Blog

Even a burning freight train can't stop the rise of Arturo Ui

So we raced down to London earlier this week for the first day of rehearsals for our forthcoming gangster spectacle The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui.

Everything was going to plan. The ubiquitous cardboard sleeved coffee and sandwich accompanied a re-cap of Stephen Sharkey’s brilliantly  translated script when suddenly the train grinds to stop and we are informed by the ‘ding-dong’ of the train manager that a burning freight train stood between us and London.

The next hour and a half was filled with conjecture as to the cause of the fire; would we make it in time for the read through; would we have to turn back; had Arturo’s henchmen been conspiring against us? We knew Nick Moss (who plays Roma) had nothing to do with it though as he was on the same train as us. He was probably hoping for a better start to rehearsal week, it has to be said.

Before long we were on route again, with stage management informed of our delay. By the time we made it to the rehearsal room at the beautiful Jerwood Space, all the cast and company were killing time with coffee and croissants awaiting our arrival.

There was one notable omission in the room however. Arturo Ui (Ian Bartholomew) was still in limbo somewhere between Manchester and London. We couldn’t start without our main protagonist. This burning train was really creating havoc, but without doubt, adding to the overall excitement of the day.

Poor Ian, once he’d finally made it and joined the rest of the cast and company a script was thrust into his hands and we headed straight into introductions then onto the first read through.

The room was soon filled with that wonderful American drawling intonation as the cast got to grips with the dark criminal underworld of 1930s Chicago.

Extortion rackets, murders and shady dealings underpinned a excellent first read through. One thing is for sure, we can’t wait to see the rehearsals come to fruition when the show opens at the Playhouse in just under three weeks’ time.

Considering the day’s leading events, it will take more than a burning freight train to stand in the way of Arturo’s rise.

More information on our gangster spectacle can be found here.

Andrew

Andrew King
Communications & Sales Assistant (Services)

Comments:

1. Sounds like someone's been building an alibi . . . To cover what nefarious activities, though?
   Posted by Ed on 3rd Sep 2011 at 13:35 PM
2. Why were you all travelling to London? What's wrong with rehearsing in Liverpool? Plenty of Merseyside and North West based actors around here.
   Posted by c. Trenaman on 7th Sep 2011 at 10:54 AM