Saturday Rehearsal

Today we did the all day rehearsal that often takes place the weekend before a final performance. We started the day with a piece that we struggled to run all the way through, and a piece at that which was not very defined. However, by the end of the practice, I felt confident that the piece would be ready in time for the performance.

This rehearsal was about tidying up transitions and adding in small details such as vocalisation to actions, experimenting with vocalisation in the lines, making sure all movements felt defined and the piece ran smoothly.

In the opening sequence, we tried to delve deeper into the meaning of the lines. When Gregor talks about his daily life and going to work, the underlying idea that despite the cheerful attitude that Gregor tries to put on he is in fact deeply unsatisfied with his life. We therefore tried to express this, replacing the sound of the train with lines that held the same rhythm. Through experimentation, we chose to keep some of the train sounds in and added in a line "All aboard" so that the train would be recognisable. However we also chose to use lines such as "Its fine" and "I love my job" to give the sense that Gregor had to constantly try and convince himself that he was okay with the direction his life had taken.

We also included smaller vocalisations, for example in the scraps scene. While trying to make a pile of food for Gregor, we wanted to make the movements seem more defined and so added in vocalisation alongside throwing the food. Initially this began as a generic "whoosh" sound, however as we practiced it we decided it would be better to experiment with using sounds specific to the food. So for example for the bread we would use a "whomf" sound, reflecting the sound we thought it would actually make when it hit the floor.

For the warehouse scene, we worked with vocalisation and also on trying to make the movements appear more defined in order to show an understanding of the lines within the text. We introduced the idea of Megan having to shout over the sound of the warehouse noises with her hands pressed against her ears. This created a juxtaposition to the idea that "The warehouse was better," which Gregor speaks of. It emphasises this understanding that where ever Gregor goes he has absolutely no peace, while also suggesting the extent to which his family impact on his life, when considering he prefers the deafening sounds of the warehouse. What's more, we introduced a moment when the machines shut down, in order to allow a space for silence during Greta's line. After, when the machine starts back up, we wanted to reflect the fact that Gregor feels sick by replicating the sounds of people physically being sick. What I like about this addition is that it is unapologetically Berkoff which seeks to stretch the boundaries of people's limits in theatre.

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