Mike Walker, sound designer, explained: "Initially we carried out some rehearsals without any vocal reinforcement with the intention of seeing if we could maintain the intimacy of a play. In order for the comedy routines to fully work we found the reinforcement was necessary. We reconfigured the speaker system and added two Sennheiser SK5012 radio mics."
The production has four musical numbers and the music was specially re-arranged. We recorded the seven-piece band onto 24-track analogue. This was mixed down to provide separate band and vocal mixes, which are replayed from an Akai S6000 sampler. The intention here is to maintain a live band sound."
In addition to the radio microphones and the sampler, Blitz supplied a Yamaha 02R digital mixer and Meyer UPA1-C speakers with Yamaha H5000 amplifiers. An XTA SiDD is inserted on the radio microphones. Chris Jordan, regional manager for Blitz Sound added: "As this is effectively a one-man show, a high quality of sound was paramount. So far the feedback we have received has been extremely positive. In fact one member of the audience even thought that the music was coming from a concealed orchestra!"
The play looks at the public and private life of the comedian. It has already had a successful regional tour to Malvern, Oxford and Plymouth. Written by John Fisher, directed by Simon Callow and starring Jerome Flynn, the play is a co-production between Lee Menzies and Patrick Ryecart for Blue Magic Productions Ltd and Ingenious Ventures Ltd in association with Theatre Royal, Plymouth.
(Lee Baldock)
