It is now... (over that is)

It's true - Ferdie's lost the beard!

At the wrap party, we see a strange sight - a handsome, clean-shaven young man. Can it be? Yes - it's Ferdie!

 And now a week has gone by, the midge bites are starting to fade, the red tee shirt is folded away and I've deleted all the Directors' notes. It's bliss having time to do other things - but I miss the chats and the fun and the buzz. Looking back at the reviews and watching the amazing cinematic trailer again is good therapy. I miss the music too and can't wait to get my hands on the DVD.

I had been looking forward to the arrival of the printed text of the play together with production photos, which I'd ordered. But today comes a letter saying that for various reasons, this can't be done. Ah well. Time to move on as the politicians say. Mystery Plays 2012 - I've loved it. I'm proud to have been a part of such a phenomenal show and I hope to become a Friend of the Mystery Plays to help keep it all alive.

So to all who dreamed, planned, executed, performed or had any part in it - thank you. Until the next time!

The party's (nearly) over

The last week in August is always tricky...

What shall we do next?

For most people, it means a return to work after the final bank holiday of the year and schoolkids have got used to seeing 'Back To School' signs ever since they broke up in mid-July. I used to have quantities of lesson planning, filling in names in mark books and the sheer anxiety of wondering whether I could stay up on the tightrope for the next academic year. I don't have to worry about that now, but like almost everyone in the cast I speak to, we're wondering: 'What am I going to do with all that time?' I ask my new friend, Julia, who's in the band as well as the cast, how hard it is to play a brass instrument. She's very encouraging and tells me of some beginners' classes she knows. I wonder about getting an allotment, starting yoga classes, joining a choir... what is going to fill the gap left by the Mystery Plays?

We have two shows left - tonight and tomorrow and already people are talking about how they'll feel when we do the very last show on Monday evening. It will be emotional knowing that each scene is unfolding for the last time - practical too. Our line of washerwomen has gone a bit wobbly lately - we need to hold up the bloodstained sheets at least twice to establish the symbolism of evil in the world. We arrange a quick early practice on Sunday before the show to make sure we get it right.

Maybe that's what's entered into us - a spirit of professionalism. Not being satisfied with 'nearly right' but determined to get it 'exactly right'. That's what's been drilled into us over the last weeks and months by our directors and stage crew and that's what's led to a stunning show, hailed by critics and by everyone who sees it. And everyone mentions the stunning nature of the crowd scenes. Charles Hutchinson, the Press critic, came again last week and saw the Carpenters this time. He said:
'it is as much the ensemble that will live in the memory. Especially the Flood, as a mass of humanity, little children included, shielded under umbrellas that turned into a raging, dark sea...
  The first half, from Stanley Spencer imagery for Creation to its ending with Agnus Dei and a solo euphonium, is the most memorable sequence of scenes this critic has ever experienced.'

Wow! The crits don't come much better than this!

Ten shows, five stars...

The Guardian gave us five stars!

The news ripples through the green room faster than the flood rising towards the Ark. 

We've already had four stars from the Times and Telegraph but this is special. With a cast jam-packed with teachers - both active and retired - this is our newspaper. We are gleeful but reminding ourselves as does Liam, that we ain't resting on our laurels.

The news comes as we're about to do the second of a gruelling 7 consecutive performances to add to the three we've already done. That's all behind us now - ten down and four to go... Those with real stamina, went to the late night party at Thomas's wine bar on Saturday night, hosted by Ferdy and Graham who acted as DJs. That was after two shows on Saturday finishing after eleven... It was a case of spirit willing, flesh weak for me but I gather it was great fun. That's if what I overheard on Sunday is anything to go by: 'Everyone on that ark has a hangover'.

The Carpenters have a break now and we're catching up on sleep. But it's been good to perform every night for six consecutive nights - it's sharpened us up and we're starting to feel like professionals. We notice audience reaction more - like where the laughs come in the Flood scene. As one of the line of washerwomen, I was delighted that some of the audience were apparently wondering how the bloodstained sheets we hold up, turn into white sheets after God's intervention. Ah the magic of theatre.

Good luck to the Potters tonight! Oh and in case you haven't seen that review, here's a link to it:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/2012/aug/16/york-mystery-plays-review

'That glorious band of amateurs'

That's us!

 

Too tired to write today, so here's what others say:

'A wonderfully well-drilled group of community players... the production shimmers with life. (The Stage)

The use of the crowd - all ages, dressed in everyday mid 20th-century clothes - is breathtaking... both do splendidly (Ferdy and Graham) yet the real stars are that glorious band of amateurs.' (The Telegraph)

 

To see so many actors of all ages and conditions, strolling, surging and streaming over the playing space is amazing...The mass images remain vivid in the memory: the heavenly host as whirling dervishes, Noah's Ark sailing through a sea of umbrellas... (Observer)

Remember this anyone?

First read-through

Who's nicked the stones?

You can't have a stoning without stones.  And the umbrellas for the flood are running low...

The Potters have been let loose for a week and what do the Carpenters find when we get back? Shortages that's what. 

'Eee, just like the war'!' we say as we fold our arms and shake our turbaned heads. 'Stones on the ration, who'd have thought it?'  Never thought we'd have to bring our own stones to the stoning, comes to something etc etc... 

It's a shock to the system, being back onstage after a nine-day break and we're summoned early for lots of reminders. As I drive into the car-park, I catch a glimpse of Barabbas, eating an ice-cream and I'm back in a familiar world. After the forecast of  heavy showers, we're all delighted and relieved that it's a balmy summer evening. In fact it's humid - so much so that our green room tent is unbearably hot, so we sit outdoors on the ruins, gossiping and flapping away the midges.

It's a full house tonight and we're buoyed up by the great reviews we've had. Damian and Paul remind us to keep it fresh and immediate and not to let the pace flag. We have a reputation for being quicker than the Potters and we want to keep it that way. In the event, we finish at 11.05 - not bad after a gap in performances of over a week. Someone's opening a book on what time we'll finish on Sunday, after seven consecutive shows - anyone care to place a bet?

On a more serious note, I must give credit to the wonderful choir and band. The music sets the mood so well and gives texture to the show. Here's a link to some of their work in rehearsal. I particularly like the lament after the crucifixion, which you can hear on Choir 4 via this link. It's beautiful.

http://www.yorkmysteryplays-2012.com/page/videos_and_podcasts.php

Eat your heart out Danny Boyle!

That's the subject line in an e-mail from my sister.

She came to the Carpenters' first show - the matinee on 4th August and she loved it.

Since then, I've had family members at all three shows we've done and the reaction was the same. I'm particularly proud that they all loved the crowd scenes.

Apparently, my son-in-law was initially not too struck with the idea of seeing an outdoor show, largely made up of amateurs on a rainy evening... funny that. Put like that, I can see his point of view. In the event, he was completely bowled over and even though we had to perform the first half (Sun eve 5th August) in our plastic ponchos, the second half when the glory of the costumes was fully revealed, more than made up for it.

When we take a bow, you can feel the energy and delight coming from the audience in waves, a few even stood to applaud. We did two shows on Saturday - our first two! Whoever planned that was determined to test us out. Then, on Sunday, only one - a piece of cake. We're all getting adept now at scurrying to Red 11 or Yellow 2, collecting the right props and putting them back in place. My nerve-racking bits are keeping in time with the washerwomen in the sheet-washing scene - and by the way, who stole a clean sheet the other day so Sandra and I had to share one(?) - and the harrowing of hell when I'm terrified of dropping my pole before the appointed time - so far so good and there's a fantastic clatter when they drop together. Damian says it's his favourite scene.

After the Sunday night show, the cry goes up, 'All shirts and blouses to the wash!'  I've said before I'm in awe of the costume people and the feeling only gets stronger.

I've just seen the cinematic trailer they've made of the production. It's truly stunning. Take a look.

Save the surprise

Well now we've got that other little event over...

Time for the real thing. We've haven't got her Maj doing a bit part as far as I know - but we've got most other things. Angels? Check. Animals? Check. Planets? Ok that's enough. Jude, the stage manager has told people to stop posting pictures and leaking info on Twitter etc from now on - so this blog has to be a bit tight-lipped so we don't spoil the surprise and we leave a few amazing things for the first audience to gasp at.

So if you're planning to come and see the show, let me just hint at a few things to look out for. I love the angels and their costumes, which I've seen in the sunshine of day and lit up at night. They spend quite a bit of time silhouetted against the arches of the abbey ruins and they look stunning. And I love the scene where the shepherds suddenly see the angels and the star and start whooping with amazement. Joseph, returning after fetching wood and seeing the baby for the first time: 'Mary, what sweet thing is that on thy knee?'

In the meantime, we're all knackered and some of us get grumpy with all the waiting around. I've told myself, it's more like being a film extra than being in a normal play. So the knitting and the crosswords are coming out. In fact, I've heard that one of the cast is knitting Ferdy (God/Jesus) a jumper. She's asked him to choose the style and colour and she's away! (I've heard she's doing one for Graeme (devil) as well. Suppose you can't leave him out just cos he's evil...)

Even Damian must be feeling a bit of stress - he's been the soul of patience and good humour throughout, but I heard him tell the line of gentle, well-behaved soldiers to get a move on: 'It's a slaughter, not a picnic!'

And if struggling cast members need a little inspiration, here's someone who made it good after appearing in the Mystery Plays. Judi Dench had to start somewhere.

Not long to go now - we open on Thursday - well they do. The Potters have the first show and we have the last.