Mum's Gone to...
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Published Date:
17/11/2009
Modified Date:
24/05/2010
Mum's Gone to the Opening NIght
Miss Mona, Shy, Angel and Jewel. Dressing room.
Well we did it. Spalding Amateur Dramatic and Operatic Society performed The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas for the first time last night. A smallish audience for the first night which was probably just as well, seeing as there were still a few technical hitches, such as not being lit for one scene so three of us girls were talking to each other in the semi-darkness.
I've also got a problem with my head microphone. I tried wearing it under my wig for the first scene, but when Miss Mona (the Madam) takes the wig off my head, the mic comes with it and gets tangled up. Will have to re-think it somehow as my voice is now too quiet and only gets properly projected in the next scene when I can re-do the bloody thing on my own hair! Oh the drama of it all.
What was great last night was seeing the excitement of the cast as everything fitted into place. We have a lot of new members this year, for some of them their first time on stage. Their pre-show nerves and post-show exhilaration was palpable.
What a band we have too! The stipulation of performing this show is that there must be a live orchestra (no singing to a backing track) and the band must be on-stage rather than in an orchestra pit. Rather novel, and technically a bit of a headache for the set-builders but as you can just make out on the photo below, the band are tucked in between the two sets of stairs. Singing some of the ballads last night to the beautiful strains of the violin was just heavenly.
The general reception from last night's audience was that it was a really funny show and everyone enjoyed themselves. We were a little worried that the swearing and adult content would cause a problem but if you're booking tickets to see a show with 'Whorehouse' in the title then what can you expect! Though one cast member was texted by his mate during the interval:
"Great show. Is Spalding ready for rear-entry simulated sex at 7.45pm on a Tuesday evening???!!"
A big congrats to all of our fantastic ladies who shook their little tushes last night with such style. We have all shapes, sizes and ages in our whorehouse and why not? There are some ample bosoms jigging about most of the evening - the poor band members sitting in the middle aren't quite sure where to look! The fun we ladies are having is hopefully infectious. It is certainly liberating.
Got home late last night, Hubby and son both in bed, but the former was awake enough to listen to my chit-chat as I sat on the bed eating toast. At midnight I was washing out a selection of itsy-bitsy underwear. By 1am I had just about come down from the high to collapse into bed.
This morning, back to being a mum, making breakfast and sorting out school bags. As I hadn't seen my son Rory much yesterday I took him to school, rather than let him take the bus, so we could have 20 minutes of mum and son time, happily listening to Radio One together as I drove into town. Poor little lad is coming to see his old tart of a mother in tonight's show, along with husband and the in-laws. Let's hope they're not sucking lemons after seeing their errant daughter-in-law behave in a very un-ladylike manner. Ah well, I'm only acting...........honest!
Published Date:
19/05/2010
Modified Date:
19/05/2010
Mum's Gone to Fetch the Gin
The nerves are taking hold. Last night was the final rehearsal for the Spalding Amateur Dramatic and Operatic Society's musical 'The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas'. This weekend we move everything to the theatre, the South Holland Centre in Spalding, before opening night on Tuesday 18th.
It's at this time I wonder why on earth I do this. Rehearsals are lots of fun but then the realisation hits me: the public are going to be paying good money to see a show, so they don't want a shambles. That knowledge just adds to the stomach-churning, the imagined sore throat, stress rash and general inability to converse with the family or feed them anything as my appetite wanes.
So I have to focus. I need to listen to the music and practise the harmonies. A bit of a wiggle in front of the bedroom mirror so I can see what I actually look like when I'm gyrating like a floosy (I take my specs off, the blurred look is so much more attractive).
I haven't had my script the last few days. Searched the house and couldn't find it anywhere. Panic set in. I know my lines (usually) but I need the script as a crutch, to keep with me, refer to, calm my frazzled nerves. Thankfully someone has found it at our rehearsal room so I can pick it up tomorrow. Until then I feel quite lost.
I'm also responsible for the publicity for the production. As if I've not got enough to stress me out, I'm still waiting for the printers to ring me to say the programmes are ready. We had some great publicity in the local paper yesterday and my photo was in but my legs had been cut off. Bloody cheek - they're my best assets! Instead just a grinning fool with blonde wig and gaudy sunglasses staring out from the group.
I've recorded my Break-a-Leg Message for the Elaine Paige on Sunday show which should be a laugh if they decide to play it this Sunday. I emailed the programme with all the details of our show then received a call from them last week telling me they would ring me to record my message. So on Monday I had my prepared 30 second sound bite ready and, unable to breathe for a good hour before she rang, spoke to Clare, a very friendly assistant, who told me to smile down the phone, take my time and go for it. So I did. No guarantees the message will be aired but if you're listening Sunday afternoon (1pm to 3pm), keep an ear out for me.
Tomorrow is 'Band Call' where we get to practise with our musicians. Really looking forward to this as suddenly we will have a violin, slide guitar, drums, the lot! Our Musical Director, Craig, has been amazing this year, creating digital backing tracks for us to work with. We have also had the brilliant James in the last few weeks on the keyboard to give us a flavour of live music. Suddenly going from this to a 9-piece orchestra will be quite a jump. Craig is very excited to now have a 9 inch baton to wave about. He was offered a 12 inch one but there was a danger he would poke someone's eye out.
I have to say, the atmosphere amongst the cast is electric this year. This should help make the production appealing to our audience as the high spirits are very infectious. The show is fun, silly, terribly rude in places but also has some gorgeous ballads with aching harmonies. Can't wait to get started.
Published Date:
14/05/2010
Modified Date:
14/05/2010
Mum's Gone to the Musicals
I'm living a life in musicals at the moment. As all of you must know by now, as I've gone on about it frequently enough, I'm rehearsing for a local production of The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas. We only have one week to go before opening night so I'm living and breathing the bloody show on a continual loop.
Yesterday we had a rehearsal from 10am to 4pm: two hours of singing in the morning followed by a complete run through, with costumes, in the afternoon. I came home spent. It's hard work being a hooker. The high-heeled F**k Me boots are fastened with big press-studs so I'm bent double trying to do them up. Suspenders and stockings are fiddly, particularly when the costume change is a quick one: I lose all fine motor skills in the panic.
I had a wardrobe malfunction whilst sitting waiting for my first entrance yesterday; I caught the zip from the sleeve of my jacket on my fishnets and no amount of prising could release me. A couple of willing stage hands bounded over, eager to assist. After a couple of awkward minutes with them fiddling about with their heads bobbing about in my lap, I shooed them away and yanked the zip, tearing a big hole in the fishnets, which actually added a tad more authenticity to the overall outfit.
I came home, aching all over. We do one dance which involves a great deal of stretching and back-arching. My joints and muscles just don't do 'bendy' any more so I do suffer afterwards. Thankfully a stiff G&T and a hot bath did the trick.
I followed this with a dose of Dorothy. I am in awe of these young girls hoping to star in The Wizard of Oz. It's so easy sitting at home to be critical and picky but all of these young women are fabulous. Let's hope they all find success in the future. I am a real sucker for these shows: I soak up all the nonsense, the 'journeys', the 'dreams', the 'best experience of my life so far' (you're 18, of course it is!).
I was mulling over with Hubby last night as to what show Andrew Lloyd Webber will choose next for a reality show. I thought my own show, Whorehouse, would be brilliant, looking for a new Madam. "And here are all the hookers at theWhoreHouse". This could be a possibility as I have read that the writers of Legally Blonde have been asked to write an updated version of our musical.
However it really needs to be a male one: it's been a while since Joseph. The conversation got very silly last night as I suggested Jesus Christ Superstar. Imagine Graham Norton introducing the 12 Jesuses......your task this week, and we've come down to the local swimming pool...... ring now to save your favourite Jesus.
The young lads would be saying...I've always wanted to be Jesus, it's my dream.....I really think I could be Jesus.
The idea of ours was finally side-lined as we realised that saying goodbye to Jesus each week might involve a crucifixion. Surely not.
Have you any ideas which musical would make a good reality, search-for-a-star, show?
Published Date:
10/05/2010
Modified Date:
10/05/2010
Whorehouse update
Having a rip-roaring time at rehearsals at the moment. The Best LIttle Whorehouse is proving to be such a laugh to rehearse. Some members of the group are having to get very cosy with others when they'd barely shaken hands before. I'm loving the part of Angel, the streetwise city girl, and have now been given my blonde wig and kinky boots; maybe no-one I know will recognise me. Here's the principal cast list below.
Bandleader - Craig Delaney
Sheriff Ed Earl Dodd - Jon Molson
Melvin P Thorpe - Daran Bland
Governor of Texas - Sam Johnson
Senator Wingwoah - Rob Callaby
Edsel - Zack Colam
C J Scruggs - Brett Moore
Rufus - Oliver Johnson
Chip - Paul Coleman
Mona Stangley - Beverley Moore
Jewel - Rebecca Jones
Doatsy Mae - Emma Dobbs
Angel - Trish Burgess
Shy - Samantha Hunt
Ginger - Amanda Fisher
Beatrice - Jules Jones
Linda Lou - Laura Coates
Taddy Jo - Melissa Brooks
Ruby Rae - Jane Webb
Dawn - Suzanne Webb
Durla - Laura Molson
Eloise - Elaine Deathridge
Imogene Charlene- Laura Coates
Published Date:
04/02/2010
Modified Date:
04/02/2010
The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas - auditions
Looking forward to this Sunday - the annual SADOS auditions for our musical. This year I have far less nerves and worries as I've decided not to audition for a main role. This time I'm happily not throwing my hat in the ring and instead I'm hoping to do some chorus singing and larking about - stress free times I hope!
We have had our sing-throughs already and it's very exciting to see lots of potential Sheriffs, Monas, Jewels and Melvins. I think we are going to have a fantastic bunch of people in the cast to make this a musical to remember.
So a reminder to everyone, auditions at the Priory School, Spalding, 2pm on Sunday 3 January. Note that the school has been closed for the holidays so wrap up warm - clothes definitely required!
People of Spalding - be prepared for a corker of a show. Yee Haw!
Published Date:
01/01/2010
Modified Date:
01/01/2010
Recruits required for Ranch!
SADOS (Spalding Amateur Dramatic and Operatic Society) are looking for a large number of adults to be involved in their next musical production, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, to be staged at the South Holland Centre, Spalding from 18 to 22 May 2010.
The musical, made famous as a movie with Burt Reynolds and Dolly Parton and the song "I will Always Love You", is set in the 1970s and tells the true story of the legendary Texas establishment under pressure from a crusading radio presenter.
SADOS need a number of principal soloists with ages varying from 18 to 65 and a enthusiastic chorus to play the ladies of the ranch, townspeople, cowboys and even an energetic American Football team.
If you are interested in getting involved in what is sure to be a lively production, come along to sing-throughs at the Priory School, Neville Avenue, Spalding on 1, 8 and 15 December at 7.30pm. Auditions are also at the Priory School at 2pm on 3 January.
For further information contact the Director, Brett Moore on 07734 081929.
Published Date:
29/11/2009
Modified Date:
29/11/2009
Pizza Publicity
Have been busy lately sorting out publicity for the next SADOS play: Pizza, Fries, Ghosts and Lies. It's not long before the play will be performed at the South Holland Centre (18th to 21st November) so my priority has been to get flyers and posters ready. The main body of the poster came from Julian Wheeler of Big Day Photography, Spalding. Julian created it some time ago for the South Holland Centre's Autumn brochure so we just needed to add the date, time, place etc and the poster was ready. One of our SADOS members, Jordan Crowson, suggested an online company he uses at Crowsons to do the printing of the flyers and that suggestion has proved invaluable.
We will use local firm Welland Print to do our programmes: we have worked with them in the last couple of years and I know the quality will be excellent. Thankfully I have a couple of weeks to work on the content before that needs to be printed too.
Having spoken to our producer, Elaine, I realised that another pressing job was finding a local company who could provide us with fresh pizzas on each night of the performance. The cast get through about four 12 inch pizzas during the show so I thought we should put out a plea to local restaurants/takeaways to help us out. John Baker at the Spalding Guardian put a little piece in the Thursday paper a couple of weeks ago saying SADOS were looking for a "dough-nation"! Well it did the trick. That night I received a call from Leo of Leo's Pizza and Pasta Place in Spalding. He was happy to help. Good man! To say thank you we have offered Leo an advert in our programme but I also had another word with the paper and organised a photo shoot at his takeaway with some of the cast. Last Wednesday the photos were taken, quite a few just of Leo, a pizza and me. Two of the cast had got stuck in Thorney and would be too late whilst the other pair hoping to attend were snarled up in traffic. Fortunately Jo and Jonathan arrived just in time to run down the street and collar Mike the photographer as he was leaving for another job. I was so grateful he returned to the scene to snap a couple more.
Lucky me, I was able to take the pizza we used in the shots back to the car where it was summarily dispatched into the hungry mouths of husband and son who were waiting. We all agreed the pizza was very tasty and what a crying shame we live outside Leo's delivery area! We'll have to move to Spalding.
Tickets for the show are available from South Holland Centre box office - 01775 764777 or www.southhollandcentre.co.uk.
Published Date:
05/10/2009
Modified Date:
05/10/2009