111014MRRivals CHALLENGING: (Left to right) Colin Hedivan, Kerry O'Sullivan and Paul Collins in rehearsal for The Rivals.
Though we're just over five weeks to go until opening night of The Rivals, with all the hard work put in so far by cast and production team, we're well on track.
Our wonderfully enthusiastic and dedicated cast are more than rising to the numerous challenges presented to them with this
brilliantly convoluted (and very funny) play. Three weeks into rehearsals and both acts have now been completely blocked and so the real fun begins with further character development, refining the physical logistics of each scene and gradually integrating essential props and items of rehearsal wardrobe.
Already we have some fabulous characters emerging - including James Graves's deceptively wistful Lydia Languish (concealing an iron will beneath her romantic exterior) and socially awkward country squire Bob Acres, Colin Hedivan's "have-a-go hero" Captain Absolute (ready to dupe all and sundry in order to "get the girl") and scheming maid Lucy, Paul Collins's delightfully misguided Mrs Malaprop (ever keen to ascend the social ladder, but dropping a rung every time she opens her mouth) and deeply insecure Faulkland, and Kerry O'Sullivan's wickedly lecherous Sir Lucius O'Trigger (an Irish baronet with an "eye for the ladies"), blustering, gout-ridden Sir Anthony Absolute and much put-upon cousin Julia. As well as these parts, all cast members also play other sundry roles including men servants, ladies' maids and even a kitchen boy. Though for much of the play, there are only ever four characters on stage at any one time, come the last scene and eight of the characters appear at once. Needless to say this final scene is proving the greatest challenge of all to rehearse!
