Welcome to Victorian London

Can you hear the sounds of Victorian England coming to life all around you? Do you hear the clopping of the horse drawn carriages as they go down the street? Can you smell the scented perfume of a wealthy woman who just walked by? What about the sight of St. Paul’s Cathedral just peaking over the buildings?

If you can’t, no matter, you will in time. By the time I am through with you, you will have a good understanding of how the Victorians lived. I plan to take you back to the world that
Oscar Wilde wrote, resided, and struggled in. What better way to see and absorb a show than to first understand its origins and inspirations?

Good day to all of you reading this post! My name is Jessa Cunningham, and I am the dramaturg of BYU’s production of The Importance of Being Earnest. I will be updating this page with posts weekly pertaining to our production. The posts may range from historical information, rehearsal insights, or other valuable tidbits I think you should know. This is only one of many, so keep coming back for more content! It will be a pleasure exploring this world with you.

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IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST

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by Janine Sobeck, dramaturg Tech week is one of the most exciting moments in any show. It's the time when we get to leave our rehearsal room, move onto stage, and add all of the production elements. To help the actors adapt to all the changes we usually make a gradual transition. Pre-tech: While still in the rehearsal room, actors are given certain rehearsal props and costumes to help them in the creation of their characters. In the case of Princess Academy, all the girls were given rehearsal skirts and all the characters were given rehearsal books and and other items (such as the miri flower). We also added all of the instruments used in the show. Tech day 1: The first day of tech included adding the set and sound. One of the biggest changes for our actors is the ramps on our stage. They finally had the opportunity to climb the mountain! Tech day 2: It's time to add the props! In order to support Director Megan Sanborn Jones' vision of the show, prop designer Scott Jackson made all of the props out of paper, letters, and books. Tech days 3-4: This is what we call an "All Tech." The final elements of the show (lights, costumes, and make-up) are added into the mix. Day 3 is spent working through all the cues in act 1 and day 4 is spent working through act 2. Tech days 5-7: The time has come to run the show! These are our dress rehearsals, where the goal is to do the show exactly as if it was a real performance. This means starting at our normal curtain time and trying to never stop. The director, playwright, dramaturgs, and designers sit in the audience making notes about what is working and what still needs to change. At the end of the nights, the actors and designers are given feedback and we rehearse any moments that need some extra attention. Tech day 8: Which is today! Tonight is the time when we finally get to add the final element of the show: the audience! Our final day of tech is known as the "preview performance." Friends, families, and students are invited to see the show before we officially open. While we always reserve the right to stop the show if necessary (it is, after all, still a rehearsal), we hope that everything will go smoothly!

Welcome to Victorian London

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