Watching A Clockwork Orange (17/5)

09:32

The dress rehearsal for Clockwork was on the Wednesday of opening night, starting at 1pm. 

It was good to take a break, and take stock of all the costumes. There are a lot of costumes in the show so although we saw them all on the rail, as makers we're sure of exactly which character wore each one until we watched the show.

My costume notes made during rehearsal -

  • Alex needs to be the collar up
  • Police chaps twisting round; Sophie not wearing them high enough
  • Kilt twisting round


Fiona had some others, including - make Cat Lady wig dark at the bottom to hide Robyn's hair, more sequins on Cat Lady kimono, paint Fashionista sunglasses white, etc...


Watching the show, I thought the actors were all so in character that they really built that world. The costumes helped set the scene, especially as the set was so sparse, so it was the group of fashionistas that made it the Korova Milkbar, the prisoner overalls made it the prison, etc. The small things we had done earlier in the day, sewing on tiny red and black highlights on the white shirts, added to the overall look. 

Image may contain: 3 people, people standing1
(Grindod, 2017)

I liked how pristine the set was, and the actors holding the frames was effective, especially in the Cat Lady's house and the window in the professor's house at the end. However, Kevin's idea that the frames could be used to focus on particular parts of the action I don't think worked all the time. In fight scenes I didn't really notice the frames highlighting where I was meant to be looking, and if I didn't know that was the idea from having heard it in rehearsals, I'm not sure I would pick up on it. 

Image may contain: 2 people2
(Grindod, 2017)

I thought the use of music helped throughout, such as in fight scenes, especially the intimidation part of the droogs vs Billyboy's gang, near the start. Also in the rape scene, when the music cut out abruptly, it went from almost comical (with over the top jumps and spins) to tense suddenly. Where there was no music some scenes felt slow, for example Alex meeting the professor after his release. Also, when there was repetitive music (the electronic/synth beat) made feel the scene feel noticeably slow, such as the sequence when Alex was getting stripped in the prison; it was a long sequence and noticing the little music phrase starting again made it feel slower or longer.

Image may contain: 5 people, people standing, people dancing and shoes3
(Grindod, 2017)

Seeing the fashionista costumes on stage, they looked good together, and the print and bright lining colours were very bold against the monochrome set and lights. I wish the sleeves had gone in better (not gathered) but having made the best of it, at least the gathering matched and added to the boxy shoulder silhouette, so in terms the jacket's function in the performance, it didn't make a difference. The jacket was later worn by Lewis in the end scene so it was worth making it with room in it for it to be worn by others.
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Photos:
Grindod, D., (2017). A Clockwork Orange. [Online].
1 Available at: https://www.facebook.com/TheActorsWheel/photos/a.1412708335435113.1073741836.420695347969755/1412713015434645/?type=3&theater
2 Available at: https://www.facebook.com/TheActorsWheel/photos/a.1412708335435113.1073741836.420695347969755/1412713728767907/?type=3&theater
3 Available at: https://www.facebook.com/TheActorsWheel/photos/a.1412708335435113.1073741836.420695347969755/1412712735434673/?type=3&theater
[Accessed on 25th May 2017, at 13:27]

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