Still out of work, still waiting for the outcome of THREE job interviews I've had recently so while I'm waiting I thought I'd do a bit of blog updating. Not that I have an awful lot to say. Panto rehearsals are dominating my life at the minute and I rarely have a free evening now. Between now and Sunday 20th I'll only have 2 evenings off (and all day Saturday 6th). How am I meant to have a social life??!! Our show ends at 10pm so I suppose I could always shoehorn in a hour or two here or there at parties or events. it is possible. I might just collapse with exhaustion.
Quite preoccupied with my solo singing parts I have in the show. During rehearsal I get nervous and forget all technique AND i forget to breathe which is not helpful when one needs to use her vocal chords. Hoping I can master the art of continuing to sing in my chest voice despit the song sitting right on the break between my chest and head voice. Helpful! it is a wonderful song though and one I want to do well. Keep your fingers crossed for me.
And that's it from me. Without a job to do in the daytime and panto taking up all my free time there's not much room for anything else. I could talk about personal, personal stuff but I should draw the line somewhere. Don't know what I'd say anyway. Boys are confusing and battling my extreme self-doubt is boring. Onto the final month of this year!
Showing posts with label theatre. Show all posts
Showing posts with label theatre. Show all posts
Monday, 30 November 2009
Wednesday, 24 June 2009
Blogging From Bed
I'm on the verge on coming down with something.in the past couple of hours i have gone form the odd sniffle to feeling completely drained and having no energy even though I didn't have a very taxing day in the slightest. This sucks.
I need to go out running. I went for a two mile run on Sunday and walked about half of it. i've got a 5k run in August and a 10k run in September to prepare for but my immediate goal is to run the whole 2 mile route without stopping to walk. I shall do it. Unfortunately I don't know if I even have the energy to drag my carcass to the supermarket later for some Beechams nevermind pounding the street of Saff London.
So for the time being I shall continue to lie in bed. Reading ("A Million Little Pieces" by James Frey) and waiting on a director or two to call me with the outcome of last night's auditions. I audition for two play (with the same theatre company) and there is one role in particular that I really want. It's a lead role and it will be tough to do but I think I can do it and I really want it. Trying to be positive but it doesn't help knowing that a former actress/current drama teachers auditioned after me. Not fair. If you're a professional actor then go audition for a professional production. Leave us amateurs to the amdram. Grrrr!
Tomorrow I'm havin a psychic reading done for a TV show. I have all this free time and can't afford to do anythign with it so I signed up for this recording. It's something do after all, which beats sitting in, being bored, losing the plot and obsessing about things I shouldn't obsess about.
I need to go out running. I went for a two mile run on Sunday and walked about half of it. i've got a 5k run in August and a 10k run in September to prepare for but my immediate goal is to run the whole 2 mile route without stopping to walk. I shall do it. Unfortunately I don't know if I even have the energy to drag my carcass to the supermarket later for some Beechams nevermind pounding the street of Saff London.
So for the time being I shall continue to lie in bed. Reading ("A Million Little Pieces" by James Frey) and waiting on a director or two to call me with the outcome of last night's auditions. I audition for two play (with the same theatre company) and there is one role in particular that I really want. It's a lead role and it will be tough to do but I think I can do it and I really want it. Trying to be positive but it doesn't help knowing that a former actress/current drama teachers auditioned after me. Not fair. If you're a professional actor then go audition for a professional production. Leave us amateurs to the amdram. Grrrr!
Tomorrow I'm havin a psychic reading done for a TV show. I have all this free time and can't afford to do anythign with it so I signed up for this recording. It's something do after all, which beats sitting in, being bored, losing the plot and obsessing about things I shouldn't obsess about.
Saturday, 11 April 2009
BEDA Day Eleven: No Day But Today 2
I'm just back from seeing Rent for a second time and feeling slightly emotional. Bear with me while I try to explain it. One of the reasons is realising that I won't be able to see Rent tomorrow as the run has now ended. It's one of my favourite musicals and only now have I been able to see it on stage. So it sounds funny but I enjoyed watching it so much and now I'll have to wait for another company to produce it, god knows when!
One the train home from the theatre I got into quite a serious and honest conversation with my friend. I won't go into too much details but it did involved headspace and future plans leaving me with some deep thorts to think about. Tiring isn't it? Made even more tiring but not having any proper sleep for the past 10 days so I can't process my thoughts properly. I haven't had the chance to catch up this week as I've had to get up and about to get things done. it doesn't always go according to plan.The flat viewing we had today and was rescheduled and then cancelled and we're now trying to reschedule for next week. I bet the agent had a heavy night and just couldn't be bothered leaving the house. Boo!
One the train home from the theatre I got into quite a serious and honest conversation with my friend. I won't go into too much details but it did involved headspace and future plans leaving me with some deep thorts to think about. Tiring isn't it? Made even more tiring but not having any proper sleep for the past 10 days so I can't process my thoughts properly. I haven't had the chance to catch up this week as I've had to get up and about to get things done. it doesn't always go according to plan.The flat viewing we had today and was rescheduled and then cancelled and we're now trying to reschedule for next week. I bet the agent had a heavy night and just couldn't be bothered leaving the house. Boo!
Friday, 10 April 2009
BEDA Day Ten: No Day But Today
Blogging to you live from Ellie's house! A first for my blog. We just returned from a night out watching or friend in Rent and I enjoyed it muchly. A lot of strong performers leaving me vowing to do better - but in a good way. Not in an angry, pissed off way like the other show I saw the previous week. I'm going to see it again tomorrow with another friend. Fun!
The plan was to return to my flat and stay there as we have a flat viewing in the morning, however London's transport system is more of less non-exisitent making it difficult to get anywhere this weekend. Getting out to the theatre this evening was a long slog. On the way back we missed a train and would have ended up waiting 30 for a 1 hour train journey followed by another hour on the night bus so we gave up and made our way to Ellie's place which is much closer.
So time to round up and be a good little houseguest. Hope the flatviewing goes well tomorrow. Eeee!
The plan was to return to my flat and stay there as we have a flat viewing in the morning, however London's transport system is more of less non-exisitent making it difficult to get anywhere this weekend. Getting out to the theatre this evening was a long slog. On the way back we missed a train and would have ended up waiting 30 for a 1 hour train journey followed by another hour on the night bus so we gave up and made our way to Ellie's place which is much closer.
So time to round up and be a good little houseguest. Hope the flatviewing goes well tomorrow. Eeee!
Wednesday, 8 April 2009
Beda Day Seven: Happy Now?
Some twat is not happy that I'm posting blogs for the days before events have unfolded so here's another one for Day 7 just to stop his PMT taking shape and bursting forth from his secret vagina.
Work sucks. I still have no idea how to log these CVs and I don't understand the fancy schmancy financial job title jargon enough to make an educated guess where I should log CVs and what levels/areas I should place them in. It's scary to think that in a couple of weeks I'll have too train the next new person on this. I must schedule some last-minute cramming in the next day or two before my colleague disappears forever. Help!
I spent my evening at the play read-through and I'm unsure what to do and audition for. The director (and good friend) has a couple of people in mind to audition for the role I'm interested in and made not mention of WANTING me to audition, when he's blantently demand that others audition in front of me. I'm thinking of not pursuing an acting role in this production and take up a dancer role on the show. The next dilemma is deciding if a dancing role is worth giving up the opening night of Michael Jackson's concert run. I don't have a ticket for that night but you never know. I might get one, somewhere, somehow.
I'm so confused about everything right now. Is there anything I'm good at?
I'm so confused
Work sucks. I still have no idea how to log these CVs and I don't understand the fancy schmancy financial job title jargon enough to make an educated guess where I should log CVs and what levels/areas I should place them in. It's scary to think that in a couple of weeks I'll have too train the next new person on this. I must schedule some last-minute cramming in the next day or two before my colleague disappears forever. Help!
I spent my evening at the play read-through and I'm unsure what to do and audition for. The director (and good friend) has a couple of people in mind to audition for the role I'm interested in and made not mention of WANTING me to audition, when he's blantently demand that others audition in front of me. I'm thinking of not pursuing an acting role in this production and take up a dancer role on the show. The next dilemma is deciding if a dancing role is worth giving up the opening night of Michael Jackson's concert run. I don't have a ticket for that night but you never know. I might get one, somewhere, somehow.
I'm so confused about everything right now. Is there anything I'm good at?
I'm so confused
Tuesday, 7 April 2009
BEDA Day Seven: It's Called Acting Dahling!
And here is Tuesday's BEDA entry. My friend is going to be directing a play that will be performed in July and tonight is the pre-audition read-through. It's Shakespeare! How different. There is a chance that we will all go out for a drink afterwards and I'll get home and have to blog post-midnight again so this takes care of that possibility.
Shakespeare. Yikes! I don't have a clue if I can do it or not. This will be interesting.
Shakespeare. Yikes! I don't have a clue if I can do it or not. This will be interesting.
Friday, 27 February 2009
The End!
... of my current job today. Maybe the end of an era. I don't have another job lined up just yet and although it's not the ideal situation, I'm trying not to worry to much but stay positive and keep applying and be on the look out for more opportunities. Maybe I'll end up back in the financial sector again in a job that stimulates little but pays reasonable or maybe I'll find something a little more creative this time and have a break from the norm. Come Monday I'll be part of one job agency's "Breafast Temps" group and sitting in their office getting fed, trained and waiting for a phonecall from a company who desperately needs a temp to start work asap. It will mean missing out on such brilliant breakfast TV such as the Jeremy Kyle show (hmmmm) but it has to be done. Can't rot in my flat waiting for the jobs to come to me.
Before all that however, there's the weekend which is shaping up to be a busy one. I've got an audition tonight (dance), an extras casting tomorrow morning/afternoon followed by another audition (musical #1). On Sunday I have an audition for another musical (#2) and possible a callback in the afternoon if I performed well enough on Saturday in musical #1's audition. Fingers crossed something good comes out of all this. With the job ending, crazy neighbours, not being sucessful in other auditions etc. I think it's time something went my way. I have to make it happen!
Before all that however, there's the weekend which is shaping up to be a busy one. I've got an audition tonight (dance), an extras casting tomorrow morning/afternoon followed by another audition (musical #1). On Sunday I have an audition for another musical (#2) and possible a callback in the afternoon if I performed well enough on Saturday in musical #1's audition. Fingers crossed something good comes out of all this. With the job ending, crazy neighbours, not being sucessful in other auditions etc. I think it's time something went my way. I have to make it happen!
Sunday, 8 February 2009
Saying No
Yesterday I called the director of You're A Good Man Charlie Brown , the show I was recently given a small part in, and told him that I would be dropping out. My friends will know that this has been a big issue and something I've talked about non-stop this past week. As I said previously I was cast in a "supporting role" which means that as there are only 6 characters in the show, the director decided to make up some roles which would involved us standing around at the back of the stage and uttering the odd word here and there. Or petting Snoopy at one point.
I accepted the role because a couple of friends cast in the same parts wanted me to do it but after the first rehearsal it was clear that I was going to be wasted in a support role. I spent that evening shaking with anger as it became clear just how much I was fobbed off with this role and it clearly would not be worth my time playing it. In terms of talent there was clearly no difference between me and the lead female (except she has an authentic American accent and I "only" have a really good fake American accent) so I am left very confused at what the deciding factor was. The director himself knows (or should know) from his own personal experience that I am a loyal (to the show and the company), dependable and GOOD performer with energy & charisma on stage. That's the collective opinion of a group of people who had seen & worked with me so I do not have an over-inflated opinion of myself.
For the first time ever I STRONGLY had a lot of faith in myself and was confident I could carry off a lead role and excel at it. I'm extremely frustrated that people who should know me don't have the same faith in me. However I refuse to let that shoot down the little confidence I have built up in me. I've paid my dues to this company over the years and it hasn't paid off. I seems I will always be typecast in the small, support roles that no one else wants to do. I am now determined to move on from this and progress. I even went to an emergency audition for a role in another production (their lead female performer has gone awol) last night. I was a bit nervous which did affect some of my singing but pulled it together for the big crescendo, the harmonies and the acting part so although not 100% perfect, definitely not bad either. Worthy of a lead in YAGMCB for sure. Still waiting for the outcome of that audition and while it would be fantastic to get the part, it is a huge & demanding role so I understand if I didn't quite make the grade this time.
Final note: My friends have been amazing to me throughout all this. I hope I can show them the same support in their career/personal goals as they have shown me.
I accepted the role because a couple of friends cast in the same parts wanted me to do it but after the first rehearsal it was clear that I was going to be wasted in a support role. I spent that evening shaking with anger as it became clear just how much I was fobbed off with this role and it clearly would not be worth my time playing it. In terms of talent there was clearly no difference between me and the lead female (except she has an authentic American accent and I "only" have a really good fake American accent) so I am left very confused at what the deciding factor was. The director himself knows (or should know) from his own personal experience that I am a loyal (to the show and the company), dependable and GOOD performer with energy & charisma on stage. That's the collective opinion of a group of people who had seen & worked with me so I do not have an over-inflated opinion of myself.
For the first time ever I STRONGLY had a lot of faith in myself and was confident I could carry off a lead role and excel at it. I'm extremely frustrated that people who should know me don't have the same faith in me. However I refuse to let that shoot down the little confidence I have built up in me. I've paid my dues to this company over the years and it hasn't paid off. I seems I will always be typecast in the small, support roles that no one else wants to do. I am now determined to move on from this and progress. I even went to an emergency audition for a role in another production (their lead female performer has gone awol) last night. I was a bit nervous which did affect some of my singing but pulled it together for the big crescendo, the harmonies and the acting part so although not 100% perfect, definitely not bad either. Worthy of a lead in YAGMCB for sure. Still waiting for the outcome of that audition and while it would be fantastic to get the part, it is a huge & demanding role so I understand if I didn't quite make the grade this time.
Final note: My friends have been amazing to me throughout all this. I hope I can show them the same support in their career/personal goals as they have shown me.
Thursday, 18 December 2008
Wednesday, 17 December 2008
Out Of It
I've been really ill since Saturday and have barely ate anything since then. Went to bed at 2am hoping to sleep off a bit of tension that had set in my forehead but woke to an awful headache which made me feel sick everything I moved. I was feeling a bit better last night but after a nice of extreme dreaming and crazy sleep, I now feel quite peculiar. Part of me feels like how I did when I was on the co-codemol during my hospital stay. Drowsy is probably the best word for it. I'm physically & mentally drowsy.
Despite feeling awful on Saturday I still had one more show to do and I managed to pull myself together for that with the help of a toasted muffin and cup of tea at the venue. However as soon as I spoke my first line my voice began to go. As the play progressed I got hoarser and hoarser and I spent the aftershow party asleep on the sofa. Sunday and Monday was split between lying down and/or sleeping and not much else.
Hopefully tonight I'll have enough energy to give the flat a tidy, wash some clothes ( and myself) and begin to pack. I'm going back home (via bus) this weekend to spend Xmas with the family. Haven't decided on a date yet but it'll probably be a Saturday. Hopefully the lunatics back home will control themselves for a little while so I can get a proper rest. Will be good to see my neice again. I saw her last when she was two months old, she's five months old now and is probably completely different!
PS: Got word back from the woman about the Marathon places. I wasn't elligible for one as the places were only allocated for people at her company. Probably for the best, to ill to begin training now. Might go for the half-marathon in March instead.
Despite feeling awful on Saturday I still had one more show to do and I managed to pull myself together for that with the help of a toasted muffin and cup of tea at the venue. However as soon as I spoke my first line my voice began to go. As the play progressed I got hoarser and hoarser and I spent the aftershow party asleep on the sofa. Sunday and Monday was split between lying down and/or sleeping and not much else.
Hopefully tonight I'll have enough energy to give the flat a tidy, wash some clothes ( and myself) and begin to pack. I'm going back home (via bus) this weekend to spend Xmas with the family. Haven't decided on a date yet but it'll probably be a Saturday. Hopefully the lunatics back home will control themselves for a little while so I can get a proper rest. Will be good to see my neice again. I saw her last when she was two months old, she's five months old now and is probably completely different!
PS: Got word back from the woman about the Marathon places. I wasn't elligible for one as the places were only allocated for people at her company. Probably for the best, to ill to begin training now. Might go for the half-marathon in March instead.
Thursday, 11 December 2008
Back To Work!
The performing kind, not the office kind. After a much needed and deserved 3 evenings off, we were back at the theatre yesterday for the second run of our play. As the shows at our theatre only run for 4 or 5 days over one week, it felt so odd to be walking back in to prepare for another run of shows when we knew we'd already completed a run. I think I even said at one point "Oh, I can't be bothered doing this again" and a couple of people agreed with me but that all changed when the show began and we got back into the ol' routine and thrill of entertaining an audience. I'm now looking forward to tonight's show and not just because I want to leave (office) work.
We also had a great audience last night who joined in with the "panto" elements of the show and some of my lines got good laughs from them. I think this week will be fun. We had a couple of diffult nights last week when we had a small audience in, which changes the atmosphere, but tickets sales are looking quick healthy for the rest of the nights so hopefully we'll have more shows and audiences like yesterday.
It will be sad when the show finally ends as the cast have got on so well with each other and new friendships have been formed, old friendships strengthed. I think the intensive (and disorganised) rehearsal schedule really made us bond. Time will tell if it lasts but right now they are a great group of people to hang around with and during quiet moments in the shows (and in the pub afterwards) we have the chance to amuse and counsel one another.
Ahhh... Peace & Love & Zen. You can definitely tell it's a Thursday and not a Monday in 'Meldaland.
We also had a great audience last night who joined in with the "panto" elements of the show and some of my lines got good laughs from them. I think this week will be fun. We had a couple of diffult nights last week when we had a small audience in, which changes the atmosphere, but tickets sales are looking quick healthy for the rest of the nights so hopefully we'll have more shows and audiences like yesterday.
It will be sad when the show finally ends as the cast have got on so well with each other and new friendships have been formed, old friendships strengthed. I think the intensive (and disorganised) rehearsal schedule really made us bond. Time will tell if it lasts but right now they are a great group of people to hang around with and during quiet moments in the shows (and in the pub afterwards) we have the chance to amuse and counsel one another.
Ahhh... Peace & Love & Zen. You can definitely tell it's a Thursday and not a Monday in 'Meldaland.
Friday, 5 December 2008
Food & Sleep
What more could a Mel want?
Not long back from the theatre after our second show and I'm sitting here with a big bowl of pasta and a cuppa tea. Niiiiice. Trying to ignore the fact that I've got a 9am conference call to Singapore in the morn and wondering if I'll get in trouble with my manager tomorrow for not making it stupidly obvious to someone to save a report as .xls and not .csv.
I'm so glad to be performing the show even though I'm completely knackered and have no time to do anything. The rehearsals were soul destroying, we had to replace one cast member as he's currently stranded in Italy and not allowed back into the UK due to visa issues and another cast member pulled out on Sunday. With such short notice the only way to get around that is to have his character played, via one cast member, by a hand puppet and voiced by another cast member. Crazy! Despite everything, we're having fun doing the show for real. Even when there's more cast members than audience as was the case tonight. We got through it as best we could. We've got six more shows to do so hopefully we'll get larger audiences (opening night was good). We've got the weekend shows coming up so people will be happier to stay out late in the knowledge that they won't have to get up for work.
Speaking of which, time I hit the sack. I've been getting no more than five hours sleep every night this week so I'm going to try for six tonight. I love sleep. And sleep loves me!
Not long back from the theatre after our second show and I'm sitting here with a big bowl of pasta and a cuppa tea. Niiiiice. Trying to ignore the fact that I've got a 9am conference call to Singapore in the morn and wondering if I'll get in trouble with my manager tomorrow for not making it stupidly obvious to someone to save a report as .xls and not .csv.
I'm so glad to be performing the show even though I'm completely knackered and have no time to do anything. The rehearsals were soul destroying, we had to replace one cast member as he's currently stranded in Italy and not allowed back into the UK due to visa issues and another cast member pulled out on Sunday. With such short notice the only way to get around that is to have his character played, via one cast member, by a hand puppet and voiced by another cast member. Crazy! Despite everything, we're having fun doing the show for real. Even when there's more cast members than audience as was the case tonight. We got through it as best we could. We've got six more shows to do so hopefully we'll get larger audiences (opening night was good). We've got the weekend shows coming up so people will be happier to stay out late in the knowledge that they won't have to get up for work.
Speaking of which, time I hit the sack. I've been getting no more than five hours sleep every night this week so I'm going to try for six tonight. I love sleep. And sleep loves me!
Sunday, 9 November 2008
Nice Lazy Day
Today I didn't leave the flat. Spent a lot of time lying around, sleeping and watching TV. I attempted to do a bit of tidying up but it hasn't much difference. I really wanted some chocolate but could muster up the strength to waddle outside, especially as it didn't sound nice out there too. I joined another theatre production last Sunday. I missed the audition recalls for this show because my I was having eye problems and in a lot of pain at the time. So I resigned myself to not being part of this production and was thinking what else I could do with my time until the director got in touch wanting me to come to rehearsals. I think some cast memebers mentioned my name to him. I am now back in the thick of things playing a unglamourous but fun character. Hopefully, I'll get a few laughs out of the audience from it, if not then I'll just look plain ridiculous!
Anyhoo, the show goes up in three weeks and it's a long run spread over two weeks so we are having intensive rehearsals and I am feeling it already so I was grateful for the "day off" today. The rehearsal schedule means that I'll little chance of a social life which will hopefully make it easier to save money and that's always a positive thing.
BTW: I LOVE Ruth Lorenzo on this year's X-Factor... and not just because she sang Purple Rain on one of the shows. Unfortuately I can't find that performance on YouTube as His Purple Assholeness won't allow us to share anything with his music or image on it so I'll link to her performance on yesterday's show instead. Ruth For The Win (not likely as she's Spanish, not a cute kid and doesn't have a sob story).
Anyhoo, the show goes up in three weeks and it's a long run spread over two weeks so we are having intensive rehearsals and I am feeling it already so I was grateful for the "day off" today. The rehearsal schedule means that I'll little chance of a social life which will hopefully make it easier to save money and that's always a positive thing.
BTW: I LOVE Ruth Lorenzo on this year's X-Factor... and not just because she sang Purple Rain on one of the shows. Unfortuately I can't find that performance on YouTube as His Purple Assholeness won't allow us to share anything with his music or image on it so I'll link to her performance on yesterday's show instead. Ruth For The Win (not likely as she's Spanish, not a cute kid and doesn't have a sob story).
Sunday, 12 October 2008
Promotion!
Got a call tonight from the director of the one night only show. One of the girls has pulled out so I've been asked to play their character instead (and write out my previous character). I'm happy with doing that as the new character has some fully lines/duologue but means I need to find and invest in some (cheap) stripper shoes. This calls for Ebay!
Learning Lines
Got the script today for the One Night Only show and will be having drinks with the whole group involved on Monday to discuss it. Will need to ask a few questions about my costume. I'm alright with playing a stripper I just need to know how much flesh I have to flash. I think I'll be covering myself up as much as possible with corsets, stockings... and a hoodie?! In the meantime I've got to get my lines down. There's not an awful lot to learn, a couple of chunky bits, but it's important I learn my cues and get the timing right otherwise the scenes will sound shite.
I've got some work sorted for Monday. I'm too tired to go into the whole thing and all the interviews I've been to this week and their outcomes but I'm staying positive that reminding myself that nothing is permenant and it is possible to have a good job that I enjoy.... someday.
In the meantime there's always my "second career" to focus on.
I've got some work sorted for Monday. I'm too tired to go into the whole thing and all the interviews I've been to this week and their outcomes but I'm staying positive that reminding myself that nothing is permenant and it is possible to have a good job that I enjoy.... someday.
In the meantime there's always my "second career" to focus on.
Tuesday, 7 October 2008
Post Show Life
Another show over. This one went well but I was only onstage for 5-10 minutes so not much chance of messing up. Even the girl-on-girl snog went well and I enjoyed hearing the audience's reaction to that every night. After the final show and Get-Out we began the aftershow party which turned into another all-nighter full of left-over party food and dancing to every genre of music possible. After a 3am snooze (see below) I got a second wind and returned to some energetic dancing (including the now famous, in my world, Jumping Boob Thrust Dance. I may make a video of that someday) and teadrinking. Rock on.
Me and a friend eventually left the theatre at at 12noon the next day. One of the cast members passed out on the sofa and we couldn't wake her at 8am so we snoozed on the sofas with her until she felt awake and sober anough to get home. We're nice like that!
On my way home I dropped into Drop-In Reiki. I always see this advertised at the start of every month but never get aroudn to checking it out. However after all my recent health problem and a flare-up in my bad eye on Thursday (got it checked out, no infection coming back and got some drops to help keep my cornea moist) I wanted to give it a go and see what it could do. I left the session feeling quite chilled and noticed that my sensitivity to the light in the clinic hallway had decreased. It was also nice to talk through recent events with the therapist and she gave me some advice to help with my eye. I think I'll give this a go next month again, at the very least it's relaxing and that's not a bad thing.
The therapist advised me to get an eyepatch to help with the photophobia and general eye recovery so I got one yesterday. I'm wearing it now as I type, feeling quite piratey, and I wore it all day yesterday (when indoors) and got lots of sleep. The eye is looking better for it (and for the ibuprofen I'm taking too?) so I shall continue to do so for a while. Arrrrrrr!
In among the job hunting (I might be starting an alrightish, not great paid job soon but still waiting the outcome on some applications so it's better than nothing) I'm preparing for my next show. It's a one-off show atthe end of the month, based on a play which I was a dancer in last year. A friend booked the venue so we had to think of something to fill it with asap so the writer is re-wrtiting one of her old plays to suit. I'll be getting the corset, fishnet and hotpants out again as I'll be playing a stripper (NO nudity!) and we will have very little time to learn our lines (haven't received the new script yet) and only 3 rehearsals. Sounds rushed (it is!) and stressful but I like that. It'll also count as a professional production which will be great to stick on the ol' (performing) CV and just to say out loud. Go me.
Life may be rubbish in some areas but it's looking not too shabby in others. Hurrah!
Me and a friend eventually left the theatre at at 12noon the next day. One of the cast members passed out on the sofa and we couldn't wake her at 8am so we snoozed on the sofas with her until she felt awake and sober anough to get home. We're nice like that!
On my way home I dropped into Drop-In Reiki. I always see this advertised at the start of every month but never get aroudn to checking it out. However after all my recent health problem and a flare-up in my bad eye on Thursday (got it checked out, no infection coming back and got some drops to help keep my cornea moist) I wanted to give it a go and see what it could do. I left the session feeling quite chilled and noticed that my sensitivity to the light in the clinic hallway had decreased. It was also nice to talk through recent events with the therapist and she gave me some advice to help with my eye. I think I'll give this a go next month again, at the very least it's relaxing and that's not a bad thing.
The therapist advised me to get an eyepatch to help with the photophobia and general eye recovery so I got one yesterday. I'm wearing it now as I type, feeling quite piratey, and I wore it all day yesterday (when indoors) and got lots of sleep. The eye is looking better for it (and for the ibuprofen I'm taking too?) so I shall continue to do so for a while. Arrrrrrr!
In among the job hunting (I might be starting an alrightish, not great paid job soon but still waiting the outcome on some applications so it's better than nothing) I'm preparing for my next show. It's a one-off show atthe end of the month, based on a play which I was a dancer in last year. A friend booked the venue so we had to think of something to fill it with asap so the writer is re-wrtiting one of her old plays to suit. I'll be getting the corset, fishnet and hotpants out again as I'll be playing a stripper (NO nudity!) and we will have very little time to learn our lines (haven't received the new script yet) and only 3 rehearsals. Sounds rushed (it is!) and stressful but I like that. It'll also count as a professional production which will be great to stick on the ol' (performing) CV and just to say out loud. Go me.
Life may be rubbish in some areas but it's looking not too shabby in others. Hurrah!
Tuesday, 30 September 2008
Only Positive Things
I'm trying to write something that's not all about me despairing about not having a job (still jobhunting, finally have an interview on Thursday) or my broken eye (infection gone but the huge scar is buggering up my sight and I've got the wait up to 6 months to see if/how much it fades) and that's probably the reason I haven't blogged in a while. So I'm going to focus on the positive stuff.
Despite everything I've been having a right old sociable time. Supporting the Edinburgh Cast in their new ventures, Friday night parties are dragged out until Sundays and finally getting some good quality rehearsals down for the show I'm in this week. it's come around sooner than expected, what with all the interuptions I've had in my life in the past 6 weeks, but I'm looking forward to evening time this week. It's always good to get back out on stage especially as this part, as small as it is, is a lot more juicy that the previous role.
I'm hoping things are going to look up after this week. This job I am being interviewed for sounds interesting and I think I would enjoy it there. Once I have a job I can begin to sort other things out and I can probably allow myself to sign up for a course or two and get on with all the things I was inspired to do while up in Edinburgh. I received an email last week from a writer/director I have worked with and we (the group) are planning lots of interesting performing things to do in the near future so I'm looking forward to working on that.
Time to end this mofo and redo my CV for an agency (major drag) and beautify myself for the show tomorrow night.
Despite everything I've been having a right old sociable time. Supporting the Edinburgh Cast in their new ventures, Friday night parties are dragged out until Sundays and finally getting some good quality rehearsals down for the show I'm in this week. it's come around sooner than expected, what with all the interuptions I've had in my life in the past 6 weeks, but I'm looking forward to evening time this week. It's always good to get back out on stage especially as this part, as small as it is, is a lot more juicy that the previous role.
I'm hoping things are going to look up after this week. This job I am being interviewed for sounds interesting and I think I would enjoy it there. Once I have a job I can begin to sort other things out and I can probably allow myself to sign up for a course or two and get on with all the things I was inspired to do while up in Edinburgh. I received an email last week from a writer/director I have worked with and we (the group) are planning lots of interesting performing things to do in the near future so I'm looking forward to working on that.
Time to end this mofo and redo my CV for an agency (major drag) and beautify myself for the show tomorrow night.
Wednesday, 11 June 2008
Back To Theatre Life
I'm on my way to the theatre where I will be performing in tonight's show as.... a stage manager. I've discreetly (I hope) printed out some programmes at work and I'll need to manically put the pages together on the tube on my way there.
This will be a different experience for me to work behind the scenes. It's one I'll get to repeat in the next production even though I'm acting in it. As it's such a small part there will be plenty of time for me to hang about backstage doing stage managery things. I'm looking forward to getting a bigger role in something in the near future. I might be beginning to have a little faith in my abilities, I'd like to test that out.
This will be a different experience for me to work behind the scenes. It's one I'll get to repeat in the next production even though I'm acting in it. As it's such a small part there will be plenty of time for me to hang about backstage doing stage managery things. I'm looking forward to getting a bigger role in something in the near future. I might be beginning to have a little faith in my abilities, I'd like to test that out.
Wednesday, 14 May 2008
Chess
I went to see Chess - In Concert at the Royal Albert Hall last night starring one of my favourites, Idina Menzel. The songs were great, the music amazing and the vocal performances were powerful.... there was just one problem. The acoustics in RAH were so bad that I couldn't make out 90% of what the cast were singing/saying. This isn't the first time it's happened. The Darren Hayes concert in October was a great show, great concept, great effects but let down by lack of clarity with the vocal. RAH - sort it out!
I still managed to enjoy the show. I quickly went over Act 1 with my friend who knows it well in the interval to make sure I had the right idea about the storyline. Great to see Idina again (going to another CD signing on Saturday) and great to see Josh Groban perform and Adam Pascal (the Renthead in me) too.
Makes me wanna sing again!
I still managed to enjoy the show. I quickly went over Act 1 with my friend who knows it well in the interval to make sure I had the right idea about the storyline. Great to see Idina again (going to another CD signing on Saturday) and great to see Josh Groban perform and Adam Pascal (the Renthead in me) too.
Makes me wanna sing again!
Tuesday, 26 February 2008
After Show, Aftermath
I'm slowly getting over the events of the past two week. Slowly. I spent last week in a trance as I was so run down from doing the show the week before and I still had a busy evening schedule. Nothing ever really changes. I was also in quite a bit of pain due to a mishap at the aftershow party so that was quite draining and depressing too. More on that later.
The rest of the show run carried on without any drama until the final day. It was Saturday, we had two shows to do that day and most of us singing solos were lsoing our voices. I wasnt too bad as I didn't have a big chuck of solo bits to sing and my throat was in not as bad a state as some other, but I was still extremely worried especially as my friends were all coming to the evening show to see me, including Kelly who was flying in from home that afternoon to see me. I got through the matinee (one of the othe cast member's songs had to be cut to save her voice for the later show), I sang my song and I managed to croak out something half respectable. A few people backstage told me it still sounded good so I felt a bit comforted by that.
Then came the evening show as it really was quite unbelieveable. I had such a good run up to then and felt I gave good performances, however everything seemed to go wrong in my scenes on that final show. Props didn't work so we had to improvise, doors wouldn't shut that needed to be shut, some old woman fell flat on her face during one of our song & dance numbers, I messed up my lines a bit at one moment and had to recover from that. I felt quite annoyed at myself for jumping to the next line and did feel like tearing up in the interval, but it's something to learn from. I must remember to forbid my friends with big booming laughs to laugh when I am onstage as this can be quite distracting! I guess it all had to go wrong for me in at least one show, it will be something I can look back on and laugh about. The important thing is that the audience, unless they'd been to a previous show, didn't notice the mishaps so we seemed to do a good job or working around them.
Like with my play in December, we had another all night aftershow party. Cheesy music, alcohol (cola for me) and outrageous dancing. It was there I did myself a mischief. If doing a backward bend and falling on my head wasn't enough I then threw myself into doing the splits, however as I was wearing no shoes this time, I slid down faster than expected and pulled a hamstring. The rest of the night was spent with me limping around in pain and the odd outburst of freaking out about what my personal trainer would say. By 5:30am the party had definitely died down into a group of drunk people just biding their time in the theatre until the tube opened and we could all go home. Yet, by the time us sober/semi-sober people tidied and cleaned the theatre and rounded up everyone else, it was 8am when we finally left. After making it home with Kelly I passed out on the sofabed and snoozed for a couple of hours before getting up again, determined not to waste the day.
I took Monday off as I was in no state to work and on Tuesday I made my way to my personal training session waiting for my punishment. Lots of upper body work and a good hamstring stretch-out and the advice "don't be the hero" followed. Luckily now my leg is feeling much better (although I won't officially recover for another fortnight) and I'm getting back into my training schedule. I need to make up time out of action last week and with no show to do now and more time on my hands it's going to get a lot tougher. Help!
Pics of the show will follow as will a lot on pondering on what to do now, what to read, what acting course to take, should I try creative writing etc. I'm on a roll and I want it to stay that way.
The rest of the show run carried on without any drama until the final day. It was Saturday, we had two shows to do that day and most of us singing solos were lsoing our voices. I wasnt too bad as I didn't have a big chuck of solo bits to sing and my throat was in not as bad a state as some other, but I was still extremely worried especially as my friends were all coming to the evening show to see me, including Kelly who was flying in from home that afternoon to see me. I got through the matinee (one of the othe cast member's songs had to be cut to save her voice for the later show), I sang my song and I managed to croak out something half respectable. A few people backstage told me it still sounded good so I felt a bit comforted by that.
Then came the evening show as it really was quite unbelieveable. I had such a good run up to then and felt I gave good performances, however everything seemed to go wrong in my scenes on that final show. Props didn't work so we had to improvise, doors wouldn't shut that needed to be shut, some old woman fell flat on her face during one of our song & dance numbers, I messed up my lines a bit at one moment and had to recover from that. I felt quite annoyed at myself for jumping to the next line and did feel like tearing up in the interval, but it's something to learn from. I must remember to forbid my friends with big booming laughs to laugh when I am onstage as this can be quite distracting! I guess it all had to go wrong for me in at least one show, it will be something I can look back on and laugh about. The important thing is that the audience, unless they'd been to a previous show, didn't notice the mishaps so we seemed to do a good job or working around them.
Like with my play in December, we had another all night aftershow party. Cheesy music, alcohol (cola for me) and outrageous dancing. It was there I did myself a mischief. If doing a backward bend and falling on my head wasn't enough I then threw myself into doing the splits, however as I was wearing no shoes this time, I slid down faster than expected and pulled a hamstring. The rest of the night was spent with me limping around in pain and the odd outburst of freaking out about what my personal trainer would say. By 5:30am the party had definitely died down into a group of drunk people just biding their time in the theatre until the tube opened and we could all go home. Yet, by the time us sober/semi-sober people tidied and cleaned the theatre and rounded up everyone else, it was 8am when we finally left. After making it home with Kelly I passed out on the sofabed and snoozed for a couple of hours before getting up again, determined not to waste the day.
I took Monday off as I was in no state to work and on Tuesday I made my way to my personal training session waiting for my punishment. Lots of upper body work and a good hamstring stretch-out and the advice "don't be the hero" followed. Luckily now my leg is feeling much better (although I won't officially recover for another fortnight) and I'm getting back into my training schedule. I need to make up time out of action last week and with no show to do now and more time on my hands it's going to get a lot tougher. Help!
Pics of the show will follow as will a lot on pondering on what to do now, what to read, what acting course to take, should I try creative writing etc. I'm on a roll and I want it to stay that way.
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