4

Philippe was harsher today. Yes or No. Because with all the pieces presented today there wasn't much time for anything else. If it's a 'yes' you're in the show on Monday. If it's a 'no' you're not, but you can try again to be in the show on Tuesday.

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Christine and Duncan presented the scene with Christine's character trying to seduce Duncan's pubescent porter character. "Myself, I say NO!" The rhythm was boring, and Christine still came across "a bit sick."

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I presented my Edmund the Bastard monologue from King Lear. I had prepared this since first showing it, and got the instrumental track of a big band version of I've Got The World On A String, which I then put the text over the top of, singing and dancing sometimes, dressed like Frank Sinatra with a cigar and a glass of whiskey.

 I was a bit nervous. It was a risk for me. Because I really went there with the idea...which I thought Philippe might have killed me for. i.e. Too much of an idea. But it worked. "Yes."

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Barbara presented her Spanish monologue. "You have to cut half...we take a bit...it's clear you don't know the text." 

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Ben presented his Antony monologue from Julius Caesar. 

Friends, Romans, Country men, Lend me your ears...

He started deep and slow, but couldn't find the  same dangerous energy he'd found last time. So he wasn't chosen for Monday. "There are a lot of people round you and you need to change their opinion."

"You have to change our opinion. Like a lawyer. Or a politician."

He needs the "voice of a guy who has something to say."

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Thomas and Mia presented a scene from Chekhov's The Seagull. I had never seen them do the scene before, although I think they did present it once when I was away. It was great though. A big long scene, and they gave it lots of life. There were waves of different emotions and colours. It was really nice. = YES.

"What you did is not bad at all, but I don't think it's the character [Mia's]...She is more beautiful, but I am okay."

"It's well done. They have a good relationship." 

Philippe worked a bit with Thomas too. "Is he sentimental? With a thick sauce?" Philippe makes fun of Thomas's sentimental tendency in order to get rid of it. Then he got Thomas to imitate Herbert vo  Karajan...an orchestra and opera conductor...and a Nazi...which Philippe always gets Thomas to imitate because he's Austrian! In this way, with this rhythm, it's more fun and interesting. 

"If you are sentimental with your sauce, I'm not open for his suicide."

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Lee presented his Feydeau monologue in the style of Hitler but it wasn't accepted. I was getting changed so I didn't see it, but I think it was a 'no' because it was heavy.

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I presented my Puck monologue with Vicky. We did it in costume today. Me in my pink wig and tight gay angel costume, and Vicky with a turban on her head, in Muslim attire, and with a mustache. The image is good! Vicky worked with me as a director earlier today. We found a few different rhythms - weird/magical, gossiping, and a strange little laugh, and a few games - like constantly being amazed by my surroundings. We were going for strange, more than funny. I was quite nervous about it, because I don't feel that strong working in this way. One rhythm, then change! Then another rhythm. But it's good for me to learn! We did it, and people laughed, and Vicky and I found a good little game in which whenever I walked in front of her she would shuffle to one side. But then me dancing about led to me standing in front of her again. It was a yes from Philippe, although he changed our staging. Originally, we had Vicky up high above the wings to stage right, and me on the floor below. But he got us to stand side by side, and for her to follow me about. It was much better like this, because our images are so different - short and masculine + tall and feminine - it's more clear right next to each other.

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So I have four scenes in the show!

Erection problems, the chamber pot on my head, Edmund the Bastard, and Puck! Really happy with this. Now to stay in the show over the week!