Other information to bring you from the first semifinal rehearsal of the 2005 Eurovision Song Contest includes news about the postcards between songs, ticket sales, and of course, the interval act. Unfortunately, the same picture postcard was used. The hall was mostly empty, despite online claims that tickets were sold out, and the interval act has been deemed as uninspiring by many journalists covering the event.

POSTCARDS

The postcard strips between songs seem likely to combine tradition Ukrainian shots with the modern city culture from Kyiv. Unfortunately, the same one is being used each time. We hope that they will reveal the full set before the Semifinal tomorrow night. There are still two dress rehearsals to go! The information box to introduce each song on screen is jammed�repeatedly introducing song number 8, Albania.

CROWD

Despite the thousands of fans that received messages to say that all rehearsals were sold out, the hall was predominantly empty during the first Semifinal rehearsal. Clapping could not be heard, and this poses very serious problems for the sound crew, as it is impossible to measure the volume of the crowd, clapping and which songs will receive louder applause. After the horrendous sound problems at the start of last year�s semifinal, this may be causing a considerable amount of stress behind the scenes.

INTERVAL ACT

Opens with dancing troop of women in red silk two-piece suites with bellies showing and trousers with material flowing behind. Silky design with faux fur across the shoulders. Dancing to classical music with a modern drumbeat. They later begin a chanting vocal set before making way for an intriguing few dancers who come across the stage dressed as a mix between fictional nymphs and the trees they supposedly live in. The red dancers return as the best speeds up, to a tune remarkably similar to Israel�s 2000 entry Sameach by Ping Pong.