Let me start by apologising to anyone who has been checking the blog over the last two weeks to see if I have posted anything worth reading (and yes I recognise many of you may suggest I should extend that apology to anyone who has ever accessed this blog!).
As you will have noticed from my post about The Producers in Derby (a fantastic show) I have been a little busy with the day job of late. Since that's the one that pays all my bills, I'll not apologise too much! So last Wednesday, when I had hoped to rejoin the rest of the gang and sing away at Strutts, I was so tired that I got off the train in Belper and went back home.
I did wonder whether you'd be interested in me blogging for a moment or two about the committee meeting that we had on the Thursday evening at the Devonshire in Belper. Perhaps the best thing about the evening was the new ale that they have started to serve!
We are now progressing apace with plans not only for the Autumn Concert (life is a Cabaret, see separate page for booking form) but also with getting Copacabana up and running next year. Now that will be a great show to see as well.
It's so exciting to know that our Autumn Concert will be the first event to be held in the new Theatre Hall at Belper School. That has to be an added bonus for all those who come to see the show.
Wednesday, 29 June 2011
Friday, 17 June 2011
The Producers from DOC - a show to see!
One of the great things about being in a local amateur theatre group like Belper Musical Theatre is that we have access to some cracking good shows from other local amateur theatre groups. Last night Sue and I went to see DOC's production of "The Producers" and we had a fantastic time!
As well as excellent performances from the lead males, who carried the show and the story at a rate of knots from their first appearances, there were so many excellent moments and minor characters who gave the show depth and feeling. Whether it was the arrival of Adolf Elizabeth Hitler, the old guy singing 'Little Wooden Boy' or the identikit randy old ladies and their crow's chorus in the court scene, there was so much to see and enjoy that it's the sort of show to go and see time and again.
Having a vague awareness of how much it costs to stage productions, this was a big budget show with a big budget impact. From the 17 piece orchestra, fully visible at the front of the stage, to the many costume changes, fantastic sets and classy lighting, this was a show that was crafted with care and designed to deliver.
Well done to everyone I know in the show, and all the others who I don't know yet. Enjoy your last three performances and I hope that they all sell out for you - you deserve it!
I also found the DVD on Amazon, so think I may have to get myself a copy and enjoy it again, though it won't be the same immersive experience as you get at Derby Theatre!
As well as excellent performances from the lead males, who carried the show and the story at a rate of knots from their first appearances, there were so many excellent moments and minor characters who gave the show depth and feeling. Whether it was the arrival of Adolf Elizabeth Hitler, the old guy singing 'Little Wooden Boy' or the identikit randy old ladies and their crow's chorus in the court scene, there was so much to see and enjoy that it's the sort of show to go and see time and again.
Having a vague awareness of how much it costs to stage productions, this was a big budget show with a big budget impact. From the 17 piece orchestra, fully visible at the front of the stage, to the many costume changes, fantastic sets and classy lighting, this was a show that was crafted with care and designed to deliver.
Well done to everyone I know in the show, and all the others who I don't know yet. Enjoy your last three performances and I hope that they all sell out for you - you deserve it!
I also found the DVD on Amazon, so think I may have to get myself a copy and enjoy it again, though it won't be the same immersive experience as you get at Derby Theatre!
Friday, 10 June 2011
A bit of rubato
This week we spent a good chunk of our time learning our Blood Brothers medley. I don't know the show myself (and those who know me won't be remotely surprised about that) but it's got some cracking tunes in it and a very moving closing section.
Anyway, above the lines for parts the instruction states 'rubato'. Despite having learnt piano and clarinet at school and having been in the school choir (as well as having a music teacher for a Mum!) I had never come across this particular word before, so thought that I'd have a look and see what it meant.
It was one of those times when the mobile internet proved its worth! Doing my very best not to be seen by our musical director, Terry, who does get cross if we're not focussing on his direction, I typed rubato into Google to see what it meant.
It seems to be that rubato is one of those hard phrases to define adequately in a few words. Essentially it seems to mean rhythmically. But then the reality appears to be that it's the bit where you sing it with your own rhythm, to give life and movement to a particular piece. In other words you make it your own!
So how does that work when you're singing as part of a chorus! Does everyone sing it their own way? Or does your MD decide what it should be and the rest of the company just toe the line like usual?
I guess that I'd consider that rubato was summed up in our Miss Saigon medley last year in the Sunlight and Moon section. Adela just did something with her phrasing in the line "We have been blessed, you and I" that was amazingly moving. And I guess that was rubato!
For BMT this week, the rubato was managing the short notes on the first syllable of seven before we ran into the native American woo, woo, woos! The ladies got there in the end.
For us guys, I think we managed to give it a good old dose of rubato - but that was a lot more about adding in our own rhythm and style. And quite possibly in the parts where we shouldn't have done.
Anyway, above the lines for parts the instruction states 'rubato'. Despite having learnt piano and clarinet at school and having been in the school choir (as well as having a music teacher for a Mum!) I had never come across this particular word before, so thought that I'd have a look and see what it meant.
It was one of those times when the mobile internet proved its worth! Doing my very best not to be seen by our musical director, Terry, who does get cross if we're not focussing on his direction, I typed rubato into Google to see what it meant.
It seems to be that rubato is one of those hard phrases to define adequately in a few words. Essentially it seems to mean rhythmically. But then the reality appears to be that it's the bit where you sing it with your own rhythm, to give life and movement to a particular piece. In other words you make it your own!
So how does that work when you're singing as part of a chorus! Does everyone sing it their own way? Or does your MD decide what it should be and the rest of the company just toe the line like usual?
I guess that I'd consider that rubato was summed up in our Miss Saigon medley last year in the Sunlight and Moon section. Adela just did something with her phrasing in the line "We have been blessed, you and I" that was amazingly moving. And I guess that was rubato!
For BMT this week, the rubato was managing the short notes on the first syllable of seven before we ran into the native American woo, woo, woos! The ladies got there in the end.
For us guys, I think we managed to give it a good old dose of rubato - but that was a lot more about adding in our own rhythm and style. And quite possibly in the parts where we shouldn't have done.
Wednesday, 8 June 2011
AGM thoughts
As I was listening to the radio on my way home from work on the 25th May, some important person commented that Democracy results in peace and wealth. The phrase struck a real chord with me and I reflected on it repeatedly as we had the BMT AGM that evening.
I think that having an annual general meeting of all the members of the company is a really important part of our commitment to democracy. It allows everyone in the company to engage with the future direction of the organisation, ask questions in an open forum and to challenge decisions that have been made.
But it seems that this essential democratic process is more likely to encourage people to take on an adversarial role, rather than a peacemaker! Is this because people feel disenfranchised from the daily plans and work that is undertaken? Do people feel that they don't have the chance or opportunity to be able to engage on the basis that they would like?
It was really positive that we had new volunteers to sit on the BMT committee - especially since we're losing three of our committee members this time around. Any new member brings a dash of life and vitality as well as a different way of looking at things. But I am well aware that we could do with even more people willing and able to come along to committee meetings each month and help to keep the company running smoothly.
Whatever the drivers for the various questions voiced at our AGM, it seems to me that our Chair has done a fantastic job this year on behalf of the company and he was able to explain what we've done and why we've done it. So well done to Mark. And a big thank you to everyone else at BMT, both in the committee and the wider company, who have given up their time and effort in many different ways over the last 12 months.
At the end of a fairly vocal meeting, it seems that we are once again back on track with peace and prosperity (as long as everyone pays their membership subscriptions) and that means that we can get on with the singing - which is after all what we all enjoy the most!
I think that having an annual general meeting of all the members of the company is a really important part of our commitment to democracy. It allows everyone in the company to engage with the future direction of the organisation, ask questions in an open forum and to challenge decisions that have been made.
But it seems that this essential democratic process is more likely to encourage people to take on an adversarial role, rather than a peacemaker! Is this because people feel disenfranchised from the daily plans and work that is undertaken? Do people feel that they don't have the chance or opportunity to be able to engage on the basis that they would like?
It was really positive that we had new volunteers to sit on the BMT committee - especially since we're losing three of our committee members this time around. Any new member brings a dash of life and vitality as well as a different way of looking at things. But I am well aware that we could do with even more people willing and able to come along to committee meetings each month and help to keep the company running smoothly.
Whatever the drivers for the various questions voiced at our AGM, it seems to me that our Chair has done a fantastic job this year on behalf of the company and he was able to explain what we've done and why we've done it. So well done to Mark. And a big thank you to everyone else at BMT, both in the committee and the wider company, who have given up their time and effort in many different ways over the last 12 months.
At the end of a fairly vocal meeting, it seems that we are once again back on track with peace and prosperity (as long as everyone pays their membership subscriptions) and that means that we can get on with the singing - which is after all what we all enjoy the most!
Thursday, 19 May 2011
Multitasking - 1
Why is it that I feel I may have to revisit the challenges of multitasking a few times over the course of me writing this blog?
When you're engaged in musical theatre, one of the things that you discover at some point down the line is that you're going to have to develop an ability to move in a structured fashion at the same time as you try to remember the words, notes and rhythms of the songs themselves. To those who sit and watch it's a simple case of sing and dance.
Let's take last night as my first example discussion point. We're singing 'Cabaret' as one of the numbers in our Autumn show 'Life is a Cabaret' this year (September 23rd and 24th I think) and as it's one of those numbers that most folk have heard at some point, it was a relatively easy song to learn (just have to remember to sing the harmony not the melody).
So it made perfect sense that our incredible choreographers would choose it as one of the early numbers to set. You can almost imagine a bit of swaying, the odd (perhaps that should have been occasional?) arm raise and then a kick step here and there as needed; nothing to it really.
Well that wasn't quite the reality that I experienced last night. The sways at the start were ok: I can count to eight whilst singing. And then I can more or less remember to turn my hands around to the front and raise my arms at the same time as everyone else. The challenge came at the little bow bit - do I still bow if the guy to the right of me doesn't bow? What if I bend too far, or not far enough? Will the spotlights reflect badly off my bald patch (it's such a worry). And then I had to remember to walk forwards at the right time, collecting two lovely ladies en route to the corner.
Of course that was the point at which the silence in the room demonstrated that I, together with the rest of the guys, had suddenly forgotten to sing. The ladies were of course continuing to warble away merrily, whilst daintily placing their feet in the correct position and smiling merrily with eyes stage front. So incredibly unfair.
And twenty minutes later, which was probably the tenth repeat of the song, with our choreographer starting to look just a little fraught at the front, we more or less managed to remember the words, most of the notes and the majority of the movements and all at the right time! Hooray for us.
So before I forget again, here we go! 'Come to the cabaret!' with a step kick, step kick, sway ........
When you're engaged in musical theatre, one of the things that you discover at some point down the line is that you're going to have to develop an ability to move in a structured fashion at the same time as you try to remember the words, notes and rhythms of the songs themselves. To those who sit and watch it's a simple case of sing and dance.
Let's take last night as my first example discussion point. We're singing 'Cabaret' as one of the numbers in our Autumn show 'Life is a Cabaret' this year (September 23rd and 24th I think) and as it's one of those numbers that most folk have heard at some point, it was a relatively easy song to learn (just have to remember to sing the harmony not the melody).
So it made perfect sense that our incredible choreographers would choose it as one of the early numbers to set. You can almost imagine a bit of swaying, the odd (perhaps that should have been occasional?) arm raise and then a kick step here and there as needed; nothing to it really.
Well that wasn't quite the reality that I experienced last night. The sways at the start were ok: I can count to eight whilst singing. And then I can more or less remember to turn my hands around to the front and raise my arms at the same time as everyone else. The challenge came at the little bow bit - do I still bow if the guy to the right of me doesn't bow? What if I bend too far, or not far enough? Will the spotlights reflect badly off my bald patch (it's such a worry). And then I had to remember to walk forwards at the right time, collecting two lovely ladies en route to the corner.
Of course that was the point at which the silence in the room demonstrated that I, together with the rest of the guys, had suddenly forgotten to sing. The ladies were of course continuing to warble away merrily, whilst daintily placing their feet in the correct position and smiling merrily with eyes stage front. So incredibly unfair.
And twenty minutes later, which was probably the tenth repeat of the song, with our choreographer starting to look just a little fraught at the front, we more or less managed to remember the words, most of the notes and the majority of the movements and all at the right time! Hooray for us.
So before I forget again, here we go! 'Come to the cabaret!' with a step kick, step kick, sway ........
Sunday, 15 May 2011
Singing in the shower - good acoustics or what?
So there I was this morning, singing away and enjoying the perfect resonance of the bathroom, when my beloved wife very politely asked me to keep the noise down! Now I accept that her argument was that I was singing one song and Dan was in the other room singing another one and that the two didn't really complement each other that well.
But it did get me thinking that our audience may never enjoy the sounds of our voices quite as much as we do ourselves.
And that in turn made me think about the delights (or otherwise) of last night's Eurovision song contest.
Personally I liked the Iceland song the best, nice harmony, shared out the melody between them, looked as if they enjoyed singing with each other and quite a good song too. I would have thought that the sob story that accompanied it would have ticked some boxes too. But it seems that Azerbaijan was the favourite. Hey ho.
I don't expect to ever sing to a crowd the size of that at the Eurovision yesterday, nor do I expect that anyone would be over impressed if I did so (though Bosnia and Herzegovina did well). So perhaps I'll stick to singing in the shower, to my audience of one and a half, and carry on enjoying the null point (please use French accent) that I gained this morning.
Better luck to the rest of you!
But it did get me thinking that our audience may never enjoy the sounds of our voices quite as much as we do ourselves.
And that in turn made me think about the delights (or otherwise) of last night's Eurovision song contest.
Personally I liked the Iceland song the best, nice harmony, shared out the melody between them, looked as if they enjoyed singing with each other and quite a good song too. I would have thought that the sob story that accompanied it would have ticked some boxes too. But it seems that Azerbaijan was the favourite. Hey ho.
I don't expect to ever sing to a crowd the size of that at the Eurovision yesterday, nor do I expect that anyone would be over impressed if I did so (though Bosnia and Herzegovina did well). So perhaps I'll stick to singing in the shower, to my audience of one and a half, and carry on enjoying the null point (please use French accent) that I gained this morning.
Better luck to the rest of you!
Saturday, 14 May 2011
And it's returned - hooray!
In case the title makes no sense, yesterday evening my Thursday blog had disappeared and so I blogged on that . Today I blog on its return.
I will get back to possibly more relevant blogging again soon!
I will get back to possibly more relevant blogging again soon!
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