Stage Manager's Blog
From the thoughts of Devon O'Neil
Table Read Chaos
The first table read for Romeo & Juliet, where the actors read through the script together, was chaotic at best. Are we sure these are professionals? Take a look at these excerpts from the recording I took and you'll see what I mean.
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Introduction
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Nicci: Thank you all for joining me for our first table read! I am Nicci Davis, your director. I’m going to quickly go around the table and introduce our all-star cast. To my left is Cacius Lucias, who we are privileged to have as our Friar Laurence. Next to him is James Martinez as Romeo, then Stephanie Conway as Lady Capulet. Then Chris Saunders as Montague and Ben Williams as Tybalt. Across from me at the other end of the table is Devon O’Neil, our illustrious stage manager. Continuing around the table from Devon’s left is Louis Mercier as Benvolio, Robert Case as Capulet, and Tanja Kennedy as the Nurse. Emma Patel will be our Juliet. And finally on my right is Zane Philips as Mercutio. I know that we’re all stars here, so let’s come together to create a beautiful production. Let’s get started!
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Excerpt 1
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Emma: Wilt thou be gone? It is not yet near day. / It was the nightingale, and not the lark, / That pierced the fearful hollow of thine ear. / Nightly she sings on yond pomegranate tree. / Believe me, love, it was the nightingale.
Nicci: Perfect, Emma.
James: It was the lark, the herald of the morn, / No nightingale. Look, love, what envious streaks / Do lace the severing clouds in yonder east. / Night’s candles are burnt out, and jocund day / Stands tiptoe on the misty mountain-tops. / I must be gone and live, or stay and die.
Emma: Yond light is not daylight, I know it, I. / It is some meteor that the sun exhaled / To be to thee this night a torchbearer / And light thee on thy way to Mantua. / Therefore stay yet. Thou need’st no to be gone.
Tanja: Do you think there was enough yearning in that line? Worship him, like a king!
Stephanie: It was fine dear. Let them continue.
James: Let me be ta’en; let me be put to death. / I am content, so thou wilt have it so…
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Excerpt 2
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Ben: Time for another coffee. I’m dead anyway.
Robert: Shh!
Stephanie: Ho, daughter, are you up?
Emma: Who is ‘t that calls? It is my lady mother. / Is she not down so late or up so early? / What unaccustomed cause procures her hither?
Nicci: At this point, Emma, you’ll descend from the balcony…
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Excerpt 3
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Tanja: I’m just saying, when I played Juliet -
Zane: But you’re not Juliet in this production.
Cacius: Two plays ago - or was it three? - the Juliet was particularly inspired! She had this animal -
James: Emma is doing a great job.
Tanja: I’m just saying -
Louis: No one cares!
Devon: Can we get back to work please?
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Excerpt 4
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Tanja: God in heaven bless her!
Stephanie: It’s not your line, Tanja.
Devon: Ladies, please!
Louis: Some feathers have been ruffled! Although more of a cat fight than birds.
Emma: (sighs) Will we ever get through this scene?
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Excerpt 5
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Stephanie: You are too hot.
Robert: God’s bread, it makes me mad. / Day, night, hour, tide, time, work, play, …
Zane: That monologue was fantastic, Robert.
James: You could even say it was hot!
Stephanie: Boys, enough.
Ben: How are you all still paying attention? My zodiac says I should commit more deeply, but let’s be real…
Devon: Why are we chatting and not reading??
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Excerpt 6
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Nicci: And scene! Let’s run that one more time.
Devon: And maybe try to stay on task? I swear, you all have the attention span of a bird!
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James: I must be gone and live, or stay and die.
Emma: Yond light is not daylight, I know it, I. / It is some meteor that the sun exhaled / To be to thee this night a torchbearer / And light thee on thy way to Mantua.