40 Dei - Monday April 6th

Should have mentioned that on Thursday we re-rehearsed the scene where the Pastor tries to reunite with his daughter after stopping her from marrying Matthew. Joyanne and Titus both in tears by the end. Joyanne has always been able to cry on stage. Sometimes you wish she could turn the tap off but usually it is very moving. For Titus it is a relatively recent skill that he has acquired. Most noticeably in series two of Love Patrol; watch out for a great confession scene in episode 4!

On Friday we rehearse the curtain call, which was a chance for a big sing-a-long. It united us all. The usual problem; half the cast bowing two seconds before the other half! So, so nervous now. Seems weeks between run throughs and we have the review summary on Monday too.

Came across this on Sunday from an interview with a famous Nigerian novelist about her studies in the USA:

She recalls a fellow student announcing: "The violence in Africa is different." "It's something I'll never forget," Adichie says. "This was someone who could end up formulating western policy towards Africa, working for the state department. He said 'You know, they're doing it with machetes.' And someone said: 'But there's violence in the inner city here.' And he said 'No, that's different, they're just shooting.' Adichie tells me the episode will feature in a future book.

And I fear I was a little guilty of similar thoughts in the blog the other day in my response to the killing of the prisoner. Apologies if I was. Vanuatu is no more a cesspit of violence than many places, possibly less so but it is at a crucial point. I hear the government is distributing bullocks and other recompense to families of the captured prisoners; as if it is easier to buy them off than deal with the culture of violence that exists in the police and VMF. And when the President would rather block a bill that combats violence in the home (I am prepared to bet several of the prisoners have violent upbringings), one should be worried about the authorities willingness to tackle rising violence by all parties: criminals, law enforcement agencies and family violence. But come on WSB members, I believe you are the only people who read this blog. Tell me what you think!