area

Laurie Doyle

Everyone	Diction – consonants Must know who the characters are at the beginning.  They are talking to each other before they speak to the audience. We must have more energy at the beginning. Choose one scene in the play – one line where you express anger.  The rest of the time, figure out how to express emotions differently. Emotion should not carry into yelling.  Find a variety of ways to play emotions. Couples or threesomes who are in scenes alone, find stage business. People at the fire warming themselves, some turn around and warm your back. When it is raining, the rain comes in and out.  Put umbrellas down when the rain stops.  Hug each other when the rain stops.  It’s another small victory. Relief office – too many coughing.  Some sneeze, but not everyone.   Some just shiver, etc. We need another drunk besides Billy in the drinking scene – not Reg or Frank. In the Hilton scene, to help show Louis’s temper, try to go at him. Let other’s hold him back.  One person also stifle a smile or laugh. Too many are swaying. Lighten accents a little in the beginning to help the audience understand you. Watch freezing too soon.
Women	Too screechy. At some point when there is action somewhere else, go to Hilton and Kelly and try to reason with him.  This is so you are not DSC or DSR so much. During the Rose Nate and their son scene – before the radio scene. During the “On Sunday, I was walking the line – women go to meet with Kelly DSC. The women’s scene, Rose enters DSL.
Kids	Ladder scene was too slow.
Music	You were great and on time, but fade in and fade out more.
Nathan	In the train scene, don’t let your bright shirt detract.  Put a jacket or something on.
Billy	At the beginning and throughout the play, your head is down. Fix it. At the beginning, use the sign.  Lean on it. People loved you catching the broom.  Do something like it in another part. Don’t be the fence right off.  Run off left stage, then come running in in a different cap.
Nate	At the beginning, don’t slow down.  Pick up cues faster Show more pain, especially vocally and keep head up.
Louis	Call me a wop – more serious
Louis & Reg	Keep gestures close
Marie	Diction
Alice	You are pushing the emotion too much. Try to control it.
Reg	At the beginning, could not understand you.  Watch talking upstage. Be louder.
Alice & Reg	Hug must be finished.  Be real.
Frank and Reg	Don’t rush brother’s moments
Hilton	Don’t mess with cane.  You have power and we need a sense of control.  Move less. Make the men nervous.  Move more later when you are losing control.
Reg	Don’t move as much to show that  you have control.
Kelly	Deeper voice
Nate and Rose	We have to hear the slap or you can beat on his chest, he takes your hands and throws you down.
	We advanced again - so now it is regionals - one step before state.  Billy, Frank, and Rose received all star awards; Reg received honorable mention, and our tech guys received best tech team.   I received an email from a teacher in our middle school -Our staff was talking yesterday about the play and decided it was time for Texas teachers to form a union considering all the changes to TRS that are proposed…. But we would be fighting lots of attitudes like the play portrays and seems like it would be impossible.  J
	I confess I have wondered about the reaction you would get for presenting a pro-union play like this in a state like Texas. Your production must have made an impact. Congratulations. Please tell all of the cast members how proud we are of their effort and commitment. All the best for the regionals. Charles and I will be the Canadian cheering section. Bill Freeman
	Brownwood Peter Pan Hillsboro Paganini Burkburnett A View From the Bridge Abilene Wyle – Elephant Man Seminole - Ghetto