HA!

Marianna cried at Pooh. (So did a few of us who were HCH cast, so....) HA! HAHAHHAHAHHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAH! Plan for world domination is compleeeeeeeeeeeeeete! BWAhahahhahahahahhahahahhahahahhahahhahah! Ha.

The Prologue and Camp Granada look good. God bless the actors for the Lovers and Argument Sketch - tough memorizations! They're doing fine, though. They'll be just fine. Am interested in seeing how Tartuffe goes over tomorrow. Am rather sad about our casting loss - but those are the decisions one makes. Mrm.

Found the audio where Ryan said the "who was in life a foolish prating knave" correctly in the Closet Scene - have downloaded it. Need to finish cover, etc. for latest app. project thingy. And do up the new video. Checked out other extras I've done up and rethought how I'd like to order the bits on the DVD. Aunt Flo and Mom were very good about letting me have the living room to tape for a bit, although upon looking at it again, I probably should retape since my eyeline is down since Pete was on the floor and not standing and so it looks like I'm unreasonably demure.... Odd odd odd.

Now that I'm seeing the shape of play, I'm feeling like I'm doing play. And...it's nice. I'd forgotten. It's all very, very nice.

Watched a bit of KoF and realized that it's structured just like any other musical and so was able to be slightly less critical of myself - even if I was reblocking/choreographing scenes as I flipped through them. Oh, silly Emily! But I suppose, in a way, that's helpful - that sort of restlessness for that which is better. I'd hate to simply settle.

But I am looking forward even more now to Guys and Dolls and Much Ado. Huzzah huzzah! I *think* we have a more musical-theatre-y group at the moment, which makes a ton of difference. Some strong voices in the mix, which is really encouraging. Of course among the women, but also among the men.

Anywho. Teaching tomorrow - lecturing, actually, which means I'll need to check my breath control so that I don't get all nasty for voice tomorrow afternoon. Took a look at "Il bel foco" (is that it?) but I feel as though I haven't quite got it in my ear. (Rather like the closing song last Sunday - mrwrm.) C'est ca. It'll come soon enough. As will the end of this rambling post. Right n....

Mood: Bof
Music: The Open Door
Thought: Bah to contact that weary the eyes after a while. Bah bah bah.

Jumping without a Parachute

I've done it. Done it. I feel a bit weightless. It's out there. Everything's in motion. I feel deliriously light-headed and hearted. I'm positively giddy! I'd like to dance. I want to climb a rooftop. I want to shout it out. How insuprable it all seemed as I agonized over every word, every blasted comma, over each sentence and bullet-mark. And now it's quite literally, loverly out of my hands and into the cyphic void. It seems as though paper has flown from my hands like doves above the rooftops. Oh, good golly, I'm nearly twirling whilst sitting still. "Til then, sit still, my soul." No! By goodness! Dance!

Sleep is going to be quite impossible. I can tell. Oh, dear Lord, please bless me and it and all and everyone, amen. But especially for this particular special intention, if it is Your will. (And how, oh dearest Father, I hope it is Your will!)

Really must get to sleep. How silly everything has suddenly become....

Mood: Faaaaaaaaar superior to this entire weekend
Music: "Believe Me, Natalie" off the latest mix CD that has nothing in common but that I like the pieces so nyah
Goodness is: Completely destroying music with Jules and Pete earlier, as I played whatever piece they flipped to (even after a few bars) making a very silly musical evening indeed!
Patience: May be a virtue or even a fruit but is something I could use now!

Minity-ran Dominity-ran Min-dorinity-man....

Have been in a Nutcrackery mood. Beautiful, joyful, childhood, innocence.... Perhaps as an antidote to doing the darkest section of Hamlet. Had on Nutcracker the other day - much goodness. Still always shocked at how quickly it moves. Must put in foreshadowing of little girls doing Chinese dance and it'll work just that much better, I think.

29 days to performance. Counting non-rehearsal days. Geesh! Where does the time go? Oddness. I hardly feel like I'm doing play, somedays. Not in a bad way, just in a...way? (Zen Noir!)

God bless siblings and father who are going down to Delaware to be with Grandma whilst Aunt Sue is nannying for Mary Virginia in (oh, the horror! ;) Disneyworld. Bless, especially, Jules for her patience and Dad for his calm. Amen!

Hurricane Aunt Flo is coming! So thrilled. Love Aunt Flo. But tonight/afternoon it's just Mum and I before the hurricane of this weekend begins. The Good Doctor Friday and the Saez wedding Saturday. However, I *think* my Sunday is mostly free. Qui sais?

Am still trying to really cherish. Lord, give me grace to cherish. Amen.

Beware of Lonely Dog. QED. (Tee hee hee! Botha botha botha! Alas! A cornacopia of love! Oh, Pete and Jules, how I love you!)

Doing Proofs of the Resurrection right now. Oh, how I do so love logically backing into spiritual corners! If this THEN this! If THIS, then THIS! Bwahahahahhah! Our God, although possessive of an odd sense of humour, is so delightful brain-candyish. It's like He's this huge teddy bear or bear of an uncle playing hide and go seek, but everywhere you try to hide, he's hiding there, too - as Peter once much more pithily said.

Pooh looked good last night. Must needs get in costumes. Costumes help.

Am of several minds (NO snickering, Bellwethers! Hrumph!) about particular style of - oh, Heavens, I was going to be obscure. I won't be. It's all silliness. Basically, I'd really, really, really like to work under/with/incognito/commando another or rather a smorgasboard of other directors - to do a sort of self check-up, to see different processes, to learn more dos (and do nots), to - I don't know - mostly to see what I can see, I guess. Eager to do so. Not quite sure how to do so. I mean, I don't just want to work under local community directors, but rather with those with bigger wigs. I want to peek under their wigs and see if they've brains to match, or if they're big wigs mostly due to someone else's hair. I want to learn the latest methods, and silly methods so I can know why they're silly. I want to see how and if a "Broadway" director differs from those on the community level - beyond paycheck (size or existance thereof). I want to get in - so that, in some way, I can get out. Or rather, I want to go there so that I can come back again. To see other things so I can appreciate and add to what is here. Mental wanderlust, I suppose. (Such a wonderful word: wanderlust. Thank you, Germans!) Anywho. All good. Must take the plunge, though, and not waffle quite as much as I am wont to do. Perfection is rarely (alas!) required. *sigh*

No, I suppose that's really it. All is well. Krissy-tina, I will be getting back to you. Sooz, I'll check my e-mail! Sweisters, Belles, you are much beloved. Jules, Pete and Dad, ich leibe dich. All in plays, mine or others, break legs. All not in plays but much beloved, you are in my prayers. And I hope I'm in yours.

Mood: Restful
Music: None. The sound of silence.
Thought: Oh, the silliness of how to get around ancient computers. Yay for technosavvy.

Practical philosophy

A la my sister's combox:

And people who don't share Marines should have nasty things done to them!! It isn't in the best interests of the survival of the species!! Strong, virile men should be given to Catholic girls who will bear them many children!!!! It only makes sense!

QED.

In further news, made tough decision - and a first for me! (mrwrm) - re: play. *snrfle* C'est ca. But I am pleased with result. More than pleased. Watched bits of Hamlet with Jules and made silly comments as to what the characters were *really* thinking - mucho fun to MST3K one's own work with a wunderschoene sibling. Did a bit more in the Closet Scene, from which forthwith I hereby present today's ubiquitous, gratuitous and inevitable screen caps. Going back a bit to the double soliloquy through to where I left off editing. And then time for sleep. So time for sleep.















Mood: Sleepy in my brain
Music: Top 25 a la iTunes. Currently "Missing" from Evanescence
Thought: Am dying with curiosity re: the *tada* package Jules gave her professor. Patience is a virtue.

Catching up

Inner ear off-balancey is no fun. Worse fun is having the ear drop thingies. Howsomever, the latter does unblock ears and the former is God's way of making me stop, even for a day.

The T-shirts for Seven Ages is in and it looks FABOO. Mock up to the right. The actual is much more crisp - esp. the center, the soldier. Comfy t-shirts, too!

Painted signboards for Seven Ages...*and* put them up. Good stuff.

Am just past "Mousetrap" and about to start in on the whole "Will you play upon this pipe" part. I hope to get through the double soliloquy this weekend. We'll see.

So envying Julie (OK, OK theologians: not really envying...) for having seen Derek Jacobi's Hamlet, even if it's early BBC quality. Mrmphf.

Off-book Monday. Off-prompt next Monday. Oyveh!

Life is curious, n'est-ce pas?

OK, so what's a blog without photos?











Mood: C'est ca.
Music: The Open Door underscoring the editing of Hamlet
Must needs: Write up thesis for Jules' teacher re: my vision/rationale of Hamlet (as well as jump start on Playing with Shakespeare); grade; work on Guys and Dolls stuff; do app. stuff; edit; pray - not in that order. So, dear Lord! For all those who've asked me for prayers! Amen!
Addendum: I've just finished Claudius' soliloquy. What does it tell you when I'm still going "Oh! Poor Claudius!" after the fact? Fwah.

All I can say is this

1) Swords come in handy.

2) Daddys are wonderful.

Couldn't bring myself to do the final - was brave as was - God bless Daddy and Julie with stories about throwing sticks at woodpeckers at 5 a.m. Am undergoing case of scruples. Am putting on Helmsdeep and Sam's speech from LOTR:TTT to calm down. Will finish laundry, now that all is well. And I trust I make myself obscure.

Mood: Trying not to freak
Music: None. Mental "Lithium" a bit with "Snow White Queen" running in and out
Rehearsal: Gets better and better - but I'm an i-doit and keep forgetting the video camera
Rehearsal footage: Is invaluable, esp. for Hamlet "Mousetrap" (haha) scene. Yay for multiple camera angles on multiple nights including tech!
Prayer: Oh, dear God! Amen.

Oh, here is happiness

Hysterical, thoughtful YouTubing ensues....





Mood: Bon
Music: YouTubing
Thought: Thoughts? Don't be silly.

To sleep, perchance to dream

Aye, there's the rub. Or perhaps it's better said, to film, perhaps to edit. Aye, there's the rub! Time time time - see what's become of me.... Anywho, have finished up through "To Be" and am just about to begin "Mousetrap." Yeehaw. Last week on book. Memorize memorize memorize!

Mood: Oddish.
Music: Mental "Lithium" by Evanescence
Must needs be done: Major cleanage
Must needs be kissed: Daddy for being an amazing Daddy
Must needs be remembered: God's goodness and His gorgeous sunsets and late afternoons, streaming through fire-foliage.
Must needs be shared: A few more screen captures. Golly, do I miss that play....

Costumes make all the difference

Rented costumes today from the Sudbury Savoyards for the Tartuffe section of Seven Ages. Huzzah huzzah! Some great stuff gotten - God bless the Savoyards! Pictures from today's photoshoot (sans wigs) are here. A play never feels real to me until the costumes come in - dunno why. And I'd forgotten, after doing two modernish (one 1910, one 2020!) plays, how much I love love love costumey costume pieces.

(The picture to the right is obviously of Tartuffe - starring the titular character and Elmire. We're doing the table scene, natch. Yay for actors willing to play dress-up! Must put brown bows on Alina's bodice.... And hurrah, we discovered that the silly Arabian-like gold monstrosity of a vest which was purchased for Twelfth Night for Orsino and which never really worked for anybody, looks FABULOUS on Tartuffe. Huzzah huzzah! Orgon will be wearing polkadots. Must buy material to make him a good vest. Oh, costumes - it's like TIMPANI!)

So, goodness ensues. And ensued more as Peter and I saw The Illusionist, which was wonderful. Am working on Nunnery scene from Hamlet right now. Am dissatisfied with my edit in some places - it's probably fine - I'm just finickey. Hrm. Anywho. Back to work. And then finishing up Book the Thirteenth: The End because Borders is amazing.

Mood: Pas mal
Music: "Hello" from Hamlet post-intermission music
Thought: I doubt I shall ever be fully satisfied with anything in this life. C'est ca. Photocapture from video of Nunnery scene below....

Oh, the giggles

Tonight's quote: "I won capture the flag! I captured my own flag by getting past my defences!" Ah, silliness. But good rehearsal. (Yes, Alina, Chris and Jennie - y'all did swell. :)

Watching "Cinderella and the Glass Slipper" - rather impressed with some of the singers. It's encouraging to think of how easy it is to write musicals - or how easy it seems anywho...or can be, dpending. Some good directing in the show. Odd to see MMS being used. It's funny.

Am in a mood to write musica, actually. I think I'm nearly done with "Psyche" but I'd like hte opportunity to work seriously on either Snow Queen or Little Match Girl. Just for posterity's sake, I'll put down what I have of "Psyche" so far here.

Psyche

The original story

The most beautiful painting

The day that I first met you
I had not yet been conceived
Except within your mind

How far is infinity?

You mold me and you made me
And you raise me and you bade me
To be your bride

How long is
Eternity waits
For my
Answer

Oh - I am beloved of a god
Fly within your arms of love

Invisible, made visible
In me


One simple question asked me
With one simple word unmasked me
For who I am

Holy beloved

What then if I denied you
Or betrayed you, crucified you?
Would you still love

Wholly beloved

One falling from your arms
Again

Oh - I am beloved of a god
Fly within your arms of love

Invisible made visible
In me

What word speaks transcendance?
(Floating, falling, flying)
One word breaks innocence
(Daring, dreaming, dying)

Then a bunch of vocalization - perhaps later on a second bridge, ending with....

Invisible, made visible....

Mood: Pas mal
Music: The Glass Slipper
Thought: Oh, seriously need to get down to brass tacks and do some major play/novel writing. Mrwrm.

Galactica Lost

Right, so I'm now currently caught up with Battlestar Galactica - including this season's premiere - as well as delving once more into Lost and I find that, along with The Office there's rather a bleak undertone in American programming (or at least the bits I'm currently watching - excepting, always, Dancing with the Stars). The reason, though, why BG was less satisfactory the Lost I think is not because both are dealing with "us vs. them" (Colonials vs. Cylons or Passengers vs. Others) or because both begin with our heroes under some sort of horrible captivity, but rather because BG has lost all hope while Lost BEGAN with the statement, "Well, forgive me if I still believe in such a thing as free will." The same difficulty is found in the latest episode of The Office - Jim is effectively captured and the office itself is divided into factions and there's no *hope* - no equilibrium, no sane, calm voice of reason. Here's to hoping the executives get their spiritual gear in order - because otherwise I'm not sure I'll stick around to view a season's worth of despair and dystopia.

Mood: Mieux
Music: Current top 25
Goodness is: Finishing the bit of Matchmaker for the video resume.

Inspiration

So, went to see the Evanescence concert tonight at Avalon in Boston. FaaaaaaaaaaaBOO. We managed to snag seats, which was good beause I wore the booted heels that aren't great to stand around in for a few hours. They played a mix of old and new songs, although they didn't do "Missing" but that's alright - she did "Lithium" and "My Immortal" on the piano - great stuff. And I loved the crew shirts that read "Crew are People, Too."

The best, bit, though, was realizing that...drumroll, please...The Snow Queen is, in part, a total Evanescence-like ROCK OPERA! Oh, YEEEEEEEEEES, precious! This still requires some thinking - and my few silly attempts on the way home (Silly jaywalking stupid CHIIIIIL-DREEEEEN dundanunna-dundanunna-NAAAAA) are obviously not going to make it in. But fascinating nonetheless.

Life is good. Watching Battlestar Galactica 2.5 - good stuf, if silly episode, thus far. "Sacrifice"on at the moment. Oh, silliness Duella. Bah. Right - I'm rambling now. Lunches and dinners and concerts are good. Singing for the 11:30 a.m. tomorrow. Rehearsals on Monday. "Wintersmith" by Pratchett pure Pratchettly delight.

Mood: Tres tres TRES heureux and joieux
Music: Hwell, BG 2.5 is on but I've got "Snow White Queen" from The Open Door on mental player
The only downside is that the ears are still ringing a bit. What does it say, too, when I'm looking as well at the light board operations and tsking about Amy Lee's bad posture and poor breath technique which is going to RUIN her glorious instrument if she doesn't get training ASAP? Oh, Amy Lee, don't be silly. Stand up straight and sing from your diaphragm and not from your larynx! You'll be so much happier!

Good conferences are happy things

On my knees before the Blessed Sacrament, good speaker, no-one upset that traffic delayed me, a Franciscan high school!, not getting lost in Newton, going to Barnes and Noble and discovering that not only has Evanescence come out with their new album, but Terry Pratchett and Gail Carson Levine both have new YA novels out - and purchasing all along with Starbuccaneers richness and the latest EW, napping, rehearsing, The Officing, and now listening to the most hopeful, mellow music. Because if I listen now to "Into the West" by Annie Lennox from LOTR:ROTK I'm simply going to weep. Dear God - amen. And thank You.

Mood: Decompressing
Music: The Trapeze Swinger by Iron and Wine
Today's Silliness: Mostly true, I think

You've Changed 52% in 10 Years

You've done a good job changing with the times, but deep down, you're still the same person. You're clothes, job, and friends may have changed some - but it hasn't changed you.

How Much Have You Changed in 10 Years?

Oh, and: Some new albums over at photobucket

Christmas Carol 2004

King of Fools 2005

Matchmaker 2006

Photoshopping

Check this out:



Mood: Gonna make it
Music: "The Client" episode commentary from The Office
Thought: What would one name the above creature? It ought to be in a story. Props to whoever did the above morph.

Yayness

Go me! 1,600 words just tonight! Hurrah hurrah! Story currently called Innocence. It looks like it's supposed to be about Ceilyn. Tee hee hee, it's really about Gawain. Hurrah hurrah!

O for a Muse of Fire!

Mood: Mieux
Music: LOTR: TTT - le sigh
Prayer: Oh Lord, please still - amen!
The little inbetweener bits of the story: I'll post here. The frame of the story is pulling its old hither and backness of Story Proper A intersperced with little bits of lore, etc. Very Grapes of Wrath or Silver Wheel-y.

THIS IS THE LORE OF UNICORNS

They are born from the Sea of Memory and they return to the Mountains of Morning….

To drink from the alicorn is to drink purely. If a barren woman drinks wine mixed with the ground powder of its hooves, she will bear strong sons in due time. A man who wears a necklace of its mane will enjoy long life….

To engage a unicorn in combat is to battle death itself. For the unicorn is to the one it sees, a sort of mirror. So to the soldier, it is war. And to the maiden, it is gentleness itself.

~*~

Once, a man who would be king sent for his most trusted advisors and said to them:

“I am ill at heart, for that which I would have, I do not yet possess. Most wretched of men am I who should be king and yet have no crown. And yet more wretched am I, for this morning I saw a creature of such surpassing beauty that I thought I should rather die than never lay my eyes again upon this beauty. Had I my crown, I would give it to possess this other majesty. And yet had I this creature, all men would bow before me in wonder at my treasure. Therefore, the man who gets for me this creature will surely sit at my right hand when I am made king. Go, some of you, and return by harvest moon, and fetch for me that which I desire.”

And so the men went out, for though they did not love their lord, they feared him, and they sought day and night in every corner of the world for the creature their master had described. But as the days wore on, and the search grew fruitless, and men grew restless for their homes and the smiles of their wives and the laughter of their children, they abandoned the hunt, until at last only three young men still hunted.

Five and thirty days had passed when the squire of the first youth, Godric, returned, bearing his master’s broken sword. “My lord,” said he, “I beg you receive the shards of my master’s sword – all that remains in this mortal world of the man I have served faithfully. When we found your creature, lord, Godric drew this very sword and stood his ground as the creature came at him with dreadful horn lowered like a jouster towards his post. Although the creature’s horn was longer, my master was the fleeter and he thrust his sword straight at the monster’s heart. But the sword fell to shards, like driftwood against the stones. And so, unarmed, my master fell before the beast – pierced by its spiralling horn and trampled with its wicked hooves. Myself cowered in the bush, but though it saw me it snorted and flicked its tail and went away. I beg you, dread my lord, do not pursue this creature for there is no loveliness about it nor any majesty to crown you a goodly king.”

But the man who would be king only answered, with lust red in his eyes, “All the more this creature must be mine. My enemies will cower before the power of it, and they will cower before me who can tame such a monster to my will. Who still seeks for me?”

“Caedmon Greensword,” the squire answered him, “and the poet Riordan. But Caedmon will perish like my master, and Riordan travels in train and his vanity is sure to be his undoing.”

The man who would be king frowned at this, for Caedmon was his nephew and rival, and Riordan was no fighter. And so he asked, “Do none else still hunt?”

“None, dread my lord,” the squire answered, “but those unfortunate enough to be in their service. And they, like myself, may return whole so long as they draw no steel.”

“Then we must send out my best men,” the man who would be king declared. And summoning all the most ready blades to him, he sent them each one by one to their deaths.

~*~

There was once a scholar who boasted that he could lure a unicorn to himself without the aid of huntsman or maidenkind. And so he garbed himself in women’s clothes and he brought with him a harp and a girdle cut from his own hair, and he sat himself within the woods and waited hopefully for a full week. He placed honey in a circle about him, and made sure to trod on no mushrooms, and doubly sure to start at every cricket and bullfrog that sounded in the twilight, and so his spent his seven days. Then, on the morning of the eighth day, he took up his harp and in his highest voice sang the Lay of Summoning that he had learnt by dark and forbidden ways – and sure enough a vision of pure white approached him…

…and skewered the scholar through with its horn.

The scholar once boasted that his name would never be forgotten – nor has it. And to this day, wives and children laugh about William the Fool.

Fin for now