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At this point, just over half way through the run of the play, As You Like It was given a 3 week break from performance. This was to give the actors in the Red Company the opportunity to rehearse full time for their second play of the season, A Mad World My Masters and to open that production with a week of performances, before the play went into repertory with As You Like It. Paul and the rest of the company have been busy with rehearsal, technical rehearsal and previews and have not been thinking about As You Like It during this period. Therefore returning to the play is quite challenging.

The company were called to rehearsal before the show for a line run of the play (for which the actors just say their lines, without movement) and a speed run (for which the actors include their moves but as fast as possible). Paul found this very useful as it helped him to hear the words of the play again and to be reminded of the way in which the scenes fit together.

Paul has been enjoyed performing As You Like It again and rediscovering subtleties and key moments in the play. He especially enjoyed the first performance after the break, when the atmosphere was electric! Mark Rylance, the Artistic Director of the Globe, played Orlando a few years ago and suggested to Paul that he explore Act IV scene 1, where Orlando leaves "Ganymede" after they are "married." Paul has done so, and the scene is now a little darker than it was.

Paul and Jonathan Bond, who plays Oliver, have changed the blocking in Act V scene 2 so that they use the depth of the stage more effectively. In this scene, the audience has a very short time, about 20 lines, to learn that the brothers have been reconciled and that Oliver is in love with "Aliena." This makes the scene very difficult for the actors. Paul feels that Orlando forgives Oliver almost immediately as he sees his brother’s love for Celia. However, the change in blocking has helped immensely.

The company has also faced another challenge as Maggie Wells who plays Audrey was injured during a rehearsal for A Mad World My Masters and was unable to perform. This means that the company have needed to adjust the way they play their scenes with Audrey in order to respond to a different interpretation of the role. However, Paul feels that the presence of Sonia Ritter, (who replaced Maggie Wells), has added another element to the company, and a new freshness to the production.

These comments are the actor's thoughts or ideas about the part as s/he goes through the rehearsal process – they are simply his/her own interpretations and frequently change as the rehearsal process progresses.

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