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History ensemble member Nick Asbury on everything rolling into one...
Tomorrow I scalded myself with tea
Last Friday we were rehearsing Henry VI Part II Act 3 Scene 1.
 Michael was talking to us about it and after 3 or 4 minutes, Richard Cordery, one of the prime movers in the scene burst out with "I'm so sorry!". I thought he might've farted or something, but no: "I'm completely in the wrong scene. I thought it was Henry VI Part I Act 3 Sc 1 we were doing, not Part II. I've been standing here wondering what on earth you were talking about for five minutes."
A few minutes later Tom Hodgkins makes a point about the scene only to be greeted with blank stares and a communal question: "Are you talking about the same scene as us?" "Yeah, course I am," replies Tom. A minute or two later as we gather to do the scene, Tom says,"Wait a minute, what are you lot doing? Isn't this Act 1 Sc 3 Part II?". "NO!!" I cry,"it's Act 3 Sc 1 Part II!"
As you can see, things are getting confusing. We had to do Henry IV Part I that night. It's a small miracle we even got on to do the first scene. It was my night off and I only realised at the fight call that I wasn't needed and was gently told to go home and get some sleep.
And, as I write, it's lunchtime on Monday and I've spent two hours hanging upside down from a ladder covered in blood. Yes, it's Henry VI Part I time again and we are in technicals for it. I love this show! And, including the time we did it in 2000/1 this is my sixth tech for it. Sigh. For me, this show is a belter. I'm running around like a blue-arsed fly all the time and the only time I get to have a rest is when I'm on stage...
But it's crazy times. I first 'teched' these plays when I was 29. Next week on Wednesday I turn 37 and we'll be teching Henry VI Part III. A fact I'm faintly horrified and also absurdly proud about too. We were teching Richard III on my 30th birthday. The day after my 37th I will start teching it again. Strange and heady times. There's a great Czech film made in the Seventies called 'Tomorrow, I Scalded Myself With Tea'. That pretty much sums it up. The difference of course is that I AM seven years older. A little wiser. A little older. A little stronger. Hopefully, a better actor.
Mind you, with all these different scenes and acts and plays and fights, I've got the impression that dementia is setting in somewhat early. Just ask Richard Cordery...
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About blogger Nick
Likes: Cricket and music. Fields and dark pubs with no music
Dislikes: Lager, crowded streets and light bars with music | 
