Funny Money Production Diary

Traditionally, the spring and summer productions flow into each other without a break. The April production set takedown is on a Sunday: then, on the Wednesday, it's time to collect in the money and post-mortem the show before handing the hall keys over to the next producer to start their casting and blocking. It's usually done in a bit of a hurry, as the summer rehearsal run is the shortest of the year. Despite our spring show being early this year, the run of bank holidays still disrupt early proceedings. So, it's getting on for three weeks since Clare-Louise took charge, but that only equates to 2 1/2 meetings - hence the lack of terribly definite information. No doubt Clare will be along very shortly to give her view on the story so far...

Notes From The Producer: Week One - Clare-Louise 13/04/11

Editor's Note: Yes, we're looping back to three weeks ago, but organised people, it would appear, take notes and suchlike. A bit like keeping a diary - and of a production, too. We could almost call it a Production Diary...

Choosing a play for this summer was a difficult process. I am told by other directors in the group that this can sometimes be the case but finding my first play was so easy and ruined me for this time. I must have read about 20 plays and, yes, some made me smile but none seemed to make me laugh from the pit of my belly like "Run For Your Wife" had. I didn't really want to choose the same author but in the end, with only a couple of weeks to go, I thought it wouldn't hurt. Well, "Funny Money" cracked me up from the very first pages and I couldn't put it down. All of a sudden, like the last play I choose, here it was - the laughter. It was so easy to visualise the scenes and I desperately wanted to do it. I did have to pay it some thought as some of the characters could easily fall into place and seem exactly like those from the last play I did. Although the story line is different the basic concept of being caught out doing something naughty was definitely there. I looked at the members of the group that had put them selves forward for parts, thought of the way the script made me laugh, and the decision was made. I set about reading it over and over, creating characters rather different to the last play and reassuring myself.
Well tonight I take the script over to the handover meeting and I am rather nervous. The potential actors need to love this play for it to work, there are so many movements and action that the work will be hard, they really need to like it.

Notes From The Producer: Week Two - Clare-Louise 20/04/11

Last Wednesday we got in a little script reading time and I was so relieved. All the members interested in acting enjoyed the script and one or two who I expected not to like farce, really loved it. It was so good to hear the hearty laughter. The odd member mentioned their concern for the script similarity but I answered those concerns and am very confident they will see what I mean later.
The readings for parts went well. As the group was small and those involved in each reading, large, I suggested we do the readings in front of everyone and this was agreed by the others. This led to a fantastic atmosphere with a great audience and offered the other actors a taste of what is to come. The role of Vic was easy to cast with Dave suiting it perfectly but this left Stuart and Zahir in the running for the main part of Henry. They were both excellent and it was the decision to cast Zahir as the taxi driver (a part he read amazingly) and Stuart's excellent rendition of a man gone slightly crazy that decided the main male parts. Gareth read a great copper as did John M and they managed to provide both characterisations I was looking for. The ladies were much harder to cast and a lot of time was spent on them. Both of them did excellent versions of both characters. In the end I took a chance and tried Brianne in the saucy role and buried my concerns about Sam's role being too similar to her last, I knew she would be able to change it.
Tonight I held the first blocking rehearsal and it really was like pulling teeth. The problem with putting on a farce like this on our sized stage is you have to compromise on the number of entrances and lose some furniture etc. This means changing the scripted movements which is not only a lot of preparation work but can also be very confusing for the actors and means constant note scribbling which slows the process down. Add to that the fact that you are on a smaller stage, which means you have to restrict some unnecessary movement, and you have even more work for the actors. I really do feel for us all at this stage, but luckily the cast giggle as we reach each new comedy scene, so I think spirits are doing well.

Notes From The Producer: Week Three - Clare-Louise 27/04/11

A Monday bank holiday just gone by and more to come. Some of the cast came to me tonight to give me their holiday dates and I must say I am concerned. There are very few rehearsals with the entire cast. At least they are mostly here for the blocking as long as I can finish it next Wednesday (after another Bank Holiday Monday). I was however warned about this by the more experienced Directors and was prepared for all the summer holidays. I am relaxed - or so I keep telling myself. :-)
I made a mistake tonight and started rehearsals at a point the play we had already done last week - which meant I didn't cover what I need to tonight. It was useful however as Sam missed last weeks rehearsal and really needed the catch up on this section. It made me feel good as well because the actors had already picked up so much. Luckily I did it early on so not worrying yet.
The cast are still finding the script humorous and I am happy they seem to be enjoying themselves. They are also becoming aware of the work involved with blankets and briefcases and a few nodded when I mentioned that line learning should be underway as we need to get the scripts out of hands as soon as possible.
Really enjoying it and looking forward to next week.

Looking Forward - John - 16/05/11

When I heard that Clare M was going to produce another Ray Cooney play, I was really looking forward to it.
Being keen on farce myself, this play does not disappoint - being full of the usual fun and mayhem of this type of play and is a pleasure to be part of.
Being chosen to play Sergeant Slater is as always a challenge but I am already enjoying my self as the character progresses throughout the play.
This is a farce that will be loved by those who are keen on them, but should also appeal to all type of audiences. So I hope both cast and crew, and audience will be looking forward to this production. Hope to see you there.

Spot The Briefcase... - Brianne - 17/05/11

What follows is my contribution to the current production diary (in fact this is my first ever contribution to a production diary - I've managed to dodge this bullet so far but Madam Producer is a very persuasive person).

So far things are going quite slowly whilst we do the blocking for this play. This is a part of the process I usually find quite tedious but interestingly I'm already finding it really amusing and often titter to myself as I watch the others and also when I'm on stage truth be told. The fact that the humour is already coming through bodes well I think. At the moment it feels like there are times we are going over and over a scene (for hours it feels) whilst we work out when to drop Sam on the floor (for some reason we never do get that scene right and we just have to keep on dropping her until we get it right. Practice makes perfect), or where the briefcase should be (and which briefcase it is (particularly when working with hypothetical briefcases).

There are some hurdles to overcome such as where to get 3 identical (inexpensive) briefcases from (and where on earth are they in the play at any one time and which one is which - did I mention they are identical?), absenteeism of cast from rehearsals on several occasions (including myself - whoops) and badly written notes in scripts (guilty). However, with Madam Producer's drive and enthusiasm we shall soon be whipped into shape and the finished product will have audiences rolling in the aisles (hopefully with laughter and not because there was something wrong with the refreshments).

An added bonus, when you watch this play, will be that you can play a version of the well known cups and ball trick. Watch the 3 briefcases as they move about the stage and see if you can work out which one has the money in when they come to a stop. You won't win anything except a profound sense of achievement and pride.

Right, enough waffle I've got work to do, if only I could find my briefcase...

Green Shoots? - Stuart - 22/05/11

Well now the blocking is out of the way it feels like we are really getting into the play.
Line learning for Act 1 is progressing and this means that actors can spend more time thinking about handling props and moving naturally about the stage - being their character.
Of course we will keep getting stuck on those awkward lines for a while so we welcome Lyndsey's return, who as the prompt, will be kept very busy during the next few weeks!
We will still make a few changes as scenes start to flow better but this can only be for the good of the performance.
This is a fast-paced, full-on farce and as such quite demanding on all the actors who must pay attention and be ready to jump-in with their moves and lines to ensure timing and intonation are spot-on.
I am sure members who came to watch rehearsals a couple of weeks ago would now agree that the green shoots of a play are starting to emerge and it is all beginning to knit together. Actors are starting to make comments like "ah yes, no I understand why I need to be over there" .
This play also relies heavily on key props, like the briefcases and the cash, so now people are putting scripts down, it will be important that we have all the props to hand. Past experience has taught us that early rehearsing with these props can make all the difference in remembering lines and moves.
So to sum-up, a play is beginning to emerge and if the actors continue learning lines at a pace, strong characters and good timing will result in a very amusing, polished piece.

Production Diary - Dave - 04/06/11

Damn! My turn. Errm............Rehearsals are progressing slowly. The summer production is always a nightmare because so many people take early holidays and it is difficult to get a full cast together. (I'm particularly bad with absences this time!).
I saw this play at the Connaught, ooooh, about 3 years ago and it is very funny. Our timing always seems a bit shaky at this stage of the rehearsal period but with the cast we've got, will be no problem when the curtain rises.. If there is any such animal as a seasoned amateur actor that is what we have in abundance. Together with a spot on back stage crew we can't go wrong. July seems so far away at the beginning of June but it doesn't take long to creep up on us. God, I hate learning lines!
Publicity* is a bit of a problem these days with the Worthing Herald moving to Horsham and apart from Phil Hewitt (who is a star- thanks Phil) seemingly quite disinterested in the amateur theatre scene. Does anyone know the name and contact details of anyone who does reviews for local papers? If so, can you email the details to me daveholden48@msn.com.
Hope to see you at the show. At £7.50 you can't go wrong!

Editor's note: Dave is also Publicity Secretary, just in case that wasn't obvious...

The Bill - Zahir - 20/06/11

Bill is an uncomplicated Cockney cab driver, and it’s turned out to be a straightforward part to learn. For most of his scenes, Bill enters in the shallow end of stage right and for the most part gets to stay over there, doing nothing more demanding than picking up a suitcase and walking out. Bill rarely ventures into the deep end - that's the middle of the stage where the main characters are engaged in a whirlpool of activity switching briefcases, dropping people and having heated arguments.
Another good thing is the cockney accent - I watched a few episodes of EastEnders to pick it up, though how convincing the accent is I don't know.
When I’m not on, I get to watch large chunks of the play and it’s flowing nicely especially the first Act. Most noticeable is the way Stuart and Sam have struck up a good rapport and are coming across very well as a highly-strung married couple.
I’m going on holiday soon so Bethan Jones is playing Bill in my absence. Bethan and I practised Bill’s lines and stage movements and I am very concerned - Bethan's doing the part really well and I’m worried that when I return I won't be allowed to play Bill any more! Anyway, all very enjoyable.

Lines... - Samantha - 05/07/11

Well this week we were meant to be concentrating on Act 2 and I had to have all lines learnt by Wednesday's rehearsal - ha ha - was there any chance of that? Oh no!
This is a very wordy play and there are many comings and goings happening. It is extremely exhausting and we are hampered by the fact that we have yet to have a full cast, but we are soldering on.
Stuart (aka Henry) and I (aka Jean) have spent many hours together trying to learn our lines. We have even gone so far as yelling at each other on Salvington Hill while walking his beloved dogs George and Mildred, much to the amazement of other dog walkers. We have had rather a lot of explaining to do sometimes!
If we pull this play off it will be extremely funny and we are working very hard to make that happen. I think Lyndsey (as prompt) has the hardest job of all, still, keep learning those lines guys.

...And Prompts - Lyndsey - 12/07/11

Well only one week to go and things are going well. Last nights rehearsal was great fun for me as I got to stand in for Brianne and played the part as my usual characters (flirtatious and busty! although not as much recently as I am getting older!) which seemed to amuse quite a few of the cast and lighten the mood and dispel the only one week to go thoughts. Sam and Stuart seemed to be joining in on the flirtatious side as well and poor old John got an eyeful when Sam was flapping her skirt about! Joking aside the play is a good laugh so if you want to have a fun evening out for only £7.50 come and join us Thursday, Friday & Saturday next week.
I hope I won't be needed on the nights though (I am prompt!).

Picture Perfect - Mike - 15/07/11

As I'm here posting the diary comments anyway, I thought it might be nice to make sure we get at least one picture included ahead of the show, so here it is...
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you...the cast. All of them (Martin - Dave - Gareth - John M - Zahir, Brianne - Stuart - Samantha).

Picture Perfect (2) - Mike - 21/07/11

For anyone not yet decided whether they should come and see the show (hint: yes, you should), here's a little taster from last night's dress rehearsal:

Meet Henry and Jean Perkins, happily married couple living at 42, Elgar Avenue...

...and Davenport, Bill the taxi driver...

...the Perkins' best (and possibly only) friends, Vic and Betty Johnson...

...an incidental passer-by...

...and Detective Sergeant Slater.

As to what all that adds up to - well, the easiest way to find out is to be in the audience.

Jean Perkins	....................	Samantha Merrick
Henry Perkins	....................	Stuart Gladwell
Bill	....................	Zahir White
Davenport	....................	Gareth Jones
Slater	....................	John Maplesden
Betty Johnson	....................	Brianne Considine
Vic Johnson	....................	Dave Holden
Passer-By	....................	Martin Lardner

Meet Henry and Jean Perkins, happily married couple living at 42, Elgar Avenue...	...and Davenport, Bill the taxi driver...
...the Perkins' best (and possibly only) friends, Vic and Betty Johnson...	...an incidental passer-by...
...and Detective Sergeant Slater.

Archives - July 2011