Our rehearsal today was a walk in the park. Seriously. We grabbed a coffee and ambled into the park, reciting lines and lyrics as quickly as they would spill out of our mouths – no rhythm, no pitch. Despite the unusual setting, compounded by the presence of speeding cyclists on the narrow return path and other distractions, the words continued to come. Yippee!
I may repeat this meandering tomorrow, since my most complicated number came today in one of the less populated segments of the park pathway. The lack of potential collision hazards allowed me to focus fairly intently on the 14 “Sharon McNight buts” (basically, any transition word that implies contrast has to segue to appropriate physical and/or vocal distinctions from the earlier phrase). I was also able to hone in uniquely on each of the 10 repetitions of the song’s main line (which is also the song’s title). It is both a delight and a challenge, and, therefore, worthy of another wander to wonder at the charms of Irving Berlin. I’ll need to be able to do it a crowd, at a dance, in a house, in the light, on a streetcar, on a train, at a party and at a ball…but too much more, and you’ll know it all!
We repaired to the home music room, ran the duets a cappella and top&bottom’d the solos into and out of the patter. Harmonies were intact. Lyrics were as transcribed. Patter patted down. News of no cordless mic has just changed the entrance…but we are nothing if not flexible.
A walk in the park. I trained for my first (and, to date, only!) half-marathon there. What could be easier?
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