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Author Topic: Inserted Dialogue in Opera  (Read 4468 times)

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Nonnie

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Inserted Dialogue in Opera
« on: Apr 30, 2008, 02:08 am »
I am Stage Managing my fist opera this summer and even though I took a short class on the subject in my Stage Management program at the University of Alberta I have ran into a problem already. I am working on "Die Fledermaus" which has dialogue between the songs. My Director wants to rewrite this dialogue, because we are using English and he does not like the translation given in the Dover score. However, I am beginning to work with my script now, since I know it is going to take me more then my prep week to do it, and I don't know what to do about the timings, since the dialogue is going to change. Also, there is no dialogue in the music I have to do the timings with

Any advice? Should I leave the dialogue out the timings since the time could change with the translation? But wouldn't that mess me up later on in the process? Your help is greatly appreciated.
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2nd year Stage Management student at the UofA

sievep

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Re: Inserted Dialogue in Opera
« Reply #1 on: Apr 30, 2008, 02:18 am »
I would start your timings with the dialogue and music you have now.

Timings are ALWAYS subject to change.  Do the best you can with what you have and if you feel the new translation changes the timings by over a reasonable limit then you may have to re-do the timings.  But, like sung recits, people can speak or sing slowly or quickly and all that can change from night to night.
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J

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Re: Inserted Dialogue in Opera
« Reply #2 on: Apr 30, 2008, 09:03 am »
Agreed.  Timings are to get a general sense of how long arias and recits are.  It's not necessary to be exact.  I do timings on straight plays as well so that I can inform crew as to when they need to be ready---and many times I will use the timings from the first read, even though it may vary by a few minutes.
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Thomas A. Kelly

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Re: Inserted Dialogue in Opera
« Reply #3 on: Apr 30, 2008, 03:18 pm »
read the dialogue out loud unhurriedly, and make those your initial timings..
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stagemom

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Re: Inserted Dialogue in Opera
« Reply #4 on: May 26, 2008, 12:02 am »
I agree with the previous posts re: timing.  Go with what you have.  Timings are guidelines only. 
By the way - I have worked with the Director that you will be working with a couple of times, and you will have a GREAT time.  He is generally very prepared, knows what he wants, (until he changes his mind  :) )  and is genuinely a really nice person.  Have fun!!
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