Well, it has been a whirlwind couple of weeks. We are just reaching the end of our third week since we began rehearsals (the second full week) and we have already done 5 performances, with one more to go tomorrow. Of course, we still have to put up an entire other show in the mean time, but I am getting ahead of myself.
Let's see, three weeks ago I had just gotten the show offer. I spent the weekend in a state of suspense. The only concrete information I had was that we would be touring two shows 12th Night and The Tales of Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny. The rest - which roles I would be playing, how many people would be in the cast, where we would be performing; all a mystery. This was both quite nerve wracking and just a little bit exhilarating. Just a little.
To say that we hit the ground running would be an understatement. We jumped right into blocking in the very first session, assigning roles as we came across them. We were taught music on the fly, by ear, and to make things more interesting I have had to learn to play the flute! Now, to be fair I did play the flute years ago. Many years ago. Like, 15 years ago. Its been an interesting experience. Well, to be honest it has been a pretty hectic experience. Its been a little overwhelming, for everyone I think.
With all of that, we put together the entirety of Peter Rabbit in about a week. This is a show that involves music from beginning to end, split second costume and character changes and lots and lots of running. Throughout the show I play a bunny, a mouse, a cat, a farmers wife, a flower and a bird. I speak in 3 different accents - none of them my own. I play three instruments, take part in two chases and a fight scene, build and break down a pretty major set (including a stage). All that and more. And that's only one of the shows.
We have spent this last week taking the show to schools in the morning and coming back to rehearse the Shakespeare in the afternoon. Remarkably this week has actually been a lot more relaxed than the last. I am sure we will go back to a state of panic next week when we have to solidify all of 12th Night in a week, but we'll leave that for then. For now I am going to enjoy an evening on the couch, then early to bed to learn my many many many lines for next week.
