The British Theatre Guide: The Godspell Diaries 2

School & Youth Theatre

The Godspell Diaries - 2

8th January
Well, we're back to school today. The MD and I managed to keep the one free of the week that we share so we got together to discuss the soloists. We've agreed on a couple whose voices we know well, but she wants to listen to all the others who have indicated that they'd like a solo. She's going to see them all next week and check them out: then she'll tell me who is capable of each one and then I'll decide who will be the best actor for each song. We've agreed on Jesus and John the Baptist/Judas. That wasn't difficult! We took care of that with my mentioning two names and her saying "yes" to both! I wish everything was as easy!

12th January
First meeting with the cast. There are far too many (a) to go to Germany, and (b) to fit on the stage. This was not unexpected, so I'd already planned what to do. We're dividing them into the Company, who will be the actors and soloists (and who will be going to Germany), and the Chorus, who'll be the "support" and will only appear on the stage occasionally (although they'll always be in sight of the audience and will join in all the "tutti" singing). Told them who was who, and then we listened to a CD of the show (the Darren Day version: I am not impressed!), and I talked them through it. Called everyone for Wed's rehearsal, even though it's just blocking - mainly to let the Chorus see what they've let themselves in for! Most of the Chorus are either Year 7 or 8.

13th January
A deputation from the Year 11s today. Would I mind if they dropped out? Nothing to do with the show or me or Freda (the MD)- they're worried sick about exams. They've allowed themselves to fall so far behind and they daren't risk it, especially not having to take a week out to go to Germany. That's the first time this has ever happened but I'm not too worried or upset by it. To be honest, I was worrying, because they have been pretty damned lazy and I knew I'd be taking some flack from other staff. I'm quite heartened, really, because it means that we're finally getting through to them about the importance of these exams! I'm left with one, and she's always been just a bit part player.

14th January
First blocking rehearsal. This is the part of a production that we all hate. It's time-consuming and boring, and we know that the moves will change, often out of all recognition, once they get into the parts and find their characters' motivation. But it's got to be done: you have to start somewhere, and with comparatively inexperienced kids, you need to map out basic moves, otherwise they feel lost. We managed about eight pages in an hour and a half, which is pretty good going. The Chorus just watched - but they need to learn what it's all about! Anyway, I've told them I won't need them for a while and that they'll be called when they're required. They'll have to go to singing rehearsals on Tuesday and Friday lunchtimes with Freda, of course, so they won't feel left out totally! She's going to rehearse soloists on Wednesday lunchtimes.

16th, 19th, 21st, 23rd and 27th January
Blocking continues - line by line. Tedious! but necessary.

28th January
Began to work on the ending. I know it seems arsy-versy but I find kids like to know what the ending is like: it gives the show a shape for them. We worked to the CD to get the timing right. After a few times through I reduced the volume considerably and let their voices take over. It looked and sounded good, so I'm feeling reasonably happy. The instrumental break action in Oh God, I'm dying was dreadful to begin with. Most of them were afraid to let their hair down and really let rip. I want them rushing about the stage, bouncing off (imaginary) walls, tearing their hair and screaming. Sounds awful but it looks good! Or, at least, it looked good on the sixth time through! We also had some problems lowering Jesus from his cross (on the table!) onto their shoulders. We've got it sussed now and it's going well. Obviously the scene needs a lot more work, but they've got the basic idea and they'll do it so much better next time.

A bit of a worry at the end, though. Alex, who's playing John the Baptist/Judas, looked and felt terrible. Suggested he have tomorrow off but try to get in for the evening rehearsal. He said his mother wouldn't allow that, but I told him to tell her I'd said so!

29th January
Wonderful! I was greeted by my Year 10 leading lights as I came out of the staff room at the beginning of the morning. Alex has glandular fever and is really poorly. Oh boy! Kelly said she was feeling a bit funny so I warned her that if she fell ill I'd boot her backside so hard my foot would come out of her mouth. She got the message!

This evening we started on the opening. Very difficult! We spent an hour and a half on the first four minutes, but it began to take shape by the end. I'm following my plan almost exactly so the moves are complicated and the sound very confused. Each soloist (Socrates, Thomas Aquinas etc.) has to continue singing after their song is "officially" finished, so it's almost impossible to distinguish those who are "supposed" to be singing and those who are just repeating. It'll work perfectly well, of course, once we start using the mics, but till then it's proving a little confusing, to say the least! Movement was a problem as well, as I'm having a couple of them carried on others' shoulders and that took a bit of organising. Still, it worked out in the end and the opening is looking OK at this stage!

30th January
Helluva late getting started tonight. the deputy head who dealt with the temporary theatre licence in the past has retired, so the guy who's taken over that job (our regular FoH manager) wanted me to fill the form in with him. So didn't get started till 4.15, which only left an hour and a quarter.

Started where we left off yesterday, just after the Tower of Babble bit. With Alex off we went through his it pretty quick (with me as John the Baptist - typecasting, by God!), then straight on to Save the People. Too many are a bit uptight about really letting themselves go but everything started going OK after a bit of persuasion (known by the kids as "He's throwing a radge!"). I was pleased with John (Jesus) because he's already begun to learn the lines (of course he has an awful lot!).

We went through the song about six/seven times - I lost count! - and I was reasonably happy with the performances (at this stage of the game, I mean!) by the end, so then we got on with the dialogue. I had to replace the aged widow because she's been played (in the original blocking) by a Year 11 who has since dropped out. Actually Claire, who's taken over, handled it very well. She's quiet, so tends to get overlooked, but she's a very promising actress.

The big problem is the group movement. The experienced kids are no problem- they just do what they're supposed to do when they are supposed to do it - but the new and/or less experienced kids tend to wait for others to move, so he throws a radge again! I suggested a five minute break at 5.05 but they refused! They wanted to get on. Fair enough! I'm not unhappy with that! We got three or four pages done - thoroughly - so we all went away happy. Monday's not going to be that grand though: we've got the chorus to fit into the opening and Save the People, so that's going to be pretty hard going. They're almost all Year 7 so I suspect progress is going to be very... very... very... slow!

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