Directors Notes Issue 11

The last week of rehearsals is always interesting in the life cycle of a play. Nobody wants to admit it of course, but for each cast member, a little bit of their mind is saying that they hate this bloody play and can’t wait for it to be over. Of course, the liberation of the stage next week will banish all such thoughts until at least the last dress rehearsal. Then the final panic drive will come when we wonder why we do this at all?

But that’s all part of the mystery and majesty of drama of course. The risk, the adrenalin, the terrifying balancing act between triumph and disaster. Then again, as Frank says, “It’s all a load of twaddle”.

The energy in Act 1 last night was fantastic and we raced through it. Act 2 was a little slower and made me realise for the first time that this is actually an exhausting play. The small cast have to carry two hours of action and dialogue, which must be tiring (despite the fact that some of them are lying in bed for most of it!). For Mary and Theresa in particular, there is not much time to lounge back stage getting your breath and mind back. It’s going to be a challenge to keep that energy going in Act 2, but I’m confident that the cast will rise to it. I’m thinking of imposing a 10pm curfew for the next 12 days and an alcohol ban. But as I’d have to lead by example, I scrapped this idea. But Vitamin C and “health food supplements” are a must. I’ve yet to be involved in a November play that didn’t include a mass outbreak of cold symptoms on the eve of performance.

So we enter the final week in what has felt like the Big Brother house. On Thursday we say goodbye to the confines of room 6 and escape to the prairies of the stage.

As the Boss said, “We have one last chance to make it real. To trade in these wings for some wheels. Climb in back. Heaven’s waiting on down the track……”