doing several trips with a van to get all the kit we will use to the village hall.

We spend three Sundays prior to the show week building and painting the sets from 10am until 6pm. Then on the last weekend before the show we 'take over' the hall and put up the stage extention and do a full weekend on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday to complete the sets ready for the technical rehearsal on the Monday night.

Unfortunately we were disappointingly low on numbers this week but those who were there worked damm hard and we have achieved the following;

• Nine people went out and delivered approx. 1800 flyers around the village. 2/3rd done.
• The guys built 75% of the double hinged hardback, which should be finished and ready to paint by midday next week.
• Two drop cloths were undercoated and then each given two coats of their base colour. Unfortunately with it being winter, everything takes ages to dry so no details were painted today.

The banner has now gone up on the front of The George pub so as well as the flyers and the decorated window in the Ostrich Inn, we now have that to advertise the show. Just waiting for the posters to arrive now.

The band were also on site today for two band calls from 10am until 1pm and 4pm until 6pm. Some of the songs sound great already. It's SO good having a live band and not relying on midi files as we have done in previous years.

All in all, a very upbeat and productive day all round. Guys - if and when you read this - you all worked very hard today and looked shattered by the end of it. Thank you.

Lyric of the Blog: "If I had a hammer, I'd hammer in the morning, I'd hammer in the evening, All over this land" Peter, Paul & Mary

Shopping

As I think I've mentioned once before, I HATE shopping.

Yet in this game its a necessity to have everything ready for everyone when they (or I) need it.

My Friday night was spent out on the town in Reading, on a hot date with a very large ...... shopping trolley at Costco! More about the purchases some other time. It's a blog topic in its own right....

Today Setman and I are off to Watford market to hopefully do the remainder of the costume and props shopping. I still need some footwear for people, rats tails etc

Then it's off to B&Q and I get a rash when I go anywear near a DIY store. I loathe the places.
We need mainly need paint but also some wood and "stuff" to get the hardbacks build and undercoated tomorrow.

Lyric of the Blog: " We're S-H-O-PP-I-N-G, we're shopping. We're S-H-O-PP-I-N-G, we're shopping" Pet Shop Boys

Thursday Rehearsal 2nd Nov

Lots of choreography completed tonight for Walking on Sunshine (supporting cast), Arabian Nights (Sultan & the Harem) and Wild Boys (King Rat & The Rats). Then we ran the whole of Act 2 with songs in place, as we did for Act 1 last week to get a rough overall timing for the performance.

Some front of house photographs were taken for the new guys and kids as well.

I'm wfh today, waiting for a courier to deliver 5000 advertising postcards, 100 A4 posters and 20 A3 posters.

Everything is moving up a gear now and the days are flying by. Where did October go?
I think I may need to blog daily instead of just Mon-Fri to keep up to date with everything that is going on. This coming Sunday is our first set-build day and 4 weeks today is opening night!!!!!

Lyric of the Blog: " How were you to know, that you would be the lucky one. Ain't it funny how time flies, when the best is yet to come " Bryan Adams

Update: 14:15 - The postcards have been delivered and look great. No posters.... They are now on an emergancy print run this pm and will hopefully be delivered tomorrow.

Why ?

...are there a minority of people who, no matter how hard you try to help them and provide what they want, still moan.

... are there people who are destructive and criticise even though they do not help, causing more work and heartache for those around them.

... are there people who say they will do a job for you and then let you down, or do it at the last minute and then wonder what all the fuss is about.

Thank god for the people who will do anything asked of them, when asked, without question and those who support from a distance with invisible arms.


Lyric of the Blog: " These are the tears, the tears we shed. This is the fear, this is the dread. These are the contents of my head. And this is how I feel. Do you know how I feel. 'cause I don't think you know how I feel" Annie Lennox

Supervisation

I'm at home today trying to make some headway on the sewing of the larger projects that I can't carry to work easily and do on the train or in my lunch hours.

So: I thought I'd take the opportunity to introduce my supervisor and quality control guru.


He's very particular. The fabric has to just right for the costumes and he has a unique way of testing their softness.

His idea of supervising is to sit right in front of me, watching every move of the needle and occasionally glancing up with that " you didn't really want to do it like that" look in his eyes.


Sometimes he changes position or comes closer to inspect the stitching or materials I am using, especially the sequins.

Sometimes he helps by holding the fabric down for me.... even if I don't really need him too.







And then - when it all gets too much

He just goes to sleep on the job - literally !!!







Lyric of the Blog: " I always feel like, Somebody's watching me, and I have no privacy. Whoa...oh oh I always feel like, Somebody's watching me. Tell me, is it just a dream" Rockwell

Monday Rehearsal 30th Oct

MD decided to do his 'bad cop' bit last night to give everyone a kick up the **** At the moment there are a lot of individuals on stage and we need to motivate them into working more as a team.

We then rehearsed the walkdown number and put everyone into order before MD worked on all the ensemble numbers. "Bowbelle" spent the remainder of the evening working on some more choreography for 'Sugar & Spice'.

Not one of my better nights. I need to find an extra 10 ghoul sailor costumes for "Who'll Mop the Main Deck" as I hadn't accounted for the kids or Shovel & Spade being in it. Looks like tonight will be spent at the hall loft assigning what costumes we do have to people and checking if what's on the wardrobe database actually exists so that I can then raid the supermarkets and buy up skeleton costumes and scream masks which may be reduced in price by late this evening.

Sat down with the Dame and worked out exactly how many costume changes he has and allocated him some outfits, however two at least will need major alterations so that they will fit properly. I'm out of my depth here. I'm no dressmaker and having people coming up to me who don't sew either, telling me to 'just take it in and add a bow' doesn't help.

Lyric of the Blog: " Do you remember the good old days before the ghost town?We danced and sang and the music played inna de boomtown. This town, is coming like a ghost town. Why must the youth fight against themselves? " The Specials

Whittington's Cat & Winchester Geese

"Programme Producer" acquired a Time Out guide of 25 walks around London some time ago. We needed little encouragement to try out the route on another cast day out so eleven of us took to the streets of London yesterday IN COSTUME!!!

We went to Archway to the Whittington Stone pub where we ate lunch, the Whittington hospital and the Whittington & Cat pub before heading into the city to go to the site of Richard Whittington's house and burial near Cannon Street, Whittington Gardens, the Guildhall and finally St Paul's cathedral.

The day is best summed up as follows:

Lowlight - The train arrived 10 minutes late at Langley and was so full - none of us could get on it. There was an hour until the next train.

Highlight - Reading a text on the train coming home and realising we'd been spotted walking to the railway station in the morning by someone we all knew!

Lowlight - Arriving at Slough to find that the next train we could get on was the one we would have got on if we'd stayed at Langley instead of jumping in the cars and trying to be clever.

Highlight - The kids (and some adults) faces both on the mainline train and London Underground spotting Dick, Dame, Jack and Cat.

Lowlight - The Northern Line being shut between Camden Town and East Finchley. Public transport definitely wasn't on our side.

Highlight - Lunch at the Whittington Stone pub. Yummy. We all ate and drank for £10 each today. £110 in the whip. £65 for lunch including drinks. £38 for coffee and muffins in a Starbuck's on Cheapside and £6.94 (1p short) for 12 Krispy Kreme donuts to have with tea back at mine when we got home.

Lowlight - The huge trail of blood outside the pub. Apparently from a stabbing the previous night.

Highlight - An 8/9 year old kid spotting Sarah the Cook (Dame) leaving the pub after lunch and shouting to all his mates "Ere, It's a Trannie!" Bless.

Highlight - Walking from the site of Richard Whittington's burial towards Whittington Gardens, straight into a group of 20 tourists on a walking tour with a guide who was delivering his 'Dick Whittington history' and who promptly announced in a very loud voice " and here comes Dick Whittington now, with his cat"... The group probably thought it had been staged. The guide looked gobsmacked. Our timing just could not have been more perfect. The guide will be dining out on that tale for years to come.

Lowlight - Programme Producer leaving the box of Krispy Kreme's on the luggage rack on the train. He will never be forgiven.

Pics to follow ....Further pics can be seen on our website www.cast-online.org.uk


Lyric of the Blog: "Let me take you by the hand and lead you through the streets of London. I'll show you something, to make you change your mind" Ralf McTell

Thursday Rehearsal 26th Oct

Did our first complete run-through of Act 1 with all the songs in place last night. A few wobbles and comments about script and songs that didn't go right but on the whole it looks very good. Just the choreography to sort out now ....

Several of the cast have dropped their scripts and know a large proportion of their words which is very good to see. Well done guys.

We had our first casualty last night. "Tommy", the cat who is part sharing and also plays a rat, fell and hurt her shoulder whilst rehearsing. Hopefully she'll be ok by Monday.

Lyric of the Blog: " For all together, a team can weather any storm they may go through. Yes, teamwork, can make a dream work, can make the greatest dreams come true " Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

No sleep ...

Spent last night shortening the legs on "Shovel's" dungarees and finishing the velcro "rip" on the backside for when she bends over, just need to get them tried on and elasticate the legs then they can be dyed as they are white at the moment.

Am just a little tired this morning as I didn't get to bed until after midnight and was up again at 5:20 this morning. Wasn't too bothered about it until I realised that I was about to spray perfume under my arms. God knows where the deodorant would have ended up!!!

Lyric of the Blog: " But I'm the one who keeps the pressure on. All I've got is all I need, but I get no sleep and I'm tired to the bone...... I know I'm not alone " Richard Marx

Bloody Chickens!

We have a Rat with Chicken Pox !

I had an email last night from one of the Academy leaders to let me know why he wasn't there on Monday night. I wonder how many more will come down with it over the next couple of weeks. Time will tell.

Lyric of the Blog: " And I like the way you still say please. While you're looking up at me. You're like my favourite damn disease" Nickleback

PS. You try finding a lyric relating to chicken, pox or spots that isn't "Chick, Chick, Chick, Chick, Chicken !!!!

Monday Rehearsal 23rd Oct

I get the best presents. Cast members turned up tonight with a parcel, 6 loo roll interiors and a bin bag full of polystyrene chips! Well - I did ask for them....

"Dick's" costumes now complete except for her boots which are 'in the post' and tried "Tommy's" cat costume on her for the first time which looks very cute.

Practised "Wild Boys" with the kids for the first time. Needs some more work on my behalf but is sounding good for a first attempt.

Reran the blocking for the remainder of Act 2 and then the majority of Act 1 last night and was quite pleased to be able to put down my script for a few scenes at least. More work required on that asap.

Still feeling as if I've had the stuffing knocked out of me at the moment after yesterday.

Lyric of the Blog: " When you're driving with the brakes on, swimming with your boots on" Del Amitri

Wild Boy

I finally managed to spend some time over the weekend on my script to try and learn some of my lines. I LOVE being the panto baddie. However there is something a little strange about judging your performance and how 'good?!' you are by how many small children you scare and reduce to tears!!!

I had my make up done for the first time last Thursday night. Prosthetic scars down the face, white make up, dark eyes and bloody lips - very special. Can't wait to see the full effect with the costume, wig, hat and evil contact lenses.

Good news: Two more good size block bookings have been reserved over the weekend. Just waiting for the deposits to secure them. Fantastic!

Bad news: I've just had a very difficult and upsetting phone call. Someone who may be connected to the show has actively tried to cause very serious trouble which COULD have been damaging to the show. It's knocked me for six and I'm devastated. How could anyone be so malicious.

Lyric of the Blog: "Wild boys fallen far from glory, reckless and so hungered. On the razors edge you trail because there's murder by the roadside in a sore afraid new world" Duran Duran

Thursday Rehearsal 19th Oct

Not a very productive evening and a bit disjointed. We didn't have MD due to a meeting and Director's assistant didn't show up or tell us she wouldn't be there. Three members of the cast were also AWOL.

The girls who are doing some of the choreography worked on Walking on Sunshine and Arabian Nights with those involved who were there. They've obviously put a lot of thought and work into devising the routines at home.

Arabian Nights looks fantastic already and will be very, very funny on the night with the extra harem 'girls' in costume !!!!

Dame, Dick and I (Rat) were all made up my one of the make up artists so that head and shoulder photographs could be taken for the poster and programme front. It's the longest I've sat still at a rehearsal since we started. Bliss!!

An early night home for all.

Lyric of the Blog: " Communication let me down,And I'm left here, I'm left here again! " Spandau Ballet

Drafts

My next 'assignment' following last night's meeting is to start putting together some draft information for the programme.

This is another task which I've never had to do before and is a bit worrying as I'd hate to leave anyone out and them be upset.

We will need details of the cast including biographies for the new members and updates for the existing ones along with details for the crew and production team so that our programme guru can get to work.

He's ace and finally won a NODA programme award this year for all his efforts and imaginative designs... Long may it continue.

We also plan to photograph a few of the main characters at tonight's rehearsal ready for the artwork that has been done for our poster, fliers and programme cover.

Lyric of the Blog: " I am unwritten, can't read my mind, I'm undefined. I'm just beginning, the pen's in my hand, ending unplanned" Natasha Bedingfield

Production Meeting

This is probably the latest ever I've sat down to blog.

Have just finished a very long but productive production meeting covering Rehearsals, Set Builds, Box Office, Advertising, Programme, FOH, Costumes, Changing facilities, Kids, Budgets etc.

Just got to get everything 'done' now that we've covered....

Still - tomorrow is another day ! (If I get this blog published before midnight!!!!!)

Lyric of the Blog: " Who'll sling the hammock, the hammock, the hammock? Who'll sling the hammock so we can go to sleep? " Panto song. (To the tune of The Keel Row)

Monday Rehearsal 16th Oct

Another completely mad evening. MD ran all the ensemble songs which are sounding fantastic so the new children could catch up.

"Bowbelle" started teaching the dance routine to Walking on Sunshine.

I tried costumes on people. AGAIN!

Question... Why do people have a strop when they are given a costume to try on or wear. If I had a £1 for every person who pulled a face last night because they didn't "like it" - I'd be rich. Why does it seem to come as such a surprise that if you are a girl in a chorus you are going to be wearing a skirt and a bodice and not black jeans and a tshirt!!!

Answer... Haven't got one.

Idea... Maybe I should insist on wearing a PVC mini skirt and stockings & suspenders as King Rat. I don't really want to wear a scary coat, black boots and a grim wig. I must tell the Wardrobe mistress asap. Only one problem with that. It's me .... Bugger.

I spent 2hrs and 50 mins trying costumes on people, allocating chorus costumes and writing a list of chorus costumes that need making a mate who's helping me out. She may not be a mate for much longer when she sees how much there is. Oh dear.

Oh Yeah - the other 10 mins of the evening I spent on stage rehearsing my part !

Lyric of the Blog: " And nothing really rocks. And nothing really rolls. And nothings ever worth the cost" Meatloaf

Drawing a blank

Don't quite know what to write today. There's nothing to say but I won't say "nothing"....

I'm waiting for about 6 parcels to arrive from EBay or suppliers. My evil coat, the flunkies bib & braces, rat masks for the kids, fairy wings from the USA for Bowbelle, a cash register for the shop counter.

We have a full production meeting booked for this Wednesday evening to cover advertising, the programme, set building, costumes, box office etc.

Another block booking arrived in the post today and there's two more in hand, waiting for details to arrive so the audience numbers are creepy up slowly which is great news.

Off to rehearsals in a bit, mainly a music catch up session and rerunning the blocking of Act 2. I also have an enormous bag of costumes in the car and on the rail for people to try on and notes for 'stuff' to do. It's going to be a busy one ....

Lyric of the Blog: " The touch of your hand says you'll catch me if ever I fall. You say it best when you say nothing at all" Ronan Keating

Thursday Rehearsal 12th Oct

Spent the first part of the evening doing some vocal exercises and improvisation work for characterisations.

Act 2 was then blocked entirely. It's a lot shorter than Act 1 but means that we can now concentrate on the finer details of the characterisations and movement and do choreography.

A very noisy evening as most of the children were there.

Lyric of the Blog: " Everyone's laughing. Oh kingdom of madness you've got me undone. oh kingdom of madness you've really begun" Magnum

Box Office

Two more enquiries about block bookings yesterday - things are looking good. Just waiting for the forms and cheques to arrive in the post now to find out how many and which performances they are for.

It's a shame that with all the hard work that goes into a show by all the cast that it's so difficult to get a good size audience to perform to each night. Is amateur theatre in decline? Is it the area we live in? What more can we possibly to to promote the show ......

Lyric of the Blog: " So imagine I was glad to hear you're coming. Suddenly I feel all right. And it's gonna be so different when I'm on the stage tonight" Abba

Panto free day!

On Monday night, I designated yesterday a panto free day. I need a break. I made a deal with myself that absolutely nothing to do with panto was to be touched. So what happens;

- Director emails me, so I reply.
- Cast members email me - so I reply.
- I win two costume items on EBay which need paying for.
- I go to a haberdashery store in my lunch hour to buy lace, ribbon, thread etc to take up and adapt 'Alice's dresses.
- I email MD
- I 'just start' cataloguing the waistcoat photographs for the wardrobe database.
- I spend my night off in a nightclub with half of the cast.

Lyric of the Blog: " Busy doing nothing, working the whole day through. Trying to find lots of things not to do. Busy going nowhere, Isn't it such a crime. I'd like to be unhappy but I never do have the time!"

Monday Rehearsal 9th Oct

Director away for work. MD worked through songs, then we ran most of Act 1 with sound effects and interlude music before we start blocking Act 2 on Thurs.

MD's hound stole the show by crying when the kids were picking on Tommy the cat in the street scene. He then went and curled up with 'Dick' whilst he was guarding the safe in the shop. Found the cat's ears from the costume store and put them on him.


I managed to get dresses tried on 'Alice' which now need adapting, finale tunic on 'Dick' and also chorus costumes tried on all the boys.

A good night had by all. Went home wide awake and unable to sleep with ideas.

Lyric of the Blog: " I'm walking on sunshine oh oh, and don't it feel good" Katrina & the Waves

Shop till you drop

I HATE shopping. Lots. I specifically loathe clothes shopping. Lots and lots.

And now I find on reflection that I've just spent my entire weekend, feeling like shit as I have a virus and a temperature, dragging my heals around.

Sat was the local shops and Sun was two car boot sales and a large market, looking for clothes to adapt for costumes.

Will they fit? Will the people who are wearing them like them?

I hope so but probably not...

Lyric of the Blog: " Anything you can buy, I can buy cheaper. I can buy anything cheaper than you" Annie Get Your Gun

Thursday Rehearsal 5th Oct

Sadly we've had another drop out so the part of Scupper has had to be cast again.

MD spent much of the evening going over the ensemble songs with everyone before we block Act 2 and do some choreography next week.

'Dick' managed to split her trousers before rehearsals even began by cartwheeling across the hall floor.

Director - Shattered from travelling for work and working lots. Needs sleep.
Producer - Grumpy as shit and wasn't feeling very well. Understatement.

Lyric of the Blog: " Those were the days my friend. We thought they'd never end" Mary Hopkins

Dame Costume Competition

We're running a competition through the local newspaper to design a costume for the dame to wear during this years show. The idea was given to me by a group member and will give us some early publicity for the show. We can also use the artwork for the foyer during the shows run.

There are three age ranges and the winner of each age range will receive four free tickets to see the show. The overall winner, chosen from these three will have their design made up by one of our costumiers and have their photo taken with the dame.

I'm hoping that we might start getting some entries soon to start looking at.

Lyric of the Blog: " She'll make you take your clothes off and go dancing in the rain. She'll make you live her crazy life but she'll take away your pain " Ricky Martin

Postmen only knock twice

Unless they are the postmen in my office who now know me by name due to the amount of suspicious looking packages which have been arriving at work recently.

Today - one metre of white fur fabric to adapt the black cat costume and 20 14mm miniature working bells for the fairy's tiara and wings.

Just waiting for the cat costume to arrive now - the postman may return yet!

Lyric of the Blog: " Maybe, you can never be sure. There'll be knock, ring. Letters through your door" Postman Pat, Postman Pat, Postman Pat and his black and white cat" TV Theme

Monday Rehearsal 2nd Oct

October already.

Director was away with work last night so MD ran all the songs learnt so far with both ensemble and soloists including "Dick" who sang her solo last night - All I can say is WOW!!!!

I managed to get costumes tried on several of the cast for the show. Meanwhile, two of the boys photographed the entire collection of Aladdin costumes for me for a possible hire.

Lyric of the Blog: " Gold, Always believe in your soul, You've got the power to know, You're indestructable" Spandau Ballet

The Loft

5 lovely girls who all need their heads testing gave up all or part of their Saturday to help me sort out the group's costumes and prepare costumes for Dick Whittington.

The boys also came down on route to the shed get everything out. They then came back helped out afterwards photographing over 200 hats and 50 pairs of shoes. We started at 10am and finally finished at 8pm!!!

Found:- Buried treasure! (Dobbin, the panto horse's legs) so he is complete again and can be hired out as well as Cinderella's rags dress.

Lost:- The will to live! On several occasions during the day.

The wardrobe database is slowly taking shape. It will allow everything to be found easily and hired out when we are not using it to make the group some additional funds.

Lyric of the Blog: " When all you do is change your clothes and call that versatile. You got so many colours make a blind man so confused." Scissor Sisters

Thursday Rehearsal 28th Sept

A night that was slow to start but by the end of the night there just wasn't enough time to fit everything in. Where does 3 hours go?

Some of the principals practiced their songs with MD and we met Director's assistant who will help direct and do some choreography and voice training with us as well.

Thought: Nine weeks today is opening night. Oh shit!

Lyric of the Blog: " And you discover that timing is everything, you've got to get it right, Timing is everything in life" Chris De Burgh

Father Christmas

The idea of dyeing the velour curtains which I found in the loft to make a Santa suit never got off the ground. The red dye would have been far too expensive and there was no guarantee that the dye would take.

I would have also needed to buy a pattern, white fur fabric and a wig/beard.

So: Back to square one and 3 days of internet searches to find something in the right size and price range. This resulted in prices for suits ranging from £6.99 (wear once) to £400.00 (shopping mall quality). Finally I found a company in Guernsey who make XL Santa suits at a reasonable price which include Jacket, Trousers, Belt, Boot Tops, Hat, Wig, Beard and Glasses. It's on it's way.

Now he has something to wear, Father Christmas has been booked and will be handing out sweets to the audience as they leave the show each night.

Lyric of the Blog: "Been an awfully good girl, Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight" Eartha Kitt

Hard back or drop?

Spent last night with Stage Manager and Director designing how the set will look and work and the logistics for back stage.

- Which scenes need to be painted on which medium (the hard back or drop)
- Which rail they need to hang on the stage to fit them all in.
- Which scene's we can duplicate sets for etc etc

We've settled on a double hard back to allow for the two largest scenes (village and shop) with hinged flats that will open out across the stage plus three drops for the sea scenes, dungeon and sultan's palace and a small side set for the sewers for King Rat.

Also discussed costume ideas with Director, ready for the grand sort out this coming Saturday.

Lyric of the Blog: " Just look at the world around you, right here on the ocean floor. Such wonderful things surround you, what more are you looking for?" Disney

Monday Rehearsal 25th Sept

We have 2 drop outs from the original cast. It's a shame but it does happen. The parts will be reallocated as blocking rehearsals continue.

Good rehearsal. Looked at 'Under the Sea' with MD and did further blocking of Act 1.

Lyric of the Blog: "I'm going through changes, Oh So many changes, I'm loosing my senses, don't know what to do, I'm going through changes" Magnum

The Ostrich Window

You know how an idea starts, evolves and before you know it, escalates from a 10 minute job to a 3 week one....

It started with seeing the faded reviews of the previous show, still in the window, waiting to be removed. My original intention was to get a big poster advertising the show in that window asap. It might still be summer but it doesn't hurt to plant a few seeds....Before I knew it, the idea had changed to a poster of London, a spotty hanky on a stick, a black and white cat, a rat to symbolize each aspect of the Dick Whittington story.

Some 48 hours later, the idea had changed to an adult black and white cat costume which had been purchased on EBay for very little money, stuffed, sitting in the window, with a spotty hanky on it's shoulder - but the window on closer inspection was just too narrow and we can use the costume for show publicity.

So 3 weeks later the poster has become a jigsaw of the Tower of London, stored in my loft and bound for a charity shop, which has been completed and mounted onto a backboard. The rest of the window display has evolved into 4 black and white cats, also purchased on EBay, telling the story of Dick Whittington with various props. I always was a Blue Peter girl!

Went to The Ostrich on Saturday afternoon to put it all in place. After climbing over builders rubble to get to it, and squeezing myself into the window to stick everything up – it’s done.

Lyric of the Blog: "Looking out a dirty old window" Kim Wilde

Thursday Rehearsal 21st Sept

Lots of blocking done tonight by Director as no MD available.

I spent most of my evening in the loft sorting material and costumes out and preparing a couple of hires. Several ideas for panto costumes in hand from stuff which I've found... Very promising.

I'm going to have my first attempt at dyeing as I have the perfect fabric to make a Father Christmas outfit but it's in the wrong colour. Have found a willing volunteer to make the suit once I have a pattern and all the stuff ready.

Feeling a bit useless though. Wish I could sew so I could actually make the items myself rather than rely on other people. Must learn/try. Am happy enough mending the odd costume from hires but have never mastered making anything from a pattern.

Lyric of the Blog: " I got eight little fingers and only two thumbs. Will you leave me in peace while I get the work done. Can't you see I'm working on it" Chris Rea

Wobble

I had my first one yesterday

Partly that I won't be on stage for the songs we've been practicing so far as they wont be 'in character' so I'll have to sing from the wings.

But also the sheer enormity of producing and just how much that needs to be done for advertising, costumes, the set, etc

What if it all goes wrong. What if, even after all the work that everyone is putting into the show we still don't get the audience through the doors.

What if it's not enough. I wonder if all producers feel like this ....


Lyric of the Blog: "I'll get by with a little help from my friends" The Beetles

Set Designs

Have always been a Blue Peter girl at heart so the colouring pencils are out and I'm scribbling down ideas for the set. It's a damm good job that panto sets are aimed at kids who aren't too critical.

Why is it that it's possible to 'see' in your mind what you want to draw on paper but it doesn't come out of the end of the pencil onto the paper looking the same? Also, why is it that buying a brand new sketch pad doesn't make you any better an artist but does make you FEEL better about your feeble efforts.

There's a saying that 'Every picture is worth a thousand words'. My pictures are worth just 5 words. They say " You can't draw for toffee! "

A mate at work has been lured into helping come up with ideas for scenes as he collects postcards from art galleries. Yesterday lunch was spent working on the London street scene, photocopying an image and simplifying it (lots) so that it can be replicated on the hardback and painted.

Lyric of the Blog: " Every picture tells a story don't it!" Rod Stewart

Monday Rehearsal 18th Sept

Another ensemble number under our belt and a couple of scenes blocked as well - Result.

I've got a sore throat already this morning from shouting during blocking. I hope it's temporary.

Lyric of the Blog: " Do you remember when things were really hummin', Let's twist again twisting time is year" Chubby Checker

What did we do without ...

EMails? Talked to each other probably ....

I can't believe how many I've sent out recently. If it had been physical paper I'd have destroyed a small sapling by now and as for the number of forms that seem to need completing .....

Lyric of the Blog: " If I could only find the words then I would write them all down, If I could only find a voice I would speak" Meatloaf

Thursday Rehearsal 14th Sept

Mastered the opening number last night. New alternative lyrics, harmonies added, ending sorted and sounds fab. MD worked on what keys each of the principals songs should be in for when they start rehearsing them.

Director talked to everyone about their characters and what he's looking for when we start blocking.

I had the cat costume (bought on EBay for publicity stunts for the panto) and Buttercup the cow costume photographed for the website/hire sheets. MD's dog very perturbed by a rather large cat prancing about and lying on the floor, trying to lick it's bits!!!

That hound should be in the show! "Dick Whittington and his Dog" maybe or how about King Rat's sidekick? Hey - he could lick everyone to death.

Hmmmm. Paws for thought ....

Lyric of the Blog: "Here is the place where the feeling grows. You gotta get high before you taste the lows. So come on, Let me entertain you. Let me entertain you." Robbie Williams

Costume Ideas

This is going to be a real challenge .....

I've never had much to do with the costumes in the past other than hiring them out so I've been scouring the internet today looking at costume designs for ideas.

I've had some offers of help to make stuff, which is a damm good job as my sewing is best described as 'basic', but I'm "co-ordinating" for want of a better word.

Now we know who's cast in what part I can raid the costume store and work out how much we have that we can re use to keep costs to a minimum.

Lyric of the Blog: "So I started out for God knows where, But I guess I'll know when I get there. I'm learning to fly, but I ain't got wings. Coming down is the hardest thing" Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers

Suspense

Arrived at the hall to find Director and MD still deep in discussion over casting. Beat a hasty retreat and left 'em to it!

The full cast was eventually announced to everyone in the hall. I hope everyone is pleased with the parts they have. Personally - I'm well chuffed!!!!
The kids all seem keen and most will start work with us after their 11+ exams.

Started work on - "Who Will Buy?" which is the first big ensemble number. It sounds amazing already. The voices of the girls playing Dick and Alice compliment each other really well and the group sounded great with the two part harmony.


Lyric of the Blog: " Who will buy this wonderful feeling, I'm so high I swear I could fly" Oliver.

Decision Day

Today's the day

Either during the course of the day, or when we arrive at the hall tonight, we'll find out who's got what parts. Then the fun really begins as we can start rehearsals for the show.

It's going be a very long day....

Lyric of the Blog: "Waiting for Tonight" Jennifer Lopez

Audition Observation

This is the one night where, in my opinion, the atmosphere at CVH sometimes changes just a little..

We're a close group, brought closer by the gala back in February and we all get on exceptionally well most of the time but where auditions are concerned a few people tend to close ranks. Everyone obviously wants to do their best to get the part(s) they've set their heart on.

Human nature, maybe, or just "show business"? I wonder ?

Don't get me wrong. Everyone is supportive and anyone, newcomers or regulars who get up to read or sing will get clapped and cheered and congratulated for doing their best. Once the show has been cast, everyone just gets on with whatever part they've been given and throws themselves into it 100%. There rarely seems to be hard feelings or fallout.

So after 3 hours of dance, script and singing auditions we all await our 'fate!'

One things for sure - I certainly wouldn't want to be Director or MD this weekend, having to cast the show.


So now the waiting game begins...

Lyric of the Blog: "The waiting is the hardest part"
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers

Auditions

Tonight we audition for the show.

When I say we – I actually mean they (Director and MD) as they are casting the show. Although I’m producing, I really want to be on stage as well so by being excluded from the casting process, I can audition and hopefully take part.

That said – I HATE auditioning. I don’t mind the reading and the characterisations but I still shake like a leaf if I have to sing and generally spend more time in the loo, peeing for England, than in the hall. Bizarre given that it’s in front of people who are some of my best friends and even more bizarre that in a performance situation I am rarely nervous, unless I have people coming to see a show for the first time.

I can’t wait to see what all the new guys can do – Director and I have both had further phone calls during the week and are expecting a few more new faces tonight, which is fantastic news. There's so many good character parts in the show both principal and small roles that there really is something for everyone.

Lyric of the Blog: "Everybody is a star, Everyone is special in their own way, So you set your goals high and go far" Madonna

Block Bookings are like buses

Two arrive within 48 hours - then you don’t get any more for ages.

BoxOffice is very happy. The target was to sell 10 tickets before the show was cast and we’ve sold 100!!!!

(the cheshire cat grin spreads across the face again at this point!).

But now it’s all gone quiet - and there’s NOTHING worse than a quiet Box Office phone.


Lyric of the Blog: "And the vision that was planted in my brain, still remains, within the sound of silence" Simon and Garfunkel

Read Through

Had a really, really good night last night. I think everyone enjoyed themselves. There were some very funny characterisations and voices during the evening and lots of laughter around the hall which is great to hear. It's good to have everyone back together again.

Four new faces so far, who all seem keen and want to get involved which is great news. Will be spending any spare time today amalgamating all the audition sheets and getting the audition scripts ready for Thursday night.

I have a lot of good feelings about this show. A few nervous, uncertain ones too, but a lot of good ones.

Lyric of the Blog: "I gotta read between the lines. Cos I'm living out the script of my life and we all got a part we must play" Blue

Tonight, Tonight

The day has finally arrived. It's Read Through night tonight. The displays are up in the bar for recruitment night

I can't wait to get started....

Lyric of the Blog: "I'm so excited, and I just can't hide it .." Pointer Sisters

We're Ready - I think!

I was right, It was a very long night. It took until 1:30am this morning but we do now have a script ready for the read-through this coming Monday as well as all the paperwork for the auditions.

Having inserted all the songs and music cues into place, three of us "speed read" the script to check that it flowed correctly and there were no obvious mistakes or changes required. Much laughter ensued around the table as we got to grips with daft accents for each character and tried to switch from one character to another when 4/5 people were interacting and there was only us three.

Just two songs left to finalise - They're two of the principals onces and need to be right - so may have to wait until Director and MD have cast the show and we know who will be singing them.

All we need now is a cast......

Lyric of the Blog: "Are you ready, Are you ready for this, Are you hanging on the edge of your seat?" - Queen

Script Changes

It’s the last big push tonight to get the script ready for the read through on Monday. The songs need to be added in and any final changes made. Pizza, garlic bread and chocolate on the menu.

Comfort food. It's been a hard week.

Lori Singer sung a song on the Kids From Fame TV series years ago entitled “It’s Gonna Be a Long Night”. It seems appropriate on a number of levels.

Lyric of the Blog: "The moon's up and the sun's down and a thousand starry eyes have caught me crying. You don't die from a broken heart, you just lie down and give up trying.

It's gonna be a long night alright, It's such a long hard fight. Keeping the teardrops out of sight, Waiting for morning light. It's gonna be a long night".