It's been an amazing - and ridiculously busy - week. I won't ever talk much about my day job here, but it's also gotten insanely busy just as one of my shows opens and the other opens in less than two weeks.
THE WOODEN LEG season of short plays at The Owl and the Pussycat in Richmond had an amazing opening night - full house and some great feedback from the audience after. I've been to all three performances so far and I think the show is getting stronger and stronger every night. I particularly love the intimacy of the three spaces and how that is helping tell all three stories. The audiences are quite confronted by "You Will Be Kissed By Princess Leia" - especially as they circle the actors, like people surrounding a schoolyard fight. And of particular interest is the moment when Paul throws Tom against one wall - forcing the audience to move or get crushed in this great moment of physical theatre. (I was on that wall opening night, so it seemed staged. Last night my mother was against that wall - and it was fun to see her reaction!)
My other play, "Sibling Loyalty," is easier to enjoy - it's a lot more lighthearted, even though it's a pitch black comedy. There are more obvious laughs, even if the subject matter is pretty serious by the end. (That said, "Leia" elicited a lot more laughs from the audience last night - of which I was very glad!) The space "Loyalty" plays in is even more intimate and on opening night, Brad had to climb over audience members to come into the room - and find a small amount of space to perform in. I always love sitting front row to watch shows. In this case, it's very close quarters for everyone involved and everyone watching.
The Wooden Leg as a group has come together quite quickly, but we're all so thrilled with what we've been able to achieve in such a short amount of time, we'll be sticking together to see what we can achieve with more time at our disposal. To that end, we'll be having a post-production/look-to-the-future meeting this week to see where we head next.
But don't be surprised if you see another Wooden Leg show before the end of the year.
*
RICHARD DI GREGORIO: ON TIME is less than two weeks away from opening as part of Melbourne Fringe. The short film pieces are almost done, all the practical stuff like hiring equipment and last minute arrangements with the space are mostly dealt with. We're still looking for a lighting tech to crew the show, but I think that's close to being confirmed, too.
I've also been taking every opportunity to hand out our business cards which Ephiny had printed up for the show - they look great and are very practical. I'm getting lots of great feedback on using business cards as advertising, too - since most shows use postcards or flyers, which often get chucked or disappear into bags never to be found (until after the production). Business cards can go in wallets, diaries, mobile phone cases and are easy to find and reference.
Will be talking a little bit more about the show closer to its arrival. But excited for it to open and thrilled to see the finished product myself!
*
SHORT & SWEET MELBOURNE announced their script shortlist for their November season and one of my short plays was chosen! The final program will be announced in a week, so cross fingers that by next weekend there will be another production of my work under way.
Now you see, I thought with The Wooden Leg show closing, I'd be able to slow down - but no! Well, it depends who is directing my piece for S&S as to how involved I am in that production. On the plus side, it's a monologue for a female actor, so there will be many actors to choose from in auditions - and it's far easier to organise rehearsals for one actor than many.
*
And when I say I was looking forward to slowing down, what I meant to say was - spend more of my time focusing on THREE WOMEN, which we're still aiming to do in February 2012. Things are coming together well for that show, too - with a production designer on board and finally finding a space that's within our budget and suits our needs. Will post more once our next meeting is held - which is proving difficult as we head into Fringe Fest season.
*
And today I'm having a lazy day... sending emails about possible future shows, etc. Which is relatively lazy. Tonight, Richard and I are off to see Alan Ball (American Beauty, Six Feet Under, True Blood) speak with Alan Brough about his career. Can't wait!
Then, off to celebrate Donna (Maria in "Sibling Loyalty")'s birthday.
THE WOODEN LEG season of short plays at The Owl and the Pussycat in Richmond had an amazing opening night - full house and some great feedback from the audience after. I've been to all three performances so far and I think the show is getting stronger and stronger every night. I particularly love the intimacy of the three spaces and how that is helping tell all three stories. The audiences are quite confronted by "You Will Be Kissed By Princess Leia" - especially as they circle the actors, like people surrounding a schoolyard fight. And of particular interest is the moment when Paul throws Tom against one wall - forcing the audience to move or get crushed in this great moment of physical theatre. (I was on that wall opening night, so it seemed staged. Last night my mother was against that wall - and it was fun to see her reaction!)
My other play, "Sibling Loyalty," is easier to enjoy - it's a lot more lighthearted, even though it's a pitch black comedy. There are more obvious laughs, even if the subject matter is pretty serious by the end. (That said, "Leia" elicited a lot more laughs from the audience last night - of which I was very glad!) The space "Loyalty" plays in is even more intimate and on opening night, Brad had to climb over audience members to come into the room - and find a small amount of space to perform in. I always love sitting front row to watch shows. In this case, it's very close quarters for everyone involved and everyone watching.
The Wooden Leg as a group has come together quite quickly, but we're all so thrilled with what we've been able to achieve in such a short amount of time, we'll be sticking together to see what we can achieve with more time at our disposal. To that end, we'll be having a post-production/look-to-the-future meeting this week to see where we head next.
But don't be surprised if you see another Wooden Leg show before the end of the year.
*
RICHARD DI GREGORIO: ON TIME is less than two weeks away from opening as part of Melbourne Fringe. The short film pieces are almost done, all the practical stuff like hiring equipment and last minute arrangements with the space are mostly dealt with. We're still looking for a lighting tech to crew the show, but I think that's close to being confirmed, too.
I've also been taking every opportunity to hand out our business cards which Ephiny had printed up for the show - they look great and are very practical. I'm getting lots of great feedback on using business cards as advertising, too - since most shows use postcards or flyers, which often get chucked or disappear into bags never to be found (until after the production). Business cards can go in wallets, diaries, mobile phone cases and are easy to find and reference.
Will be talking a little bit more about the show closer to its arrival. But excited for it to open and thrilled to see the finished product myself!
*
SHORT & SWEET MELBOURNE announced their script shortlist for their November season and one of my short plays was chosen! The final program will be announced in a week, so cross fingers that by next weekend there will be another production of my work under way.
Now you see, I thought with The Wooden Leg show closing, I'd be able to slow down - but no! Well, it depends who is directing my piece for S&S as to how involved I am in that production. On the plus side, it's a monologue for a female actor, so there will be many actors to choose from in auditions - and it's far easier to organise rehearsals for one actor than many.
*
And when I say I was looking forward to slowing down, what I meant to say was - spend more of my time focusing on THREE WOMEN, which we're still aiming to do in February 2012. Things are coming together well for that show, too - with a production designer on board and finally finding a space that's within our budget and suits our needs. Will post more once our next meeting is held - which is proving difficult as we head into Fringe Fest season.
*
 |
| Alan Ball: film about death, show about death, show about the undead |
Then, off to celebrate Donna (Maria in "Sibling Loyalty")'s birthday.
Comments