Over the weekend, I was sent packing (literally) off to Camp with my talented cast for our Rehearsal Weekend with Adlib Entertainment for our third and final season for 2015, the irreverent Romantic Comedy, 'Green Acres Receptions'.
Fourteen students, three tutors, three days, two nights, a lot of workshops, down time for gaming and many trays of spilled soup later, it was a weekend that left me feeling drained, both emotionally and physically.
While this show has very little drama within it's nearly 60 page script, it can be safe to say that a cast needs to work twice, sometimes three times as hard, to make it work. It's much more difficult to pull off a decent comedy than a drama, as most of my friends in theatrical circles will tell you. However, these guys and girls put in the hard yards this weekend, and I think everyone involved came away feeling very comfortable about where we are in the rehearsal process. I mean, it's not often that you find your show is completely blocked with more than three months to go! It gives us heaps of time for character development, and polish, polish, polish!
We were also able to take in the beauty of the area we were camped out in.
AYP Senior Production Class - 2015
On the border of the Emerald Lake Park Reserve, the Wombat Corner Camp boasts some amazing forest walks, and I took the students up into the wishing well and greenery to conduct a projection workshop - in the middle of nowhere.
Sitting around the wishing well, I had them screaming into the wilds, but they just ran with it, speaking out loud and proud - even when some onlookers screamed back at them!
After all was said and done, it was time to get down to business and focus on the real task at hand: Risk, Halo Edition.
We commandeered a huge trestle table and I took on some of the more hardcore gamers amongst the group, and while the game went on (four hours+) I'm ashamed to say that I was eliminated second out of five... I'm just glad my directing is better than my Commanding of military forces.
With the occasional vulgar Cards Against Humanity session thrown in for good measure, and outdoor workshops under the fabulous Spring weather over the last few days, it was a rollercoaster of epic proportions, but one that I'm incredibly proud to have been a part of.
Using the Amphitheatre for some Impro Games...
Thanks once again to Roxy and Aaron, my cohorts, for putting up with my rambling (that always leads to a point) and to Donna and Peter, for their blind trust in me.
Green Acres Receptions will be performed on December 12 and 13 at the Smtarbright Theatre, and is my homage to the Wedding Industry. I hope to see you there!
Until next time,
Matt.