Last Tuesday evening, I received the script for Arsenic And Old Lace. On Wednesday evening, while The Man Who Came To Dinner was rehearsing, the director of Arsenic, Patrick Schambach, and I went over the blocking for the scenes I would be in.
On Friday evening, the night I will be in the play, with just 3 days of leaning lines, 1 evening with blocking with the director only, no cast, I was in my truck parked outside the theatre and going over my lines again. I did this by holding a sheet of paper over my lines and recite them as I read through the script. I get to my first little monologue and my mind goes completely blank. My third line into the scene and I have no idea what it is. Needless to say I had a small panic attack, right there in the truck.
About 20 minutes later, cast call being at 6:30, the cast of Arsenic went over the two of the scenes I would be in; three times for the first scene and once for the second. That was it. That was all the rehearsal I would be getting. Time now for the real thing.
Needless to say, I was a little nervous. Friday evening went well enough despite my rearranging words in sentences and when two actors jumped ahead of one of my lines, which I had to get in and did appropriately. Saturday was better. I knew what the timing should be and how the other actors were going to do their bit, etc.
That, I think, is the most difficult bit. Not having had rehearsals with the other cast for weeks before the show, I did not know how they were going to react, behave, move … the little nuances. Leaning lines and blocking (where to stand and move) really is just a very small part of a play. It’s everything else and THAT is the hard part.
Just 5 more shows over the next two weekends.
Class Act Theatre
June 3 – July 3, 2005
Fridays and Saturdays @ 8:00 p.m.
One Sunday Matinee only on July 3 @ 3:00 p.m.
TICKETS: $18.00 adults, $15.00 students & seniors (Group rates available for reservations of 10 or more). For ticket purchase/information, please call 770-579-3156