Notes from First Dress

ALL

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.