Cutting Script

An update from Rich, where have you been?

"I’ve spent the week looking over Cvs and hand picking a 40 people to audition for our Romeo and Juliet. With over 1500 Cvs it has taken a lot of time. I don’t think this is much of an indication about us, Night Light are an unknown entity right now. I think this says a lot about the theatre world today. Every job is precious. Agents are rampant. Possibly more than ever and I find it very unnerving.

Whilst that has been going on I have also been editing and trimming the script. It is very interesting to me that some characters are easier to trim than others. Cutting the Friar and Mercutio is really hard. I think these are the characters which I am most fascinated by at the moment.

I think I have cut the show down to about 75 minutes but I want to do another cut. I just know that when we here more of Dom’s music and when I get really into the choreography I am going to add 20 minutes or so.
It must be tight but also gentle and flowing. Shakespeare had a habit of saying the same thing two or three times, it is those moments I target, I want to keep as much story content as possible… at this stage.

I am also enjoying thinking about the likes of Cheek By Jowl, the RSC, Song of the Goat. I have no problem asking myself what would they do? Our Romeo and Juliet will be nothing like a version that those brilliant companies would provide. But the rules of theatre are universal. I like looking up to the experts- that’s how we learn I think.

I am very happy going into the 2^nd and 3^rd drafts that we are still staging Romeo and Juliet and that the play will be the thing."

I should get my notes on NIE's new show up soon... i really enjoyed it and the Night Light asked me to post my comments so i will.

Dave