MELBOURNE ? I arrived in this lovely Aussie city on Monday morning at 6:30, got out of the airport at 7:30, reached the hotel at around 8:00 ? and headed to rehearsal for ?Cats? at 9:30. No rest for felinity!

But in all seriousness, I have been looking forward to this for weeks.

The whole time I rehearsed in Sydney, it was only with the new company, or by myself with the creative team. There would be a maximum of nine actors, which meant we were able to spread out in the rehearsal room.

Now we?re close to 30 bodies in a clump that lives, breathes and moves. It was quite amazing to be within that said clump, moving with the group?s energy.

But that is getting ahead of the story.

I left Manila on Sunday evening on a PAL flight (PAL is the official airline of ?Cats?). My seat was very comfortable, and my seat mates were lovely.

Before settling in for some sleep I watched an episode of ?How I Met Your Mother? (about taking a leap of faith, literally), and the animated feature ?How to Train Your Dragon? (about taking a leap of faith, figuratively). Interesting how these two films are about taking some sort of plunge and throwing caution to the wind.

In a similar vein, that seemed to be the theme of the entertainment I found myself watching this past week.

A few days prior, I attended the preview performance of Repertory Philippines? ?Equus,? starring Miguel Faustmann and a theater newcomer, Marco Mañalac (he and Red Concepcion alternate in the role of Alan Strang, played by Daniel Radcliffe in the West End and Broadway productions).

I must commend Mr. Mañalac for his bravery in taking on this behemoth of a role in his debut performance. Not only is the role (as well as the play) filled with many, many words and an intimidating, undulating emotional arc ? it also requires prolonged, full frontal nudity. This is something that many actors have trouble with, yours truly included. I?ll be honest, it isn?t something I could do. Sure I?ve shown my bare back and a lot of legs, but that?s as far as I?ve gone, and am willing to go.

I shouldn?t have been worried for the young Marco though. The staging and lighting were so beautifully done (kudos to director Audie Gemora and lighting designer John Batalla) that the nude scene was not in any way pornographic. If anything, it highlighted the vulnerability of this disturbed and pained young man. Both Marco and his scene partner, the ever lovely and wonderful Pheona Baranda, were treated with only the utmost respect.

Reviews for the show should now be streaming in, and as they do, allow me to say this: anyone who dares describe that scene as lascivious in any way is a moron.

Congratulations to everyone in the cast and crew. Yes, there were but a few kinks here and there, but that?s just a preview. Reports came in that on opening night, it was a much improved performance. Bravo to you all!

Precision is key

Back to Melbourne. There are more than a few instances in the show that precision is key to the choreography and safety of the performers on stage. Feet and arms need to be placed in such a manner that you don?t step on the actor behind you or, God forbid, contribute to a serious injury.

Jo-Anne Robinson and her crew demand nothing short of great discipline from everyone to keep us all safe. It can range from making room for a pair of tumbling cats, to letting someone subtly know you?re ready to catch them when they fall, to being so self-aware that you don?t stab someone with an oversized fork.

These next few days are crucial to integrating the established cast with the rookies. We need to space ourselves in the rehearsal room before the technical period begins, to work out kinks and anticipate possible problems.

It?s an old cast member getting used to someone taller stepping into a role previously played by someone shorter. It?s about having two tumblers instead of just one. It?s about switching places, dancing in our show shoes, and establishing new relationships as well as reinforcing old ones.

Its mornings full of improvisational work, ballet barre and warm ups, and days ending feeling tired, but happy.

Once all these things are locked into everyone?s heads, it?ll be time to get on stage and perform, keeping the faith that everything will be all right.

Eight shows a week, we will all be leaping together. Literally, and figuratively.

Shameless plug

On July 23, Asian Hospital Charities, the charity arm of Asian Hospital and Medical Center, will be presenting a special performance of ?Cats.? For tickets, you may visit the ticket booth located at the lower ground floor of Asian Hospital, or call Nila Chua at the Asian Hospital Charities office at 7719000 local 8202.