A look behind the scenes
It is among the more bizarre moments during intensive rehearsals for a musical to be premiered in Portsmouth.
Dancing girls are learning the steps for what promises to be a show-stopping ensemble number in Sweet FA when a big, burly male enters.
Daniel Stockton, the American playing Fatty Arbuckle (the FA of the title), asks diffidently: 'Has anyone seen a Sainsbury's bag?
'I left it in the other room and it has been moved. It's just that it contains my script,' he adds apologetically.
But no-one has seen it. Exit Daniel, saying 'Sorry for interrupting. I just want to do some work on it.'
Words and music for Sweet FA are by Dominic Symonds, course leader in drama at the University of Portsmouth, and the production by his Red Monk company has a mixed cast of professionals and community actors.
Among the dancing girls who now resume work on their routine is 22-year-old Lisa Bridge who graduated from Guildford School of Acting last summer. She plays Peg Entwhistle - in this scene a knocked-back wannabe, later a big star.
Lisa says Sweet FA fulfils her love of the 1920s and '30s, new musicals and creating roles - 'and it is epic with a huge company, animation and technology,' she adds.
'I've been really impressed with everyone. We're all working together and we're all equal.'
When next seen, Daniel is smiling: he has recovered the bag, script intact. Later he is found sitting on the floor in a corridor of the university building, going through his lines with a student member of the cast, Phil Donald.
The show is particularly close to Daniel's heart as a native Californian. He says the story of Arbuckle, a silent-movie legend who fell from grace when an actress died after one of his parties, was the first Hollywood scandal, 'so I have known about it all my life.'
This is his first time in a mixed pro/am cast and he says: 'I'm quite surprised at the calibre of the non-professionals. It feels just as it does rehearsing a show in the West End.'
He should know, having appeared there in Les Miserables. He adds forcibly: 'I believe Sweet FA has the capacity to go as far as the West End, so to be in the original cast is fantastic.'
Daniel, 38, is free to work in the UK because he comes from two English families. 'And being a big guy who can dance and act has proven to be fruitful,' he adds.
Meanwhile Phil has been rehearsing a courtroom scene with 15-year-old Jay Jupe, the youngest performer, together coping with what must be one of the show's toughest pieces of vocal writing.
They are coached by Colin Jagger, the university's director of music, who picks up on the slightest lapse in intonation or rhythm.
He takes the tempo down to help them and says: 'Think slowly as you sing it.'
They try it slowly and sure enough, it works.
Will it be all right on the night? Find out at the New Theatre Royal from Wednesday to Saturday, daily at 7.30pm with a Saturday matinee at 2.30pm.
Tickets: (023) 9264 9000 or newtheatreroyal.com.
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Saturday 04 February 2012
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