Weathering the storm

“The good seaman weathers the storm he cannot avoid, and avoids the storm he cannot weather.”

Proverb

Dress rehearsal night for our production of Parzival finds us one cast-member short (as captain of the under fifteen cricket side that has won through to the semi-finals of a national competition he is three hours journey from here and won’t be back until after the run-through) – several of the musicians are playing the score for the first time – some of the cast will be hearing music cues live for the first time (if they happen at all!) and most of the costume changes and property settings are as yet untested.

These anxieties are not – however – our main preoccupation. That – you may not be surprised to hear – is the weather!

The English summer is playing its usual tricks. As the summer solstice nears during what we used to call ‘Flaming June’ we would hope for – nay expect – the weather to be fine, sunny and warm. It has been cold, wet and grey!

Today – to the contrary – is oppressively muggy and close, but the threat of rain is ever present. I have been studying the forecasts nervously for the past two weeks now. The predictions seem to change almost by the hour. It will be rainy – it will be overcast – the rain will clear in time for the performances – the precipitation is set in for the day. One thing only is certain – there will be weather!

That this matters is down to the decision to stage the production as a promenade – incorporating external spaces. There is – of course – a wet-weather plan – but that represents the sort of compromise that we would rather avoid.

Oh well – fingers crossed!