Sound Design

Steve Visocan has agreed to create an original score for Closer. In addition to his awesome music, I've also found necessary sound cues on soundrangers.com. What a great site! They have almost any sound you can think of. It's all going to create such a strong atmosphere.

Act II Run

Act II went smoother than we expected. We ran with costumes in the space. I can't wait to load in the set and figure out how to light it all.

The costumes look great. The stip club scene will be hot so long as Jerin and I can be confident in the tiny almost-outfit we're wearing. Jerin chose a pixie blonde wig, and I'm wearing a fushia bob. I think we need to get a little more practice in with those boots.

Act I Run

What a glorious mess. We ran act I with costumes, so there was a lot of laughter and many half-dressed moments. Jeremy can't decide on a look for Anna in the gallery scene, so she's back to the drawing board. Thank heavens that Jerin and I are the same size. We can share dresses, pants, shoes...everything but undies. We're actually going to wear different wigs for the strip club scene, but more on that in the next post.

We're trying to keep the changes simple, so scene transitions can be short. Several cast members will underdress for the next scene or simple change a shirt instead of a whole outfit. In scene 6, everyone is wearing what they wore in their first scene on stage. It creates a great picture.

Line Through

The final step before full act runs. We're in great shape. We got through all our lines with very few slip ups and a lot of encouragement to get to the end without stopping. I can't wait to get into the space on Wednesday!

Review 9, 11 and add 12

The tension is palpable in the museum scene. Kylie is getting her THE monologue to a place she's comfortable with. I sorta like the discomfort in the rest of the scene.

I got to sink my teeth into the hotel scene. Max and Ihave been running the lines, so it's great to be able to get the physical transitions to heighten the written ones.

The final scene is an alternate ending to the one repsented in the film. It may surprise you. Come see the show to find out what happens.

Review 6, 8, and 10

I always love rehearsing at Kylie's home. It's goregous and really lends itself to creativity. She also keeps it well stocked with PG Tips tea.

The timing for the break-up split scene is on target. All we need is to be in the space, so we can feel it out.

The double dinner scene works so well because it's so simple.

Max and Brandon are having entirely too much fun rehearsing their confrontation. A giggle fit broke out that wouldn't stop for almost twenty minutes. They had to take it outside. (Kylie's backyard is incredible).

Review 5 & 7 and add 11

The gallery is getting clearer. It's staged on flat plane close to the audience, so we're purposely not using depth. Jeremy is doing a wonderful job keeping the movement interesting yet sincere.

I had my first rehearsal in the stripper outfit (wig and all). Distracting is a word I would use to describe the look.

Jerin started the rehearsal for scene 11. Alice confronts Dan in a hotel room. I loved watching the energy switch as the power in the scene transfers from Dan to Alice. She takes it!

Closer Performance Details

We are excited to invite you to Fed by Fire Productions's premiere presentation of Closer by Patrick Marber.

Made famous by the 2004 film adaptation with Natalie Portman, Julia Roberts, Clive Owen and Jude Law, Closer is a realistic look at the rise and fall of modern romantic relationships.* Closer opens March 12, 2010 and runs Fridays – Sundays through March 21, 2010 at the Complex Theatre in Hollywood.

Performances
8:00p Friday – Saturday, March 12-13 & 19-20
4:00p Sunday, March 14 & 21

The Flight Theatre at the Complex Hollywood
6476 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90038

$10 presale or $20 at the door
Purchase tickets online at www.fedbyfire.com or make reservations by phone on our ticket line sponsored by BodyBlog Map Tees 1-888-627-8337.

Closer by Patrick Marber stars:
Sylvia Loehndorf as Alice
Kylie Wright as Anna
Max Bird-Ridnell as Dan
Brandon Hayes as Larry
Jerin Julia as Alice (understudy) performances on March 14 & 19

Is directed by:
Jeremy Lewitt

Received production support from:
Charles Shaw
Corina Bowler
Michael Fallon
Marcus Choi
Stephen Visocan

*Due to mature situations and language, this production is not appropriate for children under thirteen.

Review Scene 4 add Scene 10

Scene 4 is so well handled by these two actors. I really enjoy watching the mistake bubble up and how these two people get over what could be a disasterous introduction to actually start a relationship.

Scene 10: Dan goes to Larry's office to demand to have Anna back. Larry tells him that Anna has made her choice, but he can find Alice at a local strip club. Dan commits to returning to Alice. Before Dan can leave Larry admits that he slept with Alice.

Review Scene 3 add Scene 8 & 12

Scene 3 involves a projection of the online sex chat. Rehearsals will tighten up the pace of the conversation and match the advancing conversation with the projection.

Scene 8: Anna meets Larry to get him to sign divorce papers. He negotiates a final fuck with her in exchange for the papers. Later, but almost simultaneously on stage, Anna meets with Dan. She gives him the good news that Larry signed the papers. Dan is happy, but is able to figure out that Anna slept with Larry. He has a hard time letting go of that thought.

Scene 12: Larry meets Anna at Postman's Park. They discuss their new lives and the fact that Alice has died in New York. Dan arrives, Larry leaves and Dan gives Anna details regarding Alice's accident. None of the couples in the play are together in the end.

Built Closer's Bed with Marcus

That's right! We made breakfast, bought lumber from Home Depot along with paint, sand paper and screws. We went to The Complex's back alley and transformed a pile of lumber into a bed for scenes 6 and 11. I spent almost 8 hours doing something I actually wanted to do rather than what work required of me. Awesome!

We'll finish it up on Sunday the 7th for Load-in.

Closer 7 & 9

Scene 7: Larry has found Alice stripping at a local club. She dances for him, but refuses to admit that they know each other. They have a very frank conversation about sex and relationships.

Scene 9: Larry meets Alice at a museum. She surprises him with a gift for his birthday and orchetrates a surprise meeting with Anna. Larry asks Anna to finally submit the divorce papers is that's what she wants. When Alice returns, Larry leaves her alone with Anna. The ladies have a barbed conversation regarding the men in their lives. Alice asks Anna to go back to Larry.

Closer 5 & 6

Scene 5: Dan and Alice attend Anna's photo gallery. Dan reveals that his father has died and he wants to be alone rather than allow Alice to go to the funeral with him. Dan leaves Alice for the evening, so he can talk to Anna. Larry finds Alice and they realize they have met before (he briefly looked at her leg in Scene 1). Later, Dan finds Anna and begs her to come to his father's funeral. She refuses, but Dan has made an impression on her. At the end of the scene, Larry finds Anna. They discuss the event and their budding relationship.

Scene 6: Dan comes home late one evening to reveal that he is leaving Alice for Anna. On the other side of the stage, Larry has returned from a business trip to admit to Anna that he slept with a prostitute while in New York. She trumps his confession by admitting that she is leaving him for Dan. Fights ensue and the two relationships from Act 1 are demolished.

Rehearsal for Scene 3 & 4

Scene 3: Dan instigates an online sex chat with Larry while posing as Anna. By the end of the conversation, Dan has convinced Larry to meet "Anna" at the Aquarium.

Scene 4: Larry meets the real Anna at the Aquarium. Though Larry makes sexual advances and Anna points out his mistake, they talk and connect.

PCA DAY 16-17

I actualy had a really great day yesterday which bled into today.

11a-12:30p - Breakfast with friends to watch Haley on Comedy Central
1-7p - On a music video shoot for Black Rebel Motorcycle Club as an extra.  Met two awesome new friends.
7:30-9:30p - Hang out with Candice at her new apartment. Tres chic!
10p-12a - Dayplayers concert at Crane's tavern
12-1:30a - Heart & Music Showcase after-party with classmates
2-3a - Dayplayers after-party at band member's house. Met another awesome new friend.
3-4a - Visit new friend's apartment. Tres moderne!

Being unemployed ain't so bad.

First Closer rehearsal of 2010

Scene 1: Alice and Dan get to know each other while waiting for a doctor to examine Alice's leg at the hospital. They met when Alice was hit by a cab after making eye contact with Dan. By the end of the conversation, Alice has convinced Dan to spend the day with her instead of going into work.

Scene 2: Dan meets Anna at her Studio, who is taking his photo for his new book cover. Dan is intrigued and asks Anna to see him, even though Alice is just in the other room. The scene ends with Anna taking Alice's picture through the dense realization that both women are interested in the same man.