Chat About North Shore Music Theatre Sep. 29-Oct. 11, 2015

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atreyu
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Re: Chat About North Shore Music Theatre Sep. 29-Oct. 11, 2015

Post by atreyu »

This post will be the start of an attempt to describe some of the significant differences of this production on a circular stage compared to a traditional stage. There may be those who will be attending a show for the first time in the next few nights that may not want these "spoilers" and are so advised to skip this for another time. Fair warning.

Opening: Upon entering the venue, the audience can observe a desk sitting elevated on the lift in the middle of the stage, a number of chairs arranged like the miner's hall and a 12" television on a cart. Three video screens also are equally spaced around the audience area. One of the house staff typically will take the stage to give announcements and the lift goes down at that time. The announcements finish and all lights go dark. When the stage lights come up, we see Big Davey sitting in a chair, asleep at the desk. Small Boy then arrives (no radio) and attempts in vain to awaken Big Davey. He then grabs a videocassette, pops it into the VCR and the March of Time starts. Big Davey then wakes up and some of the miners start arriving and join in watching the video. Eventually Big Davey launches into The Stars Look Down and the rest of the scene plays out as usual.

Shine: Minimal props, but Mr. B does have a smoke device and also does a lap around the stage pulling a hand truck upon which Mrs. W is reclining. Ballet girls have a finger decoration that they pull out for SMILE, best described as a tuft of fur of varying colors.

Shadow Dance: There is no real wall upon which to project a shadow and so no way to depict a swan.

We'd Go Dancing: Scene starts with one of the Ensemble men representing Granddad who promptly pulls a flask out of his sock for the line "spent the housekeeping money on whiskey and beer". He is joined by about half dozen others for the remainder of the number, staged similar to normal. In this production, once again Billy does not acknowledge the men, as if they are merely figments of Grandma's imagination.

Michael's Room/Expressing Yourself: When the center lift rises, the lights come up to show Michael standing on a bed with headphones on wearing a dress. Normal dialog follows, although the first thing Michael does is move a trunk off the lift to one edge of the stage from which a few pieces will later be pulled. The clothing to be tried on Billy is on hangers next to Michael's bed. Transition to Expressing Yourself follows other recent regionals with Michael pushing Billy down to the floor to be an observer while Michael sings the first verse.

Both end up jumping on the bed and pulling out tap shoes from underneath. They don the tap shoes without competing and do some of the normal tap dancing. The scene change, though, consists of the bed on the center lift being replaced by a small set of stairs. No other personnel get involved. Along the way, Billy dons a top hat and tails while Michael puts on another dress and they do some stair work that could be homage to Astaire and Rogers. IMHO, the problem here is that the stairs are too narrow to do much and to me it is a let down from the impressive tap work they have displayed up to that point.

Tony and Dad confrontation: Dad punches Tony immediately after "waste of space since Mom died". IMHO this is the natural spot.

Born to Boogie: Mr. Braithwaite really dances. Proper. With full splits. But no jump rope for Billy or Mr. B. Ending features Mrs W and then all three fall backward to the ground to close.

Tony's injury: Scene starts with Dad and George sitting at the table in the Elliot home and then Tony and another miner arrive.

Angry Dance: Billy starts in his bedroom which is briefly moved to the center of the stage by a couple cops while Billy does the initial tap part of AD. The cops then lift Billy over the railing to continue the dance while the bed is removed from the stage. Billy does a fair amount of the normal Angry Dance choreography and then disappears into a trap door. Miners and cops then fly around the stage with the miners congregating in the center which is then elevated a few feet. Billy rejoins shortly after, but no longer in tap shoes and in sneakers instead. This facilitates running a few laps around the stage, stopping now and again by police with riot shields. IMHO it is an effective depiction of how Billy is trapped, but it contains a lot less actual dancing. Eventually Billy gets to the center lift and is elevated while the cops leave. Billy then performs some of the standard "writhing" section of AD solo that closes Act 1.
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atreyu
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Re: Chat About North Shore Music Theatre Sep. 29-Oct. 11, 2015

Post by atreyu »

Continuing with more distinctive features of this theatre-in-the-round production:

Merry Christmas, Maggie Thatcher: There is no practical way to have a political puppet show, of course, but it allows more opportunity for the ballet girls to do an ensemble piece. The Maggie Thatcher puppet is present, although it is rather deep in the VOM and for most of the audience has to be pointed out to notice.

Dream Ballet: Flying occurs center stage and Billy gets to about 15 feet up which is less than a normal stage, but no less impressive. A nice level of ground smoke is achieved, providing the effect without being overwhelming.

Winter Scene: After Billy takes off for home, Dad pulls a flask from his pocket and has a slightly more inebriated bearing going to the Wilkinson residence. There is no set or prop for this scene, although the snow conveys the outdoor setting. Dad calls out a couple Hellos and Mrs. Wilkinson yells "Coming" as she makes her way down the aisle. IMHO a simple doorframe might have been helpful here. The snow consists of real flakes dropping from above that actually melt. No water is left on stage at all and so the speculation from someone with knowledge of these devices is that perhaps a CO2 machine is employed.

RBS: The setting is an empty stage, complete with ghostlight along with two banks of spotlights at opposite ends of the stage. The lift is down for the interactions with Clipboard lady, Posh Dad and Scottish Dancer. The scene switches to the audition with the line of ballet girls on one aisle. The lift rises containing two ballet barres. Billy and one ballet girl take positions alongside each barre and perform the ballet moves. Billy passes the line of ballet girls on his way to the auxiliary area and Posh Boy, being at the end of the line, is in good position to notice Billy needing consolation.

Electricity: Being that only two chairs are needed as props, there is plenty of space for dancing, especially since pirouettes don't require much area. For acrobatics, though, there is a limit to how much can be done in one tumbling run.

Once We Were Kings: The lift is down to start. When it rises, 3 or 4 miners come up with it and promptly walk off while the rest of the miners board to go down, suggesting a shift change. Townspeople line several of the aisles, but do not enter the stage. As has been noted in reviews, a very nice touch is Billy remaining in Dad's arms for a long time during this number.

Company Celebration: After "Finish!", the cast leave the stage except for Billy, Dad and Mrs. Wilkinson remaining on the lift. The lift goes down as they acknowledge final applause. IMHO it's unfortunate Billy never gets full recognition on his own, but the venue just doesn't lend itself to making that practical.

Above all else, the standout feature of this production that is most worth highlighting: SUCCESS!!!
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CJ-Rochester
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Re: Chat About North Shore Music Theatre Sep. 29-Oct. 11, 2015

Post by CJ-Rochester »

Thanks so much to atreyu, jdmag44, kport, and tomtorfan for all of the excellent descriptions and reviews. I am sorry I wasn't able to make it to Boston for this show. All of your writeups helped the rest of us to feel like we were there.
-Chris
kport
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Re: Chat About North Shore Music Theatre Sep. 29-Oct. 11, 2015

Post by kport »

Atreyu's observations are spot on!

Having just returned from the final show, I simply wish to add one comment:

Many, MANY of the folks at NSMT mentioned this Forum to me, and the support - and the extensive information, past and present - it gives to cast members and cast parents of this show. This cast is not only very special, but it is aware of the support and appreciation it receives from audiences..and this Forum.
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Re: Chat About North Shore Music Theatre Sep. 29-Oct. 11, 2015

Post by ERinVA »

So I gather you let them know about the forum. Thanks for letting them know about us. I hope they will find a lot of information here.
Ellen



"I don't want people who want to dance; I want people who have to dance.”
-George Balanchine 1904 -1983


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CJ-Rochester
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Re: Chat About North Shore Music Theatre Sep. 29-Oct. 11, 2015

Post by CJ-Rochester »

It has been mentioned a few times that Noah was a 'Billy coach' in this production. He posted some photos of himself with Nic and Brooks on his Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/noahparetsfans ... 5095563278
kport
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Re: Chat About North Shore Music Theatre Sep. 29-Oct. 11, 2015

Post by kport »

IRNE Awards will be announced on April 11th. BETM at North Shore is in contention.

http://www.theatermania.com/boston-thea ... 76106.html
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atreyu
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Re: Chat About North Shore Music Theatre Sep. 29-Oct. 11, 2015

Post by atreyu »

Congratulations to Nicholas Dantes and Brooks Landegger on winning a 2016 IRNE Award for Promising Young Actor and also to the Ensemble for their IRNE win!
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php? ... 8908231579
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