The Sound of Music Cast Blog Archive |
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REHEARSAL BLOGS Original cast member Sophie Bould, who plays Liesl in the show, takes us behind the scenes in the lead up to the opening of The Sound of Music at the Palladium in her weekly rehearsal blog. Week Four Absolute exhaustion are the words that spring to mind this week. Sometimes I don’t know how everyone keeps going with such energy and enthusiasm, and I don’t just mean the actors. It’s not just us slogging our guts out, the production team and stage management are working just as hard, if not more so.
At the beginning of the week, we ran Act One in its entirety. Now we could start to really see the piece growing. I also had the opportunity to sit back with other members of the company and enjoy watching parts of the show which I hadn’t seen yet. Personally I found it so beneficial to run the scenes together, it enables me to find a character journey, and relationship journeys between other characters and mine.
David Ian and Andrew Lloyd Webber watched on along with numerous other VIPs, including Mary Rodgers (Richard Rodger’s daughter). What an honour it was to meet her and hear her talk so highly of the parts of rehearsals she came to see. We managed to squeeze in a couple of runs of the whole show before the week was out. In between these runs we were taken off by various members of the production team, musical directors, directors, choreographers, to concentrate on and re-work sections where necessary. The changes were then made, scenes and numbers re-rehearsed and gradually everything began to slot back into place. Speeches were made after the final run on Friday afternoon by Andrew (LW) and Jeremy (director) congratulating everyone involved for creating this piece of theatre which we should all be so proud of. But it doesn’t all end here. Now it’s time to start the technical rehearsals on stage at the Palladium, a place that I’m sure is going to feel like my second home for the next twelve months. So I’m afraid that’s it from me. I need to get my head down and prepare for a whirlwind of a year. I hope you have enjoyed this sneak-peek behind the scenes of our rehearsals. Wishing you all well. See you out there. 23rd October 2006 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Week Three Act Two has been the theme of this week’s rehearsals on the whole. The ‘book’ of the musical really does become so much darker and the politics involved in the show begins to dominate the proceedings for the Von Trapp family.
Tuesday brought with it the first of many press calls. All the children, myself, Connie and Simon attended. We arrived at the Palladium at 9.30am and posed for a sea of photographers from the national press. Interviews followed, including live coverage on Sky News. I’ve never known anything like this. The publicity this show has accomplished even before we’ve opened is out of this world. Having said that, it’s only one small part of this job. A part, which if I’m honest, I’d much rather get done quickly and efficiently before getting back to the real work in the rehearsal room. Rehearsals this week have been with most of the company, which I’ve so enjoyed. Although I love the kids (they really are great fun) a little adult conversation from time to time is a real treat.
The full company worked on the final scene of the show on Thursday (or was it Wednesday?!) Again, the tears nearly made an appearance this week, this time by the ever-professional Stage Management team sitting in front of us all – I’m sure I saw a few watery eyes during Climb Every Mountain! Now we are at the point where everything is pretty much blocked and choreographed, but I assure you we are nowhere near a finished product. Everything will be changed, rearranged and changed again. We start running sections next week, so lots of sleep and vitamins for me in preparation. It’s going to be non-stop from here on in. 16th October 2006
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Week Two It has come to my attention, that if I’m not careful, I’ll give too much away about this production. So if possible, I’ll be keeping these diary notes to a minimum. Sorry folks, needs must.
The beginning of the week was dedicated to more music learning, with the three teams of Von Trapp children. We concentrated on the title piece, a song which I must confess (this version particularly) is my favourite. Predicable? Surely not! All the children sing in close harmony, unaccompanied. Not an easy feat for anyone, let alone youngsters. My pitch pipe gives us the note off-stage before we enter, a scary thought, let’s hope I get it right every night. Later that day the children and I began rehearsing some of our scenes together with Connie (Maria), who managed to master the art of leap-froging after the first few failed attempts. But I must add, Connie now leaps for England, and I’m thanking the stars I wasn’t requested to join in, as I’m sure I’d fall flat on my face, much to everyone’s amusement.
By mid-week My Favourite Things had been set and then Connie and I started looking at our scene together with Jeremy and Anna (director and associate director). There are so many complex layers to Maria and Liesl’s relationship and I’m only just beginning to discover them.
Neil and I made our way to the recording studios in South West London on Friday morning to record our duet for the album. Andrew (L.W) came along to lend a helping hand. Neil and I recorded our vocals over the beautifully pre-recorded orchestral accompaniment. We were then invited to hear what it sounded like. It’s a bizarre thing for me, to hear my voice, singing along with a stunning orchestra – what an opportunity, and I’m very grateful for it. 9th October 2006 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For those of you wondering what’s going on behind closed doors, I’ve been given the opportunity to fill you in on the gossip during rehearsals. To be quite honest it’s been quite a whirlwind of a week. So many names and faces to remember, but I’m getting there, slowly. I first met everyone on Monday morning where we were all greeted by speeches from our producers David Ian and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Coffee and pastries were passed around while we listened to our director, Jeremy Sams give us the plans for the day. The cast and crew, after introducing themselves, were then given the opportunity to view the set design (which I will add is out of this world, but I won’t spoil it. You’ll just have to come see for yourselves!). This was followed by a read-through and company sing-along. Singing all the songs together eased my nerves considerably as I’m sure it did the others too. A smile was shared between Connie (Maria) and I before our duet. The room fell silent however to hear the beautiful Lesley Garrett sing the finale for which she received a rip-roaring applause from all around. After a much-needed night’s sleep, Tuesday brought with it hard work. Neil (Rolf) and I started script work with Jeremy and Anna (associate director). It’s so important to get a back-story for Liesl and Rolf’s relationship. How long have they known each other? Have they kissed yet? How often do they meet? Dancing and singing followed in the afternoon and it didn’t take long for it to dawn on me how much work I’ve got to do. By mid-week I was working with all the young actors playing my brothers and sisters, I’m still learning their names now, and I’ve known them a week! There are three teams, Mittens, Geese and Kettles (bizarre group names I know, but relevant to the show I assure you.) By Thursday we’d managed to learn the music and movements for Do-Re-Mi. A little complicated, but thankfully I’m surrounded by eighteen kids who know what they’re doing and don’t hesitate in helping me out. Friday and Saturday were taken up with drilling in the music for The Lonely Goatherd followed by putting it on its feet. David Ian popped in to watch us on the Saturday afternoon, and I’m sure seeing us all shuffling round the room being goats making as much noise as we could made him wonder what on earth was going on. But one thing’s for sure - I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so much. I love being a Von Trapp kid – it’s given me the licence to have pure, unadulterated fun and long may it continue. 4th October 2006 |
Any spare moments this week seemed to have been filled with costume and wig fittings. Now we get to see what it’s going to feel like, more importantly, what we’re going to look like! Our designer Rob has done an amazing job, as have all the costume department and dressmakers. I can’t speak for everyone else but I can’t wait to put these clothes on. The way clothes were cut during this period (1939) is just beautiful, and to be wearing some authentic fabrics from Saltsburg is just amazing.
Act two followed later in the week. The whole company sat around the edges of the rehearsal room watching on as scenes took place. The atmosphere was wonderfully supportive helping to create a ‘nerve-free’ rehearsal room. However, it wasn’t just the company who watched the runs – we had guests visiting.
There really are some superb actors in this production, I couldn’t even begin to name them as I’d be here all day. But, I do feel immensely privileged to be working alongside them. I know this may all sound ever so slightly sycophantic, but I really do mean it, you’ll see for yourselves soon. 
We began working on the Concert scene this week, a tricky part of the show, with lots of singing, choreography and perhaps a quick change or two. Now the scenes themselves are getting there, linking them together so that they become seamless is something we’ve also been taking a look at. 
The days seem to be blending into one, there is so much going on, moving from one room to another – learning music, blocking scenes, setting numbers. (I shouldn’t list what we get up to so clinically – as truthfully, it happens a lot more naturally than it sounds, a way which I find difficult describing for you to understand).
A full company (well almost) rehearsal was called the next day. It was great to be with everyone for the first time since the read-through on the first day. Waltzing followed (executed beautifully by all I might add). The children and I then performed ‘So Long, Farewell’ which we’d previously been working on.
Thursday was an emotional day in the rehearsal room. One particular scene struck a few chords and I had difficulty holding back the tears. I’ll just say it involves the very lovely Simon Shepherd who plays my father, the Captain.
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