Notes From April 5 Practice

There's quite a bit of information here.  You may want to print this off to refer back to it.  Please comment so I know your family has read this.

June, Elliot, Rona, Gretchen, Donald, Sandra - be sure to note a slight change in a few of your lines.

A few general items, and then I’ll go over specifics.  Some of these points Mrs. Kluge already mentioned, but they bear repeating.

Stay in your character!  If you miss a line, are late on a cue, etc., don’t worry about apologizing, or giggling, or whatever.  The audience doesn’t care about that.  Just keep moving on with the flow of the scene.

If you’re a background character who’s supposed to be interacting with another character, only pretend you’re talking.  It’s distracting to the rest of the scene to actually hear your voices.

This is more a note to self – we need to adjust the placement of the radio booth and the chairs stage left to accommodate smoother entrances.

Trench coats – Female agents:  Wear them in Kilroy Was Here background scene, during  Spies song and when you’re arresting the spies in the last couple of scenes.  All other times, you should be in your skirt and blouse.

G-men:  Wear them only during Spies song.  (We’ll assume you hung up your coats while you were talking with Mrs. Wilcox before the scene with the Taylor sisters)  All other times you’ll be in your suits or aprons.

There are a few times when other characters refer to the MP’s.  We need to make sure that your lines address them as plural.  

Page 39 – June:  Some MP’s took him away.  Elliot:  MP’s?  What MP’s?  Rona:  They arrested Kilroy….

Elliot:  No, the MP’s.

Gretchen:  We thought you sent the MP’s

Elliot:  Why would I send the MP’s

Donald:  We didn’t send the MP’s

Sandra:  If those weren’t real MP’s

Page 47:

Rona:  We’ll take care of these three

Sandra:  We thought you were MP’s

No more running in front of the stage.  If you need to get in position, use the back of the stage, just like during a performance.

Scene 1:  Some lines were missed.  Everyone in Scene 1, reread the scene and act it out in your head (or with others, if you have the help)

Scene 6:  Nice job checking your clipboard and looking confused, Angie!  Remember everyone, you don’t know where the Tiny Tappers or Harmony Brothers came from, so act confused but still be polite.  Harmony Brothers, be sure to step forward – we will be having a microphone on the bandstand.

Scene 7:  Mrs. Wilcox – when you’re saying ‘you’ll have to ask them’, emphasize ‘them’, and point toward the agents.  Step forward when saying your lines (‘when I think about the Boston Tea Party, etc) – you’re proud of your country and lost in your thoughts of its grandeur!

G-men – you can be rolling your eyes somewhat when she’s giving her little speech.   You’re in a hurry to get on with your discussion with the Taylor Sisters.

Scene 13:  Angie enters left after “I know you’ll like them”

Lucy enters right after “I know you’ll like them”  (This is new and I forgot to mention it before rehearsal)

Scene 14:  Hypnotism scene – we need more people on the right side

Scene 15:  When Fred, Jack & hostesses enter to watch the riveters some can sit in chairs, left front

Scene 17:  Female agents & g-men enter at slightly different times.  Female agents enter after “Never forget it”, the spies notice them and say “Careful”, then the g-men enter.

Scene 20:  We have too many hostesses around the table when Gladys brings on the donuts.  We’ll work on this a little before we start, but we’ll need to have a few hostesses wait on their entrance.

Scene 22:  G-men- we need more reaction from you when you find out that Kilroy has been taken.  Remember, this could be devastating for your mission. 

Scene 23:  Be sure to check your entrances.  They’re printed out on music stands in the wings.  Hostesses, you’ll need to enter sooner.  We’ll work on this a little before rehearsal.

Scene 24:  Guys – good job in the background!

Scene 26:  Missed a number of lines – everyone in Scene 26 read over the entire scene.  Replay it in your head (or with others, if possible), making sure you know when your lines are.

Scene 27:  Hugo needs to be at the radio booth with Edna.  Observers, you don’t want to exactly be sad.  It’s more like you’re recalling a happy memory with someone who isn’t around any more.  Practice that in the mirror.  Peter & Lydia – very nice job!!

Scene 28:  Taylor Sisters – I’d like you to be on the bandstand for ‘Attention please’, etc.  That’s how we practiced it at the church and I think it flows better.   

Leo, Carl & Floyd – start moving in to talk to the girls as they’re waving to the g-men (you want to make sure the g-men don’t  hone in on your territory)

Scene 29:  We’ll practice this at rehearsal, but as Kitty is being introduced, everyone can gather around the bandstand. Harmony Brothers – after you’re introduced, leave the bandstand discretely to get in place for “Hey, America.”  Let’s also try having Prof. Sullivan and the riveters step off the bandstand after the professor is introduced.

Scene 30: Kilroy, move more center when you start explaining everything that’s happened.  Kitty keeps tapping until she gets to “The Fuhrer will give me a medal”. 

Tiny Tappers, lead Kitty off the stage whichever side you’re closest to.

Scene 31:  Harmony Brothers, we want you back on stage by the time Battle Hymn is finished so you can be ready for bowing.

Sloane – Let’s drop the part about ‘family members deployed’.  It was coming out as all family members of deceased, and that could end up being most of the people in the auditorium.  Just do ‘spouses of deceased service members.’