Run for AGE UK Cast B

Having chosen what scenes we would perform to Age UK, beginning up to the end of love letters, we did a run of Cast B who were performing that day.
This run was a chance to see what we had devised as a mini show, or the first act of the whole play. Transitions to link the scenes together had been created to keep it flowing and the audience engaged, stopping and starting between scenes can make it look clumsy, and provides the audience with a chance to switch off. If you have worked hard to transport them into a world in front of them, so much so that they forget they are watching a play, then those stops in the performance can remind them of their surroundings, that it's a performance, and instead of continuing the journey for the audience, you have to spend time regaining their full attention into believing the world in front of them.
The notes I wrote down when watching the show were:
Librarians:
- Hold pause looking at Alfie and Evie 'These two' switches focus, lets the audience familiarise themselves with the two characters
- Both look at the middle bookcase before walking towards it, again guiding audience focus
- Asking questions to audience, with each question look at a different member, almost walking doing it, makes the scene less static and can add gestures to words, bringing in physicality

Tree Lovin'
- Make bigger thing of guiding
- When Alfie and Evie are chatting and flirting, librarians acknowledge and react 'plan is working!'
- Blow idea of asking Evie out tonight from the book into Harry's face, gives him reason to turn round, moment of panic that he is walking away
- Put the necklace on Mandi before the lines are spoken, nice image to see
- Say the lines in hold and then hold the hug for longer when hearing of conscription to war

Lovesong
- Put the letter all the way down Mandi's arm to her hand and lean back further, using movement to full potential, finishing each move before going to the next
- Whole thing can be slower, slightly more exaggerated just so it is seen by the whole audience, again fulfilling the movements
- Keep wrapped hug held for longer, not wanting to let go, the tension then in the body reflects feeling
- When Mandi is lying on Harry's lap, share a look before you both get up
- Give kit bag stage right before walking round, makes the transition less clunky and allows for that last moment between Alfie and Evie, shouldn't be rushed! You would want your last goodbye to be something special, not wasted

Love Letters
- Perhaps some dialogue for the transition to love letters, again there is a potential moment for the audience to lose concentration
- Harry appear to be huddled round a fire, picture the scene that would be in front of you
- Lee's reactions to the explosion were great, really effective!
- Need to think of a way to pass the letters that is less time consuming
- Get the pace picked up enough so that when Harry tells of his friend passing the pause is effective and significant
- With explosion, PAUSE before Harry jumps backwards, that image is great to see with all different heights, don't rush it or it gets messy.