Mr Burns: A Post Electric Play - Week 2
Dressed as an anthropomorphic mouse and singing a demonic alternate rendition of “Toxic” - it must be week 2 of Mr Burns rehearsals.
So much has happened since my week 1 blog! We’ve learnt many more songs, tackled new instruments and I defected from team Aldi to Lidl (try the smoothies). Indeed, everyone’s routines have been punctuated by necking back Ginger Shots. It’s a classic voice thing. If you see someone with a can of ginger-juice-concoction walking purposefully through Derby’s streets, they are a member of our cast. Vocal heath has been paramount as we spent several days working on the second half of the play which is nearly sung through. There are rich and impressive 6 part harmonies that span my whole vocal range. So a lot of emphasis has been placed on warming up effectively and maintaining a focussed mind to grasp the material. It sounds fantastic, which is a relief.
In “what percussion is Ida playing this week?” We actually have some new developments. Additional instruments include boom whackers (rock on) and bottles (seems adorable, is actually haunting). Boom whackers (again, cool name dude) are long tubes which when hit against something produce a tone. Different lengths correspond to different notes (shorter = higher). Itchy and Scratchy play a jaunty tune with them. It’s hilarious and terrifying, my favourite combination.
The bottles are fairly self explanatory, playing them like diet coke shaped flutes. I am a virtuoso at these and entertained the cast by playing three blind mice in our lunch break.
Speaking of entertained, some of my favourite moments this week have been cast bonding exercises. It’s amazing to see how well we’re gelling in the rehearsal room, cast and creatives. This certainly contributes to how much progress we’re making with the play and how polished it is already. Two of the best moments will be recounted for you now.
Firstly, a task has emerged to fit the Act 3 line “Willy grabbed his rake” into popular songs. Helen Potter (Quincy) took ABBA: “I am Willy, here’s my rake: ahaaaaa”. Omar, our ever fab director, had a completely different spin with Red Hot Chilli Peppers. And I picked Queen, rattling off such puns as “I want to rake free” and reducing the opening of Don’t Stop Me Now to “Tonight, gonna grab myself a real big rake”. It’s high brow entertainment. Only those of an erudite mind will truly grasp its depths.
The other top comedic moment was a game devised by Nathan Richard Smith (playing Sam). It consists of walking up to someone and shaking their hand. They then have to say the first full name that comes to their mind, no notable names allowed. The results were side splitting. I lasted quite well through the rounds but was eventually out because apparently “Tuna Can” and “Window McCarpetfloor” are not acceptable names. I was attempting the say-what-you-see method to mixed success.
I am intrigued and excited to see what we get up to next week. Whatever happens, you’ll be the first to know! Until then…
Written by Ida Regan