Powered by laughter, coffee and sweets, Mitesh Soni who plays Ali Baba in Arabian Nights shares his rehearsal journey…
“So what’s the best way to die if you had boiling oil poured over you? Would you slump, or wiggle as you melted?”
This was a genuine point raised in the rehearsal room. Minutes later, two actors discuss the best ‘Strictly’ style lift to integrate into the final dance piece. The following day, we test the best fart sounds and then momentarily panic when more lines are divided up (and then returned to their original speakers).
This might give you a flavour of how the past 4 weeks of rehearsal have been – a bit of a structured rollercoaster, powered by laughter, coffee and sweets. Personally for me, this has meant stomach cramps from laughing so hard and trying to counterbalance it with sugar rushes. For others, it’s meant feeding their tweets or playing ‘Big Booty’ (don’t ask). Everyone’s different and yet, that has been an incredibly charming part of the process. The ensemble – a ‘shamazing’ (well if it’s used on X-Factor then it’s a word right?) group of actors playing, creating, inventing, laughing together.
And good job too, as we’ve had so much to do. When off stage, we’ve mostly been thinking “what’s next?!” – perhaps it’s down to the time and energy we’ve spent devising the methods to tell the stories in ways, we hope, the audience will relish. Or perhaps we just like to panic. I can now confirm that overdosing on coffee does not help this feeling of uncertainty. Either way, working as an ensemble, means we’ve got each other’s backs. Throughout it all so many ideas were tested, and then killed off, but supported nonetheless. “Let’s try it!” has been a common phrase. But the ones that have stayed have been refined, polished, and sharpened with a fine directorial eye.
Now having done 3 dry runs of the show, the ‘what’s next panic’ has sort of subsided – well sort of. With each day, new challenges are still emerging, and as the technical rehearsals begin and opening night in sight, these challenges may only get bigger. But, I’ve no doubt we’ll meet them.
There was a strange sort of relaxation in rehearsals today. Bits were being worked on from our last run, and we all just got on with it. I for one have discovered that operating the left wing of a huge bird may make one arm stronger than the other! However I suspect this is literally the calm before the storm of set, lights, costumes, props & audience descend on our work. The rehearsals are over. Playtime has ended and the bell has been rung. The cast is hungry for the stage. Yep it’s time for 2 days of tech, and then the opening show….see you on the other side!
Arabian Nights runs at The Lowry Fri 30 Nov 2012 – Sat 12 Jan 2013. Family deals and children’s tickets are available for only £10 at all performances. You can book tickets online here or from The Lowry Box Office on 0843 208 6010.