Casting and logistics for Sunday's readthrough

[wildeabandon]

Okay, logistics and casting for Cymbeline below. We've got ten actors and a lot of parts, and whilst I think I've managed to avoid anyone talking to themselves, I've probably cocked up somewhere...

Software: 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 works less well than the client.

I'll open the meeting a few minutes before 14:30 on Sunday, and then you'll be able to join either by clicking on this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3141627183?pwd=WXhscDBQLytBcFh1akFFRllWY0JxUT09 or by opening the client, going to Join, and then entering 314-162-7183 as the meeting ID and 584680 as the password.

Scripts: This one's available from Project Gutenberg

Casting:
Imogen - highlyeccentric
Posthumus Leonatus - robert_jones
Iachimo - the_alchemist
Belarius - bunnypip
Cymbeline - djm4
Pisanio - sfred
Queen - themidnightgirl
Guidarius - juliet
Arivagus - naath
Cloten - wildeabandon
Caius Lucius - juliet
Cornelius - wildeabandon
First Gentleman - naath
Apparition of Sicilius Leonatus - themidnightgirl
Philarmonus - bunnypip
Second Lord - sfred
Philario - wildeabandon
First Lord - djm4
Jupiter - the_alchemist
First Senator - djm4
Apparition of First Brother of Posthumus - bunnypip
Helen - juliet
Second Gentleman - the_alchemist
Apparition of the Matron - naath
Roman Captain - sfred
First Jailer - highlyeccentric
Apparition of Second Brother of Posthumus - djm4
Singer - bunnypip
Frenchman - themidnightgirl
British Lord - naath
Messenger - the_alchemist
First British Captain - wildeabandon
Second British Captain - sfred
Tribune - bunnypip
Lady (1.5) - naath
Second Senator - sfred
Second Jailer - wildeabandon

Comments

[smhwpf]

Have fun! Sorry I didn't reply. I am soup kitchening that day, so couldn't have made it.

And remember, don't you ever bet a Roman that he can't seduce your wife - it'll only cause you trouble, it'll only cause you strife!

[the_alchemist]

It's a shame that group singing doesn't work on Zoom, but in case anyone would a synopsis, or is in any doubt about the moral of the story, here is the song from the end of a production I once saw by a company called The Pantaloons.


POSTHUMUS: Well, it started when I bet my wife would never do another;
IMOGEN: And when my life was threatened by my dastardly stepmother;
PISANIO: My master nearly made me kill me mistress with a knife:
ALL: So don't ever bet a Roman that he can't seduce your wife!

CHORUS
Don't you ever bet a Roman that he can't seduce your wife:
It'll only cause you trouble, (oh) it'll only cause you strife!
His master nearly made him kill his mistress with a knife,
So don't ever bet a Roman that he can't seduce your wife!

QUEEN: I met with death for being such a wicked, sinful Queen;
CYMBELINE: And I've learned I'm not called 'Cyberlimb' – it's pronounced 'Cymbeline'
POSTHUMUS. And I've been taught the greatest lesson of them all, and this is:
ALL: You should never bet a Roman that he can't seduce your missus!

CHORUS
Don't you ever bet a Roman that he can't seduce your wife:
It'll only cause you trouble, (oh) it'll only cause you strife!
Now he's been taught the greatest lesson of them all, and this is:
You should never bet a Roman that he can't seduce your missus!

IACHIMO: For I crept into her chamber in a trunk of pearls and rubies,
Then I went to Rome and told him of her bedroom and her ... assets;
IMOGEN: He may have tried to kill me, but I'll have the final word:
Don't you ever bet a Roman that he can't seduce your bird!

CHORUS
Don't you ever bet a Roman that he can't seduce your wife:
It'll only cause you trouble, (oh) it'll only cause you strife!
He may have tried to kill her, but she's had the final word,
And he'll never bet a Roman that he can't seduce his bird!

Can't seduce your missus...
Can't - se - duce - your - wife!
(whispered, avec jazz-hands) Shakespeare!

[smhwpf]

Good times.

[bunnypip]

Does 'Singer' mean singing? I'd really rather not do singing in a readthrough/ unaccompanied/ when I don't know what the tune is/ on Zoom :(

[wildeabandon]

No problem - I'll recast, or find a recording to use instead :)

[bunnypip]

Thank you xx

(I'd forgotten it even had singing in it tbh - and I taught it last term!!)

[djm4]

I'm really sorry, but Fred is currently stuck with a dead car battery elsewhere in Sheffield, and it's plausible that by the time that we've sorted that out, it will be after 2:30. I'll try to keep you updated.

[wildeabandon]

Oh dear - I hope they manage to get it sorted without too much difficulty. We'll delay the start unless it's looking like it's going to be hours and hours.

[djm4]

Update - I think it will be OK.

[juliet]

Thank you for organising! That was fun :)

[sfred]

That was great - thank you!

[djm4]

I really enjoyed that - thanks for organising it!

[wildeabandon]

You're welcome. I thought your Cymbeline was particularly excellent, bringing in the hints of Lear that make him an interesting character, whilst still keeping the lightness in keeping with the play.