Rehearsal Diary, second entry - 16 October 2005

'Hay Fever' by Noel Coward

By Liz Lucas

I can thoroughly recommend rehearsals in someone's house. (We have been reduced to rehearsing in Rosemarie's back room for the last two Sundays).The inconvenience of lack of space is more than made up for by the inexhaustible supply of tea and homely hospitality. If a member of the cast should be moved to bake a cake, as our very own Jo is wont to do, then all the better. Cake, I can assure you, makes any rehearsal go with more of a swing. It gives the actors something to look forward to, something to work towards, and can also act as an excellent bribe for the reluctant actor;

It certainly works for me. Another good bribe is the pub;

Anyway, enough of ways to get actors to work, what about the rehearsals, I hear you cry?

They're going quite well, as well as can be expected at this stage, with one month to go and most people struggling to get off the book.

Still haven't seen the set but I'm not worried. I have seen some of the costumes and am delighted. Keith has sorted out the music man, who will plink on the piano when required apparently, so not too many qualms there. No one seems to have lost their head or decided it's all too much and run off. There have been one or two bad colds, some exhaustion, a stomach problem with flu and a couple of holidays, but on the whole, it seems to be ok. I hope I'm not speaking too soon.

We have all laughed a great deal over this play. It's a scream in places and although sometimes rather long winded, there are some cracking lines. Act II opens with an excruciating game of 'Act like the Word', where the Bliss family alternately embarrass, castigate and fluster their hapless guests. This scene invariably makes us laugh. A good thing to laugh a lot in rehearsal, it's only an amateur play, after all and the more fun the better. I am very pleased generally with the performances that are being turned out by the cast.

I have worked with many of them before so knew what to expect there, but I've had one or two lovely surprises this time around. It's always a joy to discover new talent, and watch it blossom.

Anyway, only a month to go now.

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