It's here! It's time at last for all six shows and he actors in them to settle in to some kind of routine and for our days to be ours to do as we wish, with the punctuation of a matinee here and there on alternate Wednesdays. What to do? Aside from sitting in front of the telly and watching team GB land a load more medals that is. Jaded big city types are probably wondering how we'll stave off boredom in a small town tucked in to this creased and bumpy landscape soaked all too often by rain. Silence those cynical voices! Time will fly as we all try to squeeze in: ukulele lessons ( George Banks as tutor), play readings ( Chris Hannon, writer), walks ( there are over 200 Wainwright walks in the Lakes alone), Tai Chi ( Maggie Tagney leading) & Pilates classes ( me having a go), trips to the seaside, barbecues, World of Owls, which I think I may have mentioned before; the museums both of Pencils and Mining ( yes! both in Keswick town!), Trotters' World of Animals ( an actual petting zoo- Jess Ellis take note!), sheepdog trials, Scotland just over the way..Which to do first? There are also those with their own particular hobbies like wild swimming (Zoe Mills), horse riding (Nicky Goldie), zorbing and kayaking ( Company stage manager Jo and lighting technologist Sanne to name but a few) . Add to that a 'Herman' or friendship cake mix that's going round, which means time put aside for cake baking and sharing.. .Two members of the cast plan to learn to drive while here.. Looking out of the window I think they might be better off buying a boat.
Now before you start to wonder what has happened with the consummate professionalism that I have written about over the previous weeks and months, let me reassure you that the shows do not slip into the back seat become box-ticking exercises, oh no! Walk into the green room before the half, after the warm-up and you will find folk discussing how they can make new changes to find something exciting in a scene or get a new audience reaction. This is all about keeping it fresh in our minds and thus fresh for the audience. This bunch of people are a bit special like that. I don't care how many times I write this, it's true: Theatre by the Lake has put together a really top crowd for the 2012 summer season. Despite the venerable age of some of our party ( mentioning no names, ha ha ), jaded cynicism does not come into the building. Trust me there are a lot out there who by now would be grumbling about being bored etc. Not this lot. As a result our shows are, as one lady said to us the other night after a show, better than Chichester Festival Theatre no less! The mixed schedule keeps every show feeling new anyway; no rut can possibly be settled into when you have different plays on from week to week. By now, we have started to find the very particular way to prepare for each play that you need when doing two shows here, one show there. Initially here in repertory land you do crave the consistent burn of a single play's schedule, the luxury of exploring the same world night after night. This process however, actually frees you up in a different way once you pass the point of opening the last show and you find yourself discovering stuff each time because you are probably freer, having less time to worry over things.
So now to dash off to the theatre and see what thrilling leisure activities have been pinned up on the notice board in the green room where previously rehearsal schedules were scrutinised! Any chance it could stop raining so we can go outside?
No comments:
Post a Comment