I, LAURA DARRALL, SWEAR TO BE AN EXPERT RAMBLER AND
PRO-ORIENTEERER BY NOVEMBER 8TH 2013.
Bet you weren’t expecting an opening like that! (SAID THE
ACTRESS TO THE BISHOP... Stop it. Stop it now.)
So yes, it’s official. I am
moving to the Lake District for seven months, Keswick’s Theatre by the Lake to
be more geographically specific. LOVE geographical specificity.
Try saying that
after a couple of G and T’s with a wine gum in your pie hole. I have. It’s easy.
(Note to the reader… I’m lying.)
Thus, in the words of Wyclef Jean, “I’ll be gone 'til November”. I can think of many other great Wyclef quotes to throw into the mix
but they probably don’t fall into the appropriate category. But then again, neither
do I.
Also did you know Wyclef’s middle name is ‘Jeanelle’? So
he’s Wyclef Jeanelle Jean. I think I might change my average, if not slightly
regal middle name of ‘Elizabeth’ to ‘Dazelle’. Laura Dazelle Darrall. In the
words of my third year university tutor, “It works.”
(Said tutor was often found sporting a crushed velvet
poppered shirt with the one of the poppers casually un-popped revealing a
rather large outy belly button. I won’t be following suit.)
I digress and the frozen North beckons… as does an acting
job! HUZZAH! I will be doing three very different plays in rep throughout the Keswick
season: Vincent in Brixton, An Inspector Calls
and She Stoops to Conquer. (Predictive
text on my phone keeps insisting it’s She
Stools to Conquer. I refuse to correct it and can’t promise that I won't make
that into a nickname… )
I have spent the last three years of my acting career
understudying so it feels INCREDIBLE to finally be able to sink my teeth into
parts (euphemistic wheeeey!) which I can call and make my own. Don’t get me wrong, I have enjoyed
every minute of understudying and have learnt shed loads but I have paid my
dues and am done. DONE.
Anna, my character in Vincent
in Brixton is Vincent van Gough’s sister and thus requires a Dutch accent…
I think 90% Borat and 10% German is the right accentual ratio. Right? RIGHT?! Keswick does not know what’s about to hit it.
Me in a mankini, that’s what.
The theatre is situated on a lake (naturally, being in the
Lake District and being called Theatre by the Lake) and is surrounded by hills;
hence my declaration and determination to become proficient in rambling and
orienteering. I was a girl guide once; my Morris dancing badge has not failed
me yet!
I’ve also decided to teach myself the ukulele while I'm up
there… I'm thinking a slightly kookier version of Maria from The Sound of Music. Just with sheep
instead of goats and a ukulele instead of children.
So over summer, if you prick up your ears and squint to the
North, you may see on a distant hill, in a far-away vale, a tiny creature
inappropriately attired, squeaking in Kazakhstani, murdering a pygmy instrument
and stomping at a gradient.
And that my friends will be me, acting. Acting and rambling. It’s
six of one half a dozen of the other.
