The play!

[alt_hannah]

Yesterday afternoon was the first rehearsal, so it was the first read through. It was also the first meeting for the production crew, just to let people know the sorts of things they'll have to do. Meghan and Eloise are still rather cross that they didn't get a part, not even in the chorus/Wizengamot like Susan and I did, but it sounds as though the stage crew will have plenty to do, preparing costumes, scrounging up and making props and the like.

It was quite interesting to hear the play for the first time. We've studied the events in History of Magic, of course, but still I didn't know about some of the events depicted. It was really quite moving and thrilling. A few of the girls were actually sniffling a little at the end of Act 1.

Some of the people cast are already so good! (Terrence Higgs, for example, as Mr Malfoy! And Electra Bobolis, I'm sure, will just be fabulous as Mrs Lestrange.)(Well, and some are so bad, mispronouncing everything, but I won't name names there. They'll certainly have time to improve.)

But the best part was probably the look on Ronald Weasley's face when he realised for the first time that he actually had to sing.

It's going to be ever so much fun.

Comments

I Solemnly Swear that I Am Up to No Good

[alt_neville]

I wish the whole thing would just go away.

Evelyn's in it. I hope it won't be too awful for her.

Re: I Solemnly Swear that I Am Up to No Good

[alt_lee]

You think some people are going to be making nasty comments to her?

Re: I Solemnly Swear that I Am Up to No Good

[alt_neville]

Probably. Theseus Cox is going around telling everyone that he's going to base his 'interpretation' of Frank Longbottom, blood-traitor, on an imitation of me.

Re: I Solemnly Swear that I Am Up to No Good

[alt_lee]

Ouch.

Re: I Solemnly Swear that I Am Up to No Good

[alt_neville]

Yeah.

Re: I Solemnly Swear that I Am Up to No Good

[alt_ron]

Sorry, mate.

If you want, we can hex you the afternoon of the play so you'll have to go to the hospital wing and miss it.

Actually. Maybe we could hex each other.

[alt_gredforge]

Our ickle Ronniekins, singing?

I hope the ushers provide ear plugs for the audience for that point in the production. That would be quite thoughtful.

I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_ron]

Oi!

Shut it, you!


If you wanted to help, you could just kill me now so I wouldn't have to go through with this.

Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_gredforge]

Where's the fun in that for us if you're not around to torture?

[alt_padma]

Professor Binns covered the Battle for the Ministry with you?

Or were you all talking about it in a lesson and ignoring what he had to say?

Anyway, yes, it was really a good first read, wasn't it? I thought Sandoval and Yaxley did quite well, especially, considering how much they objected to having to play a love scene, even if it is tragic.

Did you hear Weasley's trying to find out if he has to do it? And after he was sooo chuffed to be the cat in the first place? But it's all right. The more naff he is the bigger the applause Parvati and I will get when we kill him!

[alt_dean]

It's too bad you all don't kill the cat early on in the play. At the very least it would make Ginny feel better. It would also save time in getting rid of a useless charater and a very bad performer.

[alt_padma]

Well, it's lucky he doesn't even show up until Act II. I guess they wanted to limit the amount of damage he could do.

As far as I can tell, Ginny Weasley doesn't have any reason to complain. She's got one of the funniest scenes in the show, and it's practically all hers. And then she's got some hilarious physical stuff later on. I mean, the only thing she could possibly regret is having Ron for a brother in the first place, and that's nothing at all to do with the play.

There are plenty of girls who'd have given their wands for such a juicy role.

By the way, did you hear that Vesta Chambers resigned already? I guess she thought her part had more lines and she was disappointed at the reading. And Stevens says if they don't move her up from the Wizengamot she'll probably quit as well.

[alt_hannah]

Well, of COURSE Professor Binns covered some of this. There's no need to be shirty. I'm not saying he didn't. But not everything. Or were some of those bits Karoline Moon put in it what d'ye call it--artistic licence?

I hadn't heard that about Weasley. Well, I suppose he was so taken aback about the singing that he wasn't at his best, but perhaps once he's accustomed to the idea he'll throw himself into it more and it won't seem so awkward.

But you're right: it's obvious it'll get lots of applause once he gets it in the neck!

[alt_padma]

I'm not getting shirty, Abbott. But it's rare enough for Professor Binns to cover anything even remotely in the 20th century! I'm just not sure how you got him to talk to you about something that's only a decade old! Lakshmi, if we could figure out how to get him to teach recent history like that, we wouldn't need to work so hard on History Club!

[alt_luna]

It was rather good. But it doesn't even mention the Rotfang conspiracy.

And the whole thing could use more sparkle fairies, too.

[alt_gredforge]

Or fireworks.

Most things can be improved by judicious inclusion of fireworks.

[alt_susan]

We're going to have fun in the chorus together, don't you think?

I'm happier with that than having a speaking part, since we get to do the most singing and that's what I like best.

[alt_hannah]

You're a much better singer than I am. It's a good thing there are other people to drown me out!

But yes, it will be fun.

[alt_susan]

Oh come on, Han, I can hear you behind me and you're not that bad at all!

Did you see the noticeboard by the Great Hall at breakfast?

You and I and a bunch of other people are to be understudies!

I hope I won't have to take a speaking part, but I feel like I'd better start learning it off just in case.

Mrs. Black doesn't really have too many lines though--mostly things like "Hex him, Lestrange!" The only trick is going to be remembering when to jump in.