London - Monday

Producing Artistic Director Rick Lombardo was joined by 11 of New Rep's most enthusiastic patrons on the 2007 London Arts Tour. Here, Bill Brisk keeps us informed on what they are all up to over there.

Monday evening we attended Billy Elliot -- The Musical, a play which Rodney claimed was among the most innovative in London. Others contend that it is the UK's leading musical -- ever. Basically, the story of a 12 year old caught up in his father's and other's protest against the Thatcher plan to close antiquated coal mines and convert the industry into private hands, its humor and pathos are both drawn from the incongruity of a miner's son attracted from boxing to ballet dancing. Elton John's music is immediately accessible without being memorable. 'Solidarity Forever' reverberates constantly. We were privileged to be entertained by an extremely qualified young lad who danced, sang, and acted as well as virtually any adult might. The play ended with a rousing curtain call which incorporated an encore, featuring the dancing not only of the principal but of many of the actors who had previously not danced in the play.



Some discussion afterwards attempted to ponder whether Billy Elliot could be translated directly to the U.S. Rodney pointed out that some of the humor and texture of the play is due to its director's insistence that the 'gordie' accent of Northern Yorkshire be maintained and that many in the U.S. would not be able to relate to a British mine workers strike that occurred some two decades ago. The Full Monty, may be an example of 'translating' such a play to an American audience. We didn't discuss 'Brassed Off' a movie of the same error as Billy Elliot.

Rick's critique of the lyrics was well founded; a number of the songs included only single choruses, leading to repetitions that added little to the narrative of the play. All agreed, however, that we had attended an extraordinary performance of a worthwhile play and that, as a musical, the ply made some trenchant points about past and present politics. In one light moment, a character announces that unfortunately the local M.P. could not attend a union meeting, but he would be ably replaced by a young politician on the rise who was committed to the Socialist cause, Tony Blair.

- Bill Brisk

wild party first matinee and sat show

let's see. After the wonderful opening night, some of us woke up, sort of, and sang on the radio. A local station here, WERS-88.9, Standing Room Only, plays showtunes every Saturday from 10-2-Shoutin out to Jonathan Colby the fabulous host and his wonderful producer Jordan, so cute. usually i use my score when I do those things, but i had left it at the theater and thought i'd be ok. But I wasn't. When I learn things quickly, I get used to things being a certain way, and using muscle memory to remember what comes next. but i was only half doing my choreography and some of the starts to each verse are similar, so I went up. (that's what we call it when we F up the lyrics!!! or the lines),Embarrassing, but that's the thrill of doing something live I guess. I don't know what would be worse, singing out of tune or going up. I think, singing out of tune! So I'm glad I sounded good atleast. Aimee, Todd, Maurice and Sarah also sang and sounded so good.
Then it was off to do our first matinee. Kinda low energy. Rainy day, tired, I guess. It's hard to come in off a great opening and pull your energy up off the floor. But Marla was back on and that was fun. She sounded very good, and her parents and family were here too. I'm glad she could sing again. But Aimee went on again tonight to give marla some more time.
I have to say, I''m really liking our new menage up stage right with Kelly (or Aimee!) and Betsy (aka, Fancy) I'm pretty sure that Paul G. likes it too. I think we all have to say thanks to Rick : )!
I'm tired. mama needs to go to bed. My baby turns 8 tomorrow! How did that happen? Got bfst w/the fam in the am then off to the matinee then a family bday party for him when I get home. Other than that, nothing to do.
xx, Li

Wild Party Preview #3 and Opening

Ok catching up. With all the excitement and put in rehearsals, I just haven't had the time to blog. Let's see. After the shortened show on Wed, we were all called in to the theatre on Thursday afternoon for the real put in. Aimee did specatacularly. And went on that night. She did unbelieveably well-kind of in a "Camp" kinda way (lol)-kidding of course!!! It was as if Aimee had been doing the show all along. Along with the hubbub surrounding poor Marla and Aimee, there has also been other "illness" etc in the cast-David Costa's eye infection-a very sexy pirate I might add, my own eye infection-in fact I was sitting in the dr.'s office when Marla called for advice about her voice, various muscle pulls, asthma-it ain't easy to do what we do and to make it look easy, but that's our job. The cast and crew have been spectacular as well. Only asking what can we do and always remembering to say thanks. To me, that's the most important thing-to feel like what you're doing is appreciated. So crew, you are appreciated!!! No one knows how much goes into the prep of such a large show and it's amazing how you do it with so few people! Led by Carola-the stage manager, Jen-ASM, Nathan, Scott, Connor, and Stephanie.
On Friday, after Marla tried to sing thru some numbers, it was decided that another day of rest would be best. So Aimee opened us up and it was great. The energy from the cast as well as the audience was great. I think mostly, we were so happy to finally be open. My number went well, I'm always afraid of forgetting the words. I go over them about a zillion times every day, and spend a good few minutes during Poor Child, trying to remember them while looking like I'm paying attention to what's goin on stage. But the work paid off and I got a really great and unexpected response. That felt really really good I must admit. Because, honestly, we bust our asses people. And we dont' always get to see what the pay off is.
Todd Alan Johnson, celebrated a rather large birthday! We were happy to help him celebrate. You don't look (or act) a day over 30-something. More fun tomorrow-Show's Frozen!! xx Li

Wild Party Preview 2?

Well, the excitement and the thrill of the THEATAH! Tonight the worst happened....our beloved Queenie lost her voice. Before the show, she said that she was feeling hoarse and that things sounded "iffy" vocally. We weren't sure what was going to happen. Poor Marla. Poor Aimee (Marla's u/s). She was standing there, lookin calm as can be, puttin on her make up, going over lyrics-just in case. Making sure that Marla didn't feel bad about the fact that she (Aimee) might have to go on without a put in (that's the rehearsal where the u/s walks the show with the cast, so she knows where to go!). And Poor Marla not wanting to let anyone down....Ulitmately, after a call to my ENT -the godly Tim Anderson-(and his saintly resident Jen Chin), Marla decided to give it a go. The show opened fine and the first number went well, although we could tell that Marla didn't feel good, I'm sure the audience had no idea. She was a trooper. But right after my number, literally just seconds after belting my face off, I hear-HOLD PLEASE!. Now, I wish I could say that this was the first time this had happened to me after my big number on the New Rep stage but alas, no. During Ragtime, I had literally just sung ".....back to before!"......I hear HOLD PLEASE!. house lights up. I'm like what? I get off stage to find that the Brockton middle schoolers (i don't really remember where they were from ) had to catch their bus! (their bus ended up leaving w/o them! so they came back for the talk back), So when it happened again, I'm like WHAT?! seriously. I should tell you that this was all an elaborate set up by my crazed fans cuz I don't do enuf in the show. (lol) Rick made the announcement to the audience that because of Marla's illness it would be better to refund tix and offer more to come back to see the show on another night. The cast then changed and got ready to do Aimee's put in. God Bless that Aimee. She did amazingly well! Being an understudy is, In my opinion, one of the hardest and most thankless jobs around. It's completely under appreciated. Well not in this case. Aimee totally rocked and will be fabulous. Not Marla, no one is Marla-she's fantastic of course. But Aimee brings her own flavor to the role and can and will more than hold her own out there tomorrow night. I'm so proud of her and the rest of the cast the way they step up to the plate. See the situation, and don't ask "what about me? " But what can I do to help make this work. We wish Marla the best, our hearts go out to her. Having just spent a week on vocal rest, I understand only too well, how freaking scary and terrifying the possibility of being without your voice is. It's who we are, whether you're a singer or just a regular person (ha), our voices give us expression, a way to communicate certainly but it's so much more than that. Often it's what defines us and makes us feel a part of what is going on around us. Without it, we feel helpless, hopeless and lost. We love you Marla-be quiet and get better! What a Party! What a Night! (now I get to make out with Betsy!) xx, Li

Wild Party Preview 1

Ok, it was pay what you want night (i kept saying, pay what you weigh-ha), we had a really huge crowd, surprisingly big. The energy of the cast, I think, was electric, but freaked. We just weren't sure what was going to happen-with the band, with the costumes-quick changes-we just haven't had the time to sit with some of the elements. But we did, and quite spectacularly I might add. It never ceases to amaze me how actors can rise above anything and make the magic happen in spite of what might be falling down around them. How we can lift and support one another (and that doesn't always happen), it's good to know that someone has your back. It wasn't perfect but it was thrilling. Somehow, I lost a bra strap, no idea how that happened. Ilyse lost her mic pack and had to shove it into her dance pants. My favorite part tonight was getting thru my number without messing up the lyrics (a great fear of mine), and lying on the pouf with David Costa, though my arm started to fall asleep, got to find a new position.
Ok off to bed! got to do this again tomorrow! that's what i both love and hate about live theater. It's so thrilling to get it right but then you have to get it right again!
xx, Li

wild party day off

thank god for Monday. This is an actor's weekend. Yesterday we stumbled thru the rest of the act and made it to the end. No one was killed, that's always good. Wigs stayed on, costumes that were supposed to stay on did, though that's not many!
Favorite moments in the show so far: (in no particular order) backstage right at places with my boys-Maurice, Paul, Andy, and Ken and our backstage right "circle". (Love that). Just before the curtain goes up, get our "sexy on" with Betsy's mix tape in the girls dressing room, boxing with Betsy, doing the funky dance with Ken and David in Let Me Drown, lying on the pouf with David, making out with Aimee!!!, watching Jeremy dance, seeing Ilyse get flipped around by Jake, singing Come with Me backstage with Sarah, Peri, David, Brian and Paul-we're all naked and it's where the really sexy happens! (forget those hot sexy dancers on stage! lol), Marla's last song.
I think, for those of you who are not in the show and who might be wondering if this is a show for you-first I would say-do not bring the children-teens perhaps-but no one under 10! But I think you'll love the music, you'll be pulled in by the lives of every character and you'll go home and want donuts!
xxx,Li

WP tech day 3 or 4

Bright sunny day, most beautiful weather we've had in weeks! and we're locked in the theatre for hours on end. Luckily, the fog and haze set off the fire alarm and we got to spend some unexpected time outside. We all acted like 4th graders....we filed out of the building in a line, then some of sat on the grass and ate fruity cheerios, while some did acrobatics (and some shouldn't have) and some played telephone. (the theatrical fog is obviously doing something to our brains). Ha.
We finished teching the show w/o costumes, sort of, before dinner. Took dinner and came back to finish in costume. Everyone looks fantastic! It's amazing the step the show and the characters take when the costumes enter the equation. Frances has done an amazing job. Looking forward to running the show and not hanging out in the haze. It's very drying. But the visual effect is cool. Teching a show is when we figure out how all the elements come together. Sound, lighting, costumes, set changes, props etc. It's often the first time an actor has a chance to play with a prop or set piece. It's fine to find your spike mark in the light (spike mark is a mark on the floor with tape, so that you know where to place an object. Often different colored tape is used to denote different placement of the same object from scene to scene). But try to find it in the dark! That's why we use glow tape. (that's pretty much exactly what it sounds like, tape that glows). You find things out about your costume or your wig. Like will it stay on when I'm turned upside down (not me of course-A. using my own hair and B. don't get flipped upside down!). Jeremy had trouble bending in his pants (lol). Quick changes get figured out. (quick change is when your costume changes very quickly (ah) often you only have seconds to make a complete change. In Souvenir, my fastest change (complete costume-jewels, gloves etc) was done in 32 seconds! I had help) It will all get sorted out. The end of the show has something for everyone, girls in their underwear, boys in their underwear, big belty voices!
Another lovely day, another day of tech in the theatre. maybe there'll be another fire alarm!-xx Li