What is actually happening?

Read-throughs are one of those strange artistically value-free events which one has to go through because what the heck else are you going to do on the first day of rehearsal which would be less painful? There are always some words about hearing the arc of the play now it's been re-written etc. and perfectly valid words they are, along with a lot of other valid words and a valid look at the set and other quaint validities. What is actually happening though is we are all sussing each other out. Some we know, some we have worked with, some are brand new, how is it going to shake-down? Are we going to have a good/easy/terrible/interesting/fulfilling/maddening time for the next few weeks? Are we going to learn something new or have that final breakdown which tips us over the edge into the black soup? The air hums with potential. Glances are sneaked. Little flags are raised. It's sweet and fearful. Full of hope and trepidation and I think I've made my point so I will shut up.

It all went off ok anyway and the play has an arc and the set is exciting. The Cube itself is a 100 seat temporary auditorium built inside the RST and suspended there at a slight angle to and ending at the proscenium arch and it will exist for only a month I think. Tibetan butter-sculpture springs to mind.

I might go on my bike tomorrow.