Show Posts
1
Stage Management: Other / Inexperienced conductor, last-minute score...
« on: Feb 15, 2011, 01:57 am »
Working on an operetta, we have one final dress rehearsal before we bring in a live audience, and last night's run with the ensemble was rocky (went over the same piece 3 or 4 times, several others needed to be restarted due to wrong tempo and/or musicians getting lost). I had been given instruction from the PM to take control when things derail, so I either gave the line leading up to the music cueing in, or gave a vocal line in the piece (the singers wouldn't know offhand where we would be going if given a bar number).
However, if this happens during a show, I am uncertain what to do - do I let the conductor pick things up and hope the singers figure out where he went back to, or do I break the fourth wall and do as I have been?
I am very reluctant to do the latter, but wonder if it is better for the audience to know there was a mistake but we got back on track rather than have them witness a fumbled song or two.
Opinions?
Thanks in advance.
However, if this happens during a show, I am uncertain what to do - do I let the conductor pick things up and hope the singers figure out where he went back to, or do I break the fourth wall and do as I have been?
I am very reluctant to do the latter, but wonder if it is better for the audience to know there was a mistake but we got back on track rather than have them witness a fumbled song or two.
Opinions?
Thanks in advance.