The Social Diary supports emerging artists. We attend many performances that may not have name recognition or public knowledge. Enthralled by the Pay No Heed opera at the Redwood Library last year, we looked forward to this new production. Unfortunately, Sea Fever by Valkyrie Productions is an opera in need of rebranding, re-blocking and better direction.
Sea Fever – What Happened?
The Social Diary enjoys a well produced and directed “immersive” theatre experience, where performers regularly break that “fourth wall,” inviting audiences into the story. However, Sea Fever by Valkyrie Productions failed to capitalise or captivate.
The production started on the “wrong footing” from the start with the audience seating arrangement. Further with the over-the-top performances, exterior “traffic” noise, “wonky” stage blocking, and a “creepy” close encounter with one of the actors “playing” to the audience, it was not a good night.
The Challenge of The Towers
In real estate, “location” plays a vital role in either a successful sale or failure. Whilst the Towers in Narragansett is a beautiful, rustic space for weddings, it may not have been the ideal location for this particular performance. The space is the length of a small church that requires “volume.” To provide some perspective, here is a photograph from a lovely wedding.
The bride and groom pictured dancing are located at the “front” of the “theatre” or the “stage.” The photo below would be around the “middle” of the space. Already, you can see the “challenge” of having a clear eyeline sight to the performance. So, it came as no surprise that during intermission some attendees looked for better seating near the front, only to discover the seats were already occupied.
Additionally, The Towers not known for their acoustics, and the performers competing with the “traffic” noise outside was distracting. Whilst the songs were in “stereo,” the acting was in “analog” and sometimes barely understandable. Stage actors of the past trained on voice projection. Today, performers wear mics. This production did not use any voice enhancing equipment.
Sea Fever by Valkyrie Productions Set Design
Sea Fever takes place inside a “tavern.” The “stage” was a “flat surface,” not an elevated platform. The advantage of “elevation” allows audiences to “see” the performance from all angles, even when seated way towards the back. Elevation is “ideal” when the space feels more like a “hall” than a “salon.”
The audience staging started with round tables near the “front” and “middle” mimicking a “tavern” feel. However “wedding chairs” placed in odd locations blocked the view for many. The set up of the “rounds” were not consistent throughout the audience “space.” For some reason, the stagers thought a row of wedding chairs should be in front of the round tables, thus blocking some audience “eye line” to the performance.
The Redwood Library’s set up for Pay No Heed was ideal. The audience seated “around” the performance, which created an intimate and immersive experience. The Towers is a much larger space. The visibility and sound quality worsened further away from the performance, since this was a “stage” with no “elevation.” Actors disappeared from view if they sat down or rolled on the ground.
Ophelia Productions, Pay No Heed performance was spot on, with Jordan Gilbert’s direction. This image is from Valkyrie Productions website gallery. Meghan Thompson performed in both productions. She is a captivating singer with a depth of range in artistic performance.
Performing Arts – Best Practices
The Social Diary are no spring chickens when it comes to theatre, film or the arts. Two of our staff graduated from the Yale theatre programme. One trick when “staging” is to sit and view the performance as an audience member. If you can’t see or hear the performance, it requires re-blocking. Prior to the use of mics, many actors practiced voice projection. Sea Fever, however, did not use any electronic devices to enhance vocal volume.
There is no doubt that Sea Fever by Valkyrie Productions needs work. However, it’s also important to continue supporting emerging artists and newly minted performance companies.
Sea Fever by Valkyrie Productions – Acting and Directing Notes
When “playing to the audience,” actors should also keep a “comfortable” distance. No audience member wants an actor “in their face” so to speak. Actors should carry themselves naturally, not forced. Over emphasised performances and exaggerated action is not necessary either. When narrating a story within the “play,” face the audience, reel them into the story.
Here is a clip with Uta Hagen about “acting.”