Boanerges

This is Greek for "loud voiced orator", which I thought was pretty apt for yours truly. I came across it in my divinity diploma and I wonder how many people know I possess one of those. The trouble with Boanerges in blogging circles is that it is a fairly common nom-de-plume and not as distinctive as I would have hoped.

Readthrough of "The Neighbour" by Roger Goldsmith, one of the contributors to Supernova 2007, is tonight and should signal a little flurry of theatrical activity from now to the middle of September. I have but five lines in the play and appear at the very end. I get to watch David and Ingrid at work so that is some consolation. I quite like the play for it's Pinteresque aspirations. One of the very first plays I ever appeared in some 42 years ago now was "The Room" by Harold Pinter and Roger Goldsmith's piece owes a debt to the early Pinter.

Readthrough of "The Wild Duck" is next Wednesday and then rehearsals for that should take us neatly through to November. Muleboy and Kitten have separated as a couple (see Alice in Blogland link) but are still co-directing the production together. Kitten feels that Muleboy's approach complements her own and fills some of the gaps such as rehearsal scheduling and keeping to deadlines. Kitten is creative and Muleboy is technical. I am involved as Old Ekdahl and, hopefully, my debut as movement director.

Jasper and I can do the first two lines of "Measure for Measure" and are now awaiting the rehearsal schedule from the director. Damon is tying that in with Supernova and Wild Duck but as a professional production he will have a greater call on midweek rehearsals during the day. His difficulty is access to Isabella is limited at the moment to Sundays.

Loved Natty Chap's latest blog about the value of friends and a social event held in their garden as a party for our Firstborn. He also pays her a great but accurate compliment. She makes socialising look easy and people do warm to her instinctively. She takes after her mother, the Best Beloved, there. The Best Beloved is a lovely warm inviting hostess and usually the one who organises our social events whilst I grudgingly take part. I enjoy them while they are happening but feel my contribution is somewhat limited and that without the Best Beloved the event wouldn't happen. It was interesting at a recent church garden party held in our garden how even the Best Beloved was at a loss to make the event go with a sparkle and verve - there was a lack of conversation makers - not a problem often encountered on Bench events.

The Best Beloved is going to use her social skills by becoming the Bench Hostess for new members attending club nights. She does this instinctively anyway so this is just a formalisation of what she would do anyway. I try to do it if they are young and pretty but my intentions are often deliberately and cruelly misunderstood by the rest of the assembled membership. The Best Beloved is even going further to help induct newcomers into the group. She will help them rehearse and then perform a small piece at a future Club Night. This is not an audition as such but a way for newcomers to break into the consciousness of the whole group and Ingrid is ideal protector of people's feelings. The only way to break into the Bench is persistence and a determination to be there. Are we clique-y? Probably but we have many friendships which are forged in the fear and terror that is sometimes theatre. I have known the Penroses for example over thirty years and my marriage approaches thirty two years this Thursday, the 23rd August. Both these facts will be explored over the next few postings. The advent of the Penroses into the Bench will form one posting which will also become a "Note from the Green Room" for the Benchpress distributed to a wider audience of Members and Backbenchers. A second posting will be a celebration of thirty two years of marriage to the Best Beloved.