Tag Archives: costumes

More Doodah Dithering

Posted on July 20, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

No, I could not think of another “d” word for my alliterative title.  Anyways, this is a fine Non-Sequitur Thursday post when my headline reflects what the post is actually about.  I’d better throw in a picture of a monster.

I’m glad I don’t have to fit him for a pair of glasses.

I was going to go for Nosferatu, since he is my favorite, but then I saw this fellow looking just about as flustered as I feel.  He is from The Brain that Wouldn’t Die.  For the uninitiated, he does not posses the titular brain. In fact, we never see him till near the end of the flick, an excellent technique in a monster movie.

Now I’ve gotten right off the subject of the Doodah Parade, but just to bring you up to date:  I decided not to participate after all.  My lame excuses (how embarrassing to be lame before Lame Post Friday!):  I don’t have time to get a costume together, I’ve gone back on overtime so 10-hour day on Friday and possible early shift Saturday, I have a doctor appointment Friday afternoon which may last inconveniently late.

Of course as soon as I messaged my friend Kim, who is in charge of our float, begging off, I began to feel guilty and regretful.  After my shower, I tried on the fancy dress I thought might make a good costume.  It’s a little tight but would do in a pinch. I started thinking of other possibilities.

I cast a spell on you!

This, regular readers (if any) may recall, was my Wizard for the March of Dimes costume.  It’s awfully dark colored.  I wonder how hot it would be.

I am NOT saying, “To be or not to be.”

I’m the one on the left, in the yellow tights.  That would be a cool-looking but hot-feeling costume. Anyways, I don’t have all the parts in my possession, as some were borrowed from the LiFT collection.

Do you suppose he’s watching a parade?

I threw in the picture of Nosferatu just to mix things up a little.  I think monsters make a blog post fun.

I’m third from the right, in blue and maroon.

One final thought: I wore this ensemble for a murder mystery.  I think the blue throw is striking.  I could wear it with shorter pants in the hot weather.

So I’m thinking IF my doctor appointment gets done in time, and IF I’m not too tired from getting up at 3 a.m. and working in the heat, MAYBE I will get home, shower fast, put on something costumey, and join the parade.  But no promises.

 

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A Wizard for the March of Dimes?

Posted on May 16, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

When I said I was taking a break from theatre, I did not mean I was taking a break from putting on costumes and acting up.  I just meant no real plays.  With that in mind, nobody needs to shake their finger at me (or their head or their booty) when they hear that I am, along with other members of LiFT Theatre Company, participating in Mohawk Valley March for Babies this Saturday, May 19.

The Walk spreads awareness of prematurity, birth defects, and infant loss.  Walkers support the March of Dimes, which strives to give every baby a fighting chance.  Full disclosure:  I don’t know a whole lot about the March of Dimes, but it is a cause near and dear to the heart of a dear friend, Laura Powers.  She is chair for the event.  When she asked for volunteers to dress in costumes and interact with people, to add to the festive atmosphere, I jumped at the chance.  Dress in a costume and act silly?  Right up my alley!  And for such a good cause, talk about a win/win!

Now to figure out what kind of costume to wear…  Naturally, I have many costume pieces in my attic, from my theatrical endeavors as well as my Halloween high jinks.  When I suggested a wizard to Laura, she liked the idea.  First I had to search my attic for my wizard hat and black-and-gold caftan.  At first I could not find them, but I found a purple graduation gown, which I had purchased at a rummage sale.   At the time, I had some idea of being the one-eyed, one-horned flying purple people eater for Halloween, but I haven’t done that yet.  Still, if I couldn’t find the caftan, I could do something with a purple gown.  Hmmm…. Then I found the hat — and the caftan!  Score!  I brought everything downstairs.

I made Steven take my picture for use in this blog post.

“I cast a spell on you!”

When I saw that the hat was not on straight, I asked Steven to take another picture.

I went for a less wizard-y post this time.

I tried on the graduation gown for good measure, but I think the caftan is the way to go.

I tried for another wizard-y pose.

I grabbed the feathery thing off our telephone table. I think it is a relic of some long-ago flower arrangement.  I shall try to come up with a better wand by Saturday.  I shall also decide on a pair of shoes.  Or at least I’ll paint my toenails.

Mohawk Valley March for Babies is this Saturday, May 19, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Mohawk Valley Community College, 1101 Sherman Dr., Utica, NY.  For more information, you can check out the Facebook event.

 

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I Scatter It Good!

Posted on April 22, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

It is the moment of my Saturday when I pause in my gyrations for a Scattered Saturday post before returning to the bra off, sweats on, wine drinking, TV-watching, husband hanging out with portion of my evening.  And I have scattered it pretty good today!

I did not leave the house till shortly after 10 a.m., when Steven headed out to work. I went to a rummage sale at St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church in Ilion, NY.  It was $1 for three bags day.  Woo-hoo!  I only got two bags worth of stuff but felt I had gotten way more than $1 worth of goods.  Back home, I wrote one more post card (I had written four earlier) and walked to the post office.  I took the long way home, making for a half hour walk.  Remember, if you are too busy to exercise, you are too busy!

After contacting my friend, Kim, via Facebook, and making plans for her to come over, I spent almost a half hour frantically cleaning my living room and bathroom.  There is nothing like somebody coming over to motivate one for housework.  Did I make much progress?  Well, let’s just say that, luckily, Kim is not one to judge.  It was about 12:30 when she came over, which we deemed a good time for a mimosa.  For one reason, I had a bottle of Prosecco which I purchased yesterday when we went to the tasting at Valley Wine and Liquor.

Our first stop was at an estate sale I had noticed while on my walk.  The main thing I like about estate sales is walking through somebody’s house.  This was a really nice house!  Other than that, I find a lot of the stuff is priced higher than I want to spend and some of it is downright depressing.  For example, family photos.  Didn’t these people leave behind any family or friends who would want these pictures?  Perhaps I am over sensitive about these things.

Next we headed to Ilion to search for costumes for Spring Into Murder (you know, the murder mystery we are doing next Saturday at Morning Star Methodist Church in Ilion?  Perhaps I will write a blog post about it tomorrow).  First Kim pointed out a shirt she said would be perfect for me for any time.  After trying it on, I had to agree.  She found a gown we liked for her character for the mystery, then I found a shirt I liked for mine (I already have the purple pants).  Then it was on to New 2 Your Consignments, where we almost always have good luck.  And there were the perfect shoes for my character!  I also found a black tux shirt with rhinestones that I totally fell in love with.  Kim found  bunch of stuff as well.

By now we had worked up quite an appetite so went next door to Franco’s Pizza.  I had never been there before.  What a cool place!  Good food and retro ’50’s decor!  I’ll have to write a full blog post about it.  I even took some leftovers home which will be great for my lunch on Monday. Back home, we had another mimosa before Kim headed out.  What a great day!  I even had time for a nap before I had to start supper for Steven.

I have some great plans for tomorrow, too, including rehearsal for Spring Into Murder and Adventures in Housecleaning.  No, the second one is not another play, it is me cleaning my house. I thought if I put it in all caps I could generate a little enthusiasm in myself. I’ll report if it worked when I make my Wrist to Forehead Sunday post.  I hope your  weekend is turning out as fun as mine.

 

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What to Wear on Wrist to Forehead Sunday

Posted on March 26, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

Hello and welcome to another Wrist to Forehead Sunday.  I am hoping to get a blog post published before what may be our final rehearsal for Secrets at Suiter House, the murder mystery we are doing to benefit the Herkimer County Historical Society.  Do I know all my lines?  Do we have all the props?  Ooh, we totally do not have all the props.  Well, I will work on that during the coming week.

In the meantime, I am progressing on the next murder mystery, Spring into Murder, for Morning Star Methodist Church in Ilion on April 28.  I think I have a full cast now, if one more person says yes.  And if we can coordinate rehearsals.  I have remembered that I do not particularly like rehearsing on Sunday.  But one does what one must; it is a well known fact that the show must go on!

Oh dear, this is a very dull post.  I have not even shared any new information.  That is another reason why I am poised with my wrist to my forehead, ready to swoon.  I suppose I could take a selfie with my Tablet, so you could really get the picture, but I am not really dressed for swooning.  What does one wear to swoon?  I am thinking a negligee, something with lots of flowy draperies.  Then I need a pair of those mules, with heels and a fluffy thing on the toe.  You know what I mean.

Now I am laughing at myself.  I don’t exactly have a costume for the next murder mystery but I am figuring out what to wear while I have one of my dithery personal crises.  In fact, I just sent my husband, Steven, upstairs to figure out what he might wear.   I asked everybody to bring or wear costumes to rehearsal today.  I am going to bring my back-up outfit, which I think will end up being just fine.

Between laughing at myself and reflecting that my back-up outfit will probably be OK, I am feeling increasingly less inclined to swoon.  But I’ll let you know when I get dramatic again.  Happy Sunday, everyone.

 

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It’s Halloween!!!!!

Posted on November 1, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

According to my WordPress dashboard, it is actually Nov. 1, but here on my couch, it is still Oct. 31.  Trick or treating in Herkimer begins in just 24 minutes, that is officially. I fully expect early birds as well as late comers.  For heavens’ sake, who doesn’t like free candy?  Oh, I know, YOU probably don’t.  Fine, all the more for the rest of us.

Um, I don’t expect to get any free candy.  Steven and I will be handing out free candy to kids in costume.  I am looking forward to seeing the costumes.  If only yesterday’s sick headache hadn’t come back, my life would be perfect.  Don’t worry; I’ll wear gloves to hand out the candy, which is wrapped.  I won’t share my germs around.  And if I do give someone my cold, they can’t say I never gave ’em nuthin’.

Steven put this on Facebook earlier with the comment, “I’m waiting!”

This is actually a shot of our front porch last year, but it looks remarkably similar this year.  Next year I want to get some grave stones and a spooky-looking fence for the front yard.  Maybe a pair of glowing eyeballs for the tree, which it pretty monstrous all on its own, I think.

My challenge tonight is to not eat the candy while I’m passing it out.  Well, not eat too much of it.  Oh, how I love Halloween!  I think I will continue my celebration through Thanksgiving at least.  For one reason, I still have plenty of monster movies saved on my DVR.  Maybe I’ll watch a few this weekend and write blog posts about them. Happy Halloween, everyone!

 

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Ruby But Not Rubbed Out

Posted on September 15, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

What an awesome poster!

I thought I would use today’s post to plug a fundraiser I will be privileged to participate in on Saturday.  “Ritz and Ragtime” will benefit the Landmark Society of Greater Utica on Saturday, Sept. 16 at 7 p.m. at the Roscoe Conkling House, 3 Rutger Park.  There will be food, drinks, and entertainment.  I will be part of the last mentioned.

I’m in the red dress, being strangled.

Longtime readers may remember a little event called Rubbed Out at Ruby’s, which was presented by LiFT Theatre Company at the Overlook Mansion in Little Falls.  I wrote it and was featured as Ruby Van Rensselaer, a rich society lush, uh, I mean lady.  I am going to reprise the role on Saturday.  We aren’t going to present the murder mystery, or even a real story.  We just get to dress up and interact with the crowd in 1920’s character.  It should be fun!

I’m not sure how many of the original Ruby’s cast will be there, but I know some of us are really looking forward to it.

We are rather a suspicious-looking lot, aren’t we?

I wonder how it will be to mingle in character and not have to be dropping clues or even talking about the murder.   I’m sure my improvisational skills are up to it (in other words, I like to make shit up).  And if I miss the dead body, I’m sure there will be other murder mysteries. In fact, I may have a blog post about one soon (preview of coming attractions).  In the meantime, here’s a chalk outline to dream about:

Alas, no chalk outlines on Saturday!

 

 

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Two Tempest Pics for Mental Meanderings Monday

Posted on August 15, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

Some of us may look a little shady, but we are bad hyphen ass.

Well, rather than whine about how tired I am and that’s why this is going to be a Mental Meanderings Monday, I thought I would open with a picture of the cast of the Tempest, taken after Sunday’s performance. Regular readers know that we just had three performances in four days (Thursday, Saturday and Sunday).  Oh, I know, YOUR play ran for ten performances in three days; there’s always someone!

Performances went very well, but I’m sure I’ve mentioned that already.  Did I mention how hot it can get for some of us in our costumes?  Not the fellow front left, in the shorts and body paint.  I think I may hold out for a similar costume if I do Summer Shakespeare next year (which I keep saying I am NOT going to do and for some reason nobody believes me).  One thing I keep saying is no pantyhose and only one layer.  I suppose it is my fault for not finding a lighter vest, but we all know that the selection in thrift stores only goes so far.  Never mind.  With only two more performances to go, I am more than capable of sucking it up (but please don’t call me Buttercup).

Having rattled on for over 200 words, I think I’ll close with the other cast photo taken Sunday.  The first one we smile, the second was in character.

Incidentally, that fellow is asleep in my shoulder because he is drunk. Had he not been there, I may have been smiling in both pics, because my character is rather a happy fellow.

 

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Post Performance Post

Posted on August 13, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

Wouldn’t it be cool if our set  looked like this?

Last Saturday, I meant to act and type (as opposed to drinking and typing), but that did not work out (don’t judge me).  This Saturday, I just got back home from, you guessed it, acting, and here I sit typing (and drinking as well, once again, don’t judge). Therefore I continue my theme of All Tempest All The Time with a few words and pictures.

We had our first of two performances at Sterzinar Park, Canal Place, Little Falls.  We were part of the Little Falls Canal Days Celebration.  Chicks Along the Canal were in the park with all kinds of vendors, craftspeople and artists.  I did not get a chance to walk around the booths, but it seemed there was a lot of good stuff.  Surprisingly, the weather cooperated.  There was a little rain before we started.  Then it seemed there might be a downpour during the last scene.  The wind blew some set pieces around.  However, we dealt with all problems and got through the whole play.

I think the audience was very pleased.  At least, they kept clapping through the entire curtain call, which I think goes on for kind of a long time (then again, once I’ve said all my lines I confess I’m a little anxious to get on to wine time).  Alas that I have no picture of today’s performance.  However, a trip to LiFT Theatre Company’s Facebook page showed me several good ones from last Saturday’s performance in Caroga Lake (full disclosure:  this might be from our dress rehearsal the night before that performance, but I think it will work just as well).

I’m the one in the orange tights.

Naturally I had to include a picture with me in it.  This is what I refer to as my big scene, because I have a few sizable speeches (not as long as some actors have, but they gave me a little trouble learning).  It is also the scene where I get made fun of, but you’ll have that when you play a garrulous old man.

I’m wondering if the teeth glow in the dark.

This is a shot taken when we were still searching for costumes.  I get to wear one of these masks in one scene.  I must confess I’m not too nuts about it, because it squishes my nose down and it is difficult to see through the eye-holes, even when I wear contact lenses.  Still, it is fun to be a wolf.

We have another performance at Sterzinar Park tomorrow at 3 p.m. Then we are at the Utica Zoo next Saturday and at the Herkimer Elks Lodge Sept. 1.  For more information, visit the LiFT Facebook page.

 

 

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Post Parade Post

Posted on July 22, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

So I waited till after the Doodah Parade to make my blog post and I don’t know why I did, because once again, I got nuthin’.  I didn’t even march in the Doodah Parade!  I rode in the truck.  Nobody else did.  They all marched, approaching onlookers to hand out cards with the Ilion Little  Theatre season printed on, pens stamped “Ilion Little Theatre”, and candy.

They were not allowed to throw the candy, by the way.  Apparently that has gotten out of hand, with children running into the street in an unsafe manner, seeking candy that did not get thrown far enough.  Considering the amount of candy I stepped on marching in last year’s parade, I think this was a good call.

Most of Ilion Little Theatre’s marchers this year were members of Young Actors’ Workshop (YAW).  I must say, I was impressed with the way those kids were handing out pens and cards.  Also, they looked cute.  Some had on YAW t-shirts but others were in costume.  I complimented the ones in costume, because I think that sort of thing ought to be encouraged.

Alas, I did not take any pictures of the parade.  We took a pre-parade photo, which was shared on Facebook.  Oh, I probably ought to try to find that and include in this post, oughtn’t I?

I’m the one underneath the umbrella.

You can’t read my sign, but it read, “Dorothea Doodah.”  That is the character I invented for the costume I finally came up with.  Alas, nobody got a picture of the full costume. But I had a fun time at the parade and now I have to get on with the rest of my weekend.  Happy Friday, everyone.

 

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Maybe I Should Have Rehearsed My Blog Post

Posted on March 1, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

The operative thing to do one a busy week is to write blog posts ahead of time.  I say this merely as an observation.  I am not offering advice to fellow bloggers nor yet outlining a plan I am capable of following myself.  As the expression goes, I’m just saying.

Theatre loving people such as myself tend, by and large, to be too busy.  If we’re not too busy, we are often looking for some project or other to busy ourselves with.  I feel a little silly even talking about it, because there are other theatre people who are way busier than I am.  I don’t know how they do it, although I suspect, for one factor, they get far less sleep than I do.  And I don’t get as much sleep as I would like.

I suspect some readers are nodding their heads wisely, saying, “Ah yes, this is me, too.”  Others are shaking their heads in a superior fashion, saying, “Well, duh.  Do you think you could find something more obvious to state?”  Guess which one is the critic that lives in my head.

That is what I wrote while on a break at work today.  Then I went back to studying my lines for Steel Magnolias at Ilion Little Theatre.  Second dress rehearsal is tonight.  I have a whole new roster of costumes, which I think will work better.  One advantage will be if I actually remember all of them.  Funny story:  Sunday night I dreamed I got to rehearsal and had forgotten the off-white blouse for Act I, Scene 1. Monday night I made damn sure I remembered that blouse!  When I got to rehearsal I realized I had forgotten the jeans and sneakers for Act I, Scene 2.  As I say to others when they make mistakes, this is why we have rehearsals.

So this is my Tired Tuesday post.  I must soon hurry to rehearsal.  I put most of my costume pieces on the same hanger or in the same bag.  This will work!  And if it doesn’t, I’ll have something else to write about tomorrow. Happy Tuesday, everyone.

 

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