ROY: Right. Now we’ve set the first scene, you’re all hopefully getting the idea of how this show’s gonna work. But….Bill what’s all that for? BILL: It helps keep me ready to come in and do what I’m needed to at any moment. Keeps me on my toes. ROY: Riiiiight. Anyway that opening number doesn’t really help a lot of you as most of you are kinda just going with the flow and singing as part of an ensemble there. Now I don’t want a generic “block chorus” in this production. I certainly don’t want any of you feel like robots with everyone just doing the same thing as each other with no meaning or purpose. It drives me mad when I see productions like that, and leaves so many people in the background. MAX: Excuse me might I object? ROY: You are all individual people. And I want you to be individuals. I want to see your characters as you perform the group numbers. Not just everyone in blocks. MAX: (slightly sarcastic) “You’re unique, just like everyone else” ROY: So therefore you have a certain amount of freedom around the stage as you please. (MAX starts getting more annoyed) ROY: Pick up a prop, as you feel appropriate….., you can even adjust the way you deliver your lines, both spoken and sung…… KAREN Wait, no, everyone needs to be singing the harmonies at the right timing. That’s how the score is. You can’t just have people stop singing to randomly say dialogue that isn’t in the script whenever people feel like it just because someone has the opinion they “don’t have enough lines”. ROY: It’s ok I don’t mean any of this literally. I don’t mean literally say anything you want on stage, good grief imagine the chaos that would ensure. I mean them to ‘look’ like they’re having conversations on stage. It’s called mime work. MAX: But remember, everyone must keep their footwork in precision, the timing must match everyone else’s and I want to see formation! Formation! formation! (slaps his hand into his other hand each time he says “formation”) Remember the formations that are planned, don’t just go anywhere on stage. SCOOTER So which is it? Are we free to wally about? Or are we a tightly knitted choreographed unit? MAX: Knew you would chime in with your rubbish… SCOOTER: What I’m only asking. Duh! HEATHER: Hahahahaha
