Since I’ve been absent from the journal updating as of late, I figured I would just briefly cover some of the highlights since the last time I wrote…

-*- Christopher & I have really started to connect as Ophelia & Laertes. It is so much fun working opposite of him! Hah, Brent actually had to give us the note to be careful not to “flirt” with one another onstage. Our opening scene together is really taking shape and moving away from its original dryness. I think I’m beginning to find a different side to Ophelia. I’ve always known she had a kind of strength to her & I’ve been trying to bring that out in her character…but I think more than that, she has a certain kind of a spirited spark to her as well. Maybe a little bit of sass and playfulness. At first I saw her as having sort of a “quiet strength”…but now I’m beginning to find a vibrant personality to her. She seems to me like she could be a very passionate character. (Hah, I think I’m really beginning to identify with her more & more.)

-*- Daniel (King Claudius) got frustrated last night & wound up walking out on rehearsals. I think we all understood though. He has so much on his plate right now and he was just stressed. He’s getting upset about not being able to remember lines. But I have confidence in him…I think he’s a wonderful Claudius. (His voice, if nothing else in the world, fits it perfectly!) Brent wound up taking over his part for the evening, which means that he’s had the opportunity to play Polonius, Laertes, the Gravedigger, the First Player & Claudius. I told him one night I was going to take off so he could add Ophelia to the growing list.

-*- I love being backstage with Jacob! He’s going to get me in so much trouble, making me laugh while we’re waiting to go on. We have bonded over women jokes, Eddie Izzard, Teen Girl Squad & “the rope”. I’m so glad to have him around! He helps keep things light and fun – even when I’m about ready to have a fit of stress & nerves.

-*- Osric is my favorite character in the whole play. Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are a very close second.

-*- Hamlet’s “To be or not to be” speech last night was so good! The way Mike played it, with his continued referencing to Ophelia’s journal, was really cool. I think he’s hit upon what Brent was looking for. The “Nunnery” scene…eehhh, we’re getting there. My Ophelia was very angry again last night. Not just frustrated or confused or cautious…but genuinely angry. I’m still not entirely sure where that’s coming from.

-*- Brent recited Oberon’s speech the other night. I remembered how much I love that character.

-*- My left knee hurts so bad from where I’ve fallen on it the past four nights. I keep trying to turn myself so I’m falling a different way but it isnt working. This “Hamlet throwing Ophelia down” thing doesn’t make sense to me anymore.

-*- Erin tried to come through the curtain last night with a tray full of wine glasses. The glasses wound up shattered all over the floor. Between that & Hamlets breaking of the mirror – I’m beginning to reconsider my philosophy of practicing barefoot.

-*- Brent cut out part of my song during the “crazy” scene. I was actually a little bit disappointed by it because I did enjoy that song – but later when I was teasing him about putting it back in, he refused. I was secretly proud of him for that. One thing I’ll say for him, is that he really does try to remain in the “director role” when it comes to his shows. Even with his friends, he’s not going to mince words or try & sugar-coat things. He tries to treat his friends the same as he does any of the other actors. Now, I’ll admit, Jacob, Mike, Brent & I are all guilty of crossing that line every now and again – but on the whole, we are generally good at respecting him as a director…and he respecting us as his actors. To me, that says alot. Outside the theatre, it’s a free for all – but when rehearsals start, we know our roles.

-*- I was giving consideration to not auditioning for Butter & Egg Man last night. Brent walked me through a Pros & Cons list. The Pros in favor of auditioning won out over the Cons. I’ll likely be auditioning for Butter & Egg Man.

-*- I’m feeling better about the show. I’ll admit, for awhile I was becoming hesitant & unsure. But now…I think we can pull it off.

Sunday starts our final week of rehearsals!