Since I will be leaving the Woods of Brent next year and therefore have no change to be in the musical, I was very happy to get the chance to play for Henry High's musical, Into the Woods. Which the Woods of Brent has done before. Anyway.
Today was our first rehearsal. I am one of the two violins, the other one being my friend, Davey. We split the parts so that I play 2nd violin for the First Act and then I play 1st violin for the Second Act. Actually, we haven't counted the acts, so maybe there's three. I don't know, we'll get to that later.
Anyway.
Our friends, Mad (only cello) and Sair (only viola) make up the string quartet with us. And there are about ten select band instruments.
So we rehearsed a couple of songs (there are 72 in all!) with the cast. They sing loudly.
And when they say their lines, they talk to the rhythmn of our music. Which is difficult, but fun at the same time. I like it. And every once in a while there's something called a 'safety line' which is a measure you repeat over and over again until the actor says your cue, which is basically a line where you continue the music after that.
Anyway, we were playing, and all of a sudden, there's this solo. For me. And I've never played it before. And here we are, going almost full speed, everyone stops--
And it's my turn.
In front of ALLLLLL the cast and band members (all of which who are high schoolers except for Davey)...
So after realizing this, I play. It was easy, I mean, this music is just background stuff.
It was scary, though, I mean, everyone paying attention. It would have been a lot cooler if I actually KNEW it and the key signature wasn't all whacked up.
Anyway, after I finished and was still recovering from the shock of practically messing up in front of everyone, Davey turns to me and says, "That C was supposed to be flat."
Thank you. Thank you, Davey for making me feel better.
Then after about an hour the cast got to just sit on the edge of the stage. By the way, the orchestra (what they call the band and strings) is in the pit.
So the guy playing Jack comes up and sits behind Davey and I and said, "Yeah, we get to sit behind the violins! Party!"
Um, so that's how it went. Basically. Yeah.
