Hi everyone,
The great and powerful who run our lovely blog have asked me to give you a bit of an insight in the day of the life of a Box Office Agent. However over the next couple of weeks I won’t just be helping the public with all their ticketing needs…I will be playing the role of Belle in Beauty and the Beast which comes to the Grand Opera House for one week from Tuesday 15th – Sunday 20th of November. It’s a strange double life selling tickets for your own show but I should be used to it by now!
I was cast in my first musical at the age of thirteen, but it took three years to sneak my way onto the Grand Opera House stage. Since then I have played Casilda The Gondoliers, Peep-Bo The Mikado, Bonnie Anything Goes and most recently Maria West Side Story – but nothing can compare to starring as a Disney princess for a week.
We have been rehearsing for months and now we are in our final production week. For someone who has never experienced a production week I can only explain it as…tense. ‘Will the costumes fit? Will lines be remembered? Will that piece of set ever manage to fit on stage?’ and finally ‘Will the director actually slap me if I get it wrong again!’
Jokes aside this week really makes or breaks a show, and I’m pleased to report ours is going swimmingly. Our chorus and principal line up are working together in order to piece together this Disney classic and so far so good. Lisa and Sandra (the dream team of make-up and wigs) and Jeanette, our beautiful wardrobe mistress, have been here all week adding the finishing touches; it’s going to look spectacular!
In terms of actual movement we are being put through our paces by Mary Macdonagh our Louis Spence style choreographer. Mary has brought the magic to the renowned ‘Be Our Guest’ and also brought the fear of god to myself for Gaston’s number of ‘Me’ (I’ll not spoil it for you, but I end up feeling a tad dizzy).
Finally, last but certainly not least is our director Cav. Vivian Coates. I can’t explain Vivian….you just have to meet him. He directs operas in the most prestigious venues across Europe however it’s clear to see he is just as excited to hit the Grand Opera House stage as the rest of us. His attention to detail is unbelievable and he has worked us all to the bone, however it’s safe to say that it’s paid off. He is genius.
So, with less than a week to opening night I’m intrigued to see what we can have thrown at us, but more importantly the butterflies are setting in. Costume fittings, band calls and tech rehearsals are all still to be completed, but before you know it, it will be show time (eek). If there are any other weird and wonderful happenings in Belle’s world I will be the first to let you know. If not…I’ll see you at the show!
Clare