Last "singing" rehearsal

I think we're on to something here. Every week just gets better and I'm running out of ways to describe how great I think it all is.
Pretty much a full cast last night, apart from Gary (Annas) and one or two chorus voices. Highlights for me were:

David W as Pilot. He's a busy guy and so has not been at many rehearsals just recently so it was great to see in in action last night. He has such a presence on stage - ideal for this role - and it really adds to the drama, especially in the second act.

The Last Supper. It's a battle of the blood pressure on this now...I think both Pete and I put everything into this confrontation now we are "acting", and we both feel really stressed after it. Unfortunately for Pete he then has to go on and do "Gethsemane" and keep it together for a while longer (which he did with his usual finesse again last night). I can storm off and go cool down somewhere!

The Arrest. I come in with "There he is, they're all asleep, the fools" just as half the apostles are starting to stand up, only to ralise what I had just said and promptly drop back to the floor. Much hilarity ensued. Then to top it off, Tom (Peter) was still asleep when he was supposed to be waking up asking "What's the buzz?". More hilarity!

Steve as Herod. Again, we haven't seen much od Steve in rehearsals, but I think this is probably not a bad thing. If we had seen him perform every week, I think it might have lost it's impact and that would be a shame. He is absolutely fantastic as Herod...more camp than Butlins! totally spot on. Quite how Pete is going to keep a staight face through it all I don't know. The room just fell about during his song and gave a huge clap at the end - I think he'll bring the house down.

Could We Start Again Please? This is a firm family favourite in our house. As the sad bunch we are, we have to have JCS on in the car wherever we go and, when this one comes on we all join in - girls singing Mary and boys singin Peter. It's a beautiful song and Caroline and Tom do it brilliantly.

Judas' Death. I have to admit, I really love this. It's a great way to go out and I just put more and more into it each time. Great stuff.

The Crucifixion. Although this was just a bit of a practice at getting the notes, I can tell it's going to sound amazing. When the clashy harmonies all start layering on top of each other it sends a chill down your spine. And Pete delivers his lines really well. There are only a few words, but they mean so much.


So, that's it for pure "singing" rehearsals now then. From next thursday it's floor rehearsals with Geoff. Looking at the schedule it's not going to be too bad in terms of time until we get towards the end of October, then it's really busy. It's so going to be worth it though. I really hope we get the crowds in for this. We must go into publicity overdrive now, to really sell the show. We need to be in the paper all the time, finding new angles to promote the show. It's important that people don't see it as a "religious" show per se, so we need to be stressing the fact that it's Andrew Lloyd-Webber. Fun for all the family - heck, my kids are 4, 7 and 9 and they all enjoy it. We need photos and funny stories. Fingers crossed it will all come off and we will have packed houses every night - I think the show deserves it.