And so it begins…my first taste of life as a professional actor!  This will be my first Fringe performance, and after years of attending numerous Fringe productions, I’m ecstatic at the prospct of actually being involved in one!  All last week I’d been really excited about starting rehearsals, so much so that I think nerves came into play on Sunday night as I had the most restless sleep ever!!  It sounds ridiculous and, yes, rather dramatic, but it’s just that feeling of embarking on a new project, a new journey and it being something you’re so passionate about.

This is my first involvement in Burns’ works since the tender age of eleven.  Och aye, the days of primary school Burns recital competitions, I remember well, and even better the day I won the Burns Competition and was invited to recite my poem, “O For Ane An’ Twenty, Tam” at the Kinghorn & Burntisland Rotary Club Burns supper.  I have fond memories of my parents hosting annual Burns suppers with a group of friends, each guest taking their turn at a different part of the preceedings.  As well as entertaining their pals, we also had family Burns suppers and to this day, I am not a fan of cock-a-leekie soup and detest haggis! But it was never so much about the food as it was about celebrating Burns insightful, prolific work.

Anyway, to return to the more immediate topic, I am absolutely LOVING the Burns’ songs in the show.  They sound awesome!  When I first got the sheet musicand heard Matthew, M.D, play my two solo songs to me, I was amazed – they both had the most fluctuting range I’d ever heard in any song arrangement.  I thought, “I can’t possibly sing that!”  Nonetheless, after a few rehearsals I feel I’m getting increasingly confident with them and am actually totally enjoying singing them now!  Yes, Wednesday was a successful and progressive day for me :)

The Highland accent, required for one of my characters, is actually posing fewer problems than I thought it might.  Oh aye, Cathie assures me I’m on the right tracks.  Yet, I fear, even though it’s still fairly early days, it’s coming out a tad Welsh.  But alright boyo, I’ll work on it!!

Jen