RehearsalBlog

Tim Oakley is in the diary room

Tonight's the night that my three bedrooms will be populated by six characters. The excitement (and worry) at the completion of a design, construct and build project for a stage set is no less than for a housing complex, barn conversion or commercial property. However, for the latter I had a strictly hands off approach to the construct and build stages. The former has involved me in every brush of paint, every saw cut, every screw and every panel pin, assisted by a small band of helpers, drawn largely from the cast, but also involving friends non-members. I'm pleased with the result, and hope the cast and audience will be also.
Oh, and cast. Please keep my bedrooms tidy!

Susannah is in the Diary Room

We've been invited to Kate and Malcolm's house-warming party. Well, I think I've been invited too, I'm not sure anymore. Or should I say I'm not sure whether my husband Trevor wants me there. He's been very bad-tempered lately, I'm just not sure what I'm doing wrong anymore. I just want him to be happy with me, just like we were when we first met. Oh, God it was so exciting when we first met. Maybe I'm not doing something right. I wish I knew what to do. Maybe I'll call Trevor's parents, Dehlia and Ernest. They seem such nice people and they also seem to have the perfect marriage, they may be able to tell me where I'm going wrong.

In fact, maybe I'll have a quiet word with Kate. I wonder if she's having any problems, they've been married about the same sort of time as we have, she might be going through the same problems we are. I'm sure she'll be honest with me.

Jan is in the Diary Room

Ooooh, I'm so cross I could scream. My husband Nick is being impossible. We've been invited to Kate and Malcolm's house-warming party, and well, ok, it's probably not going to be that wonderful, given that they've only just moved in and by all accounts the house needs a complete re-haul, but they are our friends, so we should go and make the effort and show willing. Nick is just constantly complaining about how busy he is, I'm sure he's going to find some excuse not to go and I'll end up having to go on my own.

Still, maybe it will be better to go on my own, might be able to have some fun then.

Kate is in the diary room

Malcolm and I are looking forward to our house warming party next week. I've got a shopping list of all the different party foods and nibbles I'm going to buy at the weekend, like Cornish pasties, crisps and sausage rolls, cheese cubes and pineapple and those little cocktail sausages on cocktail sticks.

Malcolm's been busy with his DIY, he's ever so clever being able to do things around the house, I'm so proud of him. His current project is a shelf in the kitchen. It's going to be so lovely when it's done to have somewhere to put my kitchen things.

I've asked all of our friends to come to our party, I hope they all come. Malcolm and I are really looking forward to showing everyone our new home or our love nest as Malcolm likes to call it. It's so exciting, I can't wait....

Kate Newton

Nick (aka Jonathan) is in the Diary Room

Waking up the morning after rehearsals is getting harder and harder, as is the floor that I'm lying on for half of each rehearsal. If I'm not careful I am not going to have to act the bad back for the show! I'm sure Roger keeps stopping everyone else whilst I'm lying on the floor just to prolong my agony! If you don't know what I'm talking about then you will when you see the show! It hurts... sob sob!

Other than that the show has been great fun to be involved in and I think we've all had a great laugh rehearsing and are looking forward to show week. I know I am.

 

Despite ticket sales not being tip top at the moment, I'm sure the society will rally round and come out in force this Saturday morning at 9:30 in Ricky High Street to hand out and deliver leaflets to local people. ;-)

 

Right, so back to my script to check I know my lines properly (my movements don't take much remembering!)

 

Oi, Jan get me a cup of tea... Jan? Jan? Oooh, oww, blimey oh riley... why me, why me?

Tim Oakley is in the diary room

Taking time off of getting the scenery constructed, I popped along to see how the 'moving props' were going to fill my set, and happened upon a costume rehearsal. Well to be absolutely honest, I happened upon a semi naked rehearsal, as 'Malcolm' was the only one who was decently attired - fast asleep, but decently attired.  Although 'Earnest' was upholstered in totally unrevealing pyjamas and 'Delia' and 'Susannah' in passion killer nighties, 'Jan' and 'Kate' were sporting potentially revealing skimpy night attire and 'Trevor' - well all I can say was that 'Trevor's' y-fronts were most definitely lower case Ys. 'Nick'? 'Nick' could have been wearing (or not wearing) anything, as he stayed in bed throughout, blubbing.  All in all, I reckon we should be charging double price for the first few rows, or at least make sure we have First Aid staff available for the shocked patrons who may get a darn sight more of a sight than they were expecting.

 

But rehearsals seemed to be going well, from what I remember, as I tirelessly and unselfishly strained to make sure that the audience did not have cause to complain to 'the master of the revels' about 'Kate's' frilly, short, colourful creation.

Oh, and I was also pleased to see 'Kate' and 'Malcolm's quilt cover (not sure we called them duvets in those days) making an airing again, after Tracey and I bought it in the 70s and stored it away through three successive moves! In fact I was pleased to see most of our bedding again - it brought back memories.

 

Tim Oakley

Rehearsal Pictures

"yeah sure, lay your coat on the bed"

"a total sort of submerging....."

 
"you hum it, I'll sing it"

"are we supposed to have this much fun"