Congratulations everyone! I am so proud of you all and I hope you loved every minute of the show, even some of the bumpy bits! Traditionally directors give notes and suggestions after each performance to improve the next one. Please see below for director's notes.
DIRECTOR NOTES FROM THURSDAY 4TH AUGUST
ACT 1
- umbrella scene. Thunder cue to have the troupe run off stage needs to be faster. They just open and close umbrellas for about 30 seconds.
- Lachie R when you are in the bed, even though you are sick you need to keep your head up a little so everyone can see your face, especially audience sitting up the top.
- As a general note please don’t forget that you have an audience up the top and on the sides. Some of the scenes, the casino, Lachie B with his bird and the final big spirt fingers group freeze when you call out “The Crimson Firefly Circus!” needs to be further backstage.
- All troupe members, I know it’s tricky but try not to look at each other when you are doing the umbrella scene try to look out at the audience.
- Storm sound effects for start of the circus scene when the tent blows down needs to be faster. It’s great the ensemble ran on anyway and started the scene.
- The tent collapsing looked great but keep up the energy and panic till it falls down.
- Troupe how the circus was saved looked great. Keep in character and keep playing with the boxes until you need to throw them. All really yell out the numbers as you are counting them and replying to Archie.
- For scene 3 after the blocks have been knocked over cue music when Campbell says “That was the night Jack Berolucci’s Circus lost their big top.
- The first caravan set up was too slow and needs to be faster.
- Play the gazette track again when the ensemble come in after it’s played for the Gazette troupe scene.
- Dom M look up at the audience a lot more in your first scene.
- Dom M slow down a little with your lines.
- Ensemble when doing the circus flash back when you point you need to stay still
- “Pete learns to fly” the projection is only on for a short time and then when the troupe comes on stage projection turns off and there is a new lighting cue for the rest of the troupe scene.
- Pete and Jack after the scooter crash just step further backstage to sides can see.
- Before the show starts Troupe please check ALL your signs and make sure they are in the right place.
- Marika before you do the tightrope can you please use one of the umbrellas as a balancing parasol? Hold it in the hand away from the audience. Just use it for the first scene.
- Troupe scene for “Christos” the first time need to yell it out.
- Really fab energy from the girls in the cast – Edi need to be careful not too yell too much, love the pace and delivery of your lines, Emma try not to breathe deeply into mic when you exit, Tilly in your scene you need to try and look happy to be with Young L and then really scared and angry, Marika great energy and also try not to yell too much.
- Hugs with anyone have to be done slower so we don’t have a crash sound in the mics.
- Campbell loved your reaction to Saturn is approaching.
- Also Max loved the whistling as you come down the aisle.
- Troupe you can also call out “The Local Gazette” when you sit down and this will also help you end the scene.
- For the tent scene – keep the tent off stage and have backstage ninjas sorted before you come on stage so it’s not tangled
- Lachie R come on and off with the bed so there isn’t a delay and sit on the bed slowly. We will fix and tape it etc so none of the wood will fall off.
- Lachie B when you do your scenes with the bird please move backstage so people on sides can see.
- Fingers, Rat and Smart scene with bird. Rat and Smart you can be even meaner and bigger characters. Be more physical too, needs more movement.
- When “The Jewelled Knife” scene is done before you all leave point at the sign at call out “The Jewelled Knife” Scene worked really well. Max when you hand the knives over, show the knife thrower to hold the knife end to throw.
- Lachie B I don’t think you will be able to use a hoop as they are used for the following scene so try to grab something else to balance – one of the umbrellas would work. If there is nothing there don’t mime an object just do a handstand (or try)!
- When the mats are brought on for the Chase troupe scene, troupe stay in character and boss around and help out so mats are perfect and then once the mats are in position start the chase scene.
- Chase scene music needs to restart once the actors do their chase scene
- With the actors chase scene don’t drop the energy, keep it going and adlib lines. Needs to end with more of a climax. Maybe even try a few “fight moves”.
- Lovely movement with the bird Lachie B in terms of how you had it swaying.
- With the end of Act 1 in the gazette scene once the last line is said Pete said “My aunt. Thank you, thank you Mr McKnee” and he hugs Dom everyone freeze. Wait for the lights to change and then exit off stage quickly.
ACT 2
- Before lights go up for Act 2 start have Lachie R on stage in the bed.
- Zena take the energy down a tiny bit with volume when you enter the hospital.
- Pete’s Triumph looked fantastic!
- For the ensemble when the baddies say “We will dispose of them along the way….” Everyone be really scared and run off don’t wait.
- Josh slow down a little when you say Christos name so it’s clear.
- Feed you to the sharks needs to come down a little in volume as the mic can’t take it! But more volume before you say the shark line.
- Ensemble try to make your movements into each part of Zena’s story sharper and quicker.
- Edi needs music at the start of Zena’s story when she begins speaking.
- Tango looked better.
- Jacob you need to act out more what it being said in the story. Eg. crowds loved you then wave you hands out to everyone etc.
- Tilly need to look scared and sad try not to smile when you faint!
- At the very end of the Zena’s story scene and when Jacob says “Zena you will never get away ensemble run off stage.
- Will and Geordie when you do the scene with the unicycle remember you stand at the back in semi circle and get punched out by Jimmy one by one. Las night you both had your backs to the audience so just line up with the others.
- When Eddie demonstrates the lasso eg. how he caught them respond don’t just be silent.
- Don’t drop the intensity of the chase scene.
- Rat when you do your big line at the end about wanting to join the circus really step forward and use exaggerated movements and also look up at the audience.
- Campbell much better line delivery with “Dad I mean Uncle.”
- Jack at the end when you take off your coat and hat hand it over to Zena and you could even throw in a line “here, these are yours now.”
- Make sure curtain call music is up loud at the start.
- Backstage ninjas on both sides of the stage can stick their heads out and wave at curtain call.
- On Saturday night remember all crew can come down and take a bow at the end. Sound, lighting, projection etc can also leave the desk and run down to crew take a bow and run back up.
Have a brilliant show tonight and keep being amazing.
I am so proud of you.
Ms J