Different habits, different songs but the same nun
January 17, 2012
Heresy begins...
So Robin Hood has left the building. The theatre feels eerily quiet without the hoards of merry men, children and towns women! However, Taming of the Shrew is on the horizon so that will bring new faces, laughs and more importantly a new play for the RST.
At the moment the words 'headless' and 'chicken' do not even cover the crazy schedule that we are working! We are rehearsing Heresy of Love during the day and alternating between Written and Measure during the evenings, the only consistency is that I play a singing nun in every single play. Different habits, different songs but the same nun.
Heresy of Love is a new play written by Helen Edmunson, and is the fascinating story of the life of Sor Juana Ines De La Cruz; a nun in 17th century new Mexico whose play writing was condemned by the inquisition. It is a female strong company and full of fresh ideas and challenges; we have been pushing our minds and bodies to their limits with movement sessions lead by Liz Rankin (a founder of DV8) to create semiotic scene changes and imagery for the performance.
Last week, for the first time of the season I had to grab my understudy cape and fly into action; Annette Maclaughlin had come down with a tummy bug and I was called upon to do my duty! It was a Written on the Heart evening show, I dashed for my script to go over the lines and everyone arrived early to run through the blocking with me. Somehow, I didn't feel nervous, I think it was the shock but also I knew that I had been able to get through it in the understudy run so hopefully (fingers crossed!) I should be ok.
It was the best feeling ever, having done all the preparation and feeling slightly numb before going on, as soon as I stepped on the stage it felt electric and all the hard work and patience was worth it! I was able to perform in one evening show and a matinee the next day, the whole cast were so supportive and when I came backstage they were all waiting and clapping... definitely a warm and fuzzy moment... maybe even a single tear!
Heresy is almost into tech so the next few weeks will be a whirlwind or props, lights and nuns... anything could happen!
by Laura Darrall
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