Word: dictional
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...unmistakeable sound of real people talking, but it never covers the range of emotion a book told only in dialogue needs. All the characters except one Chicago judge are blunt and direct in a way not all politicians and politicians lovers are--at least not all the time. Yes, diction varies. Tone varies, but not much. Even the White House transcripts showed greater lapses into sensitivity; Nixon suddenly at a loss for words, drifting off, "looking down the road, looking down the road as far as--you say your dad was good at looking down the road?" Rarely articulate...
...with Krag. Krag stops Fuller periodically, marking points of emphasis, interjecting at a particular phrase, "Dance it," and indicating with her hands and body how she wants the melody to move. For the next few weeks she will be teaching the singers their music and trying to improve their diction. Most of the humor of a Gilbert and Sullivan play depends on being able to hear and understand the words. Intonation and inflection come after getting the t's and d's right...
...about the way Fuller should sing the line "hearts of stone, heart of fire" which Hilarion, the hero, sings to his beloved, Princess Ida. Everyone pauses for a moment. Krag, Fuller and Gratto discuss various interpretations and finally compromise with Krag saying, "Emphasize the note on heart and the diction on stone and fire." Throughout the evening the singthrough is punctuated by conferences, laughter and corny jokes. Afterwards, walking back to North House. Krag talks about choosing the cast. The auditions were low-key and relaxed; Krag and Gratto sat cross-legged on a couch and listened to people sing...
...cast is loose and relaxed and the whole scene has the ambience of a group of friends who have gotten together for a good time. As the chorus finishes a passage, Krag smiles and says, "Beautiful!" then reminds the singers to emphasize diction and watch their pronunciation of consonants. She asks them to do the passage again and remains seated while she conducts. Only the pencil she is again using as a baton distinguishes her from the rest of the cast. Gratto, the director, is seated in the semicircle with the chorus. She is filling in for several sopranos...
...laaaaaa. Up and down the scale, hold for 12 beats, faster, slower, "watch my hands!" The chorus is finishing its warmups. After it sings the first number, Krag remarks, "The reason we went over diction in the beginning was so you would do it in the song. Also, there was no difference between the forte and the rest of the song." It is the mildest of reproofs...