'BIG IDEA' - PHOENIX THEATRE

The 'BIG IDEA' dress rehearsal worked today, considering the barriers they had to climb, getting the production to this stage.

Also of the 10 cast members, 7 of which, was their first time on stage. Accomplished more than was asked of them, thru trying circumstances, of an unfinished venue.

With the assistance of Hywell & hiring equipment from David {All Things Theatre]. We Managed to make the venue workable, by installing our own lighting patch circuits & FOH lighting bar. After using 'Smother' cloths upstage & in the FOH. To assist the acoustics & reduce the multiple echo effects & audio bounce.

The SM's [Emma Muller] son Bret & Lawrrence Haywood  ably assisted her backstage, as a techie. Also Jane Sherwood's [Plays Christine in the play] her son william, was the lighting operator. all boys are actually only about 10 years old & graduated from the status of TIT's, to that of Techies today. They were both outstanding & never missed a cue.

Taking all things into account, such as the reversed Air Con [heating] not working & is being far too noisy when it does. The venue main exit doors had to be repaired, prior to the dress rehearsal, so the builders were called in. Or we would have not been able to open or close them, to stop the wind & muffle the traffic noises coming into the venue. The house lights dimmer, decided to take a holiday, so they had to be switched off outside the auditorium.

We had to place black calico on all the 8 auditorium windows, to cut the sun light out.

The cast/crew did an outstanding job, making the 'Big Idea' work, in an alleged $4 Million refurbished venue.

May be in hind sight it would have been easier to the play in a circus Big Top, at least it would have been hell of a lot less hassles, for a couple of old farts technically.

I'm thinking of applying to the Guinness Book of records, as the first old Codger to survive more than 6 strokes successfully.

Meanwhile the 'Big Idea' opens on Tuesday night, at the 'Memorial Hall' [Cnr Carrington St & Rockingham Road - Hamilton Hill.

{At least the old blokes, will have a chance, to hang a #223 fresnel, to use as the house lights & bounce the light off the white FOH ceiling. On Monday & fix a few other things as well?}

Thanks Jane - but you, Hywell & cast did it all!

It took me a long time to remember, what a 'Hautboy' was? Because mine broke years ago & ain't mended yet! {Being visualy impared, one could say was from playing it far too much?}

'BIG IDEA' opened to a an enthusiastic audience! Some who were inadequately dressed  & shivered with delight - or from the fact the new state of the art reversed air con heating didn't work? But I believe it was the show & not from forgetting to bring their coats & jumpers.

Of course I did my usual trick & stuffed things up as usual! I contacted Margret Taylor to ask her to play the part of Anne in the show. Because Councillor Val Oliver at an urgent City Council meeting. Margret gracefully agree to stand in at a moments notice, although she had only seen the dress rehearsal on Sunday. Being a trouper she turned up with her costumes & what not. But I had got it wrong, the City Council meeting is to be held on Thursday. Sorry Margret! [I hope  she will actually return for the Thursday night show?]

The punters were great, the whole ten of them!

We actually made an unexpected profit, from the free cuppas, even though I forgot the biscuits, as one happy punter donated $5 for a coffee.

The cast did well & covered each other, during those extra elongated pauses - which happen.

We even got a front page, full 4 colour photo in the local rag, to our amazement. Except we believe some areas won't get the paper delivered until this Saturday - closing night!

The punters out numbered the cast at last nights show, there were 12 BOS's.

Looking forward to tonight to see if we can break the record thus far & get more, even with the crew included?

Last night before the interval of the 'Big Idea' - I found the Air Con [Reversed cycle (heating) sub control board.

Who would have thought it was hiding, all this time, in a kitchen cupboard?

I'll have to have a little play with it, before the the show, to try & get the heating cycle to work!

Just in case I don't, if your coming to see the 'Big Idea', wear something warm tonight.

House RAG out at 8PM!

...maybe not the type of drama that will find itself re-staged at the Blueroom, but fun nevertheless.

Thanks gaafa, I may not get along - not getting to see much of anything recently with my focus on the little ones - but I'm loving your blow by blow, warts 'n' all report on proceedings.

:-)

Regards
Grant

--
Director, actor and administrator of this website

Because the Mayor of Cockburn is stepping aside, for 3 months, a special Council meeting was held last night. Which meant Cr Val Oliver who plays 'Anne' in the 'Big Idea' production, could not be at the performance.

So we contacted Margret Taylor who agreed to stand in & do the role, on a few yours notice. Considering she had only seen the play, as a punter on opening night. She did a fantastic portrial of Anne & carried it off as though she had 'under studied' the part for months - not just hours. [The role is quite 'Seminal'(Wot ever that means?)] - Your a real 'trouper' Margret!

I never got the chance to do much about with the Air Con [heating], as I was preoccupied sweating my box off, fixing the 'House rag tab track. luckily we have a 20' ladder which just fits under the proscenium arch 'Teaser'. But I came to realise that gone are the days, when I'd run up a ladder & slide down them again, by Just being held on to the ladder by the inside of my feet, on the outside of the ladders both main struts to descend quickly. This is not a practise that is recommended for new players - or even old farts for that matter! Also it does 'narf buggah up the insteps of the shoes rapidly.

The tab track rails must of had 50 years of dirt 'n muck on them. No wonder it sounded like a tube train going thru gravel on the tracks.

I tried to rub a block of soap on the rails, which was useless as tits on a bull. So I asked for the bottle of dishwashing liquid from the kitchen, as it was the only thing I could think of that would be too hand. It worked well & far easier that the bar of soap ( & my hands are as soft as a babies R send now). Instead of constantly climbing up & down the ladder, I found it was easier to just apply the dishwashing liquid to the tab rollers, with the rag gathered in one place was the way to go, than trying to do the length of the tracks. With use the washing up liquid, it will hopefully free up the dirt, but the track needs to be cleaned properly - but I'm too old & 'cream crackerd' to do it.

The show went well, but the cast/crew still out numbered the BoS's, with only 11 in the audience. But for the cast, especially the 7 very new  trodders of the boards, I believe it is great experience for them, especially when lines are forgotten or missed out. They have become very adept to paraphrasing to get back on track, with little 'dead air' or major stuff up's!

Actors like Jane Sherwood [Christine] should get a 'Phoscar' for her quick thinking, when a newer member was supposed to rush in & say "Have you heard the latest news?", unfortunately he missed his cue & didn't appear. So quick thinking Jane reached in to her hand bag & said " I have just received a 'text message' & proceeded to deliver the late breaking news! Brilliant & the scene didn't miss a beat.

As there is only two performances left to go, me thinks I'll forget about trying to fix the bleeding Air Con, although I'm still contemplating just effecting the repairers, with a big 'Nudge vernier' [Hammer] & fix it properly all together.

 I'm far too old for this game & I'd be far better off, just pulling the pin. Staying home & having a 'Bex', cuppa tea &/or a good lie down - forever!

{As we have no kids now to keep me young, unlike Grant! The only thing left is to mimic childhood & suck our thumbs these days}  

I wish I had of realised it is still on the air, from Perth?

It may have brought in a few more BoS's to out number the cast 'n crew of the 'BIG IDEA'

Last performance tonight & Saturday PM at the Phoenix Theatre [a.k.a the naked chook pen] Hamilton Hill - turn left at Fremantle for a few clicks. Or check out the road map, for the corner of Rockingham Road & Carrington Street Hamilton Hill. You can't miss it the carpark for the Memorial hall attached to the  Legoland buildings,adjacent to the Round water tank [Art Gallery], & War Memorial. 

Following on from the posts of Jeff & Taureen about local ameatres & tribes sort of.

I was just speaking to my neighbour, who I roped int to play a part in the 'big Idea', because we could not find any  men for the role.

He is in his 40's very with drawn, because he is dyslexic.

He agreed to do the small part & the Phoenix cast welcomed into the fold. Not at any time did any of the cast ridicule him or pressure me to drop or replace him, because of his difficulties he experienced with reading or remembering lines. 

 instead they encouraged him to persevere & carry on.

He did the performances & was most reluctant inviting anyone in his family to see him on stage. He finally relented on the last night of the show & invited his brother.

The next day his brother contacted their sisters & told them how proud he was of his younger brothers performance & the achievement to actually step out in front of an audience & do it.

 Today on my return from the Council offices, I found him sitting in the front garden crying.

 I rushed over to find out what was wrong with him, that's when he told me that his whole family had congratulated him & now he feels for the first time in his life. That he has proved to everyone & him self, that he is not stupid! Which all came about because of those in the Theatre group, helping him to achieve his 'Biggest Idea' & the dreams he has had all his life! 

Unfortunately because it so hot here at the moment, my eyes are perspiring badly & I'm getting blurred vision. So I'll wind this up!