Understudy run this afternoon. What a treat. But for a bit of singing I mostly got to watch the show with full tech and just a different load of actors. Scott tore it up as Iago. Kevin was wonderful and clear as Othello. Claire in two parts including Emilia and I welled up watching her being brilliant. Maddy too, just a delight as Desdemona. This play has existed for so long, and these characters are mantles that different actors will wear in different ways. Graham was on as Montano and Lodovico, and it was unusual sitting up in the circle and watching the scene before my first entrance, feeling all the build of adrenaline and a strange sense of otherness about the fact I wasn’t waiting in the wings. He was elegant and bright and at one point in particular he threw up the end of a line in such a way as to make me want to remember to do it myself.
They cut fifteen minutes off the run time. That’s a lot of dropped cues and wallowing. I’m hitting the gas as much as possible but mayhaps we all need to be doing that, not least so we can get to the pub quicker.
My godson is in tonight with his parents and his sister. Perfect timing, they’ve booked an overnight stay. I might even get to have breakfast with them tomorrow. This is why I’m writing now as I listen to the bit of play I’m not in. Otherwise I’ll come to it knackered post show. Better scattered and adrenalised than tired and wanting to go to sleep.
I’m so proud of the covers today. There’s a young Guildhall lad, the last year of the teachers who taught so many people still flying in the industry. He was rock solid, as was everyone.
Back to a normal show, and then two more and I’m very much feeling the need for a weekend off right now even though I’m not understudying. Friends have been wonderful though, so many coming to see what I’m up to, what I’m proud of. It’s a good watch, it’s a thorny watch. It’s a grown up watch, so I’m curious to see what Hal takes from it.
Time to go sing “Logos Ponerias”.
AlBarclay 