Here I am back stage again, so perhaps this ought to have been called ‘Backstage bulletin II’. Instead the title is the name of a scientific paper I came across at work today, which I thought I’d share. Made me laugh, anyway.

The first night of the show went really well, with a three quarter house and no major disasters. One pyrotechnic detonating early caused something of a disturbance, but other than that it was all very smooth. I get a big shotgun to point threateningly at people, but unfortunately without firing it. Other people get pistols loaded with big, beefy blanks. Putting entertaining explosions to one side, I think it’s probably the best first night I’ve ever had and here’s hoping we can build on it. Five and a half performances to go…

Coming back to my laptop ten minutes later, I can reveal that it is not going as well as last night. Our director insists there is no such thing as a bad audience, only bad performances. A sound point, by which logic the distinctly flat feeling is our own fault. Whatever the reason, there’s not as much laughter as considerably less rapturous applause.

The act one finale fast approaches, so I’d best be off. Isn’t this on-the-spot reporting wonderful? Just knew you’d all be enthusiastic…