Only a week now until we start the fit-up of the set for Glengarry! Time to make sure that nothing has been forgotten; I look carefully at my photos of the set, check through my notes and the notes which come out of rehearsal and write down my list. There is another progress meeting at lunchtime which is the ideal opportunity to talk through any concerns. I have quite a few things to raise – who is going to paint the furniture? Have the up and down lights been ordered? Have we got tablecloths for the restaurant? Are there any suitable coat hooks in stock? Do we have sufficient box files and folders to dress the set? Arrangements are made for another trip to Liverpool tomorrow, this time in the van, so we can pick up the rest of the furniture and we can make a return visit to the huge crumbling warehouse which proved to be such a treasure store for this show! Chris, our director asks if the doors can be fixed so they stay open and not swing closed by themselves, and Jamie, our Stage Manager asks me to go to his office to look at some glasses for drinks. I’ve just remembered that I didn’t go! Sorry Jamie!
After the meeting I set off with my list of jobs. Across the stage, I discover a row of appropriate coat hooks at the side of the stage which are being used to hang costumes, so I ask if they can be taken down and replaced, so I can use them on the set. When you are a designer, it pays off to notice the little things around you as you never know when you might see exactly what you want, if not for this show, then maybe for the next. Next port of call is Leon’s fabric shop in Chorlton where I buy red material for under table cloths and white cotton for the top cloths. I hope we can now find someone who has time to sew them up.
Then I go on to visit B&Q to buy paint for the furniture. This is not my favourite shop, and I can feel the stress levels rise as I walk through the door. This is a reaction is due to an old wound inflicted on me by them some years ago, when I was desperate for a bit of Lino for a show. I needed about two metres, I needed it NOW, I even had a pair of scissors in my pocket – But, But, But – the lino was not allowed to be cut except by the cutting machine, and there was only one person trained to use the cutting machine, and guess what, he was off on his holidays! I could see it, touch it, but I couldn’t have it. Is it any wonder that I still carry the mental scars? Today I am lucky. And get served with my paint mixing order immediately by a really nice and helpful young man. The people who arrive seconds after me are less fortunate and give up and go home when I put in my order for the sixth colour. Unfortunately for them there is only one person on who is trained to mix paint. I hope I never need paint when he is on his hols! Michael told me not to buy oil-based paint, but that was all they had, so I got it anyway, Sorry Michael!
Back home, and I have started on the Chinese painting, This could well not be as easy as it looks…
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment