Eat your heart out Danny Boyle!

That's the subject line in an e-mail from my sister.

She came to the Carpenters' first show - the matinee on 4th August and she loved it.

Since then, I've had family members at all three shows we've done and the reaction was the same. I'm particularly proud that they all loved the crowd scenes.

Apparently, my son-in-law was initially not too struck with the idea of seeing an outdoor show, largely made up of amateurs on a rainy evening... funny that. Put like that, I can see his point of view. In the event, he was completely bowled over and even though we had to perform the first half (Sun eve 5th August) in our plastic ponchos, the second half when the glory of the costumes was fully revealed, more than made up for it.

When we take a bow, you can feel the energy and delight coming from the audience in waves, a few even stood to applaud. We did two shows on Saturday - our first two! Whoever planned that was determined to test us out. Then, on Sunday, only one - a piece of cake. We're all getting adept now at scurrying to Red 11 or Yellow 2, collecting the right props and putting them back in place. My nerve-racking bits are keeping in time with the washerwomen in the sheet-washing scene - and by the way, who stole a clean sheet the other day so Sandra and I had to share one(?) - and the harrowing of hell when I'm terrified of dropping my pole before the appointed time - so far so good and there's a fantastic clatter when they drop together. Damian says it's his favourite scene.

After the Sunday night show, the cry goes up, 'All shirts and blouses to the wash!'  I've said before I'm in awe of the costume people and the feeling only gets stronger.

I've just seen the cinematic trailer they've made of the production. It's truly stunning. Take a look.