With not long to go, tensions are mounting.

The past few days have been a frantic and frenetic fluster of frazzled farts. 

Production crew have been running around finalising all the nitty gritty involved in such an audacious production, from sourcing sauce to hand carving tables for the audience to sit at. Meanwhile the actors have been experiencing the amazing wonders of the gastric system as their bodies begin to realise just how close they are getting to opening night.

Our first entire runthrough of the wedding reception was a bit of a shambles. Unfortunately it wasn’t the kind of shambles that we had wanted it to be, but the kind that had us quaking in our collective panties. Thus, the shambolic run was promptly followed by panic and hysteria . . . . and a barbecue. Cos lets face it, nothing settles a bunch of nervous actors’ stomaches like a good old greasy barbie! 

And who was it behind the hot-plate, dressed in naught but a set of tongs and a provocative apron? None other than Producer Extraordinaire Doug Montgomery. Is there nothing this man can’t do? No wonder he got into the final selection round of Iron Chef Japan. If only they hadn’t realised he wasn’t Japanese!

The delicious distraction was followed by an emergency line-run performed in the dark as specified by Heir Director Rob Chuter. This lights out line run was quite an interesting experience. Not just due to Juliana’s wandering hands (at least I think they were hers, it was dark) but also due to the differences that emerged in the text and it’s delivery as a result of the mere flick of a switch.

Perhaps Rob believed that the lack of visual distractions would allow for a more in depth interpretation and expression of the text. Or, then again, perhaps he was simply sick to death of the sight of us all. Close call, I’ll let you be the judge on that one! Whatever the case, the lights out run seemed to have improved our lights on run the following day.

While things had improved by the next rehearsal, Rob was obviously still a bit worked up about the whole thing, taking his frustrations out on Liz McColl with a swift, devastatingly inaccurate stamp on the foot. While Rob claimed it was ‘accidental,’ you just never do know with directors, do you. Like the trooper that she is, Liz soldiered on for the remainder of rehearsals. Even when the nail had turned a nastily dark shade of purple! Don’t worry though, I’m sure she’ll live off the workers comp for many a year to come!

Our delectable Designer Dayna Morrissey has also been making her presence felt. But by frocking us all up in an array of fantastic fit-outs rather than inflicting grievous bodily harm. Dayna has done an amazing job fitting out 16 cast members with individually unique costumes, and may I say we do look quite dapper indeed! I just hope that our wedding guests will be dressing themselves up as well. I guess we’ll find out soon!    

Until next time my little bloggeroo’s, stay tuned for the next installment of:

“DIMBOOLA: The Matrimonial Makings Of A Monster.”

=Lachlan - frocked up to a flamin’ flamingo’s fancy - MacLeod=

Directors Assistant/Assistants Director.

Fly On The Wall Theatre.