Personal evaluation of dress rehearsal (from video)

I evaluated this for both an individual and company purpose, I split it into the separate scenes.
Librarian opening:
- The dialogue is a lot more clear and concise which sets the audience with the message to take throughout the play, sets the scene for what they will witness so it's understandable
- Good pace and change of dynamic when they directly challenge the audience

Diaries:
- Physicality has to portray age as they are young, reinforces their characters age
- Can see the librarians trying to open the diary behind Alfie and Evie, it was timed really well and can be seen by the audience
- Perhaps needing some expression of Alfie signalling he's at home, so set takes the persona of their home where they are familiar and comfortable

First Encounters Part 1
- Acknowledging of younger selves is a lot clearer
- With snaps, exaggerate so it is clear that the librarians can stop time
- Pace and spacing was better for the couples, we were able to cut in just after each other so the dialogue has momentum

Rhythm
- There needs to be that sudden change of vocals and rush of noise
- Everyone needs to stop when the clicking ends, even if you're not in the right place, stop and pose then dart to your place otherwise the effect doesn't work
- Work on spacing! In venues if the space is really different quickly set them so people are confident
- With the fast grapevine people need to either straighten their arms or add tension, floppy arms doesn't look great
- In the improvisation section, 2 x 8 counts, everyone needs to be cheering/chatting to fill the gap, it makes the unison sequence after more effective and again adds another layer to just a routine, brings life to it with characterization

First Encounters Part 2 and Crazy
- Librarians have great reactions, especially Karl's to 'nice bottom'
- Need that awkward pause before 'youth is wasted on the young' otherwise the line doesn't make sense
- Don't be looking at Nick till the 3rd click, then suddenly both looking at each other properly
- Change stance, don't always keep head close to chest because it brings all the gestures in and makes them smaller which is harder to recognize
- Hold the pina lift, it's the first time they are practically nose to nose, the first time their heads are that close together
- Vocal dialogue from Rose and Norman as they pull the dance apart
- Nice character relationships, looks like genuine friendships

Walk home/tree lovin'
- Sort out pathway to bookcase, was a bit random
- Stand in relation to lighting so not cast in shadow, light awareness
- Work on the bookcase transition, practice moving it round so its fluent
- Don't take the jacket off till Elsa or Karl come to get it
- Keep chatting underneath the tree to fit with Evie's dialogue
- Vocals always up!
- Make the necklace bit more uplifted, keep the pace, no pre-empting

Lovesong
- News reel spoken factually, no adding of emotion to get impact
- Placing of singing great behind Liv
- Add more tensions into the hugs, especially the final one, the last time you could ever hug each other, you wouldn't want to let go
- Take frustration of being powerless into physicality, push Nick away with force, need to see that growing as it progresses, needs to escalate or it doesn't really work
- Have a moment to compose yourself before walking up the steps, lets the audience notice the book steps properly

Love letters
- Felt a lot more comfortable, getting used to speaking it fluently
- Moving made it less static, could add more feeling to it to stay away from monotone

Hospital
- Practice in the dress regularly for practicality reasons!
- Need to work on timing for the end, not letting the audience think the play has finished

Seasons
- Could perhaps increase the speed of it slightly
- Constant reactions from the sides really lifts it
- Anniversary, everyone needs again to stop at the same time and the energy level needs to mirror that of the first dance
- Don't drop the movements to half-hearted or it looks a bit dull and messy
- After the first section it goes straight to the older couple, so everyone must STOP dancing!

Duet
- Still a bit shapeless
- Need to give ourselves a setting, a motive otherwise it is just a routine
- Can add layering without adding sentimental gestures, adding subtleties, so how you move and how you look at the other etc
- Still not convinced by the Damien Rice music, it's too dramatic, not capturing the essence behind the duet as another piece of music could
These notes we all shared the day after the run!