Imaginary friends

I think that it was during the day on Thursday that I received a friend request on Facebook from a lady named Doris Miller. By the time that I saw the request she already had four mutual friends (if I remember correctly) and I will admit that I had to stop and think for a few moments whether I knew anyone called Doris Miller (I quite literally didn't recall the name). Of course as soon as the penny dropped, I clicked on the add button, despite knowing that I would never meet the lady in person.
What a stroke of brilliance this proved to be for the whole Copa family from the amazing Richard Poole. It proved to be a topic of discussion from the moment that people arrived in the evening, with everyone trying to work out who Doris really was and having a wonderful time discussing who it may really be. Richard was honest throughout and found some great ways of avoiding either lying or telling the whole truth!
For those that are still not quite with the plot, Doris Miller is referred to repeatedly throughout the script in Copa. She is the missing showgirl that Lola is recruited to replace early on and we later discover that she disappeared from the Copa not long after an earlier visit by the gorgeously masterful Rico. With support from the passionately sexy Conchita, Rico does explain that she had an unfortunate accident after trying to clean his revolver: one can only assume that she had insufficient experience and it shot off in her face.
It proved to be a lovely distraction and a real community builder for us all in talking about Doris, who became a mysterious company member and a real topic of conversation.
It was an added bonus for us all therefore when we found a review from Doris posted to the wall of the men's dressing room (and general Rah, Rah, there's a performance coming up room - thanks for those Jen and Amy!). Richard has denied having written this particular review and given his evasive honesty at the start, I rather think he's telling the truth there. So whoever was Doris for this, thank you. I've posted it here on the blog as one of our web pages, so that you can all read a review that seems to have been written by someone who actually attended the show, took the time to really consider the parts that people had played and the effort that had been put into them, and generally recognised the whole team who came together.
For now I would just like to say a huge congratulations to Richard for coming up with the idea to create Doris Miller and for following that through with action. On stage and off stage you're a star!
And to everyone else who friended Doris - what are you like! Now get on with adding Richard instead.
See you all soon,
Rico
(PS the asterisked comment on the Doris Miller about meanings of incredible is all thanks to the villainous aspect of Rico - let me know if you want it removed!)

The Copa has closed

At the end of an incredible week, with high energy, much fun and good audiences, it's a real shame that we have had to close the doors on our production of Copacabana.
One of the lessons that we learned during the week was how hard it can be to write a good review of the performance. With so many people playing a role in making it look and sound fantastic, I guess that the only honest comment that I can make is that we were a fantastic team, with everyone doing their bit to bring it all together so well.
Thank you to everyone.
We had a very brief review in the Derby Evening Telegraph, which you can find online if you hunt for it. We also had a smashing review from the elusive Doris Miller, which I hope to be able to post on here soon for you all.
For now, it seems that most of the cast and crew have hit that post show blue. We're back at work, the sun has gone in and there is no hope of bright lights, make-up, good music and most of all that amazing supportive community feeling that the show brought.
In another couple of weeks we will be working together again as we start to prepare our Autumn concert. In the meantime, remember that although the clouds are in the way just now, the sun is still shining brightly.
See you soon!

On facial hair

As someone who’s other half firmly believes that a smooth skin is the only one that deserves getting a goodnight kiss, there have been more challenges than I had expected in growing the villainous Rico moustache!
Challenge number one is in trying to grow sufficient length to make it visible from the front row, never mind the back row (we have a full house on opening night, so I need to make sure that they have something to see!). I hadn’t realised that when growing a moustache your facial hair would hit its own version of a wall and appear to do nothing after the first couple of days. Thankfully seven days in it now seems to have started again and I think that there’s some hope that it will be a good show on Tuesday night.
Challenge number two, as is so often the case now, is the impact of ageing. I am so saddened at the quantity of white hair that has decided to come poking its way through my upper lip. You would think that when I’ve never grown a moustache before it would have the decency to take its chance and appear with the sort of colour that the rest of my hair used to have! At least this particular challenge will be easily surmounted with the application of copious amounts of mascara.
Thirdly, and most surprisingly for me I think, is just how difficult it is to consistently shave a moustache into the desired style - especially bearing in mind challenge number one and realising how long it will take to rectify any mistakes. Having spent a bit of time on Google images looking at different approaches to growing a pencil moustache (apparently the quickest sort to grow) I decided to go for something like a cross between Clark Gable and Tony out of the original series of 24. So that requires shaving straight down from my nose - whilst keeping both sides even; harder than it looks.
Sam Silver has also grown an impressive pencil moustache, whereas Carlos has shaved his beard off.
I wonder whether any of our ladies have had to go to such troubles with shaving etc to look the part for the show?

Shoulders just a little stiff

As some of you may be aware, I am playing the part of Rico in Copacabana with Belper Musical Theatre in just under two weeks time now (how scary is that thought). Anyway, one of the challenges that our director, Jen Lewis, has set for me personally is to stop swinging my arms when I walk. Jen maintains that swinging arms is a sign of weakness and that Rico is a strong, determined character who would not swing his arms when he walks. So now, as well as trying to suck in my stomach and keep my shoulders back when being Rico, I have to relearn how to walk without swinging my arms.
I have a 20 minute walk from the train station to the university each day, which has allowed me plenty of opportunity to practice the gut sucking and shoulder back approach. This morning offered me the first chance to also try the walk without arm swinging. Now what I've discovered here is that in order to be able to do this, I have to put my head into Rico mode, which means stopping smiling and adopting a sort of scowl. In general this helped me to fit in with the early morning feelings of most of the folk in Manchester it seemed. However, when I tried it again at lunchtime, walking around the corridors here, I found a few of my colleagues appeared to be a little taken aback at my grumpy expression.
I do hope that is because it was such a change from my usual sunny demeanour, rather than that they were trying to work out what was wrong with my arms.

Handing out flyers

Surprisingly enough one of the aspects of being a member of Belper Musical Theatre that has had the biggest impact on my behaviours is the annual session of handing out flyers to potential audience members on the high street in Belper. (NB for non residents - I don't know for sure whether the high street in Belper is the one that goes up the hill, which is quite possibly called King Street, or whether it's the A6, the main road through the town which is probably called something else like Bridge Street).
Lke me, I expect that many of you have been enjoying a moment of quiet contemplation as you wandered along a road when all of a sudden someone you have never met before jumps out in front of you and tries to persuade you to take one of their promotional leaflets or something. And like me, I expect that you have been so startled by this interruption to your reverie that you may have visibly jumped, scowled at the person concerned and refused to take one of the flyers.
If that is you, then can I suggest that you try having a go at being the poor individual trying to hand the flyers out for a change.
It's not the sort of job that you're going to be rushing to apply for, or encouraging your children to put at the top of their 'what I want to be when I'm older' list. To begin with it's really cold - especially at this time of year - so after about five minutes your fingers have gone numb and you aren't really sure whether you are still holding the flyers in your hands or not. After about ten minutes it feels as if someone is taking painful nibbles out of the tops of your ears, and after about fifteen minutes you can't feel the little drips at the end of your nose as they form icicles to attract passers by - I'm sure that you get the picture!
But that would be more bearable if people were just a little bit nicer and more friendly. We're quite aware that for some strange reason not everyone wants to come along and see Copa Cabana, although we're not quite so clear on why that would be. There really is something for everyone. From the scantily clad dancing girls with their high kicks, to the debonair Copa Boys strutting their stuff to Dancing fool and the half naked male torsos during the Havana sequences, the visual impact should be pretty stunning. The music is amazing, with our live orchestra performing in the new orchestra room and some incredible solo, duet and chorus numbers. And with a cheesy storyline about the fantasy of the unhappy Steven and his dreams of being Tony, it's not even too taxing on the old grey cells. Anyway, I'm digressing.
As I was saying, we know that not everyone wants to come along and see the show, which means that we are quite ok with people just saying 'it's not my cup of tea' and walking on with a little smile. We're also ok with the surprisingly large group of tourists that Belper attracts who explain that they are just in the town for the day; we have pointed out it's worth returning for!
But it is hard when people struggle to be polite or give negative gestures or facial expressions. We work on the theory that they have had a hard day shopping, or at work, and don't mean to be rude in anyway.
To go back to my earlier point, it has changed the way that I deal with people handing out flyers and I now try to politely decline as I walk along the street - after all I am also aware of just how much it costs to print a flyer!
So to all those who took a flyer from one of this weekend, you've met some of the stars of our show. We are really looking forward to putting on a great production and to you enjoying every moment of it. To those of you who didn't get a flyer and who can't wait to see the show, get in touch with Andrea now on 01332 882909 and get your seats booked quickly. I understand that Tuesday night has already sold out, so please don't wait and miss out.

Picking an image

As our rehearsals proceed apace and the whole show comes together ready for our stunning opening night, I thought it was worth taking a moment to think about the challenges that we face when we take photographs for the programme. I anticipate that you'll identify with some of the issues as they arise.

1 - Resistance
The camera comes out, the lens swivels around towards you and the panic sets in. So you put your hand in the way, turn your head to one side or hide behind someone else. The lengths that people will go to in order to avoid the camera appear quite out of proportion with the act itself. And when you consider that I am trying to take photographs of people who are about to strut their stuff on a stage in front of over 200 people each show, it does seem even more unusual perhaps to be so resistant to having a photo taken!

2 - Background
We rehearse in the old Strutts School in Belper and it seems that when the school was constructed, little thought was given to providing an appropriate non-reflective background for taking portrait photos. Our choice is limited to thin black gauze curtains, shiny black plastic window blinds, grey painted stairwells or the strange yellow paint that is ubiquitous in the classrooms.

3 - Pose
Is it better to go face on or at a slight angle. Which one makes your nose look smaller? Should I raise my chin just slightly and try to hide some of the extra ones that have developed over the last couple of years, or does that make me look more jowled (it's so hard getting old). Will the flash reflect badly off my bald patch? And will anyone other than me care - presumably that's what they see all the time and it's just me that only sees it occasionally when I can't avoid the mirror! Does it make me look taller if I square my shoulders and stick my chest forward a little - and why do I find it so hard to do that constantly so that I look a little less slouch shouldered.

4 - Likeness
And then when the final picture arrives, why does it so often not appear to look like the person who you thought you had taken the photo of in the first place!

Maybe I need a course in taking better photographs. But in the meantime I'll resign myself to the fact that the photos are all going to be reduced to about one inch in height and most people won't notice how much effort went into trying to get them right and keep everyone happy. They will contribute to an excellent and engaging programme - one that will be well worth buying on the night.

More excitingly for me is the fact that Darren Holden of Belper People came along, with his superior camera and ability, and took some photos of the cast rehearsing. You can see them all online here:

http://www.belperpeople.co.uk/pictures/Belper-Musical-Theatre-rehearsing-Copacabana/pictures-14390994-detail/pictures.html

As always if anyone has any useful hints or tips for us on this, then add your comments here!

Happy New Year

I trust that you have all had a relaxing time over Christmas and that the new year has got off to a good start for you. The lucky ones amongst you may also have been given tickets to come and see the Belper Musical Theatre production of Copa Cabana in February! If not, then there are still some tickets left, although opening night has been selling very fast - hardly surprising considering the amazing deal you can get for two tickets for just £11. Of course, we would appreciate it if you could tell all your friends to come along as well - the more the merrier! It is now less than six weeks before the first performance takes place and the energy levels and enthusiasm amongst the whole cast and production crew are very high - we can hardly wait to welcome you to Belper Theatre Hall. Perhaps now would be a good time for you to hunt out your old CDs, tape cassettes or even vinyls and listen to Barry Manilow's Copa Cabana single. Remind yourself of the music, the words and the story. There are some differences between the song and the show, so why not bring yourself a sheet of paper and play spot the difference for yourself when you're sitting there, captivated by the on stage performances? Or perhaps you are a big Strictly Come Dancing fan and you were wowed by Jason Donovan when he danced to 'Dancing Fool' in the final. This is one of the songs from the show, so you get to see the Copa boys dancing to their version - just as much energy but more of a Charleston feel. Whatever your reason for choosing to come along to see the show, we can assure you that we will be having a great time on the stage and we will all be working our hardest to make sure that you have a great time in the audience. So give Andrea a call on 01332 882909 and get your tickets sorted. My Mum is already well on the way to selling her first 30 tickets, can you do better?