Frustration

Last December I declared that 2009 would be my Year of Playing Nicely with Others, something that doesn't always come easily to a long-term freelancer like me.

This Friday is the improv show's only London preview before Edinburgh. It will be the first time the (expanded) cast has ever performed together so I arranged for two rehearsals this week. Finding synchronous diary time for a director and seven performers the fortnight before Edinburgh was always going to be tough and I should have realised that it was too good to be true.

One actor texted me 90 minutes before last night's rehearsal to say he was double-booked. Another button-holed me five minutes before the rehearsal to say that he was unavailable tomorrow night. Both actors went to great pains to tell me how committed they were to my project yet each presented me with a fait accompli.

What really annoys me is that I was forced to rewire my quite carefully considered rehearsal plans at short notice.

Because many actors are sensitive to anything they perceive as criticism a lot of directorial comment (aka 'notes') can only be successfully delivered away from a performance environment. The pre-show tone must be 100% motivational and a harsh post-show assessment can be unfair, especially if directed at one individual who has no opportunity to work on the 'note' ahead of the next show.

Rehearsal time is a director's most precious commodity. I am nervous.