the.com/rehearsal
Practicing being surprised, until the surprise looks real.
means A rehearsal is running through a performance in advance so the real thing goes smoothly.
from From Old French 'rehercer' — literally 're-' plus 'hercer,' to harrow or rake over again, from 'herce,' a harrow (the farm tool, ancestor of 'hearse'). So a rehearsal is, at root, going over the same ground repeatedly, like a rake dragged back and forth over a field until it's worked smooth.
- origin
- from hearse, meaning to harrow or rake again
- paradox
- goal is spontaneity achieved through repetition
- theater rule
- the worst dress rehearsal predicts the best opening night
- hidden use
- marriages, apologies, eulogies, all secretly rehearsed first