Journey's End...the Journey

So rehearsals have been going pretty steadily since this production of R.C Sherriff's Journey's End began in early March. So steadily in fact that I only just realised that the show opens in a month's time! Anzac Day...April 25. Good God.

Not that I'm too nervous or worried at this point. This show is an 'ensemble' show in the strongest sense of the word...it's finely balanced and there's not one typical 'star' performance in the cast...not that there's no one that good...far from it...it's that there isn't one role that stands out above the others. That's a testament to the play and also to the performers involved. There's such a diverse range of character and of talent that I'm really looking forward to performing this play in a month's time. Learning the lines is a different thing. This is the first time for me where there's been only a month and half or so of rehearsals before a show opens. True, in the past I've done musicals which need more time to get choreography down and music learnt, but a play with this much dialogue...talk, talk, talk...and since I've got a very line-heavy role...there's a bit of challenge that's been put down. As of this week it's books down for rehearsals. 3 Acts. 6 Scenes. And I'm in every single bloody one of them and always with something to say.

The play is set during the First World War and takes place entirely in the officers' dugout. Hilarity ensues. Not really.

It has been an interesting rehearsal period so far. Driving down/across/out to Mordialloc or more specifically Parkdale three nights a week (including Friday night) has been a slight challenge, only because there's no freeway or expressway for me to put my foot down. It's a long drive in that nothing interesting really takes place on the drive, it's really just a straight line for 30-40 minutes. But a good time to go over lines if ever there was one!

Plus working with about 9 actors, all male of varying ages and types has been fun. Getting to know them gradually, and trusting them more and more on stage has been great...especially as there is some emotion on stage (considering the time period in which the play is set)...that sounds a bit art wanky...but it's fun to finally put the books down and bounce lines of each other and see what develops and comes of it...once the stress of having books down wears off.

So tonight is scheduled as: Act 1 (Books Down)...this isn't too big an Act for me, which is good, and I've got the lines down (or so I think!) so it should be interesting to see how tonight turns out!