Lights came up and I wasn’t ready.  My throat was dry and I wanted to be anywhere but onstage and I definitely didn’t want to have to say the first line!  I forget who said it, but I remember from somewhere that the emotions an actor feels can often be close to the character they are playing.  Luckily Shona is supposed to be nervous at the start of the play…Great!  No need for an “as if”, I got that covered!

“Sorry, I haven’t done this before.  What do we?  I mean do we just…you know?”  The words  came out before I had a chance to edit/vomit/run off stage and we were off.

Just a few minutes later I heard golden sounds – laughs, and in an appropriate place! The next 45 minutes are a total blur, but God am I glad I knew my lines inside out and back to front because the terror would have eaten them up.  Then that beautiful moment of the final scene.

Applause…

They liked it…

I’m so happy I could cry.  I probably will.