Today was based around the staging, props, sound and lighting for preparation of next week. As the staging was taken down for exams, we had to put it all back together, we had decided to stay with the idea for traverse staging. We were now able to alter and improve the layout of the stage blocks either end of the studio based on new thoughts and ideas we had whilst rehearsing the shows and made reflect the characters and setting to the audience. For the 'Evil End', we removed the ramp as the costumes for the Yuppies and Gaga Kids involved character shoes that slipped down the ramp so we decided to replace it with three stage blocks, we noted that this would affect the Radio GaGa dance so therefore we made sure that all the performers of the dance were confortable with this change. We needed to make sure there was a separation between each side of the studio and that the strip of staging didn't intrude on the 'Bohemian End' and that there was still space for the audience to view both sections of the stage.
With the 'Bohemian End' being my main priority as I really wanted to emphasise the stage I would be performing on, we wanted to create a setting of retro, tacky and random memorabilia. What I said to everyone is that we need to show that these people are scavangers. We don't not to highlight the futuristic setting as the Bohemians are only interested in things that they find, things from the 'past' so they are in theory Horder's they build up the heartbreak with the clutter that they find and salvage, we could used this to our advantage by using all our props available and decorating the stage with cloths, clutter and so on. This meant going through the props shelves and picking out old-fashioned, modern, broken and weird items, for example: Queen mask, candles in bottles, a type-writer, a gun... As well as this, a banner was made for the 'Heartbreak Hotel' by sticking letters around a hoop and suspending it from a curtain that hangs from the rigging above, draping around the levels of staging. This was also put around the sides of the stage blocks to cover the gaps in them. By using the tops of the stage blocks to capture the material and double sided sticky tape we secured different coloured material around the sides of each block. Although this image looked like the right sort of setting for rock and roll freedom fighters, I felt as tho it lacked emphasis still, I go back to what Id stated about the Bohemians being disciples of rock and roll, I was keen to show this religious view and though it might be beneficial for the Bohemians to have pictures of former rock stars and their images, over time these pictures would have deteriorated yet the Bohemians look to them as inspiration and I think this was a key feature to the construction of the heartbreak hotel, I told Rachel and she responded really well to the idea. As did the other actors using the stage. The final design captures the atmosphere of the Rock and Roll that has been destroyed and replaced by the clinical lives of the Gaga Kids. A den of squaller that still retains hopes and images of aspiration.
Another alteration made to the stage blocks was the other side of the 'Bohemian End'. Instead of two levels of staging, there is now a U shape and a lower stage block in the middle; this helps with the hospital bed scene as it creates levels around Galileo and Scaramouche, as well as creating a more interesting setting overall.
We then did lighting cues for staging and the first couple of scenes. As well as planning the setting, this also helps us block each scene to prevent misjudgement of staging and conformation of which parts of the stage to use. Here we confirmed that the Heartbreak Hotel would not be used until the scene following I want it all, this meant that we had to change the lighting and try to reflect the same energy on the opposite siide of the stage. I found this frustrating as had a firm idea of what I wanted to do but as I took into consideration the hard work and effort going into the lighting, sound, structure and other production roles I realised this was a minor sacrifice and took the necessary precautions to re-structure my scenes, deciding on my levels and entry and exit points. Which turned out to be much more effective as I was covering much more of the staging and addressing the entire audience from a confident vantage point.
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