Opening Night

Opening night has occurred. Champagne was consumed, before and after the affair. It was a lovely coming together of nights. Thank you speeches were made and we ascended the tower stairs to watch the show. While all this champagne drinking and celebrating had already started before the show, nerves were still being felt all around and the desire to spew was evident, and apparently a shared experience for the actors as they casually went through lines, had a vomit and kept on preparing. It's all in the name of art, what we put ourselves through, but the rush afterwards from performing is an intoxicating drug so thats what you remember. Like getting a wax, the silky smooth legs after the wax make you forget the pain of the waxing until you return and do it all over again and you think why am I doing this to myself? I'm told it's what some people go through with pregnancy, they do it all over again because they forget how painful it is but once the labour starts again they remember and think I must be mad, this kills. Not that I'm comparing waxing to giving birth. That would be mad.

The performance was a success, people laughed at the wit and friendship between Sebastian and Claryssa. And silence descended by the end as the audience grappled with the story.

I wish the performers Sarah and Dylan all the best over the season, and thank them for letting me blog their process. Also to Arena and Malthouse theatre for being so generous with their time and letting me hang around and observe this brilliant show.

Last night I was privileged enough to see the 4th preview of Moth. Wow. It's so engrossing, Declan's language and imagery takes you from the school yard to the fantastical. The words are so invoking I can't do them justice. Jonathan's design is minimalist and supports the world perfectly. Inviting the ambiguity of memories. The two characters are honest, heart breaking, incredibly hilarious and brutal to one another. Their story is told with wit and love.

From the inside I'm privy to the final changes going on daily from preview to preview, to AV or not to AV? final scene changes and cuts altogether. But I feel when it final opens tonight and the audience gets a look at the piece for what it has become will get the product that has been nurtured and loved from many creatives up until the moment the curtain drops (if there was one)

There is something magical about the audience and what it does to actors, for I had sat in rehearsals for the last month but it wasn't until last night that I actually saw the play. I was hooked, moved, laughed and felt like it was the first time I had this story told to me. It becomes alive in front of an audience and can breath.

Tonight the play final 'opens.' It's been an enormous week for the everyone involved and I hope they can final enjoy a moment of peace with a glass of champagne in hand and be proud of the work they have created.

Chookas!!!!

First Preview.

Tech-ing. It's been a big week for the creatives and tech crew as they get this show through the final stages, piecing it all together. That dark theatre room can be quite an intoxicating vibe and atmosphere, a mind field for the senses as the lights play tricks on your eyes and the sound influences your emotional being state but after a while it can also feel like your suffocating. Thats probably more due to the stress and adrenalin that is evident in the room. It's like a race against the clock, it has to open and that's what is happening today, the first audience will be seated at 1pm for the preview. In the end that's the most important thing, having an audience there to engage with the material. How will they respond? Once you piece in sound, lights and design with the performance it all affects how the piece will be perceived.

It's an exciting and nauseating time for the performers. It's not been an easy ride, but from today they will be playing in their new home for the next few weeks, so go along and see what they get up to.

Friday 7th May

All arrived on time today, and went through the tight schedule for the day. As until about half way through yesterday Chris thought it was Wednesday...no sir, it's wasn't Wednesday yesterday and yes it is Friday today, final day of rehearsing at Arena. It's been fun Nth Melbourne thanks for having me, I'll miss the echo of the trucks as they humn along down the road. I probably wont miss the glares from the truckies as I wait at the lights...how can hair blown up in face, blowing my nose deserve a honk? come on boys, lets get a bit picky.

All is coming together nicely, the changes in the script have done wonders to the rhythm and pace of the piece. It'll be exciting to get into the theatre next week and put this show into action.

Thursday 6th May

All I need to say today is book a ticket to this show. Now.

Great run today, it's getting very exciting.

Wednesday 5th May

Rehearsal's continue and Dylan reminds himself "Don't play crazy we cast you because your a fruit cake..."

Perhaps Chris will be able to say his role was not only director but care taker, zoo keeper perhaps? controlling these wild animals running around in front of him high on red cordial...He's loving the antics of Mr. Young at times but sometimes work needs to get done "okay lets keep going" he pleads. "Were going to work the next 90 minutes intensely". It does look intense when you watch the Chris in his process. He's so physically engaged, eyes pierced on the action like a tennis match, hit to hit, observing the rhythm and shape of the piece (favourite word is definitely shape) It is a wildly funny piece at times, usual Declan flair but it's also an emotional one, seeing the world through the eyes of these 15 year old kids. Having them show us a reflection on our society.

As an observer it is always funny when the room goes off on a tangent, especially with things like "gunt" take over the rehearsal room. And for those of you who don't know what it is, urban dictionary describes it as a "Bulging area found on large older women between the waist and the genital area. Not quite a gut, not quite a c-bomb... The Gunt. "

Final advice to all those actors out there "Don't overact don't underact just act good"

I introduce you to Mr Paglos. Art Teacher, specialising in charcoal. His student Claryssa gives him a bit of a hard time utilising her "artistic freedom" as she pleases rather than following his designed class work.

"Wasn't the assignment Claryssa, wasn't the actually assignment to draw someone else in the class?"

Sarah "He's giving me his come hither eyes"

Dylan "I don't have come hither eyes."

haha sure ladies be careful of this one.

Tuesday 4th May

Had a realisation today, it's not profound but, this play is a premiere. A world Australian premiere. And as Chris explained because it is a premiere the script wont be locked in till between the previews and opening night. I've been waiting for the script to be locked in the whole time how wrong I was. Everyday the team is working through the script, and using the actors to bring it to life and change things here and there to serve the text more, and cut things that don't serve any function. The run this morning really clarified what still needs some attention and perhaps what is not really needed in the script, some scenes might be going all together.

After lunchtime everyone came back refreshed and revived and a sense of play in the actors had returned and they found the humour in these "annoying people annoying each other"(chris)

This is a big week, and Arena's fruit bowel is very much appreciated. Keeping us full of vitamins as we fight away the colds.

The set is still under construction and stand in pieces are being used, but I think in the next couple of the days it will be attacked by Johnathan and transformed. In the morning's working of scenes lights were added to the space in conjunction with Jethro's music and it transformed the rehearsal room to a performance environment. It did make it harder for the actors to read their scripts though adding to the pressures they are starting to feel, this time next week they'll be doing the tech run, it's not easy working on a new piece of work that's for sure, I'm feeling for them.

It's now raining on the Arena theatre roof top, pelting down and they can just here each other say their lines. This weather feels apart of the process, the surprisingly sunny days, the wild winds of Nth Melbourne and now the rain, trying to keep up with the weather the way the piece keeps moving and changing and we all try and keep adjusting to it. Which is the nature of the beast that is theatre making. Full of health risks and work safe injuries so many things to manoeuvre around. Constant problem solving. And that's why some days are emotional ones like today. Sarah "Were all in high spirits at Arena today, come and touch my fanny bitch." Out of context that could sound quite provocative...

Wanna get a feel what it's like being in the last week of a rehearsal room on an emotional day...

"Only bit of the text that hasn't fucking changed."

"I always cry in rehearsal, I'm surprised I hadn't already."

"What's the time Stacey? Don't tell Chris I asked."

I'll set the scene...

Dylan does some acting, Chris starts laughing, Dylan looks mortified at Chris.

Chris speaks "don't pretend your not trying to be funny then."

"I'm not"

"oh your angry"

"I'm not angry Chris, never angry, just disappointed."

This is the kind of humour mixed with a bit of tension that makes the process so interesting to observe.

Oh and by the way it's selling fast so book book book if you want to see the show.

Monday 3rd May

So it's the final week of rehearsals and yes there has been a few script addictions/changes over the weekend but that's it, no more. "Dex is dead, great name for him, Dexter Greene" The plan for this week is to run the show once a day, do notes and work on bits, like scenes, moments, bits of blocking, characters voices etc. This morning notes from the weekend were given and the first run of the week was done with Jethro in the room playing around with the music. It's hard for the actors who "don't know what they know or don't know" when it comes to lines with slight changes here and there. But I think doing the run they surprised themselves in how much they do know. People are feeling the crutch of sickness starting to arise and are all doing their best to avoid it, "filthy Arena and it's dirty diseases" and although no one is pointing blame it's hard not to feel a bit responsible as it was I who was sick last week, lets hope their immune systems are better than mine.

Jonathon is still working on the set and stand in props and things are in place at the moment. The vibe of the room is a serious one, and just when I thought it had gotten bit heavy Dylan started singing about "natures little wonders" the mandarin, and Chris mumbles under his breath "suck my dick" and there was sweet release. "Suck a barrel of dicks"

Key thing today was taking the time to work through the entire script discussing moment to moment. Less time on the floor and more around the table nutting it out. And enjoying the Arena bowel of fruit on the kitchen/board room table, especially those mandarines.

Oh and no work experience girl yet...hope one comes in, we've had a Wiccan and a coast side cool chick. I wonder who else will grace the Arena family with their presence?? Perhaps a boy, who likes comics and doesn't understand females and is in to yelling out inappropriate things at the most inappropriate times. That's be sweet.