I opened Cabaret last Saturday night, and when I went to my prompt desk to call the half I found, as I often do on opening nights, a few thank-you cards. I flicked through them and found that most were from the usual suspects - actors I often work with who never forget to do cards for the crew, but one was completely unexpected. It was from an actor I've been working with for three years - we've done quite a few shows together, and I've watched him grow up from a brash, egotistical drama school grad who thought that the world revolved around him, who blamed every tiny last little thing on someone else (nothing was ever his fault), and who was totally my "problem child" for a couple of years, to a wonderful actor with a truly extraordinary voice, phenomenal stage presence and a much better attitude! I've never had a thankyou card from him before - it just said "Dear Anna, thankyou for once again keeping me in the right place all through rehearsals, and for everything you do"; but it was totally not about what he wrote, just that he's finally grown up enough to realise what I do and appreciate that. I think this boy is going places, and one day I'll be proud to say I SM'd him way back when!