REHEARSALS are like the Relief of Mafeking, they don't serve much of a purpose, have little significance but they are good for moral.

Take all the cat calling, curtain calls and costume changes and mix them all together in a cauldron of potential catastrophe then you have the mechanics of The Rehearsal.

This is the latest play being staged by Milverton Amateur Dramatic Society which takes to the stage tonight, Friday, May 18 and Saturday, May 19.

This is not just a rehearsal for the Rehearsal play it is a minefield of in jokes which are based of real things which have happened in the society.

This includes an actor who could not learn the script and put it in a newspaper and read the newspaper during the play, a director who left on the eve of a play opening and hints of there is no panto this Christmas but a variety show.

Different members of the cast keep asking themselves and the director "What's the play all about?" The answer given by the real director and the imaginary director is "It is a musical mash up".

It is one (the fictional director in the play) directors dream of creating a Hollywood Musical style play with the limitations of a village hall and amateur actors, you know it won't really work.

A dreamer with more dream than substance and a little less talent than she thinks. But that is the way of many in life and in the theatre.

But what does work for this play is the gusto and determination of the Milverton players to put on a play about a rehearsal.

They deserve praise for their efforts and dedication.

The play written and directed by Leigh Dudbridge., is in two acts and gets underway each evening at 7.30pm.

Tickets are £8 and you can see it at the Victoria Room in Milverton.