[demeter_cat2010]

OH MY GOODNESS!!!! i am SO mad! I am gonna be in a production of CATS and I really think our Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer are amazing. They are so cute together too! But...Obviously the dancing in their number is very tiring.. so they are having a bit of trouble singing the song to the best of their ability while also dancing. So...the lady in charge of vocals decided that they should just work on it until it gets better...maybe change a little of the dance so their voices were a bit better...BUT the director of the show decided that that was a TERRIBLE idea and has decided that someone will sing their song from BACKSTAGE!!! While Chris and Alaina (mungo and rumple) lypsinc!!!! grrr.... Chris and Alaina are very upset and are working tirlessly to perfect their number to prove to the director that it CAN be done...I hope it works out.. Just makes me a little bit mad..

[MsJellicle]

Well, just let them know that often even the people who play Mungo and Rumpel on the US Tour have trouble singing the song and doing the choreography at the same time. The song IS tiring and takes lots of practice and being in really good shape to be able to do the dancing and singing at the same time.

~MsJ

[SapphireNight]

Wow, ouch! Mungo and Rumpel are my fav characters, and whilst i havent been in a Cats production, or know anyone who has, i can totally understand that frustration of seeing a person (or two people) in a situation which you cant directly help them with. I know how hard people work on these sorts of things, and how much effort and emotion they put into them. I really hope they manage to get it perfected enough to do their own vocals again. Hopefully, with enough practice and perciverence (which by the sounds of it these two have), they will suceed in proving that fact. It would look and sound very bad (in my opinion) to have the two of them lipsynched- the audience will expect a lot of the voice to sound like its been doing all those actions and cartwheels and whatever, and to mime is almost cheeting the audience.

I wish your friends and yourself the very best of luck. Please let us know how the production is getting along. Good luck, again.

ps, out of curiosity, who you are playing?

[abbeycat]

The M&R song is one of the hardest to sing and dance, trust me!


as long as they have good breathing technique and good microphones there should be no reason for miming, that's terrible the director would do such a thing!

[demeter_cat2010]

i know..i am so frustrated but i am continuing to hope for the best... o yeah.. i am playing demeter... vERY excited... i will keep you guys updated.. thanks

[MrsJemimaMistoffelees]

That does suck. But it's understandable...I do hope that everything works out for your production though, and that it's a smash! ^_^

Veel Liefs,
Jemima

[SapphireNight]

Demeter, well done! (should have realised that fact by your avatar and sig, but never mind!)
Congrats, and all the best of luck, to you and your friends.

[demeter_cat2010]

thanks...i am VERY PROUD to have the part of demeter..haha i will let u know..i have rehearsal tomorrow so we will see how it goes wit mungo and rumple

[SapphireNight]

ooohh, good luck then!

[littlgriz]

howe wonderful

[Jemima57]

I hope they get in singing the song by their own. Of course it's a very difficult song, but lipsync would be so frustrating for them also, I think it would sound weird for the audience : when you watch that song, you expect the performers to have troubles singing at the same time they do the choreography, it's obvious. And the persons singing backstage would have no problems singing. That would be a bit disturbing.

I wish you all the best for the show

[demeter_cat2010]

i know! and they act like it wouldn't be obvious! rehearsal today so i will let you guys know but i am hoping that things work out. Alaina (rumple) was very upset and told the director that when she auditioned and got the part she expected to sing this song...because its hers and she was told that she would sing it..that ONLY makes sense...but the director is old and crazy...and im not exactly sure why she is the director..she doesn't do anything but sit around and lecture us and the choreographer..haha well yeah..

[Gwen]

Hmmm....what if they did the same
thing that was done for the video?
Then it would at least be their voices,
instead of someone else, and it would
make it easier. But if they can get it
down ok, I say go for it! I'd be upset also
if that happened to me.
Gwen says good luck!
Gwen

[demeter_cat2010]

that IS a good idea i just dont know if there will be time..2 weeks til opening nite...but yesterday we had rehearsal and mungo showed up but rumple didnt...but he sang his heart out and did an awesome job on his number but no one said anything... :/ rehearsal again tomorrow...

[SapphireNight]

2 weeks to go, wow. Well done to your mungo, hopefully that might persuade your director. Well done to him, and well done yourself. Good luck for the rehersals.
also, just curious, have you got the costumes and make up sorted out yet?

[Gwen]

I say you should point out what Jemima57 has already made clear.
And if your director doesn't go with it, he can cry all by his lonesome when he sees how he's butchered it!!! (Wow, I sound all evil-crazy. Haha.)
It shouldn't take to long for Rumpleteaser to catch up I'm guessing, if Mungojerrie is doing ok. So there ya go!

[demeter_cat2010]

Well, as far as costumes go we are all working tirelessly to get them ready. Most everyone has almost all their costumes together. Me personally, I have a unitard (to be painted this week), armwarmers (that need to be dyed this week also), the fabric to make my legwarmers, shoes, and my wig (needs to be spraypainted). Oh yes...and I have my tail. I have all the pieces, they just need to be put together. I have all my makeup and have been practicing with it. VERY EXCITED! I think that the director is beginning to change her mind... there are some pictures up at www.gulfportlittletheatre.org for any of you interested. Just click on photo gallery, and then CATS. Thanks!

[demeter_cat2010]

your right! haha.. and rumple is catching up fast.

[SapphireNight]

Well, thats good to hear. any chance of them doing their own lyrics? it must be looking more hopefull now, (i hope!)
The mad rush to make costumes, some things never change! from the looks of those pictures, they look pretty good. the make up is fairly well done. I think your make up works especially well, so all that practice is paying off, obviously. Your Mungojerrie looks pretty good too. It would be nice to see some pics of Mungo and Rumpel together the next time pictures are uploaded onto that site, of if you have any. There always my favs, and youve been telling us so much about the two of them!

Well done, thankyou, and all the best of luck!

[demeter_cat2010]

awww...thanks for being so nice.. i appreciate it... yeah the makeup on me looked okay but that was someone else who did my makeup..and i didnt particularly like the way they highlighted my face so i tried it last nite and it looked really good..im so excited... rehearsal tonite so i will let u guys know how they do!

[Reds]

I played Rumple and the agree that the choreography was extremely hard for me and the guy who play Mungo. The way we did it was exclusively work on the choreo. for weeks until we got it down and then added the vocals in after we had perfected the choreo. It worked out well. I hope it works out for your production.

[SapphireNight]

Nice to meet you, Reds! Well done for playing Rumpel! Thats a very good way of doing it, at least yours managed to go okay.

So, tell me, Demeter, how did rehersals go? And thats good that youre experementing with the makeup if your not all that happy with it. The photos did look very good, but theres noone who knows a face like the person who wears it, so I trust that this new make up makes you look even better! Good Luck, again

[demeter_cat2010]

well...i went to rehearsal yesterday and there was so much drama with the song! mungo and rumple performed their song for the director, assistant director, etc. and we all thought it was wonderful...including the director and vocal coach! but..the assistant director hated it and said that if they didnt dub alaina's (rumple) voice...that she didnt want anything else to do with the show and that she didn't want her name on anything that sounded so terrible! but she was the only one who seemed to think that... and she has such a TERRIBLE attitude about the whole situation..she is officially physco....haha we'll see wat happens tonite...

[SapphireNight]

WHAT!!
I'm sorry (actually I'm not), but that is unacceptable. Firstly that she can say such a thing. It seems ridiculous that shes even doing it. Your Rumpel should be very proud of herself, shes finally proved herself to your director, hopefully saving herself and mungo from dubbing, and hopefully driving away this rude person who doesnt want to be there in the first place.
I really hope this isnt going to turn out drastically bad because of her. Your mungo and rumpel have put in a hell of a lot of work, by the sounds of things, id hate for them to lose now.

Please, tell us how it goes. I know i ask all the time, but i really need to know.
How are you doing? all your routines and solos and stuff going okay? are the costumes any more developed then they last were?

[demeter_cat2010]

Well...Last night we had a long rehearsal and the director and assistant director came up with an idea. They had decided to divide the song up like so....Our Mungo and Rumple will sing the first half and someone else will sing the second half. But, when someone else sings...they will be singing ABOUT them..and they will be on stage if that makes sense...I am still not very satisfied but everyone seems OKAY with it. Obviously, it is better than the first decision, so everything will work out...

As far as the rest of the show it is going wonderful. Our orchestra is doing a FANTABULOUS job and we are all very excited. Costumes are coming along quickly. Most everyone has theirs together. I am painting mine either tomorrow or Saturday. Whenever I can get the chance. We now also have a set and lights. It is really starting to look good...Can't wait for opening night! I will keep you guys posted.. thanks for caring SapphireNight!

[SapphireNight]

well, that seems a bit more reasonable. a bit of a cross between the Mungo & Rumpel sung version and the Misto & clowns version (minus the clowns).
Yeah, i suppose you/theyve got partly what they wanted- to sing as themselves, and a 3rd person section when they get tired. I guess its a small victory, but it is one at least! and who knows, your Mungo and Rumpel might get so good, that doing the whole song themselves might be more practical/look better then the current arrangement. yes, the current one is a very good compromise, but, there is that small little incling in me which says that it will be better them doing all of it; that having a switch from 1st to 3rd person with different singer will look a bit, well, not really confusing, or wrong, but sort of weird, for looks.
Okay, that enough of me, going on about the perfect outcome for the show, im sure youve been thinking about the same thing.
anyway, congrats to your Mungo and Rumpel, and also to yourself. well done for getting this far, and for all the effort youve put in to get the best out of the show, and also keeping us informed of how its going. youre really great! Glad to hear the orchestra is doing brilliantly, there is nothing worse then dancing to a recording which doesnt start or finish where/when you want it to, then dancing to a live orchestration (i think thats the term) where someone stops half way through, or the whole song comes to a muddled halt!
Well done with the costumes, good to hear youre on top of things. Any chance we can see some photos of when its finished? I would love to see how theyve come out, and your new make up, if youve got it set now.

Caring is the least i can do, thankyou for keeping me so well informed. Enjoy your time as Demeter, and enjoy the vote I've just given you. You deserve it.

[demeter_cat2010]

Thank you so much...I have pretty okay with the compromise and I know things might look a bit strange but it will work. I appreciate you Sapphire Night for being interested and caring. I also very much appreciate your vote. I am finding that I am acting more and more like Demeter everyday. I will take some pics of the new makeup and will DEFINITELY put of pictures of the production asap...thanks...

[SapphireNight]

Thanks, that would be brilliant to see them! And i think the last post was slightly overdoing it- it was late at night, i had my brain in 'repeat' mode- though that doesnt make what i said any less true.
Isnt it weird how a certain character wears off on you when you become it for a long time! And that would be brilliant when you get some pics taken to see them. and i hope im not overdoing this, but any chance of some video footage of you or your Mungo and Rumpel in practice, during a signiture piece? i dont mean any time soon, of course, but at some point, try to get it taped. It sounds to be a very good quality production, id like to see it- even just a small bit. If its not to much trouble. If it is, then forget it, dont worry.
Keep up the good work, tell us if theres any more news on Rumpel and Mungo (though i dont have to ask you that, do i?)

[demeter_cat2010]

i will be sure to keep those things in mind..and i will try to get some video..that would be cool...thanks so much for everything..haha yeah and i find myself acting like a cat around the house and my mom just laughs at me..its pretty funny

[Gwen]

Well!
It sounds to me that the AD is being a pumpkinhead. (heh, couldn't resist taking an insult from the Harry Potter movies. ) Anyway, I'd like to see her do better on it. (Ha. My point exactly.)
That is some small victory though, I am glad to hear. Do you know who is singing the second half? Mistoffolees maybe? Or if it were one of the adult cats (maybe Munkustrap, I dunno,) to take on the attitude of "those two are in trouble this time!" As by the end, the two get caught as they are surrounded by the other cats. (That's always how I saw it anyway, they get caught!) But your director probably has something in mind. Just a suggestion.
You can bet that I'm cheering them on all the way!
GO TEAM GO!! GO TEAM GO!!
(Would you please tell them best wishes from Gwen for me? )
Have a nice day! And good luck on your part also. (Lucky thing you! You have the Macavity number!) Dat's cool.
See ya!
Gwen

[SapphireNight]

Hey
Sorry i havent been around lately, Im on holiday. How are things going? How are the rehersals? When do you start the performances?
Im not sure how often i can come online, but i wish you the best of luck. Break a leg! I hope things are going well, that rehersals are good, and that the Mungo and Rumpel song gets sorted. Best of luck to everyone you are working with. and most of all, enjoy it!

[demeter_cat2010]

THEY START TODAY!!! mungo and rumple worked out with plato and skimble singing half and mungo and rumple singing half...it works..doesnt sound bad..show opens tonight at eight!!! I cant wait... hope your having fun on holiday!!!