Now blogging: Kelly Rae Jenken, Apprentice Director of Vigil by Morris Panych, on at PTE November 19 - December 7, 2014

November 12 - Merry Tech Week (one week and counting)!

The Brian Perchaluk's set before
Scott Henderson's lighting
has been added.

Hi! You’ve caught us in the middle of a lighting levels session. Oh, and it’s now officially tech week. Welcome! This is an exciting time in the rehearsal process. I don’t know how others feel about tech week, but I love it. Tech week is Christmas! Yes, the days are long, the tasks are tedious, and everybody is stressed and exhausted, but this is when the show really comes alive; this is what we’ve been working towards!

Michael Spencer-Davis &
Doreen Brownstone in the Rehearsal Hall

For the past 16 days, we’ve been enjoying the work the actors have been doing in the rehearsal hall. Now we get to appreciate the work of the all the other artists involved with this production.

 



The set with one of the multitude
of lighting cues.

 

 

As I said, we’re currently having a lighting level party, and Lighting Designer Scott Henderson is our gracious host. He’s sitting about 3 rows back, mumbling into his headset something about dimmers and channels. “Can I get 25 at 50%, 34 though 36 at 40. 45. 50. Great. Record that as light cue 17.” "Lighting levels" is exactly what it sounds like: Scott is deciding where he wants the light to hit the stage, and at what intensity. More than that, he’s also creating “looks”, as in a “daytime sunny summer” look versus a “spring evening raining” look. Vigil is a tricky little play: Scott has the task of lighting 39 different scenes (39!!). He has to deal with the changing of seasons, weather conditions, time of day, and he only has two level sessions to do that in. You see where I’m going, when I say tech week is stressful.

In the next couple of days, we will be treated to the  music that Greg Lowe composed for the show, the set will get its final touches, the actors will have their “spacing rehearsal” where they work out their blocking for the first time on the set, and then soon enough, the actors will be in costume. Basically, for the next three twelve-hour days, not one of us will see daylight (unless Scott programmed a daylight look into one of the scenes). And then my friends, it will be show time! (Already!)

This week's rehearsal fun fact: Set &Costume Designer Brian Perchaluk is often seen running around the theatre with arms full of strange objects to add to the set as “set dressing”. Every time I walk into the theatre, I see something new on the stage that I’ve never seen before. Today’s discoveries include: a "Judy" dress form, Japanese parasols, and a contraption that has a frying pan and an anvil attached (you'll see what it's for when you see the show).

Now blogging: Kelly Rae Jenken, Apprentice Director of Vigil by Morris Panych, on at PTE November 19 - December 7, 2014

Michael Spencer-Davis

November 2 -- Well…here we are! Blog number one at the end of rehearsal week one! What an amazing week with a group of amazing people! Everybody’s brains are ready to explode from information overload. There is so much going on in this play and the amount of work the actors have done in a mere six days is incredible.

Stage Manager Melissa Novecosky,
Michael Spencer-Davis,
Doreen Brownstone, Kelly Rae Jenken
& Assistant Stage Manager Leslie Sidley

Let me tell you a bit about our Vigil family: Doreen Brownstone (who is 92 years old!) is an utter delight as Grace. Michael Spencer-Davis plays Kemp. His dedication, work ethic, and specificity in the role is extraordinary. Both he and Doreen offer a plethora of hysterical moments in rehearsal, and we all laugh bunches! Melissa Novecosky and Leslie Sidley make up our Stage Management team. They're those two people who are busy pre-setting all the props, making schedules, watching blocking and lines (just to name a few of their many, many tasks). We would all be lost without our Stage Managers; they're the greatest. PTE's Artistic Director, Bob Metcalfe, is our esteemed director. There is no better person to direct this play. That man knows his Morris Panych.

So I guess that leaves me…who am I? I’m Kelly, and I’m working as the apprentice director on this production. What does that mean? Well, every apprenticeship is a learning experience, and every apprenticeship is different, depending on the show. Two years ago, when I worked on The Dishwashers, one of my tasks was to choreograph a tango. This time, I’ve been tasked with blogging, and doing some research, like creating a complete timeline of Kemp's life to support the backstory of the play. I also spent some time before rehearsals doing prep work. During rehearsals, I take notes, watch sightlines, and I learn from Bob’s professional directing experience. This particular directing apprenticeship is very special to me, as Vigil has been my favourite play for many years. I am honoured to be a part of this rehearsal process. 

This week’s rehearsal hall fun fact: As part of her character, Doreen has been wearing these adorable knit booties (which she made herself). The other day, she gathered us all around and presented each of us with our very own pair of knit booties to match hers. Mine are purple. They are the best.