Play Produced Shock

BI/ Brian Clemens Directed [,1/ John Cox

Article IJ)I Ch'ristopher Carr

Let us point out from the very beginning thJt a lot of you will notice that the photographs of "SHOCK" show that the setting for the play is not new to readers of "AMA TEUR STAGE". If vou refer back to "The Play" Produced" for November 1988 you find that we have reused the set of "NOISES OFF". The production calls for a "converted windmill" with stairs leading to an upper level and when our present season was chosen last year it was decided to re-use this valu­able piece of scenery.

The greatest problem for the design team was trying to alter the feel of the se t. This was achieved by making doors into windows with use of lots of

dows with pictures. At the same time a cluttered look o n the set changed its looks aided by light­ing which we discuss later. We found this challenge for the design team stimulating since it is rare to be given the chance to visit a setting twice.

Props The production includes some strange "props", such as a pot­tery head a present to one of the characters. This was achieved by

normally mentioned in "The Play Produced" special mention must be made of the effects required for the dead bodies of Steve and Maggie. Both char­

having bled to death for a day was made to look horrific by having his skin peeling. This was done by applying a light coating of a PVA glue to his hands and when completely dried peeling it off and letting it hang, the

this was done the blood beG! too red to look rea lis tic so added a little gravy browning the mix and achieved the pen colour.

Lighting and sound The director, John Cox decid to keep the stage dim, especia the upstairs areas since Steve h· the task of walking down sta after being stabbed 24 hou~ earlier. In full light J bod covered in stage blood look strange so a plo t using intt!· esting li ghting angles to creal atmosphere was used. As wi t "Noises Off" the lanterns need u

a lot of clearance to light upper levels. I n Act 2 we returned tc ful l lighting with a morning su'­through the windows.

The production hinges on " reel to ree l tape recorder ant which Ann Marsh records h guests' private moments in tht bedroom (de licately put). Th" recording was done as soon <1,

curtaining and hidi acters require blood and Steve

Perhaps other clubs thinking of staging "NOISES OFF" may care to consider this approach to help keep ever rising costs down. We came up with another 10 plays that use a similar setting so choice is not limited.

PAG E 14

using a polystyrene wig block shaded and cut into the desired shape. A china figure was required to be smashed on stage every night so a quantity were purchased, but as always refused to break even when flung with force across the stage. The solu ­tion was to break the figure in advance and lightly glue it back together so it would smash on cue.

Make Up Although make up IS not

Minim F

process taking 30 minutes. If you are using "Kensington Gore" for

blood then a tip picked up at The National Theatre is useful. Mix the blood with washing up liquid, it then comes off skin and clothes easily. However when

the production was cast, at th local hospital radio station wh

had the facilities to give us a professional recording and mi ;.. the different sounds of the mur­der and music and hea v ~. breathing.

SOO/300W Fresnel 1200W Profile

Coda 50013 SOOW Cyclorama Bacidlght

2000W Prism Conve> Spotlight Spotlight Spotlight

Aml/feuI" Stase ,V111Y ,

"1c rease the tension of the sound of a heartbeat helped to the next four weeks on directi on left collapsed on stage and the appearing a heartbeat cover these moments. to make the characters believ­ two women on stage. Ann

"J which was also mixed The script is di vid ed into able. During the third week an Marsh and Jenny Ra yner must e opening music as the three acts, but since act one and o pen rehearsal was held when all carry it off stage to hide away.

d immed lea ving the audi­ two foll o w o n w ithout an y lapse members were allowed to attend We suggest that a slig ht actor is In darkness w ith this of time we decided to jo in them and ask guestions about direc ­ used since it is very difficult for mng sound, before the togeth er and keep the mood ti on and characterising. Thi s the two g irls to lift a heavy

.ere revealed on stage, no created g oing since we felt an proved very popular and of body and take it off stag e tabs being used for this act break would serve no pur ­ course helps to train new w itho ut s lowi ng down th e We must add that the Thi s caused conce rn members by sharing skills and acti on.

knowledge, something that Cos tume is nd of th e heav y breathing amongst the compan y but as the be fo rgo tten in man y cases. Ann and Terry asked for by the local Radio time approached for perfo rmance The final week before the for an airline and must be in

_wcastle but proved "too ho t it was realised that with the two opening was used to tighten unifo rm. W e were g reatly he lped and Ie" for radio broadcas t. acts together lasting onl y 53 impo rtant parts of the play and by Briti sh Airways who came to

minutes, we would not be stra.in ­ sort out bits that were difficult, our rescue with the outfits. ing the audience concentration . es peCially the technicalities of An in teres ting idea was asked

The production The whole script lasts o nl y o ne acto rs us ing a tape recorder for when BBC Radi o Newcastle - ere can be no do ubt that hour and fort y fi ve minutes which is operated by the sound asked fo r a seco nd interview

'Ilers are as po pular as ever including the one interval. Per- department. with the compan y. To make the th the public. Finding one h a novel twist becomes more

_ ificult each year, however Mr. .emens prov id es an unusual ding. As with all g ood thrillers

· hall leave you to read th e play d find out "wh o did it" with­

Jt spoiling the end. Perhaps in his guest to find an usual plo t Mr. Clemens has

· erlooked some strange twi sts - the plot that to all well versed

!lowers of thrille rs do no t ho ld ater. How can a person who

,as been stabbed and left bleed ­all nig ht manage to walk

wn a flig ht o f stairs befo re lIapsing dead on the floor?

-' n w can so many peopl e look • Maggie yet miss a bedroom I of blood until the plo t

emands thi s to be discovered? e must, at su ch po int s,

.:1end belief. As we stated · ier dim lighting and th e

I

haps thi s ma y be the reason for making three acts instead of two, the need to give value for money by making the show last longer.

Re hearsal s lasted for the no rmal fi ve weeks, taking place four times a week. Starting with plo tting moves during the first week and then concentrating for

Problems The script call s fo r a nude painting of one member of the cast, so a member was asked to create thi s. The painti ng is referred to oft en and mu st be hung in a pro minent positi on. How much of the bod y is seen is a matter fo r each club. As we said befo re the bod y of Steve is

EqUipment to suit every budget from economical ACT 2 portable dimmers to memory control systems. Long lasting. re liable & dependable products. FREE lighting planning service. Extensive network of spares &service agents . ...........

broadcast inte res ting we wro te a spoof thriller las ting 7 minutes but without revea ling the mur­derer to anyone. This was picked up and used as a competiti on fo r the morning 's broadca st. Instead of only ten minutes fo r the interview we had half an hour and were mentioned fo r the following hour until ~he mur­derer was revealed. If only we had been g iven more than 10 hours notice!

Although thi s pla y w a s chosen by another director who was unable to direct it, John found that the pla y offe rs plent y of scope for creation, as well as o ffering two superb female parts which the girls claim are alwa ys in short supply, but at that we shall stop since we can hear the rumbles of argument starting and we have had guite enough "SHOCKS" already 0

PAGE 15