Today we got to see pretty pictures! Yes, the costume design sketches were unveiled in all their glory (see Flickr feed) and we were very impressed. Duperret's codpiece looked immense, Coulmier seems very well kitted out in his top-hat and tails, the singers look like creepy clowns, Roux's strait-jacket had arms as long as I am tall and the sketch of De Sade actually looked like Nico. I was assured that my costume (a lone pair of tight, bloomer-ish underpants) would be frayed and made to look wet and clingy. So that's alright then.
Rehearsal ran as in previous days, with more character discovery to begin with. Some characters were beginning to find a definite shape, with Roux (played by Stuart) getting louder with the help of his drum while Kim (ensemble patient) worked towards making her character into a shadow for the narcoleptic Corday, constantly waking her up, fixing her hair and prompting her to action. The four singers became more grotesque and hilarious, with Rossignol (Claire) adding to her lizard discovery of yesterday by taking a severe dislike to Corday - after all, Rossignol can sing, act and she's far more with it than the patient playing Charlotte - it should have been her in that role!
We worked through the script slowly in the afternoon, reading and analysing why people say what they do. Mike encouraged a gentle approach, not trying too much too soon, simply marking it out and noticing, nothing more. We did get quite excited (as is our wont) when a shopping trolley full of props and noise-making devices appeared and the songs gained some atmospheric washboard and whistle sounds. At a break in proceedings, Mike got me to stand in the trolley and look like I'm not terrified of falling over while he wheeled me about the room. We seemed to have found the only trolley in the world with four working wheels and the test-drive was a success so we shall see if it makes its way into the final piece. Even more entertaining were the coconut shells which instantly incited some "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" horse sound effects. These stand less of a chance of getting into the production, sadly. We can but dream...
QUOTE OF THE DAY: "Mrs. Coulmier will certainly be sucking a few more Jelly Babies." Mike, capturing the mood of a middle-aged woman witnessing some steamy Sadist playacting.
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