1/12th Nite

[matthewmt]

Are we sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin.

(crosses legs and leans back in comfortable rocking chair)

In the very early days of Ludamus, or Love Dangerously, as it was originally monickered, our first show didn't follow the academic year - we performed the week before Christmas (Christ - 13 years ago next week, in fact! ), and as I recall, had already started workshops before the Summer Holidays. Hmm - is that right, anyone?

Anyway, we performed the show in the studio space in Grafton, pulling together performers from Sixth Form, Fifth Year, and also, I seem to remember, a cameo from a three-year-old (or something) Robin Smith.

I had been cast as Sebastian, the long-lost male twin brother of the main character Viola. My twin was supposed to be played by a mate of ours who had indeed been born on the same day as me, but she dropped out with not long to go, forcing Caroline to step bravely into the breach herself.

It was also a musical adaptation, so a horrifically-mulleted band was part of the stage, providing rock-stylee backing for Shakespeare's own lyrics. Simon played the wisely shrewd jester character Feste, who did the most memorable songs.

Did any future Ludamites see this show? Any contemporaries want to share any further memories?

My favourite memories are:

1. having massive problems with the simple task of walking on stage - Gay and Caroline had fits trying to get my arms to act at the same time as the rest of me was. I don't think my arms are quite as into acting as my legs, for example, a trial for any young actor.

2. Most of my scenes were with Noggy, who was quite a well-spoken young man. One of his character's lines was "Alas the day", which became a kind of rueful expression among the cast, said in the same kind of tone as "bummer, dude". Alas the day, maan.

3. Neil Martin in his yellow tights, cross-gartered.

4. Lanky Chris Smith, complete with lisp, making a hilarious Sir Andrew Aguecheek. We had to have a fight, which was my favourite scene.

5. My monologue : "This is the air... That is the glorious sun... This pearl she gave me, I do feel't and see't, and though t'is wonder that enwraps me thus, yet t'is not madness".

[matthewmt]

THEN SIMON SAID:


My favorite moment was the drinking scene malvolio is supposed to break up.

Agucheak and feste and belch are all sitting there singing and shouting and having a great time when suddenly they think they hear someone coming down stairs which is Malvolio's cue to enter... only this time... well this happened ( sorry about the paraphrasing )

The party group: RAR RAR RAR DRINK FECK GIRLS SING SONG RAR RAR... wait I think I hear someone coming...

pause...

longer pause...

even longer pause...

the cast start to improv because malvolio hasn't turned up on cue

Belch: er... ~prithy~ shall we.. er... sing again
Agucheak: er... nay... ~forsooth~ we have already sung too much ?

pause

pause

long pause

THEN SUDDENLY from backstage

BUMPBUMP BUMP BUMP BUMP SHIT FUCKING BUMP BUMP BUMP BASTARD FUCKING BUMP BUMP BUMP

Malvolio enters ( still pulling on his hat ): Well hi!

Turns out neil had been up a ladder fixing a door that had nothing to do with the show and forgot his cue.

classic.

[matthewmt]

THEN BEL SAID:

i think you'll see from my introduction post that yes, i saw 12th night, randomly wiv me stepdad. and thus it was that i first saw simon up close, and wished that one day i too would be as cool as those crazy 6th formers doing that drama thing..x