md part otto, 2005, and very long
Oct. 18th, 2005 12:46 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ptpgradMD part Otto
Can you hear me? I can’t very well (though it’s getting better), but the weekend was an intense and fabulous one. Many things to mention, with all the normal disclaimers…away we go…
PREPARATIONS
This weekend was Shakespeare weekend, which means that Teatro-to-Go was performing the Taming of the Shrew. This was the event we have been rehearsing for since second week…well, only once a week, but still, the joys of acrobatics and getting our bodies back into the swing of things slowly takes it’s toll. Friday night, the parents arrived and we had dinner at Remomo’s, one of my favorite local establishments. I am informed that the waitress that she, the manager, and another at the restaurant are going to be in attendance that weekend and are coming to see at least one of my shows (I am a regular there). We get home after the Lelios have brought HIS mom from the airport to her hotel for the weekend. I get into bed and crash a bit early, but even 10:00 seems late today.
URFGA
I can’t sleep. It’s like opening night all over again. I can’t sleep, I start to and wake up and toss and turn again. The alarm goes off and I am exhausted. It is also going off earlier than normal because I have to add the acro run through to the day. That’s at 8:00 am so I have to be stretched BEFORE that. Get to site at 7:30 that means…at the latest. I am up around 6:15, get dressed, braided and made up before most have started even moving. I make my morning protein shake and head on the road by 7:02. I call my parents to let them know that I forgot to hand them their tickets and I will leave them at Will Call. I am at site early and head to the Gatehouse to stretch. Then, after stretching, to Fortune to set up sound and do the acro. I have brought a towel because I know how muddy the site is and I have to climb on the boys. We set up mics, I dry off shoes, and climb up on the boys. No problem. I flip and it works fine…damn, this is so much easier NOT in the corset. We go our several ways and get ready. I drop off the tickets first with the help of the security people, then to the Costume house.
ROUTINE MAKES THE DAY GO BETTER
I am slowly getting organized. I head to set my props for the day then come back to get changed. I get mask and stuff and head out to deal with morning meeting and my romance war hit. The meeting talks of small numbers the previous week, but no surprise with the rain. We are having Shakespeare weekend so there are acting contests, a talk back with the Macbeth actors, and our Shrew. Sadly, the second acting contest is directly opposite our show…and the time on the main schedule lists our show at 4:30 while the Shakespeare weekend page lists it at 5:30. Bummer. By the time we realized it on Friday, there was nothing we could really do to fix it. Puke and Snot are back. We are warned that today is “court fun day” and tomorrow will be smitten day for us. This could be interesting. BEEP and away we go.
BOOMING PROGRAMS
The gate show’s audience ROCKS. They are catching everything, laughing at everything, and when I look at my pre faire crowd meter, I KNOW we are in for it. The crowd starts POURING in. I eep to see EvenPaul and Capi’s arrivals (separately). Mid way through our early tour and other yells, we are handed programs and asked to help hand them out. The gate people are a bit overwhelmed and we are loud and visible. We all hold onto some programs and call out that we have them. I jump off and head out into the outside world. I hand out more programs and say hello, then I remember. I have somewhere to be at 10:45. I rush in and start to head to the wine garden. On the way, I see for the first time this year…him…Digger Gravesly. He is visiting the village for a weekend. He is a tremendously talented actor and I miss having him here tremendously, but he has other places calling him. Le sigh. I keep rushing up Stub Toe calling out something that must have been completely incomprehensible to those passing by, but I make it in time.
BE FREE TO FLY AGAIN
Last minute, Am has organized this year’s butterfly release. I wasn’t sure I could make the second one, but I did make the first one this morning. At the Wine Garden (a place I pretty much NEVER frequent), and there are the Pyrates, Am, Capi (more big wonderful hugs), WD, DT, and a few others I know. Am speaks first followed by Captain Moone. It is teary, sad, and joyful all at the same time. We open the packets and butterflies emerge. Mine happily floats away. Many of the others are a bit stiff and lackadaisical. They don’t have the desire to move or be free. After much stumbling, I help Am’s to her hat. Fletcher’s sits on his head. Other’s sit and wear or carry theirs and wait till they are ready to be free. One flew straight to the pub…that made us all laugh. Time was calling me and I took my leave shortly after.
GIRLIE MAN SHOW
I headed back toward the front of the faire and stopped briefly to sing in the dirt a little while. I knew that I wanted to be cautious of my voice for the show this weekend, but I also know how fun that singing is. I head toward the Gatehouse for the show. Today, my reader is Gauche Renfield (elvisolb). He is bubbly and happy to be there. Today, BeerPam is nowhere to be found. I didn’t expect her and Maid Marian has kindly filled in for the weekend…but next Saturday and Sunday are your last times to get a tshirt from BeerPam (you KNOW you want one, You KNOW you need one, buy a tshirt before it is toooooooo laaaaaattteeeeeeeee!). Today, the show goes well, This pleases me as Mom and Dad are watching and Dad is a playwright/director/actor like myself. Bob is fun, though WAY TOO quiet, but the show goes well.
PROGRAMMING MUSIC
Gauche helps me clear the stage and I get a moment to chat with my parents and some patrons who enjoyed the show. I introduce Am and Capi to my parents as well. Am tells me she had to leave when a very girlie Gauche was talking about shoes…it was very disturbing to her. I am clear with a minute or more to spare and Mimi takes the stage. I put my props back together and head back out. I know with the look of the heavily inflowing crowd, they probably still need help. So, I grab a huge stack of programs and start going outside to hand them out. I start with the small lines and the crowds walking up. I start to notice a pattern of a large number of people coming from the far left side. I am overheating in the sun in the mask. So, I wander toward the end of the ticket booths and sit under the tree that is there…and sing. “I have a program in my hand, it can be yours if you just come and ask me, come get a program they are free, you can have a program just from me, “ and other variations. Security is watching me and laughing. So are the patrons who come by…and I am in the shade. This is the way to do it.
LUNCH WITH THE UNITS
I head in after going through two large stacks of programs this way. I have promised my parents I will meet them for lunch, since I do have some time, and am now running a bit late. I rush back to change. Mrs. Pugh is there and helps me. I grab my sign and things. I get my steak on a stake. The lines are long. I look for my parents and don’t see them in the crowd. Finally, I see my mom. We sit and eat. My dad has gone to check if I am at the OTHER steak on a stake booth that I have never eaten at, with or without them in all the years they have come here. Ah well, routine for some is not for others. We sit and eat. At the other side, we see Jean Cabot calling to the crowd who are eating. I finish my meal, convince my parents they HAVE to stay till the end of the day, and go off to get ready to see what else needs to be done.
LOST PRIVY
I wanted to touch base with the Lost Princess show since I haven’t seen it in weeks. On the way there, I see it…for the first time up front this year, a privy line. To the rescue I go and make the line go away. Privy duty, though not glamorous, takes a good sense of humor and play and the patrons are SO VERY grateful for the help. I finish clearing the line and head back out in time for the Princess show. Bob seems to be running a minute or so late, so they aren’t starting as early. This bums me out as I can’t stay long and won’t see as much as I have previously. After the curse has been reversed, I head out and rush to the Fortune Stage.
I LOVE YOU MAN
Well, Lelio is true to his word. He warned my dad he might be the best man, and he pulled him up. That wasn’t the most amusing part of the show either. First, Lelio jumps differently when I pick him up and we go toppling to the ground. We start laughing and the audience starts laughing. Lelio notes “you know, I have been waiting for that moment for the last few years…give us a moment.’ It is a hoot. Then, we bring up our group and start introducing them…and the groom is named Roberto, or Bob. The members of the crowd who know the show (as there are NCRF staff members in the crowd as well as other regulars and the parents) start laughing. We tell the audience that in about 3 minutes, they will be in on the joke as well. My father keeps getting huge cheers each time he speaks. It’s rather funny as no one there has any clue that he is my dad, he’s just funny. He still steals the show…not outrageously, but he is good.
PRIVY AND PREPARATION
We finish the show and Michelangelo agrees to carry back the sign and the t-shirts for me to the costume house. I head back on street and greet toward the front gate. I grab baby Stupina and then I see it…the privy line is back. I head in and see that Southwell has been working it, but people are not hearing him or they are just not responding. Together, we get the line to go away. I go hang Baby Stupina up after her far too short a walk and head downstairs to get ready. Today, I am really getting ready for two shows at once as I have to do a quick switch and run down to the Globe for the next show. I take out the braids, redo the hair, fix the makeup, and get dressed. I find out it is not taking me as long to fix as I had thought it would, so I remind myself to not come down quite so early tomorrow. Once we are ready, we head up to the stage at the regular time. We seem to have started late and the show is running slow. URGH. It would have to happen on the day where I have to be somewhere soon after. Sigh. I go my bit and we are getting a bit silly upstairs. Quietly, we play two rounds of cards and Nan starts playing cribbage by herself. The show ends with my snood falling AGAIN, and I run out and downstairs.
SHREW PREP
I get to the costume house where I have prepared all my changing parts, I rip off the over skirt and hoop, remove the jewelry, touch up the lips, brush the hair, add the belt and other needs for the eve and run out the door. I get a chorus of “break a leg” and “good luck,” As a side note, tell acrobats and dancers “good luck,” tell actors “break a leg.” It’s kinda bad juju to switch them…of course, some consider it acting, but I am just nervous about the acro. I rush out, meet Michaelangelo, and give him the Teatro sign to carry. We get to the stage and he has started quietly pulling out props. I help him. The show going on while we do this is the hypnotism show and when they are being put under, the quiet is essential. I am nervous as it sounds like they are just going under and I am afraid he won’t be done in time. I am pleased that I was wrong about that. Lelio arrives and we all finish final preps. Lelio heads out to hawk and I head upstairs with the sign.
NERVES
Ok, I have been doing this for years, but some things just build excitement in such a way that I still get stage fright. I am upstairs am my stomach is in knots. I feel the panic rising, not that I can’t do it, but that I want it to be perfect. I take a brief moment to lay down on a bench and breathe…and breathe again…and again…and finally I feel the panic settle. Bob has finished and he turns the stage over to us. I go out and hang the sign and call those wishing to see Shakespeare to come down. I head downstairs and come out to finish putting chairs away with Bob and Michaelangelo. We do the changeover of the crowd and begin. I am told later, that during our early show, at least 20 people wander in and stay. This is always good. The crowd is full, but not over full and VERY responsive.
SHREW THE FIRST
I think I can safely say the show ROCKED. We stuck all the acro, got the cues right and my whip cracked (after whacking me in the face, which no one saw). We were getting applause after every other monologue, The energy was amazing. I found I got even a bit more emotional on one or two scenes than I normally do (not the end, I always cry at that one). We change a few add libs and are having a great time. By the time we are back at Baptista’s door, I can barely remember where the time went. It was fabulous. The crowd seemed to agree as well. After the show, I come down to greet friends and fans and family. My sister has also traveled through the traffic from hell to get here and managed to arrive just in time for the show. She said she had two friends to bring and when I saw them, I had no idea who they were.
THE PAST REVISITED
My sister comes up and introduces me to the ladies with her. She says, remember our old neighbors from down the street? OH MY GOD, this is the younger of the two who is now a nurse and her daughter! Many hugs and laughter. One of Michaelangelo’s friends comes over and hugs me, some of my friends come by and wish me well, others head toward the pub. I send my sister up the hill to see renfestgeek at his booth, hug my parents goodbye, and head back to get the props, etc, collected. We lock up and Michaelangelo promises to return the sign when he goes to get money. I take myself over toward the lantern/box booth as I am told there was someone who had a question for me there. I take care of business and then head toward the pub.
SWEET ENDINGS
I am wired and on such a high from the show. I know it was emanating from me. I am still warm from the acro and trying to come down slowly. I am not good at staying focused or in one place. I stay till the end chatting with people on the fringes of the pub. I do head in to hear Kat sing “the boatman” and sit with JustShowtune and Weered1 after dragging in the NCRF Shakespeare lady. The cannon booms, it is dark, and we head out. I walk most of the way and peel off at the end as normal. I get changed and realize I did one very bad thing. I forgot to eat before cannon. Why? Because on days when it is as insanely packed as it is, if you don’t eat before the day is over, you DON’T eat till near 9 pm. The parking lot is, well, a parking lot. No one is moving, people are getting angry in the lot, and the actors are just hanging out at the costume house killing time. At 8:01, we decide to try and brave it.
PIZZALESS PIZZA
I am forced to go right and make a u-turn to go left. I am held at the traffic for OVER 6 minutes, then, finally allowed to head out, I get to the Pizza Kitchen for dinner. There is only a 30-minute wait, which given that it was boat show weekend, isn’t bad. The group of 9 of us, sit on the floor of the mall laughing and pre-choosing what we want from the menu. Our waitress is kind and we get our dinner quickly. I end up having to leave first as it was after 10 when I looked at the time. I left my mark on the window with Daisy and head out into the night. Pooped, tired, I get home and crawl into bed.
URGHF, THE SECOND
Ok, still not enough sleep, stiffer, but better. My eyes are goopy and tired. I hurry into site and stretch out. Bob Da Vinci stretches with me again today. We chat and then I head toward the Fortune. I am first today (Robin was waiting for me yesterday). I test my system. When he arrives, we agree that Marian will help by being sound level lady. Suddenly, he takes off like a bat out of hell, I realize why afterwards. The jousting sound system is coming through our speakers. He is going to get the soundman to fix this. We hear him go off our line and all is well. Then, back and acrobatics are run. Lelio is not warm enough to run the pull up for the wedding. Michaelangelo drops me lower than normal on one move because he was afraid of hurting me, which hurts me. Ah well. Just a bruised knee. We go over the semantics and feel good it won’t happen during the show.
BREKKIES IN BUNCHES
We all head toward the breakfast booth to get food. The Lelios head toward the bagel booth first while Michaelanglo and I go get hot food. We order ours (and Lelio’s) and it arrives when he does. We eat and I head toward the costume house. I am VERY late and the regulars are all in there already. I rush and set my props and rush to get dressed as I have places to go and people to see. I get out in time to wait. Ah well, better early than late. I have my meeting before the meeting and then go to cast call. We hear that I was right about the numbers and we are braced for today’s crowd. Reminders of program and privy duty and details about closing day are discussed, cause, yes gang, it ends soon. BEEP and away we go.
PROGRAMS...IN YOUR LOUDEST WHISPER
I am asked to help out by handing out programs before we open, so for a new experience (or one that I haven’t done in YEARS) I head outside pre-gateshow. This helps the gate ladies who get overwhelmed with that first crush of people so that the patrons have a chance to get programs as they enter. I wander out before gate and start handing out a huge stack of them. The show opens and I quietly continue to offer them. I am empty handed before we open and head back in to pee quickly and get prepared to open. BOOM and we open. Mrs. Pugh and I have already taken another large stack of programs, which we are offering to those who missed either me, the gate ladies, or anyone else who had programs. The group becomes the program hawkers, and we are far from shy about it. It gets rather silly as Dash has a great barker voice.
PILE ON STUPINA
After the first rush, I grab my stack of programs and head out the gate to get people as they are coming in line. I am not really hawking my show, as my mind is on fixed on handing out the programs and being silly about it. I head back in and wander to my favorite morning spot to sing and about dirt. My voice is a bit rougher today and I am worried about having one later, but I also don’t want to sit there silently as that isn’t really doing much work either. I begin to sing and call to the patrons. I get two little boys to sit on my handkerchief with me as I see some familiar faces passing by. We make eye contact and my sister-in-law says “Isn’t that Michele?” They all turn and I begin to shriek my well-known Stupina “OHMYGODITSYOU” shriek. I feel really bad as I have almost ignored the other boys who begin to wander off. My nephews both come up to me for big hugs and climbing on Stupina. “AUNT STUPINA!” they call. We are briefly greeted by the Sheriff and his entourage who are off to go cheese wheel rolling. They invite my family with them and I send them along with the caveat that they come back in time for the show.
PLAYING BY THE WRONG RULES
Finally, it’s about time for my show, so I head in. Marian is hanging out with the t-shirts and today the Lady Kytson is there. Before the show starts, I see my family and their friends have arrived. The house is not big, but not empty, and I begin. The show is going well, but the leaves are rustling so loudly that it is hard to be heard. I pump up my volume and mumble to Lady Kytson to do the some as she passes me. Poor Lady Kytson is veritably screaming to be heard by the end of it and still it’s tough to hear her. Then, there’s Bob. I always try to pick he person who is laughing and seems to be having fun. Normally, that means that their energy will be infectious and they will be playful. Sometimes, it doesn’t pay off. Today is one of those days. Bob’s son is yelling at me during the show. Not awful, most of what I can ignore, but once in a while I have to stop and mention it to him. Bob comes up and …well, he decides he wants to play by his rules. I offer him a seat, he decides to stand on it. I am glad it is strong and won’t break. Then, I ask him if he likes me as I am, and he says…wait for it… “No.” The only full on “No” I have gotten all season. After I whimper, he begrudgingly says he likes me a little. Did I mention that THIS is the show that management saw? LOL, oh well. I will say that at least the audience was laughing through the show, even if one of my nephews seemed distracted. Hardest part was I had to keep turning toward the Power that is because they were sitting RIGHT NEXT to my family. Ah well. It is always the case that a show that stresses you out the most is one they watch. I have to laugh at the irony.
CLEARING AND PROGRAMMING
The Lady Kytson kindly helps me clear the stage with her lady and I hug my nephews once more and thank the other patrons that come up to say hello. My brother’s friend’s daughter wants to know what is in the book, so I show her. My nephews, as most boys do, want to run across the stage and see what the top looks like. I tell them they can ONLY go up if they hold my hands and I walk them up as I get my sign. They are very well behaved and enjoy their trip. They are both thespians in the making, so this was rather exciting for them in a whole different way. I send them on their way and go to pack up my props. Then, I go out to see what the crowd is doing. They are still pouring in. I see Lady Kingston outside and decide I can go help. I grab a HUGE stack of programs and head to my tree. On the way, I stop and offer programs to anyone who wants them. By the time I get to my tree, the stack is half gone. I begin to sit and sing. Today, the music is the theme from Star Wars, the revised program song from the day before, and any other new melody I can start singing. Again, I see the Security people smile. I see the main office lady hear me and start to laugh as she goes inside. THAT makes me happy.
MUSIC MAKES THE TIME GO FASTER
I finish that stack and go grab another. The wind is picking up and the dust is insane in the parking lot even though we are gooping through mud inside. I am again worried for my throat and insert another lozenge, The stacks of programs I grab are normally about 20 inches tall or so. I can’t hand the programs out with a stack that large, so people have to take them off the top from me. And they are happy to do it. Lady Kingston is amused at how many I have and how I carry them. Again, half the stack is gone by the time I sit down, but 10 inches of programs takes a while to hand out. That stack done, I go get one more. I have 10 minutes to get rid of them to make getting backstage at normal time happen. I challenge myself. I don’t quite succeed, as the speed of those arriving is a bit slower, but it only takes me 20 or so minutes to do it. I get backstage and speed through my change to make sure I am done in time. I head out onto the street and get my steak. I see some out of town friends in the pub and go over to eat with them at the back of O’Shucks. Toosha, EvenPaul, Macallan (I think) sit with me and the P Puppy sits at another table with his lady, Zach, and W.Dragon. We discuss the signature Stupina “OHMYGODITSYOU” shriek and I demonstrate briefly. I suddenly hear “”THERE she is” from the street. It seems that the Entertainment Director at NCRF was walking by at that moment and recognized the sound. Gotta love instantaneous proof. It is nice to quietly put a face to a name I have seen for a while, but all too soon, I must be on my way.
WANDERING WITH WORDS
I start to head slowly toward Fortune holding my sign and hoping it won’t bean someone in the head with the wind. I chat with patrons and tell them about my show (if they don’t have kids and other shows if they do). I get there early enough to get wired in. I head the breeze wreaking havoc with Emrys’ mic. He ends and we head out to set up the props, that want to fly away. I finally get the veils to stay and we start. Today, I don’t drop him. I get close, but I stick it. The cast is ok. We have a group of very drunk costumed women who have supposedly been demanding that we pick one of their group to be the bride and they are pre-selecting their groom. Um, doesn’t work that way. We avoid costumed patrons, we avoid very drunk people, and WE pick em…we organize our chaos. My condolences to Master Larkin who had to deal with them. When the show begins, I am pulling my women and they are screaming and pointing at their friends. Ironically, they are so far back, that I almost didn’t even see them, and I could easily pick more appropriate people. They left soon after they didn’t get to play their way… The show went well, but we were yelling over the wind in the trees. Near the end, we hear an awful wind sound and realize the next act has already turned on his mic and his bad pick up is now ruining the sound of the end of our show…Joy.
OH DEAR GOD
It’s then that I hear it, or don’t. My voice is going. I am normally so hyper careful about this that is is rather devastating when you feel it happen. I have two more shows to do. Luckily, I don’t speak much in one of them, but I scream and rail and have to fill the Globe at the other. Crap. I head back toward the front after having Michaelangelo offer to take the sign to the Globe for Shrew. I am stopped by the Lady Seymour (Anne Stanhope) with two other court ladies. She is carrying a letter and Macaroni and Cheese on a stick…for me. It turns out her husband is smitten with me. He has composed a love letter FILLED with really awful cheese puns. I read the letter out loud. Oh, Javasaurus, you outdid yourself…they were REALLY bad. The nice patron lady is explaining all of them to her daughter as I read them. Unfortunately, I can eat neither the macaroni nor the cheese, so I offer them to the ladies who greedily consume the tasty treat. I take my leave, in psychological pain, and head out front.
AND I NEEDED TO BE QUIET BECAUSE?
I head toward the front and see it…the front gate privy line. Alone this time, I clear it. Then it automatically grows, and I clear it again. I call for more paper and hope they will be more responsive today. Once more, it grows and I clear it. It is time for me to go in, and I do. I make all the changes and get into the gown for Lying Valet. We finish our quick change for the LP and are all a bit lethargic. I hear the time for line up before Mumsie and we all go in. On stage, we are festive and fun. I conserve my voice, so my laugh is not as insane as normal, but I still project when I speak. The show ends and I flat foot it down to the costume house again.
SMITTEN
OK, so this morning, we are all given the name of a person we are smitten with. We have to do something for that person. That is where I got the bad puns and the cheese. I am smitten with a gentleman in Hengrave Hall. I have been racking my brain as to how I can make something happen. And it hits me. I have to walk by there before Shrew. So, I head toward the encampment. I see him watching the hypnotist. I poke him on the shoulder. He half looks back…this will not do. I poke his shoulder again. He turns fully, I grab him by the face and plant one on his lips. As I walk away, I say, I am nothing if not subtle. There is some laughter heard behind me as I walk away.
SHREW TOO!
I am so nervous about my voice. I pop another lozenge and head down to the Globe after doing my switch over. I help set out the props. I expect I will be calmer today, and I wasn’t. Again, my stomach begins to knot. I breathe again and I am fine. It was easier today. I hang my sign and head downstairs. Lelio is on a roll and I just let him go, commenting whenever there is an appropriate spot. Today we have been graced by Princess Mary, Edward Seymour, and another court lady on once side and most of Hengrave Hall on the other side. The rest of the house is full as well with all sorts of patrons and the manager of Remomo’s (told you they would come). This audience warms up a bit slower, but once they catch up with our pace, they are fine. They laugh and cheer and our ad libs get a bit more intense toward the end. I get a huge laugh with my horse and Kate’s final speech is again blessed with applause.
HUMBLE SHOCK
At the curtain call, I am truly, utterly overwhelmed by the response. I realize that as the Shrew I am the most visible, but Lelio never leaves the stage but for one minute and Michaelangelo has at least 10 costume changes in the ½ hour. We all work our asses off. Yet, I am blessed with the HUGEST cheer upon my solo bow. I don’t really know how to react other than to say thank you. From my deepest heart. I remembered thinking of the overpacked house the hypnotist had and how that cheer sounded from backstage. This house is smaller, but the cheer is as loud and totally over whelming to me. Kate is a role I have always loved. Beatrice is the other. I was blessed to be able to play Kate and am joyful that my interpretation has been so well received by the audience. Oh, and my voice? It came back in full force for the show and pretty much disappeared afterwards. At least I could be heard at the Globe for the whole show. Now, I sit in silence and let it heal.
FINALES
I am greeted by more patrons, some friends, and a woman who wants to book our show at her school. I send her over to Lelio after assuring her we do a less “adult” version of it too. I am sitting on the edge of the stage to chat with everyone. Some seem very overwhelmed by the show, others are thanking whoever told them to see the show. I finish closing up the stage and head toward the pub. I am greeted by Dinty, who says…”oh hell, that is what I wanted to do at 5:30.” I am gushed at by a lady who was very touched by the performance. I am commented to by another that they are reminded of how they would love to see me do more serious work, since this show runs that gamut and they keep forgetting the range I have. Again, I am grateful and overwhelmed by the praise. I wander again through the pub. I buy Michaelangelo a beer. I chat with other patrons and friends, I MISS the Aristocrats and only hear the follow up. DAMMIT. I do get to see the Carolyn Sandwich and laugh even more when Princess Mary saves her. I step in to hear some of the final song, I see Yellow Wench sing part of Go ye Home. The eve is getting very dark. I accept a rose FOR Robin Hood since he had to leave. (He got it and thought it was hysterical.) Other men in the pub are shocked that no man has bought me a rose today. They don’t fix this, but they are shocked.
VENTING VENTING
So the day is over, the crowd is going away. I end up joining a group last minute to go to dinner. I share dumplings with PM who continues to ask me hopefully for what is not possible. We have all had stressful days it seems and the stories are shared. Past history is joined and the company is joyous. I close this restaurant again sitting with PM and the clown talking of performance art, clowning, drama, art, laughter, and some rather dark places we all go. We are chased away by the people outside who need our seats and we go our separate ways. I am exhausted and I drive home, carefully. Everyone else is asleep already as it’s after 11 pm. I crawl into bed and slowly drift off to sleep.
What a great weekend.
This weekend is it…so for the final 2005 Girlie Shows
Saturday: Mrs. Pugh
Sunday: Princess Mary (again, cause she was so funny)
See you all there if you can get there!
Can you hear me? I can’t very well (though it’s getting better), but the weekend was an intense and fabulous one. Many things to mention, with all the normal disclaimers…away we go…
PREPARATIONS
This weekend was Shakespeare weekend, which means that Teatro-to-Go was performing the Taming of the Shrew. This was the event we have been rehearsing for since second week…well, only once a week, but still, the joys of acrobatics and getting our bodies back into the swing of things slowly takes it’s toll. Friday night, the parents arrived and we had dinner at Remomo’s, one of my favorite local establishments. I am informed that the waitress that she, the manager, and another at the restaurant are going to be in attendance that weekend and are coming to see at least one of my shows (I am a regular there). We get home after the Lelios have brought HIS mom from the airport to her hotel for the weekend. I get into bed and crash a bit early, but even 10:00 seems late today.
URFGA
I can’t sleep. It’s like opening night all over again. I can’t sleep, I start to and wake up and toss and turn again. The alarm goes off and I am exhausted. It is also going off earlier than normal because I have to add the acro run through to the day. That’s at 8:00 am so I have to be stretched BEFORE that. Get to site at 7:30 that means…at the latest. I am up around 6:15, get dressed, braided and made up before most have started even moving. I make my morning protein shake and head on the road by 7:02. I call my parents to let them know that I forgot to hand them their tickets and I will leave them at Will Call. I am at site early and head to the Gatehouse to stretch. Then, after stretching, to Fortune to set up sound and do the acro. I have brought a towel because I know how muddy the site is and I have to climb on the boys. We set up mics, I dry off shoes, and climb up on the boys. No problem. I flip and it works fine…damn, this is so much easier NOT in the corset. We go our several ways and get ready. I drop off the tickets first with the help of the security people, then to the Costume house.
ROUTINE MAKES THE DAY GO BETTER
I am slowly getting organized. I head to set my props for the day then come back to get changed. I get mask and stuff and head out to deal with morning meeting and my romance war hit. The meeting talks of small numbers the previous week, but no surprise with the rain. We are having Shakespeare weekend so there are acting contests, a talk back with the Macbeth actors, and our Shrew. Sadly, the second acting contest is directly opposite our show…and the time on the main schedule lists our show at 4:30 while the Shakespeare weekend page lists it at 5:30. Bummer. By the time we realized it on Friday, there was nothing we could really do to fix it. Puke and Snot are back. We are warned that today is “court fun day” and tomorrow will be smitten day for us. This could be interesting. BEEP and away we go.
BOOMING PROGRAMS
The gate show’s audience ROCKS. They are catching everything, laughing at everything, and when I look at my pre faire crowd meter, I KNOW we are in for it. The crowd starts POURING in. I eep to see EvenPaul and Capi’s arrivals (separately). Mid way through our early tour and other yells, we are handed programs and asked to help hand them out. The gate people are a bit overwhelmed and we are loud and visible. We all hold onto some programs and call out that we have them. I jump off and head out into the outside world. I hand out more programs and say hello, then I remember. I have somewhere to be at 10:45. I rush in and start to head to the wine garden. On the way, I see for the first time this year…him…Digger Gravesly. He is visiting the village for a weekend. He is a tremendously talented actor and I miss having him here tremendously, but he has other places calling him. Le sigh. I keep rushing up Stub Toe calling out something that must have been completely incomprehensible to those passing by, but I make it in time.
BE FREE TO FLY AGAIN
Last minute, Am has organized this year’s butterfly release. I wasn’t sure I could make the second one, but I did make the first one this morning. At the Wine Garden (a place I pretty much NEVER frequent), and there are the Pyrates, Am, Capi (more big wonderful hugs), WD, DT, and a few others I know. Am speaks first followed by Captain Moone. It is teary, sad, and joyful all at the same time. We open the packets and butterflies emerge. Mine happily floats away. Many of the others are a bit stiff and lackadaisical. They don’t have the desire to move or be free. After much stumbling, I help Am’s to her hat. Fletcher’s sits on his head. Other’s sit and wear or carry theirs and wait till they are ready to be free. One flew straight to the pub…that made us all laugh. Time was calling me and I took my leave shortly after.
GIRLIE MAN SHOW
I headed back toward the front of the faire and stopped briefly to sing in the dirt a little while. I knew that I wanted to be cautious of my voice for the show this weekend, but I also know how fun that singing is. I head toward the Gatehouse for the show. Today, my reader is Gauche Renfield (elvisolb). He is bubbly and happy to be there. Today, BeerPam is nowhere to be found. I didn’t expect her and Maid Marian has kindly filled in for the weekend…but next Saturday and Sunday are your last times to get a tshirt from BeerPam (you KNOW you want one, You KNOW you need one, buy a tshirt before it is toooooooo laaaaaattteeeeeeeee!). Today, the show goes well, This pleases me as Mom and Dad are watching and Dad is a playwright/director/actor like myself. Bob is fun, though WAY TOO quiet, but the show goes well.
PROGRAMMING MUSIC
Gauche helps me clear the stage and I get a moment to chat with my parents and some patrons who enjoyed the show. I introduce Am and Capi to my parents as well. Am tells me she had to leave when a very girlie Gauche was talking about shoes…it was very disturbing to her. I am clear with a minute or more to spare and Mimi takes the stage. I put my props back together and head back out. I know with the look of the heavily inflowing crowd, they probably still need help. So, I grab a huge stack of programs and start going outside to hand them out. I start with the small lines and the crowds walking up. I start to notice a pattern of a large number of people coming from the far left side. I am overheating in the sun in the mask. So, I wander toward the end of the ticket booths and sit under the tree that is there…and sing. “I have a program in my hand, it can be yours if you just come and ask me, come get a program they are free, you can have a program just from me, “ and other variations. Security is watching me and laughing. So are the patrons who come by…and I am in the shade. This is the way to do it.
LUNCH WITH THE UNITS
I head in after going through two large stacks of programs this way. I have promised my parents I will meet them for lunch, since I do have some time, and am now running a bit late. I rush back to change. Mrs. Pugh is there and helps me. I grab my sign and things. I get my steak on a stake. The lines are long. I look for my parents and don’t see them in the crowd. Finally, I see my mom. We sit and eat. My dad has gone to check if I am at the OTHER steak on a stake booth that I have never eaten at, with or without them in all the years they have come here. Ah well, routine for some is not for others. We sit and eat. At the other side, we see Jean Cabot calling to the crowd who are eating. I finish my meal, convince my parents they HAVE to stay till the end of the day, and go off to get ready to see what else needs to be done.
LOST PRIVY
I wanted to touch base with the Lost Princess show since I haven’t seen it in weeks. On the way there, I see it…for the first time up front this year, a privy line. To the rescue I go and make the line go away. Privy duty, though not glamorous, takes a good sense of humor and play and the patrons are SO VERY grateful for the help. I finish clearing the line and head back out in time for the Princess show. Bob seems to be running a minute or so late, so they aren’t starting as early. This bums me out as I can’t stay long and won’t see as much as I have previously. After the curse has been reversed, I head out and rush to the Fortune Stage.
I LOVE YOU MAN
Well, Lelio is true to his word. He warned my dad he might be the best man, and he pulled him up. That wasn’t the most amusing part of the show either. First, Lelio jumps differently when I pick him up and we go toppling to the ground. We start laughing and the audience starts laughing. Lelio notes “you know, I have been waiting for that moment for the last few years…give us a moment.’ It is a hoot. Then, we bring up our group and start introducing them…and the groom is named Roberto, or Bob. The members of the crowd who know the show (as there are NCRF staff members in the crowd as well as other regulars and the parents) start laughing. We tell the audience that in about 3 minutes, they will be in on the joke as well. My father keeps getting huge cheers each time he speaks. It’s rather funny as no one there has any clue that he is my dad, he’s just funny. He still steals the show…not outrageously, but he is good.
PRIVY AND PREPARATION
We finish the show and Michelangelo agrees to carry back the sign and the t-shirts for me to the costume house. I head back on street and greet toward the front gate. I grab baby Stupina and then I see it…the privy line is back. I head in and see that Southwell has been working it, but people are not hearing him or they are just not responding. Together, we get the line to go away. I go hang Baby Stupina up after her far too short a walk and head downstairs to get ready. Today, I am really getting ready for two shows at once as I have to do a quick switch and run down to the Globe for the next show. I take out the braids, redo the hair, fix the makeup, and get dressed. I find out it is not taking me as long to fix as I had thought it would, so I remind myself to not come down quite so early tomorrow. Once we are ready, we head up to the stage at the regular time. We seem to have started late and the show is running slow. URGH. It would have to happen on the day where I have to be somewhere soon after. Sigh. I go my bit and we are getting a bit silly upstairs. Quietly, we play two rounds of cards and Nan starts playing cribbage by herself. The show ends with my snood falling AGAIN, and I run out and downstairs.
SHREW PREP
I get to the costume house where I have prepared all my changing parts, I rip off the over skirt and hoop, remove the jewelry, touch up the lips, brush the hair, add the belt and other needs for the eve and run out the door. I get a chorus of “break a leg” and “good luck,” As a side note, tell acrobats and dancers “good luck,” tell actors “break a leg.” It’s kinda bad juju to switch them…of course, some consider it acting, but I am just nervous about the acro. I rush out, meet Michaelangelo, and give him the Teatro sign to carry. We get to the stage and he has started quietly pulling out props. I help him. The show going on while we do this is the hypnotism show and when they are being put under, the quiet is essential. I am nervous as it sounds like they are just going under and I am afraid he won’t be done in time. I am pleased that I was wrong about that. Lelio arrives and we all finish final preps. Lelio heads out to hawk and I head upstairs with the sign.
NERVES
Ok, I have been doing this for years, but some things just build excitement in such a way that I still get stage fright. I am upstairs am my stomach is in knots. I feel the panic rising, not that I can’t do it, but that I want it to be perfect. I take a brief moment to lay down on a bench and breathe…and breathe again…and again…and finally I feel the panic settle. Bob has finished and he turns the stage over to us. I go out and hang the sign and call those wishing to see Shakespeare to come down. I head downstairs and come out to finish putting chairs away with Bob and Michaelangelo. We do the changeover of the crowd and begin. I am told later, that during our early show, at least 20 people wander in and stay. This is always good. The crowd is full, but not over full and VERY responsive.
SHREW THE FIRST
I think I can safely say the show ROCKED. We stuck all the acro, got the cues right and my whip cracked (after whacking me in the face, which no one saw). We were getting applause after every other monologue, The energy was amazing. I found I got even a bit more emotional on one or two scenes than I normally do (not the end, I always cry at that one). We change a few add libs and are having a great time. By the time we are back at Baptista’s door, I can barely remember where the time went. It was fabulous. The crowd seemed to agree as well. After the show, I come down to greet friends and fans and family. My sister has also traveled through the traffic from hell to get here and managed to arrive just in time for the show. She said she had two friends to bring and when I saw them, I had no idea who they were.
THE PAST REVISITED
My sister comes up and introduces me to the ladies with her. She says, remember our old neighbors from down the street? OH MY GOD, this is the younger of the two who is now a nurse and her daughter! Many hugs and laughter. One of Michaelangelo’s friends comes over and hugs me, some of my friends come by and wish me well, others head toward the pub. I send my sister up the hill to see renfestgeek at his booth, hug my parents goodbye, and head back to get the props, etc, collected. We lock up and Michaelangelo promises to return the sign when he goes to get money. I take myself over toward the lantern/box booth as I am told there was someone who had a question for me there. I take care of business and then head toward the pub.
SWEET ENDINGS
I am wired and on such a high from the show. I know it was emanating from me. I am still warm from the acro and trying to come down slowly. I am not good at staying focused or in one place. I stay till the end chatting with people on the fringes of the pub. I do head in to hear Kat sing “the boatman” and sit with JustShowtune and Weered1 after dragging in the NCRF Shakespeare lady. The cannon booms, it is dark, and we head out. I walk most of the way and peel off at the end as normal. I get changed and realize I did one very bad thing. I forgot to eat before cannon. Why? Because on days when it is as insanely packed as it is, if you don’t eat before the day is over, you DON’T eat till near 9 pm. The parking lot is, well, a parking lot. No one is moving, people are getting angry in the lot, and the actors are just hanging out at the costume house killing time. At 8:01, we decide to try and brave it.
PIZZALESS PIZZA
I am forced to go right and make a u-turn to go left. I am held at the traffic for OVER 6 minutes, then, finally allowed to head out, I get to the Pizza Kitchen for dinner. There is only a 30-minute wait, which given that it was boat show weekend, isn’t bad. The group of 9 of us, sit on the floor of the mall laughing and pre-choosing what we want from the menu. Our waitress is kind and we get our dinner quickly. I end up having to leave first as it was after 10 when I looked at the time. I left my mark on the window with Daisy and head out into the night. Pooped, tired, I get home and crawl into bed.
URGHF, THE SECOND
Ok, still not enough sleep, stiffer, but better. My eyes are goopy and tired. I hurry into site and stretch out. Bob Da Vinci stretches with me again today. We chat and then I head toward the Fortune. I am first today (Robin was waiting for me yesterday). I test my system. When he arrives, we agree that Marian will help by being sound level lady. Suddenly, he takes off like a bat out of hell, I realize why afterwards. The jousting sound system is coming through our speakers. He is going to get the soundman to fix this. We hear him go off our line and all is well. Then, back and acrobatics are run. Lelio is not warm enough to run the pull up for the wedding. Michaelangelo drops me lower than normal on one move because he was afraid of hurting me, which hurts me. Ah well. Just a bruised knee. We go over the semantics and feel good it won’t happen during the show.
BREKKIES IN BUNCHES
We all head toward the breakfast booth to get food. The Lelios head toward the bagel booth first while Michaelanglo and I go get hot food. We order ours (and Lelio’s) and it arrives when he does. We eat and I head toward the costume house. I am VERY late and the regulars are all in there already. I rush and set my props and rush to get dressed as I have places to go and people to see. I get out in time to wait. Ah well, better early than late. I have my meeting before the meeting and then go to cast call. We hear that I was right about the numbers and we are braced for today’s crowd. Reminders of program and privy duty and details about closing day are discussed, cause, yes gang, it ends soon. BEEP and away we go.
PROGRAMS...IN YOUR LOUDEST WHISPER
I am asked to help out by handing out programs before we open, so for a new experience (or one that I haven’t done in YEARS) I head outside pre-gateshow. This helps the gate ladies who get overwhelmed with that first crush of people so that the patrons have a chance to get programs as they enter. I wander out before gate and start handing out a huge stack of them. The show opens and I quietly continue to offer them. I am empty handed before we open and head back in to pee quickly and get prepared to open. BOOM and we open. Mrs. Pugh and I have already taken another large stack of programs, which we are offering to those who missed either me, the gate ladies, or anyone else who had programs. The group becomes the program hawkers, and we are far from shy about it. It gets rather silly as Dash has a great barker voice.
PILE ON STUPINA
After the first rush, I grab my stack of programs and head out the gate to get people as they are coming in line. I am not really hawking my show, as my mind is on fixed on handing out the programs and being silly about it. I head back in and wander to my favorite morning spot to sing and about dirt. My voice is a bit rougher today and I am worried about having one later, but I also don’t want to sit there silently as that isn’t really doing much work either. I begin to sing and call to the patrons. I get two little boys to sit on my handkerchief with me as I see some familiar faces passing by. We make eye contact and my sister-in-law says “Isn’t that Michele?” They all turn and I begin to shriek my well-known Stupina “OHMYGODITSYOU” shriek. I feel really bad as I have almost ignored the other boys who begin to wander off. My nephews both come up to me for big hugs and climbing on Stupina. “AUNT STUPINA!” they call. We are briefly greeted by the Sheriff and his entourage who are off to go cheese wheel rolling. They invite my family with them and I send them along with the caveat that they come back in time for the show.
PLAYING BY THE WRONG RULES
Finally, it’s about time for my show, so I head in. Marian is hanging out with the t-shirts and today the Lady Kytson is there. Before the show starts, I see my family and their friends have arrived. The house is not big, but not empty, and I begin. The show is going well, but the leaves are rustling so loudly that it is hard to be heard. I pump up my volume and mumble to Lady Kytson to do the some as she passes me. Poor Lady Kytson is veritably screaming to be heard by the end of it and still it’s tough to hear her. Then, there’s Bob. I always try to pick he person who is laughing and seems to be having fun. Normally, that means that their energy will be infectious and they will be playful. Sometimes, it doesn’t pay off. Today is one of those days. Bob’s son is yelling at me during the show. Not awful, most of what I can ignore, but once in a while I have to stop and mention it to him. Bob comes up and …well, he decides he wants to play by his rules. I offer him a seat, he decides to stand on it. I am glad it is strong and won’t break. Then, I ask him if he likes me as I am, and he says…wait for it… “No.” The only full on “No” I have gotten all season. After I whimper, he begrudgingly says he likes me a little. Did I mention that THIS is the show that management saw? LOL, oh well. I will say that at least the audience was laughing through the show, even if one of my nephews seemed distracted. Hardest part was I had to keep turning toward the Power that is because they were sitting RIGHT NEXT to my family. Ah well. It is always the case that a show that stresses you out the most is one they watch. I have to laugh at the irony.
CLEARING AND PROGRAMMING
The Lady Kytson kindly helps me clear the stage with her lady and I hug my nephews once more and thank the other patrons that come up to say hello. My brother’s friend’s daughter wants to know what is in the book, so I show her. My nephews, as most boys do, want to run across the stage and see what the top looks like. I tell them they can ONLY go up if they hold my hands and I walk them up as I get my sign. They are very well behaved and enjoy their trip. They are both thespians in the making, so this was rather exciting for them in a whole different way. I send them on their way and go to pack up my props. Then, I go out to see what the crowd is doing. They are still pouring in. I see Lady Kingston outside and decide I can go help. I grab a HUGE stack of programs and head to my tree. On the way, I stop and offer programs to anyone who wants them. By the time I get to my tree, the stack is half gone. I begin to sit and sing. Today, the music is the theme from Star Wars, the revised program song from the day before, and any other new melody I can start singing. Again, I see the Security people smile. I see the main office lady hear me and start to laugh as she goes inside. THAT makes me happy.
MUSIC MAKES THE TIME GO FASTER
I finish that stack and go grab another. The wind is picking up and the dust is insane in the parking lot even though we are gooping through mud inside. I am again worried for my throat and insert another lozenge, The stacks of programs I grab are normally about 20 inches tall or so. I can’t hand the programs out with a stack that large, so people have to take them off the top from me. And they are happy to do it. Lady Kingston is amused at how many I have and how I carry them. Again, half the stack is gone by the time I sit down, but 10 inches of programs takes a while to hand out. That stack done, I go get one more. I have 10 minutes to get rid of them to make getting backstage at normal time happen. I challenge myself. I don’t quite succeed, as the speed of those arriving is a bit slower, but it only takes me 20 or so minutes to do it. I get backstage and speed through my change to make sure I am done in time. I head out onto the street and get my steak. I see some out of town friends in the pub and go over to eat with them at the back of O’Shucks. Toosha, EvenPaul, Macallan (I think) sit with me and the P Puppy sits at another table with his lady, Zach, and W.Dragon. We discuss the signature Stupina “OHMYGODITSYOU” shriek and I demonstrate briefly. I suddenly hear “”THERE she is” from the street. It seems that the Entertainment Director at NCRF was walking by at that moment and recognized the sound. Gotta love instantaneous proof. It is nice to quietly put a face to a name I have seen for a while, but all too soon, I must be on my way.
WANDERING WITH WORDS
I start to head slowly toward Fortune holding my sign and hoping it won’t bean someone in the head with the wind. I chat with patrons and tell them about my show (if they don’t have kids and other shows if they do). I get there early enough to get wired in. I head the breeze wreaking havoc with Emrys’ mic. He ends and we head out to set up the props, that want to fly away. I finally get the veils to stay and we start. Today, I don’t drop him. I get close, but I stick it. The cast is ok. We have a group of very drunk costumed women who have supposedly been demanding that we pick one of their group to be the bride and they are pre-selecting their groom. Um, doesn’t work that way. We avoid costumed patrons, we avoid very drunk people, and WE pick em…we organize our chaos. My condolences to Master Larkin who had to deal with them. When the show begins, I am pulling my women and they are screaming and pointing at their friends. Ironically, they are so far back, that I almost didn’t even see them, and I could easily pick more appropriate people. They left soon after they didn’t get to play their way… The show went well, but we were yelling over the wind in the trees. Near the end, we hear an awful wind sound and realize the next act has already turned on his mic and his bad pick up is now ruining the sound of the end of our show…Joy.
OH DEAR GOD
It’s then that I hear it, or don’t. My voice is going. I am normally so hyper careful about this that is is rather devastating when you feel it happen. I have two more shows to do. Luckily, I don’t speak much in one of them, but I scream and rail and have to fill the Globe at the other. Crap. I head back toward the front after having Michaelangelo offer to take the sign to the Globe for Shrew. I am stopped by the Lady Seymour (Anne Stanhope) with two other court ladies. She is carrying a letter and Macaroni and Cheese on a stick…for me. It turns out her husband is smitten with me. He has composed a love letter FILLED with really awful cheese puns. I read the letter out loud. Oh, Javasaurus, you outdid yourself…they were REALLY bad. The nice patron lady is explaining all of them to her daughter as I read them. Unfortunately, I can eat neither the macaroni nor the cheese, so I offer them to the ladies who greedily consume the tasty treat. I take my leave, in psychological pain, and head out front.
AND I NEEDED TO BE QUIET BECAUSE?
I head toward the front and see it…the front gate privy line. Alone this time, I clear it. Then it automatically grows, and I clear it again. I call for more paper and hope they will be more responsive today. Once more, it grows and I clear it. It is time for me to go in, and I do. I make all the changes and get into the gown for Lying Valet. We finish our quick change for the LP and are all a bit lethargic. I hear the time for line up before Mumsie and we all go in. On stage, we are festive and fun. I conserve my voice, so my laugh is not as insane as normal, but I still project when I speak. The show ends and I flat foot it down to the costume house again.
SMITTEN
OK, so this morning, we are all given the name of a person we are smitten with. We have to do something for that person. That is where I got the bad puns and the cheese. I am smitten with a gentleman in Hengrave Hall. I have been racking my brain as to how I can make something happen. And it hits me. I have to walk by there before Shrew. So, I head toward the encampment. I see him watching the hypnotist. I poke him on the shoulder. He half looks back…this will not do. I poke his shoulder again. He turns fully, I grab him by the face and plant one on his lips. As I walk away, I say, I am nothing if not subtle. There is some laughter heard behind me as I walk away.
SHREW TOO!
I am so nervous about my voice. I pop another lozenge and head down to the Globe after doing my switch over. I help set out the props. I expect I will be calmer today, and I wasn’t. Again, my stomach begins to knot. I breathe again and I am fine. It was easier today. I hang my sign and head downstairs. Lelio is on a roll and I just let him go, commenting whenever there is an appropriate spot. Today we have been graced by Princess Mary, Edward Seymour, and another court lady on once side and most of Hengrave Hall on the other side. The rest of the house is full as well with all sorts of patrons and the manager of Remomo’s (told you they would come). This audience warms up a bit slower, but once they catch up with our pace, they are fine. They laugh and cheer and our ad libs get a bit more intense toward the end. I get a huge laugh with my horse and Kate’s final speech is again blessed with applause.
HUMBLE SHOCK
At the curtain call, I am truly, utterly overwhelmed by the response. I realize that as the Shrew I am the most visible, but Lelio never leaves the stage but for one minute and Michaelangelo has at least 10 costume changes in the ½ hour. We all work our asses off. Yet, I am blessed with the HUGEST cheer upon my solo bow. I don’t really know how to react other than to say thank you. From my deepest heart. I remembered thinking of the overpacked house the hypnotist had and how that cheer sounded from backstage. This house is smaller, but the cheer is as loud and totally over whelming to me. Kate is a role I have always loved. Beatrice is the other. I was blessed to be able to play Kate and am joyful that my interpretation has been so well received by the audience. Oh, and my voice? It came back in full force for the show and pretty much disappeared afterwards. At least I could be heard at the Globe for the whole show. Now, I sit in silence and let it heal.
FINALES
I am greeted by more patrons, some friends, and a woman who wants to book our show at her school. I send her over to Lelio after assuring her we do a less “adult” version of it too. I am sitting on the edge of the stage to chat with everyone. Some seem very overwhelmed by the show, others are thanking whoever told them to see the show. I finish closing up the stage and head toward the pub. I am greeted by Dinty, who says…”oh hell, that is what I wanted to do at 5:30.” I am gushed at by a lady who was very touched by the performance. I am commented to by another that they are reminded of how they would love to see me do more serious work, since this show runs that gamut and they keep forgetting the range I have. Again, I am grateful and overwhelmed by the praise. I wander again through the pub. I buy Michaelangelo a beer. I chat with other patrons and friends, I MISS the Aristocrats and only hear the follow up. DAMMIT. I do get to see the Carolyn Sandwich and laugh even more when Princess Mary saves her. I step in to hear some of the final song, I see Yellow Wench sing part of Go ye Home. The eve is getting very dark. I accept a rose FOR Robin Hood since he had to leave. (He got it and thought it was hysterical.) Other men in the pub are shocked that no man has bought me a rose today. They don’t fix this, but they are shocked.
VENTING VENTING
So the day is over, the crowd is going away. I end up joining a group last minute to go to dinner. I share dumplings with PM who continues to ask me hopefully for what is not possible. We have all had stressful days it seems and the stories are shared. Past history is joined and the company is joyous. I close this restaurant again sitting with PM and the clown talking of performance art, clowning, drama, art, laughter, and some rather dark places we all go. We are chased away by the people outside who need our seats and we go our separate ways. I am exhausted and I drive home, carefully. Everyone else is asleep already as it’s after 11 pm. I crawl into bed and slowly drift off to sleep.
What a great weekend.
This weekend is it…so for the final 2005 Girlie Shows
Saturday: Mrs. Pugh
Sunday: Princess Mary (again, cause she was so funny)
See you all there if you can get there!
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no subject
Date: 2005-10-18 05:37 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-18 05:44 pm (UTC)I never even had a single *glimpse* of you Sunday, tho! *chuckle* You wild woman! I can't wait for next weekend.....
(((((((( squiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiish )))))))))))))
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Date: 2005-10-19 05:48 pm (UTC)Thank you so much for the words of support honey.
Next weekend is going to be equally great!
no subject
Date: 2005-10-18 05:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-19 05:47 pm (UTC)and Thank you for the compliment on the shows. I have been happy with them.
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Date: 2005-10-18 06:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-19 05:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-19 05:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-19 05:45 pm (UTC)If it is wet, she can't come out. If it is muddy, she can't come out. If the privy lines are insane, I take care of them first and only bring her out afterwards because it hurts my arm to just have her handing suspended while I open privy doors.
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Date: 2005-10-20 02:46 am (UTC)Anne Stanhope was apparently extremely amused that she'd been given the errand by her husband... and you didn't mention that she added that you could keep him :-)
That Hengrave Hall gentleman still looked like he didn't know what had just happened about 5 minutes after you left him (though it didn't *quite* beat out the "swoon" that Lady Kytson fell into after being kissed by His Majesty earlier in the day :-)
And "Taming of the Shrew" was great *both* days. I enjoyed it (much more than a little) the year you guys started it, but what they three of you did with it this year was *great*... and somehow much better. And, yes, I'm *still* amused by the look that Lelio had on his face when he whipped out the rose stem (only) on Saturday... even more amused with it than his clowned "oops" that I've seen before... hmm... don't think I'd ever seen him at a loss for words, or "face comment" for more than a split second before :-)
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Date: 2005-10-23 03:47 am (UTC)Doc
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Date: 2005-10-23 11:14 am (UTC)