Read Through

The big news is that most of the cast has assembled and we have done a run through. On Sunday we all descended on Robert and Brian's extraordinary home, The Knowe - a magnificent place in Sassafras. Its an astonishingly beautiful property, made all the dearer to us because we were married there on November 17, 2007. I can't even think of the place without getting a bit misty.

My wedding day was bright and sunny, and Sunday afternoon was anything but. Melbourne's heat wave broke with a vengeance, and we have enjoyed drizzle and rain ever since - a not unwelcome phenomenon. But far from ruining the read through, the cold and the rain enhanced the intimacy. The Knowe is magnificent in all weather.

My day leading up to the run through was unusually hectic for a Sunday. I had a massive bike ride, and went down and up the 1000 steps, and then a bike ride home. Prior to leaving, I booked a taxi online to get me to Sassafras in time. Figuring that if I left around 2-ish, all should be well, I timed everything to the last minute - walked the dogs, showered and cleaned myself up, fed myself - only to have the taxi not turn up! After 20 minutes I called the taxi company to be told they had no record of my booking. I explained that I completed it on line. "Sorry, love, its playing up a bit. I'll book you another one," the ever helpful Megan advised.

Megan was as good as her word, and the taxi was booked - but 25 minutes later still had not turned up. I simply hate being unreliable, and to tell the truth was very nervous about meeting the cast. When the taxi did arrive, and the driver happily informed me there was no such place as Sassafras, I was ready to do my nut. But I restrained myself.

Sassafras happily did turn out to exist, though with all the mist one could imagine it doing a Brigadoon and vanishing for a few years. Which would be a shame, because the assembled cast proved to be pretty exciting. Not everyone was there, but there were many faces I know only from their formidably good performances I have witnessed in the past. The cast has not been announced yet, so I'm not saying a word about who is playing what, but from the evidence, we could not have done better.

The ever delightful James Wright greeted me warmly, and told me a few things about what he wants Tipseion to do in this production. Not saying a word at this point, but when I see my singing teacher next week I will seek her advice about a drama coach. Its an ambitious concept for such a small character, and my initial reaction was of mild panic - but I quickly warmed to the idea, and am now irritatingly enthusiastic. If I am gonna do this, I am gonna do it right!!! Poor Aaron.

First music rehearsal tonight. Pray for me!

My Thespis Score

My score to Thespis arrived yesterday. Rather than borrow a copy from the company, I wanted my own to keep. A very handsome volume indeed - check it out at www.lulu.com - its quality all the way.

I played it through last night as best I could and already I can tell that of all the 'reconstructed' or newly composed Thespis scores I have encountered, this is easily the best. I don't want to give too much away, but it captures the burlesque and vivacity which I imagine would have been in the original. Must confess, I felt a bit emotional holding the score. For the first time, holding that score, I felt that - with some imagination - I was holding that G&S Holy Grail, the lost score to Thespis.

Yes, I think we are on a winner. I have never much liked those attempts to compose a new score in the Sullivan style. You can't compose a score in the Sullivan style today because his day has passed. What might be intended as a homage more likely comes over as patronising or boring, and sometimes both. One Thespis I heard once sounded more like Kander and Ebb.

So its coming together, and I deliberately did not bring it with me on the train today, because I feared an impromptu rendition might result. Metro Trains have taken a beating in the press of late, and Myki disgruntled commuters should be spared my valiant tones.

What is it about Gilbert and Sullivan?

I was practising away at my singing last night - scales, arpeggios, all the nonsense of breathing exercises that my dog Clyde finds fascinating and an considers an obvious prelude to a game - followed by some Bellini, some Schubert, some Wolf, and finally (and best of all) Gilbert and Sullivan. After that I settled in to start learning my lines for Thespis.

My partner Aaron was off at a concert by The Handsome Family, accompanied by his friend Richard. I quite like The Handsome Family, but its better that he see them with a true devotee. With the house to myself, and with the power mercifully restored, I settled in to watch a DVD about sharks. Specifically, a DVD about sharks that jump out of the water to eat seals. This predictably held my interest for about twenty minutes. If you have seen one flying shark, you have seen them all. So it was back to G&S for me.

What is it about G&S that I find so comforting? I have said it before, and I'll say it again - there is nothing that the world can throw at me that Gilbert and Sullivan don't make a whole lot better. Even with the misery of this week's heat wave and resulting chaos fresh in my memory, a dozen bars of The Grand Duke and I am as happy as a clam.

I've been asked who else is in Thespis and the honest truth is I have no idea. I have heard rumours, but that is all - but if those rumours are true I am jolly honoured to be in their company.

In the second act my character has to appear as Bacchus. I have looked up the various depictions of Bacchus. He is usually played by some toned, ripply pretty boy or a big fat old slob - and I fancy I fit into neither category. This means that I will spend the next four months doing many sit ups, or pigging out at Maccas. If our director James has a traditional view of Bacchus in mind, I will be wearing little more than a toga and a bunch of grapes, in which case for the audience's sake, I hope he is contemplating the former. One sight of my tummy hanging out and they will be asking for refunds.

But in all seriousness, James has an uncanny eye for these things. One of the reasons I was so excited by Thespis was because he is directing. He has that knack of making you trust him. I would rather land on my grapes than let him down.

Melting

Now I know I said I would write more often, but its actually not entirely my fault this time. Melbourne has been in the grip of one of its periodic, devastating heatwaves, where the mercury rarely dips below 40 degrees c - and where I live, that means one thing. A massive power outage. Which also means - ta da! - no computer. This year we are fighting back. Seems incredible to me that in a city as developed as Melbourne, the infrastructure cannot cope with hot weather. Thousands of people had to sweat through the equal hottest night on record with no cooling, no fans, no lights. Our local MP has been challenged to pull his finger out and do something about it. I know artists are meant to suffer, but Sweetcheeks, I am not feeling that artistic!

The good news for me is that we start Thespis rehearsals on Sunday, with a read through. I get to meet the cast, at last! I have only heard rumours about who has been included. And just as good, my score to Thespis has been printed and is winging its way to me. The company has ordered scores to be loaned to the cast, but I will want my own. That way I can scribble notes, write mean things about my colleagues in the margins, and keep it afterwards.

I always feel there is something very sad about second hand scores. I own a second hand, but obviously much loved score to The Sorcerer. I picked it up cheap at a shop in Hobart, Tasmania. There were two previous owners, and both appear to have performed the role of Constance. Poor darlings, probably long gone to their reward. At some point that score had been their life blood. Will someone be pondering who sang the role of Tipseion when they pick up my yellowed, long discarded Thespis score in years to come?

One note of sadness is that my friend Naomi has decided to not do Thespis after all. Its quite a disappointment, because she is the life and soul of the company. But she is tired, has done four seasons back to back and needs a rest. Plus she has other commitments, and wants to go overseas. Blah! I hate not getting my way when I know the arguments are sound.

A Long Time Between Drinks

Okay, its been a while since I have had anything to say here, but folks, what can you do when we haven't even started rehearsals yet? I have been in touch with a few of my fellow Thespians, and we are all very excited - but we have to wait until 17 November before we, ahem, get cracking.

The other day on my long, laborious train ride home, I ran into Jamie Tampion, a tenor I know who confirmed that he is in the Thespis chorus. He seemed jolly tickled at the idea of me being Bacchus in Act Two, and I guess he can afford to laugh. Jamie and I get on well. He works hard on stage, and that always wins my respect. Trouble is, we both have the same first name, and when the director yells "Jamie, stand over here," we never know who he means. Jamie also pointed out to me my unfortunate resemblance to television presenter Jamie Malcolm - a third Jamie in the brew - which has been pointed out before. (For ages, the woman at the desk at my gym always greeted me with a sunny "Hi Jamie!" When I confessed that I didn't know her name, she said she only knew me from the television. I immediately put her straight on this, and now rather wish I hadn't. There might be perks for minor celebrity imposters.)

Anyway, how did we get onto this? Stop interrupting me when I am talking about Thespis! The sad news for me is that Naomi is considering dropping out of the show. A great loss, but there are too many schedule clashes for her, and it is a pretty heavy commitment. I know that if she possibly can do it, she will, but at this point its not looking all that great. Damn! My best gal pal in the company. Hopefully James, our director - whom some people insist on calling Jamie (!) - will be able to accommodate her.

Without a score to work on yet, I am doing the next best thing. Like most baritones, my voice changes gears at around e-flat, and I am doing those annoying exercises to bridge the gap without cracking. I am second guessing the score here, but Sullivan tends to write in e-flat major a lot, and even allowing for the fact that this is a reconstruction, I have a nasty feeling that there are going to be some nasty passages to accommodate. I have a lovely little Wolf song called Der Gartner which I work on for this very reason. It has a nice rit over an e-flat. So far its pretty excruciating, but its all for the greater good.

Okay, til next.

Tips.

A Small Ponder

Okay, here's the thing. Its freakishly hot outside, and I can't be bothered doing anything. What's more, having spent thousands of dollars banishing termites from our house and repairing the damage of their little feast, I was none too pleased to discover that the little bastards are back, chewing away on my kitchen floor. My high school magazine arrived today, showing pictures of the school reunion of 1992 - a bunch of grizzled, boring middle aged men, who all graduated a decade after me! This little tipsy gyspy ain't happy and I don't care who knows it.

But you know what? There isn't much that the world can throw at me that Gilbert and Sullivan don't make better. I swear, ten minutes of Ruddigore and the woes of the world vanish.

So you see, in bringing Thespis to the Australian public we are doing more than serving art. We are doing a Community Service.

That's the best I can manage on a day like this! Stay tuned......

Back to Business

Christmas is over and things are settling down. For some reason, I find the period between Christmas and New Year thoroughly irritating - everything is in limbo and I can't be bothered doing anything. Yesterday being a case in point - thought I would go to the gym, do some shopping, watch TV. I did all three, but with no enthusiasm whatsoever, and sat around in a massive grump.

One bright spot - I was offered a place in the Iolanthe Chorus which is big news for me. Iolanthe has so many great choruses and I have never sung so much as a note of any of them. Some people have wondered why I didn't try for a principal role. Simple - I'm not really up to it and the men's chorus needs as many strong singers as it can get. Traditionally the men's chorus is a major weakness for this G&S company. I want this to be an exception.

Anyway, back to Thespis. I watched a production from the Buxton festival over the break. Its a different edition - with a freshly composed score. I wasn't mad about it, to be frank. The attempts to sound Sullivanesque only showed how inspired the real thing is, and when we had some genuine Sullivan, it really shone out like a beacon.

The guy playing Tipseion was okay, but he was obviously instructed to play it as bad panto, and I don't think that will be James' approach. Like so much of Gilbert's work, it plays better than it reads. The Grand Duke is the supreme example of that - it looks complex on the page, but works well on stage. Ditto Thespis.

I wish I could get cracking on learning the score, but I have to be patient. And see the beginning of this missive - patience is not my forte.