A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM – Production Day 27 – RACHEL VALENTINE-SMITH (ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR)
Masters, Spread Yourselves
Eight Actors, Eight Pairs of Pyjamas – what could be so hard?
We are coming to the end of week five and venue number three – the idyllic Brockwell Park. Idyllic, that is, until it rains. And last Friday – oh boy – did it RAIN. The cast looked liked they had done a days army training as opposed to a Shakespeare performance. That being said, it was really rather hilarious and the show was great (as were the audience who braved it out with us, umbrellas in hand). Having said that, as the rain got harder and the mud on the pjs got thicker and thicker, as funny as the show was, I just had a siren in my head repeating “laundry!laundry!laundry!”…
Beyond the laundry, the occupational hazards of performing in a park have resulted in four toe injuries and two colds, and lots of dirty feet, but that’s all part of the fun. The cast are wonderful and, as the previous anecdote attests, stalwart professionals which makes my job a lot easier. However, I do have to keep an eye out and as we have got to know each other more and more over the past few months individual needs become apparent – who needs to be left alone, who needs the odd hug and who needs to vent. So I am a shoulder to cry on or a sounding board if necessary.
Along with the rain and the thunderstorms we have also been blessed with some glorious summer sun and the park is a great vista for a London sunset – last night was very beautiful which will have hopefully been captured by the Channel4 film crew we had in last night. That’s right, C4 Documentaries came in to film the show for the documentary “Life of Rhyme”.
Bath Theatre Royal is calling and, as we get ready to say goodbye to the park, I just have to make sure the company arrive in time for the train on Monday…which sounds simple but I have noticed that actors+transport+being on time is sometimes an interesting equation, but I love them all the same…
