deird_lj: (Default)
deird_lj ([personal profile] deird_lj) wrote2008-03-12 07:43 am
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Theatrical Woes

 Second dress-rehearsal last night. And our first time with an audience. You see, the front-of-house people get a free showing at our second DR, and then tickets for the third DR go to charity. So from now on, if I stuff up, there are people watching.

And last night? I stuffed up.

It's all because of my silly list of women. I've managed to get that thing word-perfect for every rehearsal for two months, and now, I suddenly get it wrong.

In my defense, it is an insanely difficult set of lines. You see, my character is reading out a list of women advertising in the "Soulmates" column of the local newspaper. Actually, that's slightly inaccurate: there are three lists of women. At different points in the play. And here they are:

List One:
- Outgoing brunette, 24. Into people, music, arts, and laughing. Hopes to meet a gregarious, gorgeous guy for fun times.
- Slim redhead, F42, great sense of humour, left-wing atheist.
- Two lonely sculptresses seek man who will be putty in their hands. Sheffield.
- Semi-retired F50. Teacher, into arts, cinema, and home life.

List Two:
- Wendy still waiting for Peter.
- Veggie F. Arsenal, indie-rock, and comedy fan, 49. Seeks tall and tactile man who doubts I exist.
- Bright, feisty, fit, F41. Fship TLC and more in Norfolk.

List Three:
- Wendy still waiting for Peter, 37 to 40. Rooftops of London to explore art, coffee, and cake.
- 37, attractive, blonde, and petite. Seeks attractive M. 30 to 38, in similar circumstances.
- Veggie F. Arsenal, indie-rock, and comedy fan, 49. Seeks equally stimulating, slim, tall, and tactile man who doubts I exist.
- Bright, feisty, fit, F41. Works in the arts. Passionate about theatre and travel. WLTM M with GSOH for fship, TLC, and more. Norfolk.

Lists Two and Three, you see, are nearly identical. But the differences are important. It's essential that I say each version in the correct place, otherwise I stuff up everyone else's lines.

And last night, for the first time in months, I mixed up "slim redhead" with "semi-retired". Aargh!


Oh well. At least last night's audience weren't the people who paid for tickets.
Final DR tonight, and then we begin for real. Wish me much leg breakage...

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