The FCT Variety Show
fundraising event
May 21, 22
Forest For The Trees
By Megan Donahue
and Bob Gerics
Sept 23-Oct 2
Flint Zombie Walk
fundraising event
Oct 16
Misdirected
By Bob Gerics
Dec 2-11
Earl The Vampire
By Sean Michael Welch
Mar 3-12, 2011
Shakespeare TBA
Jun 2-11, 2011
www.flintcitytheatre.com
Cheat out. Not just your body but angle of scenes.
If two are onstage together, the U.S. person should favor a position closer to C.
If you turn to speak to another character, turn toward the audience.
If you are facing someone in an aggressive or flirtations manner with one foot toward that person, make sure it is the U.S. foot. That is, show the audience your front, not your back.
Project over the sound of your shoes.
Ad libs before Benv/Tyb fight need to be in the right mode. Louder, more pissed, more sarcastic.
Dance: Small steps.
Don’t bounce.
Much better sex last night.
Ad lib before and during Tyb/Merc fight.
During Merch and Ferrel’s business, hold adlibs until Merc’s last cross up to her. “Ere the morrow.” “Milking of the cow.” Etc.
Gregory Sampson
Montague Joke. Funny. When you enter, Greg, step further on so Samp doesn't bury you from view.
Jon E
Spit sound. Not “PAH!”
Step toward Greg/Samp with your U.S. (left) foot when you spit.
Tybalt
Wait half a beat more before “WHAT! Art thou drawn…” We should hear: “know now what you do.” TING. “What!” The “ting” is their swords.
Give Peter your mask “Fetch me my rapier.”
All stuff to and about Romeo (party scene) plant yourself. Don’t shuffle. Put all that frustration in your voice and body, but not feet.
Add a prop. Hanky to wipe dead Tybalt’s face. This if for you as well as for the drama.
Benvolio
Facing off with Tyb, ignore everyone else as they egg you on or mock you. Focus strictly on Tyb. He gunna cut yo ass.
Keep sword quiet during speeches, as much as possible.
“Not to his father’s” good pull-up. Just enough struggle. After pull-up, look at Merc, and ad “What!” as if, “What are you looking at?”
With Romoe, Merc, Nurse etc.
All three of you, move, then plant. Don’t wander.
“Why dost thou stay!?” Push Romeo off, turn him down stage.
Up the pace of the speech to the prince. Slow down the words but shorten/take out the pauses.
Prince
Stay on the upper most platform until after “…weapons to the ground.” Then step down to the stage level.
Office scene: “Your lives.” Not “lifes.”
On that line, “Your lives shall pay…” point with your sword.
Rail at them, even if you flub the line.
End “All are punished” let Cap cross in before you step down for final bit.
Romeo
Have FUN with Benv and with Peter. Enjoy messing with their heads. Don’t be mean to Peter. Romeo’s not a dick. He’s just emo.
First conversation with Jul, SMILE at her.
Is the climb down ok? “Can I go forward?” Take your time.
“He jests at scars.” Not big. Say as if, “That poor, dumb son of a bitch.”
And sneak out before you say it. Don’t lunge out.
Move bench D.S. to climb.
Balcony scene, very nice.
Too long before “Hence will I to my ghostly father’s.” One beat less.
First Friar scene. Slow it down! Make sure he understands your plan. But keep the excitement.
Enter into Benv Merc scene as you did, just hang out and watch them. Then step right in on Merc’s “Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi!”
With Benv, Merc, Nurse etc.
All three of you, move, then plant. Don’t wander.
Get into Tyb Merc fight more.
“Hurt cannot be much.” Don’t stand U.S. of Merc.
“This but begins the woe…” bring the energy down. Don’t shout. Just state it.
Banished. Don’t shout all of it. Remember the levels and the different states of mind.
Too many pauses.
INSANITY! “Tell me Friar. In what vile part…”
“Juliet wills it so.” Lie length-wise, not ass to audience.
Take vest off right away.
If Nurse is late, start kissing.
We lost the fun in this scene.
“And therefore came I hither.” Not “So came I”
Tomb, take out pauses.
“Tybalt.” Not “Tybalt?” Not as if, “Tybalt? Is that you?”
Don’t wander. Walk.
“Eyes – comma – look your last.”
“Arms – comma – take your last embrace.”
Good death!
Servant 1
Cross on “…liberty unto thine eyes.”
Wait two more seconds before entering “Where’s Potpan?”
Project over music.
Peter
Speak while opening letter. “Find those persons out…”
“In good time!” means “Yea! I’m saved!”
Project over music in party scene.
Take Tybalt’s mask “Fetch me my rapier.”
Project.
Juliet and girls
:]
Nurse
Don’t rush first speech. Just enjoy the memories of Juliet as a child.
How are we with the patch?
No sigh of relief until you hear “…gone to Laurence’ cell to make confession.
Lady Capulet
“The valiant Paris” Really enjoy saying those words to your daughter for the first time.
Turn left to guests, “Well said, my hearts.” Etc.
“Justice” speech. With Guard, good at second column, U.S. of Tyb. Them step down to Gregory after Guard releases you.
Add a prop. Hanky to wipe dead Tybalt’s face. This if for Marwan as well as for the drama.
Entrance into “Wilt thou be gone.” :]
Counter L. when Cap pushed Juliet and Nurse off “We’ll to church tomorrow.”
Queen Mab Scene
All ad lib, laugh, excitement about dancing, the feast, into which we shall sneak.
All, very nice.
Merc
Conjuring, head too high.
With Ro, Benv, Nurse etc.
All three of you, move, then plant. Don’t wander.
Quarreling speech “Didst” not “Didn’st”
Let “anger” at Benv build. Not just at the end.
Death scene. Nice.
When you sit on S.R. bench, angle out.
Juliet
Be aware that you are in a nighty and Romeo is below and can see up.
When you and Ro are both at top of balcony, cheat the angle, step D.S. of Ro.
When answering Nurse, turn D.S.
Balcony scene, very nice.
“Dreadful trumpet” not “general trumpet”
Articulate loud, angry parts. SLOW DOWN!
“Shall not make me a bride.”
Friar scene “with this knife”
“What if it be poison”
Tomb scene.
We lost the fun in the “Wilt thou be gone?” scene.
“FROM the reach of these…” not “with”
Friar’s potion speech, stay seated. Stand when you grab for vile.
“Pardon I beseech” Kneel but don’t sit on feet.
Ghosts speech. Fear, not screams. Build to “Stay Tybalt!”
Quicker into “What’s hear? A cup?”
“Thy lips are warm.” Needs to be a soft, desperate “Oh god, if only I’d been here a minute earlier.”
Slightly slower death.
Jon E, Drew, Liz, Friar John, Friar L
In Friar scene, both times students are answering the Friar:
All shout the answers, Jon E raise your hand.
Friar John call on Jon E
Jon E repeat the answer, smugly, as if “Ha ha, I got the right answer because I raised my hand.”
Friar John, finish it for him as you have been “With the heart.”
Friar L
“Wisely and slow!” Be stern with Ro.
“Get thee to thy love.” Not “lady.”
Cheat R. “Go before, Nurse.”
“I’ll find out your man…every good hap…” Cheer Ro up.
Wait a bit more before entering “On Thursday, sir.” Two more seconds of music.
“Wednesday is tomorrow” sit her back down and explain. Don’t kneel.
On quicker “Come, is the bride ready…” so you’re further on when you are speaking.
Cross inside curtain, “Sir go you in.”
Friar John
Articulate. But keep the intensity. “Going to find a bare foot brother.”
PATRICK
Street musician scene, hum lightly with guitar if you want. (Not in wedding sequence.)
Guard 2
Good, pushing Lady Cap back to second column. Keep it U.S. of Tybalt.
Paris
On balcony, cheat out of Capulet’s way. Step D.R.
Tomb, when Ro approaches you “Temp not…” threaten him. “Ha!”
Capulet
Don’t shout “Look to’t, think on’t, I do no use to jest.”
After “All are punished.” Step in to Lady C. Don’t wait for Prince to move.
Balthazar
Project ad libs and lines.
Mantua, cheat out.
Pause too long before, “Her body sleeps…”
W/ Friar “Here’s one…” into light quicker.
Guard 1
Push Tybalt into tomb IN THE DARK. Wait for light change.
“Seal up THE mouth of outrage.” Not “thy mouth.”
Guard 2
Ad lib outside tomb is good. But sounds like vaudeville voice. Serous sounding voice.
Romeo mushy lines
Words in ALL CAPS are those we lost.
THAT IS NOT what it is.
Devout RELIGION OF mine eye.
WITH NIMBLE souls
UNDER loves heavy bourdon
THE GAME WAS ne’er so fair
MISGIVES SOME CONSEQUENCE…VILE FORFEIT.”
RICH JEWEL IN AN ETHIOP’S EAR
SHE HANDS UPON the cheek of night
FORSWEAR IT sight
MAKE BLESSED MY RUDE HAND
THUS FROM thy lips
FORGETTING ANY OTHER home
WITHIN THY help and holy physic
ON THE FARE daughter or rich Cap
THE OTHER DID NOT so
NEVER WITH ME when thou wast not there for the goose.
DOTH MUCH EXCUSE the appertaining
IS THOU KNOWST me not
BETTER THAN thou canst devise
TILL THOU SHALT KNOW the reason of my love
HURT CANNOT BE MUCH
MY REPUTATION stained
TYBALT THAT but an hour
THEY BEAUTY HATH MADE ME EFFEMINATE
FOR EXILE hath more terror
MUCH MORE than death
AND WORLD’S exile is death
SEIZE UPON the white wonder
NOW THAT I HAVE STAINED…BUT LITTLE FROM HER OWN.
FLIES may do this. The “F” was lost.
TAKING THE MEASURE of an unmade grave
THAT WILL CONVEY my greetings
GET ME ink and paper
DOING MORE MURDERS in this loathsome world
TO JULIET’S GRAVE FOR THERE MUST i use thee
CAME I HITHER
THAT ARE THY chamber maids
OH YOU THE DOORS of breath
Sight lines. If you can see them (the audience), they can see you. If you are back stage, stay out of sight. We’ll address this tonight.
Men, PULL YOUR PANTS UP! Romeo, Benvolio (sometimes), Jon E. If your pants don’t stay up, write it on the costume board.
Ad libs FULL VOICE. Party scene, Patrick jammin’ scene, all fencing scenes
Dance. Um…hmm…I need some sex. There’s no shoulder rubbing, no hungry eyes, no flirting, nothing but dancing. SEX PEOPLE!
When walking from one section to the next, don’t bounce. Smooth, sexy movements.
Slow dance, I need one couple on the S.R. upper platform and two couples on the S.L. upper platform.
At end of slow dance (after the Capulet Tybalt argument) slow dancers wait a beat and applaud. THEN we’ll take the music out.
All entrances to Juliet’s bedroom through R2.
Rosaline and Ladies
Good sonnets. Good adlibs with guys.
Rosaline
After throwing money, Mercutio kisses hand, turn, stop, see drew, let him be pissed, then shrug and go u.s. Don’t feel you have to rush before Benvolio speaks. It should happen at the same time so take your time.
Tim and Jon E
Enter quicker right after the end of Rosaline’s sonnet.
Apologize to Ferrel. “Apologies, my lady.” Or some shit like that. Then go back to fencing. FULL VOICE.
Cheat the angle when it’s just you on stage. Can’t see Tim. Ask me if you need clarification.
Jon E
Spit sound. Not, “Pah!”
Tim
After “Avaunt Sampson!” be looking back over your shoulder on your exit to make sure he’s not following you. That bastard has a weapon.
Sampson
Second mocking line, keep the mocking tone but let the hatred bubble up more so that the scene builds to “Draw if you be men!” Otherwise that the fury on that line comes out of nowhere.
Prince
First scene, nice.
Office scene, pauses are too long.
No break between grave-beseaming.
Tomb, “Heaven finds joy” not “HeavenS”
Ending, to audience, finish, stay facing audience.
Romeo
Reading list of guests, “Rosaline!” As if, “Hey, that’s the chick I want to tap!” Not as if, “Rosaline? Why the fuck is she coming?”
Get into it, the party etc on “On lusty gentlemen.” As if, “Let’s rock!”
Take a longer beat after lights before make your entrance onto platform “Can I go forward…”
Show off for Juliet, how brave you are, how much you do for her, “with loves wings” “proof against” “Night’s cloak to hide me”
Climb down from balcony, turn out (to you left) to kiss Jul.
Don’t peak around chalk board until your line, “Good morrow, father.”
“This gentleman” Shock. Just say it softly. Start there and build into the different beats.
W/ Tybalt, Stab, HOLD, then fall.
W/ Tybalt, Sword disarm MUST fall D.S. of the arch. Be aware of where it is.
“Banished” Good. More distinction between different beats, to Friar vs. Juliet’s hand vs. hast thou no poison.
When you fall to floor, sprawl. Not too comfortable.
Mantua Dream speech. As if “I had the weirdest dream.”
“Tempt not.” Step in to Paris.
“Mercutio’s kinsman.” Don’t shout. Say as if, “Aw fuck.”
Step toward Tybald when you address him.
Juliet
When you re-enter on the stage level come all the way D.S. to Romeo’s level.
“Clock struck nine” Enter one beat later after lights.
Angle the bench out for the Nurse. There is spike tape there to get the right angle.
“Dragon…cave” Get up and pace.
Too much pausing between beats.
“He shall NOT make me there a joyful bride!” We lost of fire. Get it back.
“Comfort Nurse” = Help me.
Lose dagger after Friar scene.
Poison scene, start seeing ghosts sooner. “…if I wake before Romeo come…” Nightmare fear.
Friar dragging you away from bier, reach for Romeo, don’t swim.
Servant 1
On S.R. upper platform, one half step D.S. will put you in light.
Servants 1, 2
“Where’s potpan.” Project over music!
Peter
Learn the dance steps AND THE COUNTS or I’ll have to take you out of it. Ask someone to help you with.
Lady C
Capulet Tybalt argument, when Cap takes Tybalt R., counter more L. so you are in full view of the audience.
Change: at Tybalt’s death enter right on your line, not with Capulet.
Friar Laurence
“Benedicite!” Drip with sarcasm, as if, “Wweeeeellll. Nice of you to join us!”
Tomb, w/ Blathazar, to platform quicker.
Benvolio
Sit with Mercutio “…enters the confines of a tavern.” Up on “And what to?”
Good speech, Tybalt’s death. Don’t rush.
Mercutio
Good death. Don’t rush the end. Become week, less able to shout as you get to the end. The last “you houses!” is too strong and healthy.
Tybalt and Romeo
Stab, HOLD, then fall.
Sword disarm MUST fall D.S. of the arch. Be aware of where it is.
Montague
“…the life of Tybalt!” Keep the energy and intensity up.
Nurse
“He’s dead” scene, enter L2, come in so that you are U.S. of the bed. House left couldn’t see you.
Capulet
In quicker on “How now, a conduit?” Come in and speak. Not waiting.
Was there an adlib on that line?
“God’s bread” speech, more down beats, quiet anger.
Don’t rush. Take the time to rail and to explain to her.
“We’ll have this know knit up tomorrow.” No pause to think.
End of scene, no attitude, just happy that “…this same wayward girl is so reclaimed.”
Friar John
Slow down, articulate.
Matt
Push Tybalt on with his body flat, and do so in the dark.
“Run to the Capulets, raise up the Montagues.” Step R so you can cheat out.
Blathazar
Lamp higher.
W/ Friar, to platform quicker.
Once you’re on the stage level, sit on D.L bench.
Paris
Romeo steps in to you on “Temp not…” Shout him back.
Stab, scream like Juliet does when she stabs herself.
