This is just a page dedicated to the play that I am in with the Lords of Misrule, which is performed at All Saints North Street Church on Friday the 10th and Saturday the 11th. I play the third shepherd in a play called the Second Shepherd's Play. It is all in Middle English, and it has been really fun having at it. We had our dress rehearsal on the Thursday the 9th. I had some pictures taken while we were rehearsing, and I also had pictures taken during the first performance. All pictures here are from the performance.
The first night's performance went really well. The funny thing was I was not all that nervous until the day of, and then I really had the butterflies going. I wasn't so nervous about messing up for myself, but more so for the actors in the play with me. They are all really good, and I didn't want to be the stand out not pulling his own weight. Well, that certainly did not happen. I was really nervous through my opening monologue, but once that was over I settled down quite a bit. I had a little over 100 lines, and I only left one word out- so not all that bad if I do say so myself. The first night all the ladies from my class and two professor came- I had talked them all into it. They all really loved the play, and afterwards we went to a pub and talked about it. I was so high strung after the first night, that I had a hard time getting to sleep.
Saturday, I ended up sleeping most of the day, but it was not a real restful sleep. I was just emotionally spent by the time I showed up for the play on Saturday. I cannot tell you how drained I was. I have a lot going on outside of the play, and with the play- I was just emotionally drained of all life. I put on a happy face though, and the play went well the second night too. There were some people from the Manor there, and a couple professors showed up for it. One of them even brought the script. Luckily I didn't know until all was done. We had about 40 people both nights show up, which is really good considering that both plays are in Middle English.
It was really hard for me to keep my concentration in the second play. My focus was really off. The first play I was so nervous that I was reacting to everything- not thinking. I didn't mess up at all the second night, but I personally feel I wasn't were I needed to be emotionally. Everyone that I spoke to afterwards said I was just as good as the first night. As a whole, I think the first night was better. The second night a couple of the cast miss their ques- I don't think it was terribly noticable to the audience though. They can't understand us anyway!
We also later performed this same play down in London at the UCL. Joining the Lords may have been the most challenging and the most rewarding thing I did in England. Getting up and acting in front of people is really tough work.
