REP SEASON 2012 – Rehearsal Day 5 – ANDREW CHEVALIER (Antonio/Talbot/Reveller)
Achieving Excellence
Excellence is what we are aiming for. No actor wants to be a part of a production that aims for anything less. This is my first time working with The Faction and already I’ve found their ambition to be infectious.
The nerves I had on Sunday night vanished within the first thirty seconds of Monday morning’s rehearsals – the rest of the cast are lovely, dedicated and possibly addicted to caffeine! We sat around in a civilised fashion, collectively commenting on Mary Stuart, offering thoughts, ideas and fresh discoveries from the text. By Tuesday, all civility had left the rehearsals and a fusion of burlesque and military themes were being drawn together by sexy dogs (you’ll see what I mean if it stays in the show)!
Wednesday ended with a complete run of the first two acts of Mary Stuart including a courtly display that’s not yet fit for a queen. Even at this early stage, unfamiliar lines begin to evolve as we learn about these characters.
Thursday and Friday brought a change of scene, as we began work on a completely different play, turning our attention to Twelfth Night. This drastic gear change hinted at some of the invigorating challenges a repertory season will bring.
And so week one of rehearsals is done. This collaborative process, the ensemble ethic and the infectious zeal have made it an exciting week. Now on to week two- Excellence is the goal, and I’m pretty sure we’re well on our way there.
