Sometimes, it's quite surprising to revisit a piece of art (in the broadest and most multimedia sense of the word) and remember exactly what it was that gave it appeal in the first place. At the moment, that happens to be the early works of King Crimson, because - after not listening to them for several years - for the second time in as many weeks, their musical style makes for a good analogy. (The first time was after hearing The NULLL Collective, but that's getting a bit far off-topic).
More relevantly, this play reminds me of the way the band would produce some bizarrely free-form music that could only achieve that level of anarchic expression because, underneath it, they were a fiendishly precise and gifted set of musicians working together at a deeply instinctive level. They're not the only example of post-modern jazz-rock, just the one I happen to like best.
Anyway. The play. It does much the same thing: although it's somewhat disorganised on the surface, that actually requires a great deal more precision than simply being able to do everything right. Think of Les Dawson playing the piano, or for veteran followers of our group, managing the chaos in a Farndale production. It's a lot harder than playing it straight. That is why I'm both pleased and surprised by how quickly the production has come together. It often takes right up until the last moment for the characters, the atmosphere and the pace to gel properly - in my experience, it's extremely rare to find that happening quite naturally before people have really even begun to learn their lines. I don't think I can claim much credit for that (...still, I might try, though...): it's simply a good play that seems to have captured the imagination of the cast in what can only be described as a good way. It's been a real pleasure, so far, to watch it develop so quickly and, yes, instinctively.
That's particularly gratifying in January rehearsals when it's always dark, cold and wet and generally something of a disincentive to trek out for two evenings a week. Hence the title, but it doesn't seem to have dampened anyone's enthusiasm for turning up, getting on with it and apparently enjoying the experience. Thanks folks, and keep it up.

* it isn't the best album King Crimson ever did, in case anyone's planning to rush out and buy some - may I suggest Lark's Tongues In Aspic instead.

An Inverse Panopticon - Mike 20/02/11

It's not always easy to get timely contributions to the ongoing diary, at least, not without quite a lot of reminders - but I will try, just so it isn't solely filled with my ramblings. For now, though, that's what there is...
I'm quite often of the opinion that, as a director, the best thing I can be doing is...nothing. That's obviously not the case when it comes to choosing the play, the cast and how to stage it, or when setting out what I want the framework of the show to be. After that, though, is where the allusion to Jeremy Bentham's prison design comes in. The panopticon, dating from the late 1700s, was centred around the concept of all the inmates being visible to a central observer, whilst at the same time being unable to tell whether or not they were actually being watched: something that has been described as the "sentiment of an invisible omniscience". "Inverse" is added here because it isn't trying to achieve rather sinister behavioural control through uncertainty, as Bentham proposed, but to give the cast time and space to get on and run through as many times as possible, with as little interference from me as possible. They are, after all, actors and an awful lot of their skills are all about finding and developing their characters for themselves.
It isn't always possible to avoid insisting on some particular actions, but in general I feel that actors are best when they understand the context of what they are doing, but provide the interpretation of it themselves. No doubt some people might find that infuriatingly vague, but it's always seemed to work pretty well to me.
Which is why I'm pleased to report that I have spent the last couple of weeks being largely invisible (and, of course, omniscient), while the cast have come a long way forward, despite the usual slight fumbling when scripts are first set aside. I was pleased two weeks ago: I'm a lot more pleased now. They're a talented bunch, working really well together and just to prove it, here are some pictures (of everyone except Dave, who isn't in this bit)...

Gareth, Brianne and Lyndsey as Charles, Sarah and Madge, respectively...	...plus Mary and Zahir, as Mrs Cullen and Rupert...
...with Bethan, making her stage debut as Angela...	...and Clare-L as the Nurse

Waffle...? - Clare-L 22/02/11

Editor's note: Slight spoiler warning - this post gives a little (but not too much) of the plot away.

Having a smaller part can often leave you a little bored as you wait around to go on stage, but "oh no, not in this production". Instead of reading my book or checking my diary for my weeks social events, I find myself enjoying the play over and over again. This really is something - so funny and with such subtlety as well. Hey I am all for a good farce or in your face comedy but this one creeps up on you in a way I really appreciate. I am not sure if Director Mike really knew how funny this was when he first read it* because I even catch him smiling broadly like the comedy has surprised him too. 
I know it is again a play within a play but this one has a completely different style and holds no similarity to the last one. There you are, watching the play and all of a sudden it all seems to break down. "What's happening," you think: "Have the actors all forgotten where they are?". It takes seconds to realise this is all part of the play, there is no room for confusion, you instantly smile to yourself and wonder "Ah I see, well what happens next?".
The actors have done a great job in bringing these characters to life and it is their expressions and actions that really bring it to life. They have all managed to bring great diversity between their acting characters and their real characters. Each of them had already developed these so well, but Mike has this way of mentioning just one little thing and the actors can bring on a whole new side to the role. The most interesting development is watching Zahir. Later in the play it references that he plays his character half heartedly and without oomph as such. So Mike asked Zahir to show that clearly in the first quarter of the production. I mean most of us would worry that the audience wouldn't realise and would think you were just a bad actor, but actually Zahir is playing it in a way that is just so comic. Sometimes I can't help but giggle and it is so obviously on purpose that you can't worry the audience will misunderstand. Mary's face when the play starts to fall apart is a classic. She looks so put off and harassed - it is such a laugh. Also Lindsey's character turns from very prim and proper into a more modern character and as she goes in and out of character - the distinct difference is fantastic, especially the moment when her stretched smile turns into an accusatory frown. Everyone is the same and it opens the whole play up to such humour. I know I waffle on but there is just so much to notice in this production. 
On that note, and with the realisation of waffle, I shall stop for now, even with my head filled with so much more.
Clare-Louise Mitchell - Nurse Brown

* Editor's other note: Yes, I did - I'm just greatly enjoying how it's being realised on stage.

Inter Alia - Mike 26/03/11

Well, this is - nearly - it. Last week of rehearsals coming up, then we launch into (the admittedly simple) set build and the production proper.
It's been a busy few weeks, evidently not just for me, as the paucity of entries above demonstrates. Of course, that could be construed as a sign the cast are concentrating hard on their lines, rather than penning words of online wisdom. Possibly.
It's been somewhat less plain sailing in the directorial chair. There will always be points in rehearsals where various cast members will be unavailable (at worst, this can be more or less the whole period...) and that has been the last few weeks. I'm not too concerned, as we had a very solid start, with everyone present pretty much all the time, but it's slowed down progress on getting the final few pages of action flowing smoothly. Martin (particularly), Beth and Clare have been working hard reading in the necessary parts, but it's never going to be quite the same as having the full cast. Still, mustn't grumble - I didn't want it all to peak too early anyway!
Today was photocall day. It's a little late, with only two weeks to go, but there were no photographers available last weekend thanks to all the charity events taking place. Hopefully, though, we'll make the local presses with a picture of everyone (except Dave...). Perhaps even one like this:

 The Cast: Standing - Zahir, Clare-Louise, Gareth, Bethan, Mary; Seated - Brianne and Lyndsey.

Trying... - Zahir 26/03/11

Trying too little, or too hard.
A challenging part of this play is playing a bad actor.  The crux of it is the amount of effort I put in – try too little, and I come across as a really bad actor;  try too hard and it comes across that I’m trying too hard which also makes me look a really bad actor.  So, be bad but not too bad.
The next challenge is when my character ceases being a bad actor and becomes the person he is off stage so he stops acting.  Strangely enough, this is when I start acting.
The challenge here is to strike a contrast between the bad actor, and the person I am off stage; try too little and there’s no difference; so I’m a bad actor; try too hard and the person I am off stage becomes a polar opposite of the bad actor I was playing which will cause further problems down the line when I...…oh I’d better not go into that.
Also, at points in the play, I switch quickly between the bad actor I am, and the person I am off stage, making sure to not try too little or not too hard when reciting each line.
So there you go.  I wonder if I’m trying too little to write this production diary, or too hard?

Zahir White - Rupert

A Debut - Bethan 27/03/11

With not only 'Kindly leave the stage' being my first production but also being the youngest member in the group, at the beginning of the rehearsals I was very nervous and it was all a bit daunting. But soon after getting stuck in I could see that everyone was willing to help and it was very fun. My part in the play is not too big but has just enough lines for me to get used to having to learn them and be able to concentrate on the techniques needed when on stage.
I have had a few difficulties along the way such as, shouting. One of my lines has to be shouted and I felt very nervous and embarrassed about it. Everyone was giving me tips but Brianne, another member really helped me with it to the point where I was standing in a car park shouting my line one word at a time.
Everyone in the group has been very friendly, and I have had many conversations on tea breaks with all of the members. Alongside acting in this play I also have the role of prompt (too confusing to explain why). This was a very tricky job that I had hoped to avoid. Its not all just sitting with a ruler listening to every line, there is always the panic that someone will go completely off course and I'm the one who is looked at to fix it...But Martin, another member was a great help acting as my back up until I got the hang of it all.
So far everything has been very interesting and fun and each week it has been getting better and better. Acting alongside my dad, Gareth, has been really good and now we rely on each other to help us learn our lines. I can't wait for the real night and doing it all for a full audience.

Bethan Jones - Angela

Edward's Diary - Dave 29/03/11

Thought I should clear one or two things up.  I was all set to play golf last weekend until it damn well peed down.  The wife was at our daughter's, so overcoming my dislike for her husband (bloody twit that he is), I set out to join her.  Still not sure what happened when I was there but I got real Scotch for a change. Everything else was a blur and I kept feeling like a character in a Shakespearean play (although that may have been the alcohol!).  I do remember that there was a lawyer involved – he was in trunks or something – mebbe he’d been for a swim.  Anyway long and the short of it was we were all having a damn good laugh and I think the punters will too.  Happy days, what?

Edward

Another Waffle... - Clare-L 02/04/11

We are having so much fun with this production. It always seems to be the shows we have the most fun with that the audience seems to like so much. With all the enjoyment in this production, I just know that everyone is going to love it. Last night we had two other members watch the show for the first time and it was a full run through. I just loved watching them laugh. It is so fulfilling to see what we do being enjoyed by others. Yeah, sure we are still a few lines away from word perfect but that is quite normal for Cissbury Players traditions and who can blame the main characters when there is so much to learn. I know they will be fine by the dress rehearsal.
This play has such diversity. Standard modern acting, a bit of Shakespeare thrown in for comic effect and some amazing melodrama from Zahir and Brianne. Last night I tried to do a little work while I was off stage but yet again I was drawn in and found myself watching the play "oh for about the hundredth time" and boy was I giggling, I don't think I will ever tire of this script.
I got a bit excited about the completion of my costume and props last night. I have the nurse's outfit, looks like Clare is making me a cape as neither of us could find one, I have the nurses buckle which Clare has made into a larger belt to fit me, fob watch coming from Sam, nurses cap from friend Jayne and Clare has a tiny first aid kit I can bring on - which is so laughingly small that it should add the humour really well. So Technical rehearsal Sunday and then we are into play week - ooooh  it is all so exciting.

Clare-Louise Mitchell - The Nurse

A Moment In Camera - Mike 02/04/11

As mentioned earlier, the photocall went smoothly. We've had a few issues in recent times with publicity appearing late, in the wrong paper or not at all, so it was nice to see that on this occasion a healthy spread appeared in the Worthing Herald on the week before production. As ever, we're grateful for the feature and hope that it does some good in reaching a somewhat wider audience as a result. And although the excerpt is reproduced below, please don't consider that a good reason not to buy a copy of your own.
Right, now that's done...off to build a set.

  
Worthing Herald - 31st March 2011