All right. Here is the video of the London workshop performance.
Why is it important that i clarify that this is a small workshop performance in a small space, with a small budget and only 9 days of rehearsal?
I get email from people who are excited about the album and dream of it as a theater show. And their vision is EPIC. Big and epic. Vast and grand. When they expect to see the show, that is what they expect to see.
My vision is also big and epic.
So for those who are expecting big and EPIC, i just want to let you know that we want big and epic too, but we must first get there. This is that first step. And the first step is a small workshop performance. In order to appreciate the challenge, i would ask you to imagine the album being staged in a room the size of your living room. How would you do it? This is how we did it.
The sound is awful and there’s no way around that. You’ll just have to live. And videos of live theater are always pale reflections. But if you want to take a gander despite all that, have at it.
This video was edited by Nadia Adame and i would once again thank the crew and cast.
Okay, there’s my pathology out of the way. Here it is. Your moment of zen:
[vimeo http://vimeo.com/58431554 w=640&h=420]
Let's connect! Here is where you can find me:
Ah bless you, Cherries. Blass you all. the kind words mean more than i could ever say.
So I know I am a good audience. I really want to be drawn in and I do suspend disbelief very easily but my reactions, sitting here in front of my little computer were really a bit over the top,, even for me. I was literally sobbing by the end of the third act. In fact, I am still crying…must be hormones or something…
I am glad you changed the song to Elysium Nights. I remember commenting on that when you were struggling with whether to dump the song or not. I wanted to know Jasper, at last, and he came through beautifully in this one. The emotional arc in the last act is perfect for this kind of venue, the audience can get so close. Try to maintain that , if you can, in a bigger production.
Being the daughter of a performer and director, I well understand the constraints of putting up a brand new show. It was wonderful to hear the music live at last and the only part that really suffered from the lack of “epic” was the voodoo in scene 2.
It has been such an honor to be let in to see your process over the last few years. I look forward to seeing this staged here in the US.
Still crying….its so silly…
I fell in love with the music from this opera a few months back when it was introduced to me. I listened to it over and over until I knew the songs by heart. I love the story and the music, and when I saw it was being performed, I wished I wasn’t in the States. I have been waiting on pins and needles for this video, and it was well worth the wait.
The workshop was intimate and well done given the constraints you had to work with. It really helped bring the characters and story to life for me, and I am so happy you decided to post the video for those of us who couldn’t be there. I look forward to this becoming a success, and I really hope I may be able to see it performed someday!
A huge thanks to you, the cast and crew for making this possible. I can’t wait for Dieselpunk Radio Hour!
I’ve been casually following this for about a year, but I’d only heard the overture (on youtube, which brought me here) & a couple songs from the first act, so I had no expectations… but this is remarkable, especially considering the budgetary & time constraints. Smart, poignant plot, beautiful music, particularly the overture, Voodoopunk, The Movement, Elysian Night, & I Will Bring You Down… & great performances. The puppeteering in Elysian Night is amazing! I totally felt for the doll…
Anyway, the piece is fantastic & deserves as much exposure as it can get & the production is exceptional given the limitations. Thank you & all involved for making it.
Congrats, Paul! Thanks for posting!!! Great work
All of the work that went into this really shows. It’s at turns poignant and impressive and sweet, and always excellent. Genius touches your work and I see it here. And as far as the venue, well, that just makes it all the more personal, doesn’t it? And that’s what I felt while I watched.
Very nice indeed.
It’s AMAZING. I’m so going to London for this.
Ever since I heard your album for the first time, I could not stop listening to it. It’s strange. I never expected that I would grow fond of the steampunk genre. This performance may look bad for some people but, I personally find it be a masterpiece despite all its flaws.
I am already anticipating your full album release for the Dieselpunk Radio Hour. I can’t even count the number of times I have listened to your Act 1 demo.
I’m just another internet stranger that has come across your work and I definitely did not regret it.
I absolutely loved it! I cried (yes, it makes me cry). There were times where I was convinced that puppet was a real, living thing. This was better than I thought it would be, but that room really is way too small for a show like this. I’m just waiting for this to become huge, which I believe it will. This is going to be the next big thing. Awesome, this was awesome. You guys are genius, keep it up!
Excellent work you guys. I fell in love as soon as I heard it, and seeing it performed was amazing. I really hope to see more in the future!
I’ll show you big and epic, baby…
Just kidding. This is awesomesauce. And I am excited for you and for this on its path to becoming as big and epic as you envision.