I think I want to use this blog basically to toot the horn of the amazing student Stage Manager on the Midsummer Night's Dream that Jason Bowen and Magda Spasiano are directing at Boston Arts Academy. I went to a couple of hours of rehearsal on Monday afternoon (their final dress is this afternoon!) just to see if anyone needed any help. Every in the room continues to work so, so very hard on the show - Russ Swift, the lighting designer, was there on one side of the tech table, tweaking the timing on lights. Jason (who along with Magda is also designing the sound), sad on the other side of the tech table tweaking the volume of the final sound cue so both it and Puck's final speech could be heard. Jenna Lord, the scenic designer, and Seth Bodie, the costume designer, were not only putting the final touches on their design elements but continuing their role as teachers by filling the students in on theater etiquette (always check with the costume designer or wardrobe supervisor before you grab your costume off of the rack for the first time; the bag that holds your small costume pieces is a "ditty bag"). On the other side of the room sat three ASL interpreters, watching rehearsal to learn the script for the performance for which they will be interpreting.
And in the middle of everything and everyone, sat the stage manager. Now, she has not done this before. She is a junior in high school who never took blocking before, never wrote a cue into a script, never called a cue before. But there she was, calling the room to attention, telling everyone where to start and when, writing down all of the new blocking that comes in the final moments of rehearsal when new props are added and new scene changes require new entrances, setting the props table, keeping everyone informed of where and what and who and when! My favorite moment came during the scene when Puck and the fairies put the lovers to sleep so Puck can erase the erroneous charms on the men. The direction required Puck to give a specific hand signal on a specific line and the lovers to respond to this magic in a specific way so that a "button" sound and light cue can happen (a "button" cue is one that happens in a zero count usually on a specific movement or word so that it is extremely essential that it be spot on because a mistake will be more noticeable than on a cue that lasts, say 20 seconds). And the Stage Manager nailed it each and every time. She was able to communicate to Jason and to the actors what she needed in order to make it happen - consistency of movement and of speech rhythm. Her calling of the cues feels and looks like the culmination of everyone's weeks of work - the lights, the sound, the costumes, the words, she brings them all together and BOOM! she makes them go! She puts the poetry in motion. The beauty everyone imagined on paper, in the flourescently lit rehearsal room....she says Sound Cue A and Light Cue 1 go....and the beauty is realized.
Laura and I will be headed over today to watch their final dress and I can't wait to watch the stage manager call an entire show. I have no doubt it will be astounding.
See you there!
Adele
Manager of Artistic Operations
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I had the great good fortune to be able to catch the first act of Boston Arts Academy's MSND open dress rehearsal yesterday (3/3). Kudos, kudos, kudos to directors Jason Bowen, and Magda Spasiano and all the BAA students and designers. The players, who are just wonderful in this funny, magical and delightful production. certainly can talk the talk, and that's not so easy when you're wrapping your tongue around the Bard's language. They are at once funny, moving, sensuous, silly and comprehensible. The actors seemed to be thoroughly enjoying themselves.
ReplyDeleteThe charming and evocative set is white on white as the play opens in Athens; when the fairies enter the Forest, the white elements morph delightfully into a colorfully painted floor and rod-like tree with stacks of moveable colored paper leaves--the dappled lighting was perfect. The music is terrific as well, from the 60's and the 70's, given the idea that the play takes place during a time of revolution and the move to change the status quo in this country. The costumes are a delicious mix of elegant suits and dresses for the Athenians to the funky tie-dyed bell-bottomed fairies' outfits. Oberon's long multi-colored sparkly vest and high heeled white boots are a stand-out. Oberon's angels' are bikers and voluptuous blonde babes in boas. Tatiana is regal and in charge in an orange and yellow cape and gown, with an enormous crown-like afro. Nobody messes with her! ntil of course she falls in love with...an ass. By then I was having to rest the smile that was on my face from the first moments, lest it get stuck.
When the mechanicals arrive on stage, the laughs come fast and furious. BAA's Bottom gives Bob Walsh a run for his money...and the rest of the mechanicals who are cleverly costumed as chefs, sous chefs, maids and waitresses, are adorable.
The lovers are, well, lovely and fun and yes, sexy. It's really great to see teens who are not afraid of being silly and in love, on stage and in front of their peers.
So, go, get yourself over to the Boston Arts Academy this week! You will be mightily entertained, you'll laugh, and you'll be moved by these talented young people who have worked so hard to make a piece of theatre that is endearing and strong and special.
BS
Performances are tonight, Friday at 3:30 and 7 pm and Saturday at 3:30 and 7 pm at the Boston Arts Academy behind Fenway Park!
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