Read Through - but where's our model?

Today we have had our first rehearsal for Glengarry Glen Ross, which has taken place at the Zion Centre. The rehearsal room at the Library is still being used by the ‘I Ought To Be In Pictures’ company, before they go on stage on Wednesday. This is the day when the actors read through the play together for the first time and I present my model and costume drawings to the company. The stage management team are all there, also the wardrobe department and Mike, our press officer. We all introduce ourselves then Chris, the director, says “Let’s read the play!”

It is a fantastic reading; funny, loud, violent and inventive. The actor sitting next to me is playing Moss, and I nearly jump out of my seat a couple of times with the energy of his reading. The American accents are all there and the play leaps off the page. We read right through without a break and despite the strength of the actor’s portrayal I feel increasingly unsettled. Something is missing. The Model!

Yes, the model which I am about to present is not there! I had my concerns about this happening earlier on, since I hadn’t seen it since we left it at the set builders in Liverpool. I tried to track it down, couldn’t get hold of the production management team who were due to pick it up, and so assumed it was on its way. Alas, it was languishing back at base camp whilst I was getting steadily more nervous at its non-appearance down at the Zion. At the end of the reading, under cover of tea and biscuits Chris, the A.S.M., scooted off to the Library to collect it. We passed the time with discussion of the play, and then I did an in-depth presentation of the costumes, which I described in some detail and passed around the costume drawings. There were approving smiles and comments from the acting company which always bodes well. I practise a certain honourable manipulation in the matter of my costume drawings; I have discovered that people are much more likely to be happy with their costume if they like the drawing, so I usually take the time to make them attractive.

Chris finally returns just as I had given up hope! The company gathers round and I talk them through the two sets. I’m pleased to be able to include the photo of them giving the model the thumbs-up! Actors are always really appreciative of designers and I bask in their approval as the compliments roll in, Guess what? They even give me a round of applause!