With yesterday’s early start declared a disaster, we decided upon a compromise, aiming for the slightly more civilised hour of 8.30 (a three hour rehearsal was always a bit excessive.) And though they did not all arrive on the dot – Rome was not bult in a day – there was a definite improve ment.
Running through my greatest hits of warm-ups took us to the Hokey Cokey (though I don’t know why – it exhausts me every time – and then a run-through the play. At seven minutes, it is easily manageable; in some ways, the real challenge lies in finding different ways to make the time valuable, as it could drive us all mad otherwise. As well as being a way to lose energy and freshness.
Afterwards, I wanted to do some shopping and related chores, so wanted to take a tuk-tuk, or motorised rickshaw, to the main road. Did try to find out what a reasonable price would be, but did not manage to make anyone understand me, so it was fortunate that I ran into Eva, and she offered to come with me.
A tuk-tuk easily hailed, and fun, even (or even especially) over the road under repair section. Took out some more money, had a hair-cut, and returned to the small supermarket near the college. Very similar to the ones I encountered last year in Ethiopia; half the shop devoted to toys, trinkets, lots of cheap representations of Buddha and various Hindu gods, and the food half dominated by just a few types of product – lots of sweets, biscuits, savoury snacks. And a row of sacks of various basic grains and pulses. But they did also have beer, and, having been promised a small fridge, I purchased a couple of bottles.
Rehearsal again in the afternoon, after which Aparna had a talk with the group about costumes, and we had a quick look at some bits and pieces; apparently there is more to arrive , as well as the cast looking to provide some of their own pieces. And then on to the studio, the same one where I had recorded my introduction the other day; the festival has many sections, and it looks to me that the same eight students have been entered in most of them. Their next task is to prepare a film, which strikes me as a real challenge in the time available, but fair play to them for giving it a go.
Aparna, Eva, Anu and I went for dinner at the modern-looking restaurant near the supermarket, where I had a meat pizza, only discovering at that point that all three of them were vegetarians, so I would have to manage it on my own. I managed half, taking the remainder home. But… no fridge yet.
