Hello and welcome to my Humble Boy Blog. I will be updating this page with news and stories about
the rehearsals and performances of Humble Boy at the Dukes, Lancaster. It is a part that is very close to
my heart and I am very proud to be given the opportunity to give it a go! One small step for Mike, one giant leap for Mike's career (he hopes!)
14th February - St Valentines. Being away from home in digs really highlights the need for creature comforts and what we take for granted. For instance, I have not been able to have access to my emails for several days and have been having withdrawal pains! I am on lunch on the second full day of rehearsals and am having a wonderful time!
Sat 17th - My first day off and I take the time to walk around the town and look at the indoor market. I find a stall that sells cheap CD's and DVD's and stock up on the bargains. I buy DVD versions of MINORITY REPORT and a set of THE BOURNE IDENTITY and THE BOURNE SUPREMACY. These are films I have seen before and enjoy, but they offer me some alternative evening entertainment because the tele in my room has faded - both sound and picture - over the last few days! Still, what better excuse to really start work on my line-learning. Two actors in the cast live in Lancaster and the others have all returned to London this weekend. Thank God for the FA cup. Unfortunately Blackburn did not manage to beat Arsenal earlier today. I was watching it in a converted church called The Friary - a Scream pub - when about 40 students came in wearing white t-shirts. They were on some organised pub crawl and only stayed for half an hour, but still managed to make me feel old!
Friday 23rd Feb - in the afternoon we do our first run after only 2 weeks of rehearsals. It is the first time that we have put the scenes together and it is a strange feeling to run the play. But, it is undeniable - how moving the end of the play is already. Imagine how it will be like in front of an audience!
Monday 25th - We are the only company at The Dukes now, as HOME FIRES finished it's run on Saturday. All stage hands to the deck as the set is constructed in the theatre whilst we still concentrate on the smaller details - the acting - in the studio. We are in the twilight zone of coming off the book where so many doubts can creep in, and not just "Will I ever be able to remember my lines!"
WE ARE OPEN! By Sunday 11th March we have done a preview, a press night and a Saturday night. The play is beginning to settle now and we are getting some great responses. Roberta Kerr has had a round of applause after her prayer every night so far and I expect it to continue. But what am I going to do with my days now that I have finished rehearsals???
On Monday 19th I get to fulfill a thirty year dream to visit another theatre - THE THEATRE OF DREAMS - Old Trafford. I manage to blag a ticket to see Man Utd play Middlesborough in the FA Cup Quarter Final Replay. I took the day to look around the town and then take the tram to the ground. Watching the game was such a Cecil (Cecil B. de Mille = thrill) and we won 1-0 courtesy of a Ronaldo penalty. YES!
A week later I take the train north to Ulverston to make a much anticipated pilgramage to the Laurel and Hardy Museum. It is a tiny little place down a small side-street filled with memorabilia to the best comedy double act ever and I sit in the tiny cinema and watch CITY HOSPITAL. Nuts and hard-boiled eggs!
Sat 31st March and our final performance. A wonderful experience with a great cast and crew. From first moment to last breath, this has been b-b-b beautiful! Let be...
