The weather continued to disappoint today and, in the decidedly darker confines of the dance studio, it was a slightly gloomier atmosphere to start the day. This didn't last long though, as we launched right into some singing to lift our spirits before we picked up from where we had left off with "Those Fat Monkeys". Andrea, Bill, Claire and Fiona had enthusiastically improvised a messy routine for the song yesterday and Mike was loath to change it. The four singers are an integral part of the show, holding the musical numbers together and throwing themselves into everything with infectious, trouble-making energy. Highlights will surely include Claire's mini-majorette routine in the middle of "Why Do They Have The Gold?" and Bill scaring the living daylights out of a very paranoid Marat.
Speaking of yours truly, my backside is beginning to resent the wooden perch I sit on in my bathtub. I think a discreet cushion will be needed if I'm to last the entire rehearsal process and run without walking like a severe haemorrhoid sufferer. Believe me, that isn't a good look for someone trying to impress industry professionals. Happily though, Helen has been getting very much into the character of Simonne by looking after me wonderfully - my overbearing machismo means I am unable to handle the hairclips needed to attach my turban of bandages each morning but she is a willing helper. She spends most of the rest of the time gently scrubbing my - as yet imaginary - scabs with a towel, something my character fails to appreciate but which is really a rather pleasant feeling!
We moved through towards the end of act one, with Stuart (Roux) raising the temperature with a firebrand performance worthy of Ian Paisley and Nico feeling the sharp edge of Leonie's...em...hair, as he wallowed in the lash during Sade's whipping fantasy. Finally, we ran the play as far as we have gotten, under the watchful eye of Andrea Brooks, our acting tutor during the year at East 15. It all went at a nice easy jog, with the odd hump and bump but reasonably smoothly. Strangely so. Satisfyingly so. The lines are beginning to drop in, the set pieces are sharpening in precision, the characters are coming into focus. All in all, it's a very nice place to be with a couple of weeks to go. Here's to a restful weekend and some nice weather to aid the relaxation.
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