It's here! The debut performance of People Wipe Me is tomorrow! I can't believe it. After all the months of preparation, the time has finally come.
Rehearsing In A New Space
I'd like to think I'm ready. I've had three more rehearsals with Lynda Gough and delivering the play now feels more natural, more exciting, more energetic.
One of the rehearsals took place at a friend's house, which is bigger than mine, so I could get used to having more space around me.
It was quite an exciting experience, giving me the chance to spread my wings. I could walk in wide circles, work the room, spread out my arms.
Going back to my own sitting room for rehearsals was a bit of a wrench. Now I'll be able to adapt to each new place I go to when I'm delivering my show.
Dress Rehearsal
And then my final dress rehearsal is tonight. I will deliver the show from start to finish without stopping, just as I will in front of my audience tomorrow night. There'll be no going back. I can't cover my eyes and run out of the room if I'm stuck. I'll just have to go for it.
Luckily the audience for this dress rehearsal will be a sympathetic audience of writerly friends, in the pub where we have our meetings, so I'll be in a familiar place. All that's left after that is to deliver a killer performance tomorrow night.
Boring Logistical Details
I've sorted out a few logistical details for the day itself. Gone are the days when artists didn't need to bother their pretty heads about such details. But taking care of a few logistics means I'll be in charge of the day and it'll flow the way I want.
I'll arrive at Cluain at around four o'clock, do my warm-up and then speed my way through the show. This will help me figure out where I'll stand. Where I'll move and where I'll put my prop – here's my prop.
Photo Description: Here's the drum which will be the star attraction in my show, on top of a stool. It's red and white, and there's a blue ribbon on top of it which will go around my neck. Beside it are two drumsticks.
How the Evening Will Run
People will arrive at around 5.45pm and they'll eat a yummy meal at 6pm that includes a main course and mini-desserts. I will not be eating this meal – not until after the show anyway. Doing a play on a full stomach could produce 'interesting' results!
About twenty minutes before the show, I'll disappear to another part of the building and ready myself by listening to tunes that I know will put me in the right zone. Then at 7pm, I'll burst into the room and it'll be showtime.
Final Notes (Finally, Finally)
Just a quick note for the people going to the show in Clonakilty. I gave the wrong date to the Southern Star newspaper down there. It is on 24 July, not 15 July – that's the Clonmel one and I haven't developed powers to be in two places at once.
Nothing left to say now except see you there – and thanks. And if you want to know any more about the shows, drop me a line on derbhile@writewordseditorial.ie