Breaktimes and lunchtimes are fraught with diplomatic niceties in the first few days of any rehearsal period.  And of course one wishes to present oneself with professionalism and courtesy!  One tiptoes along pleasant conversational by-ways, making sure one does not say anything rude about any director, actor, production, or indeed place because like as not, just as you are saying something rude about Kings Lynn, someone, in the case of these rehearsals, poor Sophie, will pip up to say, 'I come from Kings Lynn, it is a place of ravishing beauty'.  I then have to splutter a bit and say, 'I meant Kings Lynn in New Mexico'. 'I didn't think there was a King's Lynn in New Mexico'.  'There isn't.  Sorry.  I think bits of Kings Lynn are okay. I'm sorry. Some of my nicest chums hail from there'.  All very tricky.  
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