Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Can you ever have too much rehearsal?
guardian.co.uk: Is it possible to have too much rehearsal? The answer isn't as obvious as you might think. In British theatre most directors get four weeks' rehearsal – or, if they're very lucky and work for one of the big companies, six. Then come a couple of previews, when there's still time to fiddle with the production, then it's the all-important press night and then – well, for the director, that's usually that.
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5 comments:
Continuing rehearsals and changes beyond the press night can allow a show to grow and become significantly more profound. However, there can also be a destructive side to second guessing choices beyond press night. From a technical perspective, changes to a show past press night can endanger lives and cause tension when changes to scenery, automated lighting and sound effects are made last minute. With that said those changes if made with sufficient time to accommodate technical adjustments can make the difference between a flop and a hit. With some cast members the presence of the director makes them stick closer to the director’s vision than when maintenance of the show is left to the stage manager whose other responsibilities prevent the level of detailed analysis of performances that the director is capable of. All of the questions posed by the author at the end of the article seem to depend primarily on the level of professionalism and skill within the cast and crew. If the cast and crew can make the needed adjustments meeting the directors vision is the ideal endgame throughout the process.
I agree that there is potential to grow a show, although I do not believe major changes or changes that, as Luke pointed out, could be dangerous, have a place. There is a time (previews) when a show needs to have some breathing room to feel out audience response, what does work and what does not, find timing and pacing suitable for an audience unfamiliar (or assumed unfamiliar) with a work, and adapt to those demands. Changes of this nature that develop with the play are appropriate, and strengthen the work, like aging wine or curing cheese. But you would not add a newly fermented grape to a 8 year pinot. You would greatly (and destructively) alter the flavor. Same with any live performance. Slow natural developments with age enhance the drinkers'-, er, audience members' experience, while brash ones can really detract, especially if the audience member is expecting a specific experience.
Rehearsal can be a tricky thing to time out. the amount of rehearsal can greatly affect what happens on stage, but its the general overuse of rehearsal at times that can leave a production cold. if you over rehearse, you try to hard you overanalyze and lose the moment ,the shock the happening your over rehearsing, its dependent on wether or not we the performers and directors writers and creators are really getting anything out f the rehearsal as well. nothing is worse than unnecessary rehearsal. some things just have to happen in the moment.
Rehearsal can be a tricky thing to time out. the amount of rehearsal can greatly affect what happens on stage, but its the general overuse of rehearsal at times that can leave a production cold. if you over rehearse, you try to hard you overanalyze and lose the moment ,the shock the happening your over rehearsing, its dependent on wether or not we the performers and directors writers and creators are really getting anything out f the rehearsal as well. nothing is worse than unnecessary rehearsal. some things just have to happen in the moment.
I have been in quite a few processes where it reached that point in the rehearsal room where everyone was anxious to get to the point of interacting with all the other elements.
However, I have never seen a process where people have felt that they had enough tech time. I am sure they exist, but as that week (if you are lucky... usually a few days or even a few hours) is where all the elements collide for the first time, there is usually things that could not be worked on until that time.
But generally, the process will fill the time it is allocated. If that allocation is grown, so will the process.
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