Here’s a picture of me in the pit playing Bass Clarinet in the run of Spamalot that I did earlier this year.
The alto saxophone is not mine. I played Bb clarinet and tenor saxophone as well as the bass clarinet. The Reed 1 player played alto saxophone, flute, piccolo, sopranino recorder, oboe & clarinet I think. It was a while ago so I’m not 100%positive that’s all the instruments she played. Some were not written in the book but apparently were on the original recordings.
Photo by Gerard Assi
Spamalot is opening tonight, NYE for a special 5pm show. The dress rehearsals have been going really well and I am playing the book better and better every night. I hope that will continue for the run of the show!!! I’m really starting to get my way around the lower end of the Low C bass clarinet and it sounds awesome!! Discovered a leak in the low C# key today so Kara and I did a quick running repair and it makes things a lot easier. I need to glue another cork back on again and will have to remember to do that tomorrow.
I’m loving the reed 2 book in Spamalot. Some really jazzy numbers on sax, a bit of klezmer and some beautiful ballad playing on clarinet and the awesome, terrifically fun bass clarinet parts. I’m loving getting more of a handle of that instrument and playing with more confidence means an increase in volume so I can now actually hear what I’m playing, as can my reed playing companion for the show, Kara.
It’s really hot here but I’m going to do my best to sleep so I can be all prepared for the show tomorrow night. It’s going to be a short run but heaps of fun. I just wish I could see what is going on on stage!!!
I hope everyone’s ready and booked their tickets for an awesomely funny production of Monty Python’s Spamalot, opening next week (Dec 31st – NYE) at the Frankston Arts Centre. If you don’t have tickets yet, you can get them by going to www.plos.asn.au
We start rehearsals at the theatre on Monday, I need to spend a little more time with my bass clarinet before then!! Got to get my hands around those extra keys but that should be no problem. Looking forward to much fun playing a rather challenging but entertaining book with the band that is sounding fantastic. Get to play some fun jazzy tenor sax stuff as well as some klezmer clarinet and some really fun bass clarinet lines. Learning to read those low ledger lines through this show. Got to always expand the knowledge and skills whenever and wherever you can….
I hope you’ve had a wonderful time over Christmas. I’ve spent a lot of time with my family and had my girlfriend with me for the first time. She went home to her family last Christmas but this year she is here and has come to my family events which I have really enjoyed.
Enough for now. I’m sleepy!! Good night
