Rehearsal 14, Thursday 30th May 2002

Today we get a new rehearsal timetable to cover the period up until the production in September. This one indicates who will be required on each specific date. I note that, according to the plan, I am not needed again until December. No-one seems surprised by this and I have to point out that I was joking.

Kareena's back and ready to continue as Khlestakov, so we finish the blocking of Act 3, giving me time to sit around and enjoy the show. Then, on to Act 4, where Khlestakov takes us all to the cleaners. Not literally, you understand, although, as we and the audience are all crammed into the corner for this scene, I'm sure there would be more room at the average laundrette. There's a fair bit of fun in this part, including that sure-fire winner, "comedy urination". As The Judge, I get to be my least dignified as I panic over the whole bribery subject. But the scene is good for many of us, giving us a fair 'airing' in one-to-ones with Khlestakov.

During a pause, Phil tells me not to worry about some of my lines as he has seen the stage manager's script and knows they have been cut. That's a bit depressing, but I figure I'll carry on bravely until the axe actually falls. As it turns out, though, the call to cut them never comes. I wonder if either Phil or David or Helen is messing with my head. Or all three. What about the others? What if they think I'm paranoid?

The blocking takes up the rest of the evening and, before we leave, I remind the others that my (and Gary G's and Shelley's) open-air play is happening on Monday. I'm pretty excited about it all and torn between wanting people to see me if it's good, but not if it's rubbish. Unreasonably, though, no-one seems willing to learn my complex set of hand signals that would indicate if they need to look away and put their fingers in their ears.

On the good side, there are confirmations of attendance from people such as Jenny. David, on the other hand, says he can't come after all because he's remembered he needs to dust his lampshade, or brush his hamster, or something like that… Matt says he will come - perhaps he's taking this 'Assistant Director' thing a bit far.

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