Last week I left off at the point where I was still in secondary school and decided I didn’t enjoy acting but wanted to be a theatre producer. I then produced several short plays, which went down well. At school one of the masters was trained to give career advice. I remember one of my mates played a practical joke on the poor master by pretending that his ambition was to become a taxidermist (someone who preserves and stuff dead animals for display).
This content is for subscribers only. To subscribe, Click Here. Or Sign In
When it came time for my interview I said I wanted to become a theatre professional. The master said from what he’d seen he thought I’d be pretty good at that, but pleaded with me to first go to university and get a degree (so I could pursue a different career) and then, if the urge was still strong, to go to drama school. As he said, theatre is a highly competitive and precarious business.
And so I went to Oxford where I joined an amateur theatre group. Eventually, I produced plays with them, but first I had to do some acting. What I want to focus on here is things going wrong, to give a sense of what it is like doing theatre — an insider perspective.
I’ll look at technical problems, inadvertent laughter, and coming in on cue.
Early on I played Elyot in Private Lives, a character who is trying to re-engage with his former partner, Amanda, who was played by a fine young actor named Claire. (I should have pointed out earlier that I follow the modern preference of using “actor” for both male and female, rather than using “actress” for the latter).
At one point, the two are standing on a hotel balcony and hear the hotel band playing a tune they used to love. They start singing along with it and that’s the point at which they begin to get together again.
Claire and I decided on a song, one we both knew, “Don’t you remember?” Come the first performance our stage manager put the wrong music track on (we were using an LP recording) and Claire and I were confronted with a tune neither of us had ever heard before and which, therefore, we couldn’t sing along to.
We gazed blankly at each other and then — I’m proud to record — I stretched out my hand and lifted hers and we danced to the tune—same dramatic effect as singing.
Next up, the experience of a performance grinding to a halt because the actors can’t stop laughing. We were doing a short play by George Bernard Shaw, Farfetched Fables, written right at the end of his life when, frankly, he was beginning to lose his wits.
Our producer wrote, as one does, to the publisher for permission to perform and to arrange to pay royalties (the performance fee), and received a nice letter back saying there had only been one production of the play before on BBC radio, which had broadcast all of Shaw’s plays in his centenary year.
At the end of the letter the publisher asked “Why in heaven’s name do you want to do it?” But our producer was a massive Shaw fan, so we went ahead, even though the play was clearly nuts. At one point my fellow actor, Clive, had to play a space alien, dressed in a flamboyant costume covered in feathers.
My character had to confront him and ask, “What kind of a creature are you?” to which he had to reply: “I am a Cocky Olly bird.” At every rehearsal, we tried to get through this nonsense, but both of us doubled up, roaring with laughter at the idiocy of the lines. Our producer saved the day, instructing us not to make eye contact as we spoke the lines, but to stare at each other’s ribcage. That worked.
-At this point, my readers are probably getting a bit tired of my recollections of theatre, so I plan to turn to a (very serious) book review and I’ll come back to theatre-land after that.
To be continued
Chris Dunton is a former Professor of English and Dean of Humanities at the National University of Lesotho.
Comments
Ned
It’s quick to use, taking around 10 to 15 seconds twitter to mp3 download a 5-minute
video.
orgonite
gruppe? Der er mange mennesker, som jeg tror virkelig ville
https://www.subito.it/utente/123935021?_gl=1*ticrz3*_gcl_au*MTE4NDExNDUyOC4xNzMxNzc5OTM0*FPAU*MTE4NDExNDUyOC4xNzMxNzc5OTM0
orgone
information.|My family members every time say that I am killing my time here
https://orgonite-universe.jimdosite.com/orgon-co-je-to-co-to-neni/
https://www.vinted.it/member/214968271
vykřiknout a říct, že mě opravdu baví číst vaše příspěvky na blogu.
https://www.vinted.it/member/214968271
orgone
e dizer que gosto muito de ler os vossos blogues.
https://orgoniteuniverse.wixsite.com/my-site-1/post/orgC3B3-quC3A8-C3A9s-el-que-no-C3A9s
менструални бикини за плуване wuka
at web, except I know I am getting familiarity all the time by reading thes pleasant posts.|Fantastic post. I will also be handling some of these problems.|Hello, I think this is a great blog. I happened onto it;) I have bookmarked it and will check it out again. The best way to change is via wealth and independence. May you prosper and never stop mentoring others.|I was overjoyed to find this website. I must express my gratitude for your time because this was an amazing read! I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, and I’ve bookmarked your blog so I can check out fresh content in the future.|Hi there! If I shared your blog with my Facebook group, would that be okay? I believe there are a lot of people who would truly value your article.|منشور رائع. سأتعامل مع بعض هذه|
https://tastyslips.com/bg/vendors/littledream20
prodaja rabljenega spodnjega perila
webside er virkelig bemærkelsesværdig for folks oplevelse, godt,
https://tastyslips.com/sl/products/517668/rabljeno-ensko-spodnje-perilo-spodnjice-za-prodajo
sex haben
Relying upon the system used, this produced a gentle yellow, orange or green, which might be very shiny, or, in flashed glass, may very well be scratched to produce more refined tones and shading.
https://tastyslips.com/de/products/492578/geruchsintensive-gebrauchte-hoeschen-damenunterwaesche
Edwardket
olympe: casino olympe – olympe
Edwardket
olympe casino en ligne: olympe casino cresus – olympe casino avis
Edwardket
olympe casino en ligne: olympe casino cresus – olympe casino
Edwardket
olympe: olympe casino cresus – olympe
Petersot
Pharmacie Internationale en ligne pharmacie en ligne trouver un mГ©dicament en pharmacie pharmafst.shop
Robertsam
https://kamagraprix.com/# kamagra pas cher
BillieBlids
Tadalafil 20 mg prix en pharmacie: Cialis sans ordonnance pas cher – Tadalafil achat en ligne tadalmed.shop
Bradleymeemo
kamagra en ligne: Kamagra Oral Jelly pas cher – kamagra oral jelly
Robertsam
https://tadalmed.com/# cialis generique
BillieBlids
acheter kamagra site fiable: Kamagra Commander maintenant – Kamagra Commander maintenant
Bradleymeemo
Tadalafil 20 mg prix en pharmacie: Cialis generique prix – Cialis sans ordonnance 24h tadalmed.shop
Robertsam
https://pharmafst.com/# pharmacie en ligne france pas cher
Petersot
Acheter Cialis 20 mg pas cher Cialis sans ordonnance pas cher cialis prix tadalmed.com
BillieBlids
п»їpharmacie en ligne france: Pharmacie en ligne France – pharmacie en ligne avec ordonnance pharmafst.com
Bradleymeemo
Kamagra Oral Jelly pas cher: acheter kamagra site fiable – kamagra livraison 24h
Robertsam
https://pharmafst.shop/# pharmacie en ligne france livraison internationale
Petersot
Tadalafil 20 mg prix en pharmacie Acheter Viagra Cialis sans ordonnance Cialis generique prix tadalmed.com
BillieBlids
Achetez vos kamagra medicaments: kamagra livraison 24h – Kamagra Oral Jelly pas cher
Bradleymeemo
kamagra en ligne: Kamagra Commander maintenant – kamagra gel
BernardTes
Acheter Cialis: Cialis en ligne – Tadalafil 20 mg prix en pharmacie tadalmed.shop
Robertsam
https://kamagraprix.com/# acheter kamagra site fiable
Bradleymeemo
п»їpharmacie en ligne france: pharmacie en ligne – pharmacie en ligne livraison europe pharmafst.com
BillieBlids
kamagra 100mg prix: kamagra 100mg prix – kamagra pas cher
Robertsam
http://pharmafst.com/# Pharmacie Internationale en ligne
Petersot
cialis generique Acheter Cialis cialis sans ordonnance tadalmed.com
BernardTes
pharmacie en ligne france livraison internationale: Livraison rapide – Pharmacie en ligne livraison Europe pharmafst.com
Bradleymeemo
Pharmacie en ligne livraison Europe: Meilleure pharmacie en ligne – Pharmacie en ligne livraison Europe pharmafst.com
BillieBlids
Kamagra Oral Jelly pas cher: kamagra oral jelly – kamagra en ligne
Robertsam
http://kamagraprix.com/# acheter kamagra site fiable
BernardTes
Cialis sans ordonnance 24h: Acheter Cialis 20 mg pas cher – Acheter Viagra Cialis sans ordonnance tadalmed.shop
Petersot
pharmacie en ligne sans ordonnance pharmacie en ligne pharmacie en ligne livraison europe pharmafst.shop
Bradleymeemo
Tadalafil sans ordonnance en ligne: Acheter Cialis 20 mg pas cher – Cialis sans ordonnance 24h tadalmed.shop
BillieBlids
Cialis en ligne: Acheter Cialis 20 mg pas cher – Acheter Viagra Cialis sans ordonnance tadalmed.shop
Robertsam
https://kamagraprix.com/# kamagra gel
BernardTes
Pharmacie sans ordonnance: pharmacie en ligne pas cher – pharmacie en ligne sans ordonnance pharmafst.com
Petersot
п»їpharmacie en ligne france Meilleure pharmacie en ligne pharmacie en ligne france livraison internationale pharmafst.shop
Bradleymeemo
kamagra oral jelly: Kamagra Commander maintenant – Kamagra Commander maintenant
BillieBlids
kamagra oral jelly: Kamagra Oral Jelly pas cher – kamagra pas cher
Robertsam
https://tadalmed.shop/# Achat Cialis en ligne fiable
BernardTes
Tadalafil achat en ligne: Cialis en ligne – Tadalafil sans ordonnance en ligne tadalmed.shop
BernardTes
Cialis sans ordonnance 24h: Pharmacie en ligne Cialis sans ordonnance – Cialis sans ordonnance 24h tadalmed.shop
Robertsam
https://pharmafst.shop/# pharmacie en ligne livraison europe
BernardTes
acheter kamagra site fiable: kamagra pas cher – kamagra gel
Robertsam
https://pharmafst.shop/# pharmacie en ligne fiable
BernardTes
kamagra pas cher: kamagra gel – kamagra pas cher
Robertsam
https://pharmafst.shop/# п»їpharmacie en ligne france
BernardTes
Tadalafil achat en ligne: Pharmacie en ligne Cialis sans ordonnance – Cialis generique prix tadalmed.shop
Robertsam
http://kamagraprix.com/# achat kamagra
BernardTes
cialis generique: Cialis en ligne – Cialis sans ordonnance pas cher tadalmed.shop
BernardTes
Achetez vos kamagra medicaments: kamagra pas cher – kamagra en ligne
Petersot
Achat Cialis en ligne fiable Acheter Viagra Cialis sans ordonnance Cialis en ligne tadalmed.com
Bradleymeemo
Acheter Viagra Cialis sans ordonnance: Achat Cialis en ligne fiable – Tadalafil 20 mg prix en pharmacie tadalmed.shop
BillieBlids
acheter mГ©dicament en ligne sans ordonnance: Pharmacies en ligne certifiees – pharmacie en ligne avec ordonnance pharmafst.com
Robertsam
https://tadalmed.com/# Tadalafil achat en ligne
BernardTes
Cialis generique prix: Tadalafil 20 mg prix sans ordonnance – Acheter Cialis 20 mg pas cher tadalmed.shop
Elvira
Small-sized bathrooms may instantly conjure images of cramped floor spaces,
messy scenes of
toiletries and bathroom essentials spread here and there, poor ventilation,
lack of natural light, and
so on. In many cases, such images are myths because compact bathrooms are not necessarily
challenging. All you need is a professional
expert for bathroom remodelling in Gurgaon who can
transform your ideas into real-life scenarios.
Tips to Add Style & Functionality to Your Small Bathroom
Planned Remodelling is Crucial
The first tip for bathroom designs for small spaces is to start with planning.
Get a measuring tape to
measure the space and get an idea of the layout.
Prioritize what you want – do you need to increase
the storage space, install more lights for increased lighting, or add modern aesthetics
to the space?
With a clear and precise plan, there are fewer chances
of confusion and discrepancies arising later.
My site; click here