Rehearsal 3, Tuesday 23rd April 2002

I think David's been reading a book about 'warming up' over the weekend - and not the one that's full of knitting patterns, either. No more standing in a circle, calling names and throwing a ball - oh, no. This time we're all walking about the rehearsal room with David instructing us like some slightly disturbed drill-sergeant.

"Walk faster."
… "Even faster!"
… "Keep changing direction."
… "Stop bumping into people!"
… "Throw balls at them instead."
… "Walk like a nineteenth century Russian would."
… "Now walk around like characters in the play."

Perhaps it's to do with the concept of us performing the play in among the audience. Obviously he doesn't want to cast us if we're likely to knock over some poor, unsuspecting and possibly elderly member of the audience during an exuberant bit of melodrama. It wouldn't look very good if we had to call off performances after the first night because half the cast had been locked up for attacking the Chief Constable's grandmother.

Once we're all hot and gasping for oxygen, he lets us sit down and we continue reading the play. This time I get to have a little go at Khlestakov, the supposed Government Inspector himself. I also manage to pick up a one line part as 'Woman' toward the end of the play due to David totally misunderstanding my witty 'volunteering' charade and just saying "OK".

So we've now read the whole thing through. And we've been promised that casting will be done by 4th May - that'll be a nerve-wracking day

David leaves us with a parting thought, "Next week, I'll have you moving about more."

I'd better bring running shoes.

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