TJOC Rehearsal Blog

TJOC

Rehearsal Blog

I

intended to complete this over a month ago but ever since I offered

to do this rehearsal blog, other commitments including college and

work have piled on top of me and life has become a little more than

hectic. But I thought today, the 17th November was a

perfect day to finally sit down with hot mug of tea an few biscuits

and finally complete this monthly summary of life at TJOC.

As

we begin to approach Winter, not that we really saw the other three

seasons, the Tiverton Junior Operatic Club is busily rehearsing for

it's 2010 show, the famous, tear jerking musical, 'Les Miserables'.

But what have the kids been up to this month?

I

sit here thinking about how in just over twelve weeks we'll be

closing the curtains at the New Hall for a final time. I can imagine

emotions will be running high as just under a years work will be

complete and having personally been a part of five shows in the past

with the Juniors, I know there will be a few tears shed as we come

together for the last time. Usually the cast loses and gains a few

faces from one year to the next, so I know that I won't be looking

round the room at all the same faces again next year. And with

University fast approaching, Les Miserables is possibly going to be

my last show with TJOC, so regardless I'm not likely to be looking at

the same faces in February of 2011.

Anyway,

what has happened in the last few months? My memory isn't brilliant

and generally within a few weeks the events of the previous month is

nothing but a hazy blur. But I do remember Monday night, 19th

of October, I met with our director, Kev Behan in a small room at

Heathcoats Factory to run through a scene. It's unusual to get one on

one time with the director as I received that week but it's extremely

helpful and rewarding. Our chairman Mark Drysdale and two committee

members, Penny and my Mum, Sian accompanied Kev and I at Heathcoats.

We had tea, coffee and Jammy Dodgers at the ready! It was going to be

a hard night, for me anyway. This was a great opportunity to work

intensely with Kev, I wasn't going to turn down the chance to explore

the more emotional side of my character as with a show such as Les

Mis, that's extremely important. We ran through and set one of my

solo numbers, “Stars” which appears mid way through Act One.

“Stars”

is a truly beautiful number, it's the first time you see the ****s

in Javert's armour. Kev and I worked hard to develop his character

and bring his emotions to the forefront. I had the most difficultly

with the part that runs up to the song, which sees me swing my baton

about at the frightened beggars below me. I'm not exactly graceful so

I haven't really got the knack of all them twists and turns quite

yet, you definitely won't be seeing me on Strictly Come Dancing in a

few years!

However

next we look to our regular Thursday rehearsals where we get to run

through the musical numbers with the musical director, Andrew Curtis.

Unfortunately on Thursday 22nd and 29th, Andrew

couldn't make it due to a nasty flu and instead we ran through Act 1

using the CD. The instrumental CD of Les Mis isn't ideal, it tends to

vary in tempo at random intervals but it was a useful exercise to do

in Andrew's absence. After all, it gave us a chance to work with a

full orchestra, regardless of the fact that it was pre-recorded.

There

have been other rehearsals going on without me, scenes that I'm not

personally in. For example, the brilliant 'Master of the House'

number where the Thenardiers (Matt Browning & Tariro Mwadira) get

to create a bit of comic relief, it's probably one of the catchiest

songs from the show and probably the funniest scene in the whole

show. Other songs such as the Prologue, I Dreamed A Dream and

Fantine's Death, just to name a few have also been set. And up

next...Lovely Ladies. I can't wait!

So

when is this show on, how much are tickets and where can you get them

from? Well, tickets go on sale at Twyford Photography on the 30th

of November; tickets are priced at £8-00 for Adults and £7-00

for Children, Senior Citizens and Students. You can also purchase a

family ticket for £26-00 based on two adults and two

concessions. The show is from Monday 15th until Saturday

20th of February. So don't miss it! You can also see TJOC

at the Tiverton Carnival on November 21st and we're also

going to be guests of the Tiverton Concert Band at a performance at

St. Paul's Church on November 28th at 7:30PM. So come and

see what were up to!

Thanks

for reading and we hope to see you all in February!

Daniel

Taylor