My first rehearsal with the new show (and new company) is in the books and BOY was it different than my last first rehearsal experience. The actual first rehearsal was the night I was on an Amtrak train, west-bound for home so I missed all of what I heard was general choas and lack of organization.
SK picked me up and as we drove she told me how the first night was basically a big miss in her book. (As in "You're lucky you missed it".) When the dust of getting everyone in and scripted and paperwork, the vocal session wasn't much better.
The first difference between this group and my previous experience was they don't use an accompanist during rehearsals. They have this software called Rehearscore. It can play any part, break it down for you and everything. Modern technology, so wonderful! But in this case I'd have to say it's some what of a collasal fail. There's no one to play you a chord so you know your starting note. Just silence and then, SING! Took some getting used to and I still don't think I like it. We did get a copy of it to download so we can use it at home, which is probably what it's best for but using it as a rehearsal with the cast, I can't say I'm a big fan.
The cast is a mixed bag of nuts; most of them look like they know each other pretty well, especially the women. The best surprise was the alto section was bigger than the section of sopranos. They were just comprised of my buddy SK and two other women. The altos were at least 8 women strong. I was waiting for the musical director to start moving people over but it didn't happen.
After suffering through the opening number, we started working on the second number. Thankfully it was much easier, AND more fun. Took us a few minutes until everyone was yelling to play it up to tempo.
While the MD (musical director) was working with the basses and tenors, I perused the script to find my lines and was pleasantly surprised to find I have quite a few. I also chatted with "Roz" quite a bit since she was sitting next to me and I don't think she kept quiet the whole rehearsal. She's definitely one of those "theatre people" and isn't afraid to voice any thought that comes into her head, even at the mercy of insulting anyone or ticking off the MD. I thought I was missing that filter between your brain and your mouth but she makes me look introverted.
I did have one really good line though. At the beginning of the rehearsal they had us all stand up one at a time, introduce ourselves and say what character we'd be playing. When they got to me I said my name and then said "This looks like an AA meeting, which is appropriate considering I'm playing the part of Margaret". Cue laughter!
The city seems to be the home of WAY too many sparrows. That's the majority of what I get and considering the seed I buy runs me about $40+ dollars a month, it's a bit annoying knowing that I'm feeding a bunch of birds who would be just as happy eating out of a garbage can. BUT, there are also other breeds I love that come to visit. The other day when I put my window feeder out, it wasn't hanging 5 minutes before a gorgeous, red male House Finch paid it a visit. Today he even brought his mate. I also have a stunning male yellow finch visiting my inventive nyjer feeder I bought last year. Why inventive? The feed ports are below the perches so the bird hangs upside down to feed from it. And not many can do it. Keeps the sparrows out of it. Now if I could find a way to keep the big, fat, anything-eating doves out of my window feeder. And keep the pigeons away (The winged rats that they are!)
