The following passage is adapted from an essay about a theater director's creative process:
"The director’s rehearsal style was not a mechanical march through the script, but rather a fluid conversation. In the early weeks, she allowed the actors to wander through their scenes, encouraging them to test the boundaries of their characters. Some cast members found this lack of structure unsettling, feeling as though they were casting about in a fog without a compass. However, by mid-October, the scattered elements of the production began to crystallize. The lead actor, who had previously delivered his lines with a wooden stiffness, suddenly found his footing, bringing a warm vitality to the protagonist. The set design, too, transitioned from a chaotic jumble of sketches into a cohesive visual language that mirrored the play’s shifting moods. In the final weeks before opening night, the director began to tighten the screws, demanding absolute precision in pacing and movement. What had once been a loose assembly of ideas was now a finely tuned engine, ready to run."
Based on the passage, match each of the highlighted figurative expressions to the definition that best represents its meaning in context.
- "casting about in a fog"searching aimlessly or struggling due to a lack of clear guidance
- "found his footing"gained confidence and established a secure position in a performance
- "tighten the screws"imposed stricter controls and intensified demands on the cast