Allison's Notes from the run

Hey Cast. In general my notes are extremely positive, as usual, haha. A lot of mine were covered by Mr. Weddle so I won't include them. If you need me to expand on something, leave a comment or call, I want to make sure everything is cool.


Michael: During your first monologue, the dancing around the kitchen is really coming along, keep working on that.

Agnes: Continue to work on your imitation of Kate in the first act, really let us see that you are mocking her.

Maggie: You are a hysterical goat (random note I know, yet true)

All: Towards the beginning of act one I noticed this, remember that just because you are not talking, you still must be in character, knit, iron, do something/anything your character would do.

Maggie: With one of your songs in the beginning you have a bucket and then you go out the door carrying it with CHOOK-CHOOK CHEEEEE, is there something supposed to be in that bucket. Because you had it at a 90 degree angle, so I wanted to make sure it was being held right, let me know.

Kate: I noticed your moments when you first enter the house with the groceries and unload them, it's becoming much more realistic. I know we all said it would be much easier for you with the props, it was great without, and now its even better, good work.

Agnes: When you are in the corner and you say something about the harvest dance, and then you have the whole back and forth thing across the table, make sure your first step towards the table is "I'm actually taking a stand on something-ish", it's one of the only times we see the "I'm game" part of your character. Wow that was weirdly worded, let me know if that didn't make sense.

Rose: When you girls are in the house discussing going to the dance, and Aggie and Chris are downstage in the house talking about the dress she can wear, make sure you are seen, look to doing this tomorrow, I just couldn't see you.

KAte: Nice character choices and body language when you are all "NO ONE'S GOING TO THE DANCE" and you stand there with your arms crossed as all enter, great discovery.


Maggie: When Jack makes his first entrance and starts talking about archetectiture, take a step towards the door, so that we can see you.

Maggie: When you are telling the story about your night out at the dancing contest, remember how Mr. Weddle, you and I talked about the "think, wait, oh yeah" method, remember it's been awhile, really sell the idea of recalling it.

All Girls: The nonverbals, yelps, laughs, etc. are really coming along on the dance, good imporvement from the last time I have seen it.

Rose: In the house during the "OH MY GOSH GERRY'S COMING" Scene, you made an amazing choice to throw your arms up on the "I hate him..." line, it was soooo funny, please keep this.

Gerry: Keep working on your first entrance, it is definitely much better but sell your character from the moment you step on stage.

Maggie, Aggie, Kate: When Gerry and Chris are outside and you have lines in weird intervals which are separated from your silence, try to make it seem like you have been carrying on a conversation. It's kind of an odd transition from silence to speaking, just work on making it flow as best as possible, I know it's difficult.

Gerry: Give lines downstage on unicorn-cow story please!

Kate: I had a ? about a choice you made during Gerry's Magpie story, when he's outside with Chris. You were in front of the fire place with your feet up at one point you set down the paper and it looked like you were asleep. If that was your choice to doze, it was awesome, if not, it looked like that. Let me know, but cool choice anyway :)

Chris: I think Mr. Weddle said this, but after the "I'm a very lucky woman", it looked like you slapped Michael, I'm pretty sure we already talked about this though, just work with Michael on it.

All (in this scene): During the whole making the tea and soda-bread argument scene, we totally lost the blocking, review your blocking for this scene, I think this may have been some props confusion, so it should be fine tomorrow, thanks!!

ACT TWO
Maggie: With lights up, and then you singing, your voice sounds really nice, it's a nice light opening to the act, good job.

All: please be careful with the new bench, espcially for those of you that stand on it or kneel on it (Gerry and Maggie), just get used to the new one.

All: Look at how you are carrying your hands throughout the show. Certain people look at that for identifying a character, for example the audience is really starting to notice how Chris is choosing to do a washing type motion with her hands, which is really interesting.

Jack: During the moonshine at night or whatever song, please don't lose the words completely. I know what you were doing and it was cool, just make it sound mildly understandable :)

Jack and Maggie: Like Mr. Weddle said, your entire little monologue, dancing, crazy, awesome moment is really coming along. The audience is going to love that so sell it, and don't use any less energy than you did tonight, it was great :)

Chris: You have made fantastic improvements in the scene with Gerry. As an audience member, I'm really seeing your character develop

Gerry: Your birgade voice is HYSTERICAL!!! Don't lose it, it was great, just remember to keep up the energy throughout the scene.

Maggie: The moment with Kate about searching for Rose is getting close, remember on "You'll do what I say" or whatever it is line, to really show you are taking charge, the audience needs to see these difference in your character.

Maggie: When Rose get's back in the house, after all of the tense stuff, you have some lines at the stove. Use those lines to try to break the mood a little bit, and get all that you can out of those.

Michael: I'm extremely proud of how hard you have worked on the monologues, it's a lot of words that are really starting to tell a story. Keeping an audience entertained through one of those is a challenge but you've handled it really well.

Chris: In your anger-rage towards Gerry about what he did with Agnes, don't lose the moment or break your expression even for a second, it's a tense, awesome moment and we can't lose it. :)

Rose: Remember, no emotion during the dead rooster.

Gerry and Jack: The hat ceremony is cool thanks to the new added beat in the motion Jack does and Gerry repeats. Jack, sell it like this is your life, and Gerry, pretend it's the greatest moment of your life. Being over-the-top about your feelings during this exchange will make it even better.

ALL: We lost a couple of lines near the end, so remember to deliver down-stage.

Gerry: Your cane fell when it was leaned up against the house, so try to make sure its secure, because if it falls, it can be distracting to the audience.

All: In the house, espcially Maggie, be careful standing on the benches and the table, missing a foot jumping down from there wouldn't be fun... :)



I know all of my notes are generally as Mr. Weddle calls them, "nice", and they really seem that way tonight because Mr. Weddle covered most of my notes that were contsructive critisicm and once is plenty to hear something, haha. When I gave you compliments today, they were all hard-worked for and definitely the result of a lot of dedication and work outside of rehearsal, so you deserve them. Rest up tonight for a run tomorrow that will be even better than today. Nice work, I'm really proud of everything that you have all accomplished thus far.