Week 19: Relocating and dislocating
August 16, 2012
9 March 2012
We've moved to Stratford-upon-Avon.
I'm living in a little studio flat with a garden, just a 15-minute walk from the theatre. The flat is an annex to Helmut and Susie Schulenberg's home. The Schulenbergs moved from Germany to Stratford upon their retirement because they love the British countryside and the Royal Shakespeare Company. They have rented this space to actors from the company for years, and I am lucky to follow in that lineage, and benefit from their hospitality.
Our technical rehearsals on Monday were cancelled because the set needed some finishing touches before we could play on it. I was glad to have the day off to unpack (way too many clothes), buy groceries (olive oil, coffee, red wine), and rest (nap whenever the mood struck).
Despite the delay, we managed to get the technical rehearsals and dress rehearsal for Twelfth Night completed before the first preview performance on Thursday.
The play is dark and serious at the beginning, so it's hard to judge the audience's reaction. But the minute Nick Day, Cecilia Noble and Bruce MacKinnon hit the stage in Act 1 Scene 3 (as Sir Toby Belch, Maria, and Sir Andrew Aguecheek), the laughs started coming, and we knew the audience was with us.
When Jonathan Slinger appeared as Malvolio, in cross-gartered yellow stockings, the show came to a standstill while the audience laughed so loudly that no actor could be heard.
I should have known it was going too smoothly to be sustained.
Just before the second preview, I arrived backstage left ready to go on as Curio, when I heard 'Ow. Shit. Oh God. Shit.'
Not good.
Bruce was sitting on the floor, clutching his arm. Wincing with pain, he said to get the stage manager — he had dislocated his shoulder.
I am Bruce's understudy.
As Stage Manager Heidi Lennard ran up to us, all I could muster as an explanation was 'Get a first-aider. And a script.'
As I tried to comfort Bruce, I could not help but review his lines in my head. As I reassured him he would be fine, he apologised to me.
Bruce bravely went on, Dr Theatre getting him through the pain.
For the next preview, Bruce went on with his arm in a sling, and if anything the audience seemed to love him even more than before. Bruce is incredibly likeable on stage; audiences empathise with his Sir Andrew. To see Bruce, and through him Sir Andrew, in a sling, vulnerable, yet courageous, made for a special show.
I don't need any encouragement to be on top of my understudy parts, but if I did, this would be encouragement enough.
'I've been in such a pickle since I saw you last that I fear me will never out my bones.'
(The Tempest. V. i. 282-283.)
by Ankur Bahl
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