Yesterday we spent several hours working on choreographing our swordfights for Romeo and Juliet. James Brownlee, who plays my nemesis Capulet, was tremendous in scripting our duels as well as covering safety issues. So many people on stage with so many swords can get a little stabby at times. I am drilling on my duel daily, committing the moves to muscle memory. As James points out, there is no room in stage combat for improvisation. If we start winging anything people are going to get hurt.

I’ve got a few aches today from the rehearsal, but they aren’t from the swordplay. I stood in for Balthazar while James choreographed a riot of wrestling and tumbling among the servants. I don’t know how many times we kicked, grappled and fell during the day, but I’m feeling it now, but it’s a good kind of hurt. I can’t wait to get on stage and do this in front of an audience.