Opening weekend went smoothly. I sort of missed not going in to the theatre this morning after I woke up. When I had exams and rehearsals it was stressful, now it’s a lot more relaxed and I’m thoroughly enjoying performing the shows.

I’ve thrown a few photos I took backstage during last night’s performance onto the relevant flickr set, including the shot above, slightly more than a typo in the local paper. It’s a bit of a joke backstage now as I am called Chiara. I did promptly inform Chiara that I was changing my name to hers to gain the most publicity. Oh well, worse things have been printed about me (and as Chae aptly noted, most of them right here).

Opening night went pretty well. Surprisingly, I wasn’t too nervous, but I think that has something to do with the fact that I ease into the show; my first difficult scene (The Accompanist) is after a few easy ones. Don’t Bug Me, originally my least enjoyable song is now the highlight of the show for me, and I feel it’s when I get really comfortable.

We had a few surprise guest members including Phillip and a bunch of his friends. This morning I am off to do a radio plug for the show, then a matinee performance which I expect will be quiet, but tonight Becky and the crew are coming to see the show which will be exciting. Becky is down from Brisbane for just a few days and luckily it coincides with the show. Lucky for whom!

It was interesting to note the ‘leading player syndrome’ at play yet again, something I learnt about many years ago when I filled in for a lead role opening night due to illness then went back to my chorus role for the rest of the shows. It seems when you’re the leading character everyone wants to speak to you and congratulate you (even calling you by your character name), but when you’re a chorus member, no one cares. I did receive some very nice comments from all sorts of people I had never met before, and we were mostly smart enough to go home after the show and rest (particularly since I had been going since 6.15 that morning), before another two shows today.

I had a slight scare tonight when the lecturer of my final exam tomorrow emailed me to say “I can’t find your marks, you’ve withdrawn, right?” followed by me spontaneously dismantling like an expired crash test dummy. I sent her an email reminding her that, after a particularly bad and frustrating group project experience, I thought I would put my money where my mouth was (or something) and just not do the assignment forfeiting those marks. It sounded like a good idea at the time. In fact, it still sounds like a good idea. Anyway, the matter was settled and she agreed to continue to let me try to pass tomorrow. Actually, the fact of the matter is that my grades even without that large assignment are good enough that if I pass the exam (which I believe is essential), then I’ll pass the subject.

I’ll be so relieved come 14 or so hours when exams will be behind me for another session and I can go back to worrying about more important things like what the hell I’m doing with my life and spending my days walking for one and a half hours to the shops and back because I feel like a cup of earl grey tea.

On the other hand, opening night of TLE is tomorrow, so I’ll have to put off such merriments for a few more days.