Love's Labour's Lost readthrough - casting and logistics

[wildeabandon]

Okay, it looks as though LLL is the most popular choice, so we'll go ahead with that. I'm currently expecting the following people, but if you're on the list and don't want to be, or not on the list and do want to be, let me know. I'll do the casting at about 9pm on Friday, but feel free to say you want to join at any point until about half an hour before the readthrough and I can rejig things, but you probably won't get an amazing part.

wildeabandon
leonato
halojedha
liv
bunnypip
themidnightgirl
watersword
the_alchemist
naath
bella_luugosi
highlyeccentric
smhwpf


Content note: One thing I should mention, just in case any of you aren't familiar with the play, although LLL is generally one of the lighter plays, the ending isn't 100% uplifting.

Software and logistics: We'll be using Zoom. Ideally you would download a client here, beforehand (available for Windows, Mac and Linux). I've enabled the setting that means you can join through a browser, but apparently it's works less well than the client.
I'll open the meeting a few minutes before 14:00 on Saturday, and then you'll be able to join by clicking on this link: https://zoom.us/j/3141627183
If you want to have a quick trial run beforehand to make sure the software is working let me know and we can arrange a time.

Scripts: I suggest that if you don't have a copy you use the version available from Project Gutenberg, but if you prefer dead tree then I don't think it's one with a huge amount of textual variation, so whatever you've got is probably fine.

Casting: As I said above, I'll do the casting lateish tomorrow evening, so let me know before then what your part preferences are and I will do my best to take them into account. There's a list of characters here. Tell me about particular parts you'd like to play or avoid, or tell me more generally what types of characters you like to play, and how much you'd like to have to do.

Have I forgotten anything?

Comments

[halojedha]

Squee! I've read the play before but don't remember it well. I like playing witty, sarcastic characters and having lots to do. I haven't tried to do a read-through with a baby before though so I don't know how smoothly I'll be able to participate - it's very much an experiment. Reading the character list, the various lords, Moth and Rosaline all sound fun

[watersword]

Yay! 1400 GMT, right?

I would like a smaller role, please.

[wildeabandon]

Yes, GMT. Sorry - I should have specified. I hope that's a reasonably sensible time for you?

[watersword]

Not a problem, I just wanted to confirm.

[liv]

Thanks so much for organizing this, I'm really looking forward to it. I'm happy to play one big role or a bunch of small roles. From the list the various pedants and people who think they're cleverer than they are sound like my sort of thing. I'm not very good at comedy accents so would prefer a character where that's not vital. I am happy playing characters of any gender.

[lovingboth]

( Presumably someone's paying for the Zoom. Is there spare capacity for an audience?

If you ever want something that doesn't need client software - but has it for phones etc - plus is free and secure enough for Edward Snowden to use, look at meet.jit.si )

[wildeabandon]

Yeah, I got a paid subscription today. Capacity is 100, so more than enough if you'd like to log in and just watch (or there are bit parts if you'd like to participate but not too much)

[lovingboth]

Thank you - I zzzz'd through an alarm :(

[bella_luugosi]

I'm a definite yes and have nudged fluffymark in case he wanted to join in but failed to comment.

I'm fairly easy casting wise, one big part of several small parts is fine, with a rider that I'm not very good at comedic bit parts. Possibly comedic roles generally.

I can't remember if there's singing in this one, but just in case, singing is good.

[the_alchemist]

The two singing roles are comedic ones - but neither is small. Don Armado requires an outrageous Spanish accent, but he gets the best song, which is right at the end. He also gets the best line.

Moth is his page - a clever young boy (Engish, not Spanish). He also gets some singing.

The Armado song happens at the end, and not really in character, so it could also be sung by someone who isn't playing Armado, if Sebastian so wishes.

I can probably provide dots for the songs if helpful.

[wildeabandon]

Does Armardo really sing that song at the end, or does he just introduce it? I've just watched a version that had Moth singing it, and apparently sometimes it's done by Nathaniel and Holofernes, who are presumably the two learned gentlemen referred to as having written it. At any rate, I think that any of the players could do it and it make sense.

[the_alchemist]

*Checks Arden* You're quite right.

[the_alchemist]

I think I've already played the Princess of France, Armado and Sir Nathanial, so don't want to play them again (with some flexibility on Princess, because I like her, and it's fun to pivot everyone into being solemn.)

Of course I would love a bash at Rosaline or Berowne, but I got to be Isabella last weekend so it's probably someone else's turn. Moth, Holofernes or Costard could be fun - less interested in the other nobility.

(I hope pointing people towards your plans is still OK - Lynnette was asking about telecon readthroughs on FB, so I mentioned this was happening. I didn't add the link - just said it was at your DW and I would PM the link to anyone who knows you and is interested.)


EDIT: Just remembered that Don Armado gets the Best Closing Line In Shakespeare, which outweighs the price of having to do a stupid accent, so OK with that too.

[smhwpf]

Ah, go on, I'll join! Will let you know casting preferences later

[naath]

I have installed zoom just now, I have never used it before and I have f***ed up webex > once this week, so I would like a test. I have no casting opinions, I don't know the play though so should not be BIG part.

[highlyeccentric]

I'm in! I don't think I've read LLL. Happy to take any role, and if there's characters with particularly gnarly diction (your Polonius types, say), my professional background means I'm quick on my feet with Early Modern English.

Alternatively, I'm happy to take smallish roles and the position of 'general glossary' (orally or via the zoom chat window). (I was part of a playreading recently where the script had been been badly OCR'd and the cast had a number of non-native speakers, glossary/pronuncation prompt was useful. It may not be useful in this context, idek, but if it is, I can do it!)

[themidnightgirl]

I would love Rosalind, or the Princess, or Jacquinetta (though that's a smallish role so maybe I could have something to go along with it). I don't want Armado. Wouldn't mind Mercsde if not given one of my top two.

[leonato]

I would like Don Armado or one of lords thanks :)