Hepburn and apple pie

The first round of this year's Dark Ages are over. After half a week cramming at night (or should I say morning?) and exam-doing during the day, I feel like I've finally finished a wonderful summer stock show. Only with less creative fulfilment and more relief.


I celebrated by popping "Adam's Rib" into the Mac and stuffing my face with the softest apple pie in the world, whipped cream and a Toblerone. I think I may have forgotten how charming Kate could be! It was a perfect afternoon of relaxation.


One criticism, though, is Amanda's (Kate) point of view. Someone tried to shoot two people; hit or not, it was still shot at them. I think Judy Holliday's character should have been sentenced. I agree wholeheartedly with the ideology behind Amanda's actions (feminism, equality blah-di-blah) but, really, attempted murderers should be behind bars! Aside from that, Tracy-Hepburn were their usual hotshot selves and the Hollywood Code its usual droll nature (though I must say the ending was quite scandalous. There was no foot on the floor there!)


Adam's Rib Trailer here!




I'm off to my very first vintage fair on Saturday! It's the Hello Sailor Vintage Fair in Melbourne and it looks wonderful. I can hardly wait!!


(Hello Sailor Vintage Fair official page) 

Lindy Love!

I've been watching a forever's worth of swing videos on YouTube for a while now and am quite taken by it. I've always been a fan of jazz music and as a dancer myself, I guess that pathway wasn't exactly a most unexpected one. I've just fallen in love with it all! The way they move, the energy and freedom is contagious and so electrifying. Over a computer screen I can feel that much and I can't imagine being in the same room as Annie Trudeu or Juan Villafane while their doing their thang! 


My friends have noticed that I seem to go through little phases when some particular subject takes over my head and I become borderline obsessed. I think this is one of those "phases". And I can't be more glad. (Actually, I could be a whole to happier if this didn't coincide with my hundred school assessments and the exams that string along after it!)


I hope to start a Lindy Hop class sometime this year and I can't wait for that!! The minute I turn 18, I'll forget about trashy nightclubs (not that they were on my agenda anyway) and drag my best friends to some swingin' jazz club to bust a move there.


Hope my tap/jazz/ballet training comes in handy for this as it has for a couple of swing dancers I've watched.


Well, I'm off to listen to some Duke Ellington now whilst grudgingly writing an speech about the media's effect on women...


How the heck does she do that in a pencil skirt? 

A teacher is introduced to Richard Armitage....

and she won't know what hit her.


A couple of days ago, my Lit teacher noticed my North and South computer wallpaper (who wouldn't when the most dazzling man on earth has his cravated self on it?) and of course, I had to summon all my self control to remain the mature student she sees in her classroom. 


My behaviour I cannot account for; but I think I had nonetheless piqued her interest. I can't wait to see how this turns out! 


Reminds me of the time I spoke to that beloved history teacher who showered us with Mr. Armitage's TDHCMO* goodness. Bet she didn't expect to have brought THAT impact on my life, sanity and school work (just kidding...sort of). "You don't know what you've done!" I jokingly accuse her. 


Ahh sweet...

Excuse me, I must drool.

* Tall Dark Handsome Cotton Mill Owner...courtesy of the C19 ladies!
[Picture from the richardarmitagenet.com gallery =)]

Call me Mrs Peterson!

So after the initial shock of getting a role I would never in a million years imagine myself to have, we get to costume fittings!!


Costume fittings are always fun...especially when we're going back to the 50s. Whilst my 75-year-old-lady mink coat and orthopaedic shoes weren't exactly the cat's meow, those slick blue suits certainly were! Is it okay to state that I was quite turned on by all those guys looking so 1950s GQ?


For someone in love with past eras, that session was heeaaaaveeen!! In those few short hours, I mapped out an entire Donna Reed fantasy using the countless Jimmy Stewart passerbys.


And that, folks, is a productive rehearsal.


Time to persuade the people in charge to do The Boyfriend next year....!

My editing skills are just too good. 

Acceptance

I think my parents have finally come in terms with their being doomed with a theatre child. 

Me: (yelling from over the stair rail) DAAAAD! 

Him: Yes??

Me: I need to go to Lombard's tomorrow and buy a fake dagger!

Him: Isn't Lombard's a little far from your school? 

And end conversation. Wha--? I guess I was a little startled with his nonchalance (not that I'm always looking to purchase plastic weapons but "Why?" has always been in the rents' vocabulary)...

Things are looking up! 

(if you're wondering, the dagger is for a monologue performance---which I should really be practicing instead of yapping off here...)

Gettin Some Fun Out Of Life

When we want to work, we work
When we wanna play, we play
In a happy setting, we're getting
Some fun out of life

Maybe we do the right things
Maybe we do the wrong
Spending each day
Wending our way along

But when we want to sing, we sing
When we want to dance, we dance
You can do your betting, we're getting
Some fun out of life

Isn't this just the perfect song? Won't even bother posting anything else with this...it's wonderful by itself!! :)


The beautiful Madeleine Peyroux's version here! (it sounds even better on the streets of ol' Paris)


Stay lovely, lovelies! ;) 

Circles

There's plenty of circles in this life. You hear people say it; sometimes you understand what it means and other times, you brush it off as mere coinkidink. But it happens to you and you get this feeling of contentment and it just feels...nice. 

In my situation, the nice feeling is inside there somewhere but it's fighting a battle with disquietude. Has the circle come too fast? I don't even know if I'm ready or if I'm tough enough for this! I would never turn away from a challenge but...this feels different, somehow. 

I remember everything so clearly--the beginning of that circle is so vital to my growth as a performer that I've got so much to thank for it. There's two girls--one girl especially. Let's name them Sam and Carmen. The first time I saw them just playing around at musical theatre rehearsals, I was in awe already. Both were unlike any performer I have ever seen, Carmen more than Sam because she moved so naturally and her presence when performing had me mesmerised. Even to this day, she has the same effect on me (although I've had a lot of practice to try not to look every time she dances) and it is more than clear that she has this same effect today on every new girl that comes through that rehearsal door. In a nutshell: she's a star. 

A lot of what I know and knowledge on how I should perform has transpired through observing her (this sounds totally creepy, but I'm all pure admiration, I assure you!). My "observations" seem to have paid off---professionals steal, amateurs copy, you know---and I thank my unwitting teacher. 

Over three enriching years, we've all become great friends and eventually, I, too, have become one of "The Seniors" at our musical theatre group (although it is unspoken and acknowledged fact that Carmen is who all the younger performers just beginning their circles idolise. We are all talented and I never undervalue each of our skills but her electric presence really carries her). 

Today, I find myself contending against my two teachers for the first time; our eyes on the two lead roles. It's incredibly gratifying to be eventually listed under the "Call Backs" heading whispering "here's a chance to bat in the same field". 

The long Overture of my foundation stage is playing its final notes and, you know what? I think I hear it merging into the melody of Act 1's opening number. 

The first round is done and in two days, the main events begin. Bring on the splits, sweat and sheet music!!