Confessions of a Struggling Actor

This week was the only chance I'd get for some down time until I came back from France.  So I grabbed the opportunity with both hands and hence have not much news to impart.  Mind you, I've been writing more in this than I ever have...

After not doing much on Tuesday night (except the daily running of lines and continuing to re-read Tynan's diaries, which are superb), rehearsals continued on Wednesday and Thursday evenings to greater and greater effect.  The principals are coming on strong and everyone is getting better with their lines and characters.  It bodes well for France, but even better for London in September, having performed it a few times.  I still need to work on my opening and closing speeches, but Ben doesn't seem to be too concerned about them.  Saturday was a mammoth reehearsal than ran later than planned, but we managed to run it from start to finish, despite the fact that we were missing two cast members.  Hopefully this week we'll finally have everyone there for a rehearsal!!  (Having been off, I cannot feel frustration etc. for this, but sympathy for the directors and fellow cast members.)

Friday evening I met up with keri and we dined a la terrace at Mark's with Sue and Ads.  A really nice evening, with Sue on good form and a fairly convivial chat from all.  Mark is definitely the best all rounder I know.  He cooked up a storm, as well as being a fantastic conversationalist and the all round good man that we all know, love and respect.  I know of no-one who can carry off his talents with such grace and humility.  We sat outside with ti paunches til midnight when Ads, Keri and I caught our tube back over the river.  Keri said that she'd had a good night and we agreed that we'd go to the tate Modern when I go back from france, as she was shocked that I hadn't already been.  She's a sweet girl - intelligent conversation, GSOH, well travelled and obviously pretty and charming.  She also knows more than me on a number of topics - one being art, so I look forward to improving my knowledge on that front.

This is something that I've decided to pursue.  Exercise has not been forthcoming - I'm absolutely determined to get fitter once back from France as I'll have more spare time to devote to it and try and force it into my daily routine - but one thing I can do is better myself in subjects that could be helpful to my career that I know little about.  Art, more literature, more plays, languages, histories, family - these can all give me more to draw from while I'm working on characters and more knowledge with which to base my choices.  Simon F had more news regarding his one act play, but tiredness and fecklessness stopped me from catching up with him on Saturday.

After the long rehearsal, I was supposed to see Gareth McC and Emma's play, followed by meeting Simon for drinks and perhaps Keri after she had dined with her father.  As soon as I was done in Hampstead, I dashed down to Camden, to the Etcetera Theatre with 5 mins before curtain up and then realised that the play was actually on at the Old Red Lion in Islington.  Several curses later I ran back to the tube, but realised it would have been 20 past the starting time until I got there.  As I stood there trying to decide what to do, the answer came in a wave of tiredness.  I felt my legs go a little jelly like and resolved that my body was telling me to take things easy and go home.  I let those whom I was due to see know of my idiocy, with appropriate apologies and went home and promptly crashed out on the sofa.  I remained in this semi-comatose state until 3pm on Sunday and resolved to continue my inaction until today.  Unfortunately, this means that, on top of rehearsing Mon-Thurs evenings and possibly spending Fri and Sat with Victoria, I have to do my tax, pack (and prepare) for the French trip at silly o'clock on Sunday.  No rest for the wicked...