The Top 50 Fixes for a Better Show
TECHNICAL: I need pictures, video, and a projector run by someone. I also need a radio that actually works. The lights need adjusted to kill some of the dead spots, particularly downstage left and the center of the bar. I need everyone extra in the audience to start clapping with me at all appropriate times.
ALL SINGERS NEED TO PROJECT MORE. YOU SHOULDN'T EVEN NEED TO BE AMPLIFIED IF YOU ARE TRULY SINGING from YOUR DIAPHRAGM. I'M SERIOUS.
ACTING:
1. The first scene, particularly T.J. must go faster.
2. Kevin and Jacob must enunciate better in their first song.
3. I need more exaggeration from Mitch.
3A. The Parson must complete understand the jokes in his first scene in order to establish character. I will wait for you", and then he exits. Of course, Mitch and Tom need to react to that.
4. Tyler and Chris need to say their "lightweight" "fruitcake" with more bite to it.
5. Jacob's entrance into this scene needs to look like the same character as "BAD/FAT."
6. Jason needs to establish a stronger character from the very beginning.
7. Anne/Fenton need to keep their first scene moving.
8. "NMW" dance sequence needs to be framed better for the audience.
9. Microphones need to be placed on the center of the chest.
10. The band needs to play a little softer.
11. The Parson and Simple at the end of I.iii. need to keep things moving along.
12. The first bar scene was pretty good.
13. ALL ASIDE LINES IN THIS PLAY NEED TO BE SAID BETTER.
14. WE NEED MUCH BETTER COVERT ACTION IN THIS PLAY from EVERYONE.
15. The extras in the bar need to be more reactive to what is occurring.
16. Quickly must establish a better character in her first scene.
17. RUGBY needs to help establish the "Quickly" pun better by being louder and more clear.
18. Quickly needs to look more nervous when humming and when Caius is asking for the green box in the closet. You're hiding something from him.
19. Nick needs to maintain character throughout "TJ." He starts really strongly, but then he ends up just going from left to right with no purpose. Your body is part of the character, not just the voice. Your "ooohs...." need more purpose and strength.
20. Matt needs to do a much better job of establishing character, particularly, the jealous husband.
21. OH YES, BOTH WIVES CLAIM BOTH HUSBANDS ARE JEALOUS. While Jason should be calmer, he still should be concerned.
22. Pistol and Nym need to be more of a character in telling Page and Ford about what is happening. You're both a bit too robotic. You're trying to sell something. Trust me, if you don't know how to do that, I do.
23. Matt really slows down the next bar scene where he is Brook. He also completely destroyed the blocking. Keep this moving.
24. Entrances in the bar are too slow.
25. Quickly, when moving Falstaff from table to table, make it look like you are paranoid or crazy, or to be precise, like you're trying to lead him around on a table.
26. Jacob, don't be annoyed by Quickly moving you from table to table. Become annoyed at the end of it. At first, you should be intrigued.
27. The next traveler scene needs more energy and purpose. Shallow and Slender don't sell it very well. It's all about Matt, and I think Matt needs to be stronger here.
28. The field scenes are adequate at best. It's a pacing problem. They don't flow. The "Nick dance, line" syndrome seems to show up here. Jason doesn't sell my "French fighting" joke well enough. It should have some bite.
29. The Parson and Simple need more precise interaction in their field scene. The Parson should be angrier and more intense in this scene.
30. YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT FOR SOMEONE TO ENTIRELY LEAVE A ROOM BEFORE YOU START TALKING ABOUT THEM. SPEAK TOWARDS THE OTHER CHARACTER OR THE AUDIENCE WHILE REFERENCING THE EXITING CHARACTER. I HATE HAVING TO WAIT FOR FOLKS TO EXIT BEFORE A CHARACTER SPEAKS.
31. Matt...you're not seething with anger and jealousy throughout the play.
32. The blocking during "HCIR" really gets redundant and ineffective. If nothing else, keep the coverts coming. GIRLS, touch that boy more!
33. I think it might be possible to cut the back of the trunk so Jacob could crawl out before you carry him out of the room. Do you need me to do this?
34. The dialogue after the re-entry of Page,Ford, Caius, and the Parson is really not fast or witty enough. The Parson and Caius really need to treat Ford as if he is nuts. However, he needs to be nuts too.
35. Wives....giggle more during these sequences. They're not paying any attention to you anyway.
36. The INTERMISSION sequence has been addressed. I need to make sure the entire process doesn't take longer than 20 minutes.
37. After "HMTM", the dialogue is slow and ineffective. They do a great job of opening the second half, but we're killing the rest of this scene. The Fenton/Mrs.Page section really gets slow. The SHALLOW/SLENDER/ANNE SECTION should be fast, witty, and funny. It's not.
38. Chris George is TOO SLOW in the next bar scene. Jacob is right on in this scene, but he is not selling all of my water and fish jokes enough.
39. Moriah needs to establish this character much earlier in the play. When Pistol calls for a drink earlier, you should start wagging your finger and showing signs of annoyance.
40. Don't be such pitchy. Be strong Moriah.
41. KEEP MOVING THINGS ALONG CHRIS. Matt....keep the "donkey on the edge" motif in this scene.
42. "MaS" is being shortened. We need to practice this with the band immediately upon their arrival. PLEASE ACT THROUGHOUT THE SONG. MAKE IT FUNNY! IT'S NOT IN THIS SHOW BECAUSE IT'S A GREAT SONG. IT's HERE BECAUSE IT's A FUNNY SONG AT THIS POINT. Jacob, address your pitches with Alora before singing this again.
43. Pistol and Nym need to make certain that they are not as obnoxious as Jacob in the next bar scene.
44. Chris, don't milk the crying. Cry like you mean it, but don't be annoying with it.
45. Matt, if you spent the entire "YNG" sequence on your knees, it would work better. I know you don't believe me, but even if you tried getting on your knees at times during the song, the interaction would be better. If you even pretended that you were trying to talk, but she keeps cutting you off with the lyrics, it would be a thousand times better. Oh...remind me to address the "I was wrong, you were right" ending line.
46. Dan, when the lights over your head in "ICStR" go out, you are to enter the bar. There is still a band light on. I appreciate you waiting.
47. Quickly, address everyone in the bar during your song when the lyrics are not directly addressed to Fenton.
48. Quickly, have MORE FUN with the notion of marrying SIMPLE and RUGBY.
49. KEEP THE PACE MOVING IN the LAST SCENE. (Matt and Brianna, see me about your last lines here.)
50. Above all else, attach the microphone pack better in the last scene Jacob. THAT IS $600 you're bouncing off the stage. Get on your knees, pick it up, or QUICKLY, incorporate it into your character somehow. I WAS DISTRAUGHT AT THIS. I saw you try to get it. Thanks.
I need everyone there at 5:15, and I need you on stage at 5:30.
MjB
P.S. Don't allow this weather to exhaust you. It will do it very quickly to you. You're not used to this heat, and believe me, if you become dehydrated, we're in trouble this evening. Have fun in it, and by all means, go out and enjoy it. Just don't exhaust yourselves. I've seen some of you play hockey. I know what shape you're in!
ALL SINGERS NEED TO PROJECT MORE. YOU SHOULDN'T EVEN NEED TO BE AMPLIFIED IF YOU ARE TRULY SINGING from YOUR DIAPHRAGM. I'M SERIOUS.
ACTING:
1. The first scene, particularly T.J. must go faster.
2. Kevin and Jacob must enunciate better in their first song.
3. I need more exaggeration from Mitch.
3A. The Parson must complete understand the jokes in his first scene in order to establish character. I will wait for you", and then he exits. Of course, Mitch and Tom need to react to that.
4. Tyler and Chris need to say their "lightweight" "fruitcake" with more bite to it.
5. Jacob's entrance into this scene needs to look like the same character as "BAD/FAT."
6. Jason needs to establish a stronger character from the very beginning.
7. Anne/Fenton need to keep their first scene moving.
8. "NMW" dance sequence needs to be framed better for the audience.
9. Microphones need to be placed on the center of the chest.
10. The band needs to play a little softer.
11. The Parson and Simple at the end of I.iii. need to keep things moving along.
12. The first bar scene was pretty good.
13. ALL ASIDE LINES IN THIS PLAY NEED TO BE SAID BETTER.
14. WE NEED MUCH BETTER COVERT ACTION IN THIS PLAY from EVERYONE.
15. The extras in the bar need to be more reactive to what is occurring.
16. Quickly must establish a better character in her first scene.
17. RUGBY needs to help establish the "Quickly" pun better by being louder and more clear.
18. Quickly needs to look more nervous when humming and when Caius is asking for the green box in the closet. You're hiding something from him.
19. Nick needs to maintain character throughout "TJ." He starts really strongly, but then he ends up just going from left to right with no purpose. Your body is part of the character, not just the voice. Your "ooohs...." need more purpose and strength.
20. Matt needs to do a much better job of establishing character, particularly, the jealous husband.
21. OH YES, BOTH WIVES CLAIM BOTH HUSBANDS ARE JEALOUS. While Jason should be calmer, he still should be concerned.
22. Pistol and Nym need to be more of a character in telling Page and Ford about what is happening. You're both a bit too robotic. You're trying to sell something. Trust me, if you don't know how to do that, I do.
23. Matt really slows down the next bar scene where he is Brook. He also completely destroyed the blocking. Keep this moving.
24. Entrances in the bar are too slow.
25. Quickly, when moving Falstaff from table to table, make it look like you are paranoid or crazy, or to be precise, like you're trying to lead him around on a table.
26. Jacob, don't be annoyed by Quickly moving you from table to table. Become annoyed at the end of it. At first, you should be intrigued.
27. The next traveler scene needs more energy and purpose. Shallow and Slender don't sell it very well. It's all about Matt, and I think Matt needs to be stronger here.
28. The field scenes are adequate at best. It's a pacing problem. They don't flow. The "Nick dance, line" syndrome seems to show up here. Jason doesn't sell my "French fighting" joke well enough. It should have some bite.
29. The Parson and Simple need more precise interaction in their field scene. The Parson should be angrier and more intense in this scene.
30. YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT FOR SOMEONE TO ENTIRELY LEAVE A ROOM BEFORE YOU START TALKING ABOUT THEM. SPEAK TOWARDS THE OTHER CHARACTER OR THE AUDIENCE WHILE REFERENCING THE EXITING CHARACTER. I HATE HAVING TO WAIT FOR FOLKS TO EXIT BEFORE A CHARACTER SPEAKS.
31. Matt...you're not seething with anger and jealousy throughout the play.
32. The blocking during "HCIR" really gets redundant and ineffective. If nothing else, keep the coverts coming. GIRLS, touch that boy more!
33. I think it might be possible to cut the back of the trunk so Jacob could crawl out before you carry him out of the room. Do you need me to do this?
34. The dialogue after the re-entry of Page,Ford, Caius, and the Parson is really not fast or witty enough. The Parson and Caius really need to treat Ford as if he is nuts. However, he needs to be nuts too.
35. Wives....giggle more during these sequences. They're not paying any attention to you anyway.
36. The INTERMISSION sequence has been addressed. I need to make sure the entire process doesn't take longer than 20 minutes.
37. After "HMTM", the dialogue is slow and ineffective. They do a great job of opening the second half, but we're killing the rest of this scene. The Fenton/Mrs.Page section really gets slow. The SHALLOW/SLENDER/ANNE SECTION should be fast, witty, and funny. It's not.
38. Chris George is TOO SLOW in the next bar scene. Jacob is right on in this scene, but he is not selling all of my water and fish jokes enough.
39. Moriah needs to establish this character much earlier in the play. When Pistol calls for a drink earlier, you should start wagging your finger and showing signs of annoyance.
40. Don't be such pitchy. Be strong Moriah.
41. KEEP MOVING THINGS ALONG CHRIS. Matt....keep the "donkey on the edge" motif in this scene.
42. "MaS" is being shortened. We need to practice this with the band immediately upon their arrival. PLEASE ACT THROUGHOUT THE SONG. MAKE IT FUNNY! IT'S NOT IN THIS SHOW BECAUSE IT'S A GREAT SONG. IT's HERE BECAUSE IT's A FUNNY SONG AT THIS POINT. Jacob, address your pitches with Alora before singing this again.
43. Pistol and Nym need to make certain that they are not as obnoxious as Jacob in the next bar scene.
44. Chris, don't milk the crying. Cry like you mean it, but don't be annoying with it.
45. Matt, if you spent the entire "YNG" sequence on your knees, it would work better. I know you don't believe me, but even if you tried getting on your knees at times during the song, the interaction would be better. If you even pretended that you were trying to talk, but she keeps cutting you off with the lyrics, it would be a thousand times better. Oh...remind me to address the "I was wrong, you were right" ending line.
46. Dan, when the lights over your head in "ICStR" go out, you are to enter the bar. There is still a band light on. I appreciate you waiting.
47. Quickly, address everyone in the bar during your song when the lyrics are not directly addressed to Fenton.
48. Quickly, have MORE FUN with the notion of marrying SIMPLE and RUGBY.
49. KEEP THE PACE MOVING IN the LAST SCENE. (Matt and Brianna, see me about your last lines here.)
50. Above all else, attach the microphone pack better in the last scene Jacob. THAT IS $600 you're bouncing off the stage. Get on your knees, pick it up, or QUICKLY, incorporate it into your character somehow. I WAS DISTRAUGHT AT THIS. I saw you try to get it. Thanks.
I need everyone there at 5:15, and I need you on stage at 5:30.
MjB
P.S. Don't allow this weather to exhaust you. It will do it very quickly to you. You're not used to this heat, and believe me, if you become dehydrated, we're in trouble this evening. Have fun in it, and by all means, go out and enjoy it. Just don't exhaust yourselves. I've seen some of you play hockey. I know what shape you're in!
posted by Mr. Bair at 8:37 AM
29 Comments:
3:00 is correct for anyone whose scenes I listed on this comment section, and it's correct for anyone who wants to correct lines with my help.
hey everyone, i really think that the circle really helped, i finally apologized which i have been wanting to do for a while but, belive it or not got shy about doing. Sorry for others who didnt think so. i feel a whole heck of a lot better. and i apologize again for not pulling my wait. i have a really good feeling about tonight. everyone have FUN, yes joe that includes you. we want you apart of this so have fun and i know you know how to have fun. Guys really i have such a good feeling about this. Yes everyone that we talked to LIKED it but for the next forever shows lets listen to Bair and make them FREAKIN LOVE IT. (and i am including myself in that statement) well i have to get ready for my orrintation at outback i will see you at 5
Peace out
Cheyenne
I'll be there at 3, although I'm confused about the IcStR transition to the bar. I realize I did it incorrectly last time, but did I wait to long or go to early? I wasn't sure, so I waited until stage crew began moving.
-Daniel
...and yes I read that I need to wait until the light over me is off. I'm just trying to compare that to what I did.
-Daniel
I agree 100% with Cheyenne. As Mr. Bair said on Thursday, there's just a line we need to follow. If we do, then the play will improve exponentially. If we don't, as we have been doing (making up jokes and such), then the play will continue to be what it is.
However, I have good news:
A classmate of mine told me on Friday that the last scene in the play was the funniest thing he had ever seen (to quote Mr. Bair, "I make no jokes." That is actually what he said).
So let's make this play awesome!!!!
Ian
PS: I have a good feeling about tonight, too. I think it's going to be much better.
Dan,
You did wait too long. Rachel had exited long before you. When she exits, you should as well, and I would prefer if you would walk around to the stairs behind the fireplace, watch the monitor, rather than jumping into the pit.
MjB
That would make more sense. Sorry, my bad. :(
-Daniel
It was no big deal at all.
MjB
Actually I was going to suggest staying on my knees the whole time.
Mr. Bair,
When you say that you want me to be angrier and more intense in the field scene, should I be angry in a Parson-ish way, or more in such a way that it becomes more apparent that the Parson is not such a good parson afterall? For example, should I be seething but trying to remain calm, or should I be openly furious? Or something different than either of those?
Ian
Hello
Ill be there at three of course. Mr.Bair, your notes are much appreciated. ill make sure that kevin checks these out as well.
I also feel really good about tonight.
-Jacob
P.S. Emily will be coming tonight.
That's awesome. I love Emily. Ian, in a Parsonesqe way please.
MjB
P.S. SELF-RIGHTEOUS
bair is anything needed form ace for any reason whatsoever
i have to fix stools when i get there tonight
and i still havent found that new box of 3" screws we just bought and never used
Well, it sounds like we need three-inch screws....sigh...
MjB
ill get a box and look for the other box and if we find it just return this one or stash it somewhere so they stay new
Would it be okay for me to bring a tripod & shoot still shots from the back of the house tonight?
Jason
in case mr bair doesnt respond again
we needed people to take still pictures last week so i dont think he will mind
unless he posts differently
Jason,
No, I have no problem with still pictures, and I have someone photographing for my purposes tonight. Please feel free.
MjB
so would you like people in the bar scenes at 3? because in the last post you said something about forgetting to include a bar scene in the list...
No, not necessary. Thanks.
MjB
YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WE DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PS: Let's just make sure we keep this up.
WOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!
Look Jason its the day after I smile and reality has not destroyed and people are not turning into vegetables. (overlay with mandy's voice)
Joe, that's really good news, and do you what it proves? That you can smile more often and not worry about the consequences. The world thanks you for your concern regarding the state of the universe, but since everything was not turned upside-down, it is safe to say that you don't have to worry anymore.
Ian do you know what I'm talking about? But if you want to know Jason referenced the episode of "The Grim anventures of Billy and Mandy" where the world and universe is destroyed be cause Mandy smiles. Do you get it now Ian?
Good luck with that Ian it was a sheer random crazy circumstance that I was smiling it may not happen again.
I do get it now; but I got it from the beginning, just out of context. Still, my comment remains relevant, because the world is not going to end if you smile, whatever might happen on TV.
Haha, I remember that episode. "YOU FOOLS!! YOU'VE MESSED WITH THE NATURAL ORDERRRR!!!!" I thought you was referring to our Mandy. That would've been scary.
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