Finished?

Last Wednesday night I managed to finish the last of my ten shorts that make up ‘Error of Comedies: Occupations’. On a roll, I sat down and tried to work out what order they should be presented in.

Then something weird happened. If this were to be presented as a full-length two-act play, there were subtle links between each of the individual plays in each act. It was almost as though I had planned it.

I wish that I was that clever – but it must have been something sub-conscious that led them in that direction.

I posted on my Facebook group that I was looking for new pre-readers (a term that I created to indicate that you don’t need experience as a proof-reader, but basically just tell me if it works and point out any errors you see) printed a copy off for my committee of taste (my wife) and one of my finest proof-reader (my Mother-in-Law – with some degree of fear as she is a scary character and I had named one of the characters after her).

I received the manuscript back from my Mother-in-Law this morning and felt sick when I read her comments.

Not that she slammed any of the contents, but it was the fact that she picked up so many little errors that I should have spotted ages ago in my proofing stage. Stupid stuff like putting ‘your’ instead of ‘you’re’.

I’ve even been contacted by one of the actors from the last production of ‘Denim’ who has quite a lot of experience in proof-reading saying that he was willing to have a stab.

I wanted to have this published before Christmas, but after a couple of comments I realise that I am asking far too much of my pre-readers for that to happen. After all, they are volunteers and they have other things to do.

But it made me wonder when a play is ever finished. When is it ready to push out to the public?

I realise that I am often too close to the script as I have poured so much time into it, that I read what I think is there, not what is really there (otherwise I would never have made the ‘your’ mistake). So how long do I have to plan for a pre-reading stage before saying enough is enough and publish the thing?

I guess I will work that out in time – or I may end up with an agent and they will employ experts to help me through this stage.

Until then, if you are interested in pre-reading my new work, get in contact… And I’ll await the responses from those that have the play at the moment.

Apathy or Unrealistic?

I’ve found myself feeling a little despondent about the review of the recent production of Denim. I posted a comment on the online review, making sure that one of the actors got a mention that was not included in the review.

I then posted here about what I thought of the review and messaged all the members of My Facebook group to read the review and make a comment.

So far there has only been one other comment – and that was by someone very close to me.
This has left me a little paranoid. Why aren’t there more comments? Did they think that this is a far description of the play? (I think not, given the comments I’ve seen on Facebook profiles.) Do people not care about the play?

Or am I just being unrealistic? It’s only a play after all. It was a night’s entertainment and nothing more. Those that were in the audience only took it away for one evening. They didn’t leave thinking about how I’m trying to promote my plays, trying to land a professional production, trying to get professionals to look at my work, how I am trying to shake this supposed career limiter of having amateur productions.

I know that I have to pick myself up and get on with writing and promoting my works. But at the moment I find myself in a little dark place that makes me wonder if I will ever get there. Will I ever get that professional production? Is my work good enough to make it?

I need a new tack; a new energy.

But how do I drum up the enthusiasm to do so?

Previews and Productions

Last night I was privileged to attend the production of Denim at the Waterside Theatre in Fawley, Southampton.

To say that they did a great job with the play would be a massive understatement. They excelled in all areas; they made the most of the humour in the first act, and they were the first company to truly understand the pathos of the second act.

I was also lucky enough to take a number of my friends with me, who are my greatest critics… If they don’t like something, they make it more than clear to me what didn’t work. And their responses were as positive as my own! Quite remarkable when you consider that Phil had driven all the way from Gloucester to see the play!

Gwen, the director was kind enough to give me a copy of the preview that the Southern Daily Echo ran of Denim (which contains a rather bizarre picture of me in uniform). But the headline of the preview summed things up rather well for me: “Sibling Rivalry from Jay”.

But let’s talk about the cast (and I will talk about the crew in another post):

Doug – Steve Moulster: Played this stunningly, turning Doug into a middle-class drunkard without a care for what the world thinks of him. And the added touch of splash of water down the front of the trousers nearly caused me to cough up a lung!

Stuart – Peter Allen: Played the perfect Dad. The second that he was challenged about his parental status, he reminded me of m father; venomous but controlled. Everyone in the audience wanted a Dad like Stuart.

Giles – Stuart Collins: Shy, out of his depth but deeply caring. A great portrayal. Too close for comfort as it reminded me too much of me!

Customer #1 – Colin Pritchard: A wonderful take on this character, that he described as a combination of Max Miller and Quinton Crisp! He stunningly turned this character into a total showman that endeared himself to the audience.

Customer #2 – Todd Harrington-Tucker: Totally angelic! Delicate and caring. And the timing and care taken over the “this isn’t going very well” line showed the work he put into his character.

Zoe – Nick Simms: Stunned me by telling me that this was the first time that she has trodden the boards! A character with real depth and full of character and stage presence. Very much the type of girl you want on your side when push comes to shove.

Pete – Leighton Fort: Scared the living daylights out of me! Acted this part exactly as I imagined him when I wrote the part. A real lad, but with a heart of gold – and knows how to play the humour!

Fiona – Angela Sutherland: Played off the customer brilliantly! The flirt with most and made Giles more than uncomfortable!

Sybil – Becky Coultas: I know that so many women love playing this part, but Becky gave it something new. He physicality made her even more endearing, even though she (Sybil, not Becky) is totally disgusting. To me, award winning stuff!

Hazel – Julia Allen: This performance deserves an Oscar (if they gave them away in Amateur Theatre). The comedy of the first act was great, but the pathos in the second act took my breath away! I wrote this damned thing and she very nearly had me in tears… And although my friends will hate me for saying this, but she did have a number of them in tears and they have seen the play before! She understands what it takes to be an actor!

April – Amy Tattersall: I still hate her! Stunning, stage presence, characterization and true appeal. Understood her character and made it more than I wrote. Moreover, she made the audience want to follow her and made them want a happy ending for her more than any other character (could there be another nomination here?).

Rachel – Chris Talbot: Oh that giggle! Gave us so much in such a short period of time. A selfless actress that enabled Pete to set himself up so well!

Cherry – Erin Taylor: Short and sweet. Gave us the link we required.

Simon – Matt Martin: In this production, they gave him lines! But here was a man that showed no shame! And damn it worked well. I thought a couple of the older members of the audience were going to have a stroke (and no – I’m not going to make the joke about “only they couldn’t reach).

My huge thanks to all at the Waterside Theatre. Here’s to all of you and I will be thinking of you all during your last performance and after-show party.

But even more thanks to the audience – without you we would have all looked a little silly! But you made the production what it was. I even made the point of sneaking to the back of the auditorium to see what their reaction was. And… It proves what I had always known. People want to see theatre like this; their attention was always on the stage and were willing the characters on. Thank you.

Now all I have to do is land the next production… and who knows, maybe the next one will be a professional production.

So don’t forget to join the JaysPlays group on Facebook and let the world know how much we want to see theatre like this!

Feedback and Facebook

There are times where I just get my breath taken away. Yesterday was one of those. And all because of one of my previous posts about the production of Denim.

I didn’t know if I should have made reference to my opinion of the characterisations I saw, but thought it was the right thing to do. I’m now so glad that I did. I have had feedback from one the actors who was delighted with my comments. Indeed, although I’m sure it was not their intention, I was deeply flattered that they took the time to make comment.

Indeed they have started another event on Facebook to promote the Denim production that echos the event that I have in the JaysPlays Facebook group. Better than that (just on a playwright’s personal level) they even invited me to ‘become a friend’ on Facebook.

And a call to all out there that stumble on this blog: It is very important to me to be in contact with those that have seen my plays, want to see them, have or are acting in them. This gives me feedback that I can not gain anywhere else. I hope I don’t come over as an ogre, so if you’re on Facebook, join my group and drop me a friend request. I’m as interested in my audience and actors as you may be in me.