Devlin’s Day off
Photo of the Day: A view of the campers from above.
Today’s Date: June 21, 2022
Show Title: Mucedorus
Director: Dave Quay
Staff Crew:
Stage Manager Devlin Ford
Dramaturg Daniel Skinner
Stage Management intern Lydia Babcock
Dramaturgy intern Percival Walter
Production Production intern Mia Randers-Pehrson
(A quick note before we begin: The beloved Devlin has taken her day off, as such, today’s rehearsal was full of tomfoolery, good spirited tomfoolery, but tomfoolery nonetheless. Devlin, we love and miss you, the clowns are out of the clown car.)
WE’RE IN THE PLAYHOUSE! Warm ups got us all warmed up, and then we leapt right into blocking IV i as Donovan (King of Valencia) and River (Anselmo) jumped to the stage, or rather, the balcony. We’ve been staging the Valencian court in the balcony so Dave got to block a very kingly entrance. IV ii came next, and all ran smooth, monologues, Mouse, and Mucedorus. Bremo and Amadine came back to block IV iii, with another near execution, saved just in time by our intrepid hero Mucedorus. We then took a break! Yay breaks! I don’t mention the breaks very often but I should. It was very well needed and there were a lot of laughs had. It very much reminded me of the importance of fun. Yes we need to concentrate but theatre is fun! It’s supposed to be fun! ANYWAYS, we picked back up after our raucous break with IV iv. Act IV is done! To close the first of the two Mucedorus rehearsals today, we did Trap Training, ie teaching the campers how to open and close the trapdoor safely, an important skill for playing in this space. Fun Fact: in the Blackfriar’s Playhouse, there are two trapdoors. The one on stage is referred to as “Hell” while the one above the stage is referred to as “The Heavens.” Then we went to dinner. Be back soon.
- From the play: “I prithee, speak that thrice” -King of Valencia (Donovan)
- From the director: *LAUGHS* – Dave
- From the cast: “Spare him, spare him” -Maggie
- From the staff: “Daniel Skinner, famously joyless.” -Daniel Skinner
- From the set: *trap opening noises*
Location Location Location. There really is a difference between rehearsing at the playhouse and rehearsing anywhere else. The room itself really does have a magic to it that shifts the rehearsal process. The world feels more tangible, and so thus does the play. We’re closing in to blocking the whole play and everyone is putting up a great effort. I’m constantly astounded by the resilience of the campers and how much work they are putting in. They’re putting up TWO SHOWS. Let me say that again, TWO SHOWS! All of which is being done over the course of three weeks. I find myself exhausted and I’m not even acting. Basically I’m just very proud of them all and it’s been a real gift to be able to watch them work, no matter the obstacles. Today they had three rehearsals which is nine total hours of rehearsal in one day. I despise sports metaphors but if I was to put one forth I would say that the campers put in a marathon’s worth of theatrical work.
Photo of the Day: Mucedorus (JD/Froggy) sits at the edge of the stage, watched by Team Comedy and Team Envy (left to right, Phoenix, Desi, Sophia, Mayela, Corinne, Jade).
Today’s Date: June 21, 2022
Show Title: Mucedorus
Director: Dave Quay
Staff Crew:
Stage Manager Devlin Ford
Dramaturg Daniel Skinner
Stage Management intern Lydia Babcock
Dramaturgy intern Percival Walter
Production Production intern Mia Randers-Pehrson
We returned from dinner to the playhouse and began to block Act V. Before this Dave let us warm up from our seats, it was very generous, we thank him for his great mercy. I am also wearing a pirate hat. I’m painting a picture. MOVING ON, V i. Mucedorus (disguised as a hermit) and Amadine converse as Team Comedy and Team Envy attempt their pantomime on the balcony yet again before they are shooed off (it’s really funny I promise) and BREMO enters, then quickly exits this mortal plane. Whilst this went on, Daniel took some campers to do some text work in Tyson. Then Amadine has her Bachelorette moment where she chooses her lover. Segasto and Mucedorus find a tentative peace. Final scene time! Act V ii begins with the King of Aragon (Esme) and Collen (Jade), and then the play concludes, I’m not spoiling it, you’ll have to come watch and find out. But we blocked everything!!! The campers have two shows in rough draft!!! I am BEYOND proud and so should you be reader, especially if you’re a camper. Percival loves you, you rock.
- From the play: “What secret tale is this? What whispering have we here?” -Bremo (Hank)
- BONUS PLAY QUOTE “Joy and happiness!!!” -Mouse (Archer)
- From the director: “Sure, just start barking at audience members.” -Dave
- BONUS DAVE QUOTE *in a cowboy voice* “Mucedorus come on doooown.” -DAVE
- From the cast: “Yeah, I don’t know what you’re referencing, it was in Shrek the Musical.” -JD/Froggy
- BONUS CAST QUOTE “Why is this play so emotional, it’s about bears!” -Hank
- From the staff: “Did you check the dramaturgy packet?” -Percival (please read the packet, please)
- From the set: *bear head rolling onto stage noises*
Thus the final lap of the marathon begins. I myself am feeling the exhaustion, but it feels good to know everyone is. If the team is strong then so am I. This session is teaching me a lesson I thought I had already known but I am REALLY taking it in: the collective is stronger than the individual. We all have our parts (haha) to play but really, groups have been and will always be stronger than a single person. Everyone needs help and support, and that’s not only ok, but it’s necessary. Taking care of people, making space for people, meeting everyone’s needs, is not only needed but wonderful! That’s the point of pretty much everything. Make art and care for your fellow human beings. And as a closing note to this absolutely WILD day, we miss you Devlin, we wish you a lovely day off, we really do, but also please come back to us, we’re nothing without you.