COMPLETE[PLAY] Amends for Ladies by Nathan Field - thw

[MrsHand]

May I narrate?

[RobMarland]

May I narrate?

Great! Thanks, Kristin.

I haven’t added the characters’ names and descriptions to the dramatis personae yet, but I think I would like these to be part of the narrator’s lines. So I will add them later today.

[SonOfTheExiles]

May I have the opinion of the troupe on a matter of voice characterisation for this Lord Proudly role?

This character being something of a Lord Flashheart type, I had thought to give him the uproariously boisterous military voice of previous plays, but I’ve since been considering a different twist.

While still making him a distinct blowhard (roaring at the servants, instead of poor “Emma”), I thought to make his brawling, flirting persona even more ludicrous by giving him some slightly foppish aristocratic speech defects. “W” in place of some letters “R”, and perhaps a slight lisp.

Thus he would be “woawing at the thervants, with a bwawling, flirting, perthona”.

Do you think this could work, or is the role better off with the full-bore Admiral Rankling?


Cheers,
Chris

[Kitty]

This character being something of a Lord Flashheart type

he is ? now this will be good

This he would be “woawing at the thervants, with a bwawling, flirting, perthona”.

the question is more, do you think you can keep up these speech impediments for the entire role ? I myself would only do a lisp for a very short role, because I know I cannot convincingly keep that going for too long.

Sonia

[RobMarland]

Hi Chris,

Ha! Yes, I thought the same thing when I read the script: absolute Lord Flashheart! Perhaps crossed with the Major from Fawlty Towers.

The second option you mention, with the rhotacism etc, is how I read Lord Dundreary in Our American Cousin https://librivox.org/our-american-cousin-by-tom-taylor/

But in that case, it was because that's how the character is traditionally performed. I worry that if you really go for it with Proudly it might give the impression that this is how he's written: like when Victorian authors wrote their regional characters' dialogue phonetically.

So it might be safer to go with a blustery, military voice that doesn't stray from the text as written.

But anyway, this is just a suggestion and you should feel free to do whatever you prefer as long as you think the listener will be able to follow the dialogue. I am reluctant to be too prescriptive.

[SonOfTheExiles]

“So it might be safer to go with a blustery, military voice that doesn't stray from the text as written.”

You haven’t heard my blustery, military voice yet, have you, Rob? Fair enough though, give the audience what they want.

“Our Sergeant-Major’s got a crown upon his arm...”


Cheers,
Chris

[RobMarland]

Bold act 5 ready for spot PL. The missing lines begin around 2 minutes in.

https://librivox.org/uploads/toddhw/ame ... bold_5.mp3

[Kitty]

Bold act 5 ready for spot PL. The missing lines begin around 2 minutes in.
https://librivox.org/uploads/toddhw/ame ... bold_5.mp3

yes now all the lines are in. You could have taken part in the group saying "'Tis the lord Feesimple!" but I think it doesn't matter much.

As for the "Hang her whore" explamation, I personally think your second version works best here.

PL ok now

Sonia

[RobMarland]

You could have taken part in the group saying "'Tis the lord Feesimple!" but I think it doesn't matter much.

Yes, I put Bold into that "Omnes" group, but on closer reading I think he already knows it's Feesimple, so he wouldn't be surprised.

[MrsHand]

Here's the Narrator Acts 2-5.

https://librivox.org/uploads/toddhw/ame ... ator_2.mp3
https://librivox.org/uploads/toddhw/ame ... ator_3.mp3
https://librivox.org/uploads/toddhw/ame ... ator_4.mp3
https://librivox.org/uploads/toddhw/ame ... ator_5.mp3


I didn't see any updates to Act 1's script, so I'm holding off on it until the decision mentioned is made. I did notice that it says "Stage directions and prologue read by" so I'm also wondering if you're wanting the introduction to the play read as well.

Thanks!

[RobMarland]

Here's the Narrator Acts 2-5.

https://librivox.org/uploads/toddhw/ame ... ator_2.mp3
https://librivox.org/uploads/toddhw/ame ... ator_3.mp3
https://librivox.org/uploads/toddhw/ame ... ator_4.mp3
https://librivox.org/uploads/toddhw/ame ... ator_5.mp3


I didn't see any updates to Act 1's script, so I'm holding off on it until the decision mentioned is made. I did notice that it says "Stage directions and prologue read by" so I'm also wondering if you're wanting the introduction to the play read as well.

Thanks!

Thanks, Kristin, and apologies for not updating the dramatis personae yet. I have done it now. Regarding the prologue, the author wrote one for the original edition of the play but I see that it is not included in this edition, so I have amended the line. Thanks for alerting me to that.

[MrsHand]

Here's Act 1 Narrator:

https://librivox.org/uploads/toddhw/ame ... ator_1.mp3

[RobMarland]

Thanks, Kristin!

Act 1
1.20 "sergeants" is one role (actually two, but they only appear in one scene and one person will play both parts as one), but you don't leave a pause before saying Page so it might be tricky for me to edit in the readers' "read by XXX" lines. I wasn't clear enough that the list of characters in this group are not all sergeants. Could you re-read, leaving a gap between these?

3.50 The stage direction here is Manent, which I had never read before but apparently is a way of listing who remains on stage. I don't imagine every reader will recognise this word, but you pronounce it as Mannay - I assume because it's Latin, it should be pronounced Mannent. Would you mind giving this one another go?

Act 2.
1.40 After "enter Subtle" and before "Exit" there is a missing line: "Kisses her".

Acts 3-5: PL OK

We're still a long way from finishing so there is no rush. I hope you are feeling OK after your surgery.

[Kitty]

First Act for the Widow is ready for PL. Working on the next ones now...

Hope the character is good for you, Rob. I need to make her quite saucy I feel.

https://librivox.org/uploads/toddhw/ame ... ight_1.mp3
Recording time: 4:12 min.

Sonia

[Kitty]

Acts 2 and 3 for Widow Bright finished. Had my tongue-safely-in-my-cheek all the time

https://librivox.org/uploads/toddhw/ame ... ight_2.mp3
Recording time: 0:34 min.

https://librivox.org/uploads/toddhw/ame ... ight_3.mp3
Recording time: 5:24 min.

Now to the fighting scene

Sonia