Tag Archives: Roxy

Wanted: A Better Blog Post

Posted on February 14, 2019 by mohawkvalleygirl

How did he make those little people?

I was going to go for a Wordless Wednesday and wanted to use a picture I hadn’t used yet.  I looked all through our Downloads on this laptop but could not find anything I liked. Then I saw the picture I downloaded for Monstrous Monday then lost when my laptop cut out.  Score!  It is Ernest Thesiger as Dr. Pretorius in The Bride of Frankenstein (1935).

As you may have noticed, I cannot actually have a blog post without words.  I have mentioned that before.  I like words.  I like to talk, I like to write, even if I have nothing in particular to say.  I suppose this renders me tiresome upon occasion, but, as they say, I gotta be me.

If being tiresome were a crime, perhaps my Wanted poster would look something like this.

This is an older picture of me, with a frame added by a theatre friend of mine.  It was back in 2015, when the Herkimer County Historical Society and Ilion Little Theatre presented the play Roxy by Jack Sherman.  I was honored to play the title role.

This was actually a pretty entertaining flick.

I decided to go to my Media Library for a third picture to round out the post.  I picked this one purely for the alliteration.  Look at all the W’s!  Wasp Woman on Wordless Wednesday!  Or is that Wuss-out Wednesday?  Maybe I should have a glass of wine.

 

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Even Foolish Blog Posts Count

Posted on November 16, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

I still have the tiara. I may wear it next Thursday.

I thought I would start with a Throw-back Thursday picture then segue into the non-sequitur portion on Non-Sequitur Thursday.  I feel this is a double throw-back, since I am impersonating a speakeasy habitue from the 1920’s, Ruby Van Renssalaer by name.  No, I was not around in the 1920’s, do some math for heavens’ sake! (You know who you are.)  Ruby Van Rensssalaer was a character in Rubbed Out at Ruby’s, which LiFT presented at The Overlook Mansion in Little Falls, NY.  Some of the characters also appeared at the Ritz and Ragtime fundraiser for the Landmarks Society of Greater Utica, which is when this picture was taken.

As you may have guessed, once again I got nuthin’.  I have tried to do more writing, specifically by writing a couple of letters.  Regular readers may recall my rule of Any Writing Counts.  It would be a good idea if I actually finished said letters and got them in the mail.  Then some people might be happy to get a letter.  I received a letter the other day and I can attest, it’s awesome.

This guy is a walking non-sequitur.

I shake things up by throwing in another picture.  This is my friend, Tucker, in LiFT’s recent murder mystery, Donation to Murder.  I do love my murder mysteries.

I find this picture rather profound.

This is an even more recent photo, from Shattered Angel by Stephen Wagner, presented by the Herkimer County Historical Society at Ilion Little Theatre.  Lots of us love a good historical murder!

Who could blame me for using the ax on him?

Shattered Angel makes me think of Roxy by Jack Sherman, which the Historical Society did in 2015, with yours truly in the title role.

My throwback non-sequitur posts often end up being a stroll down theatrical memory lane.  I do love my community theatre.  And I will work on writing better blog posts.  Happy Thursday, everyone!

 

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Pre-Haunting Post

Posted on October 28, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

I’ve posted before rehearsals and performances.  I guess tonight’s event is in the nature of a performance for me, but to be seasonal, I chose the above title for this week’s Scattered Saturday post.  I must soon begin fixing my unruly hair for the Haunted Historic Four Corners Tour.  I will get home late and will no doubt be tired.  I will be happy I already did my blog post.

I got up just prior to six, and it was still dark out when I went for a run.  I was happy to wear the reflective vest (“road guard vest” is what we army folk call it) my sister Cheryl gave me some time ago. It had been raining and was just beginning to sprinkle again as I walked my cool-down.  Full disclosure:  I meant to do a Saturday Running Commentary post but got distracted with, well, Saturday.

I don’t know if I mentioned that Steven is feeling poorly, but of course I won’t say much, because, you know, HIPAA.  But I had to pick up a prescription for him so headed to the Medicine Shoppe in Ilion.   After getting that, I stopped in to the handily located Ilion Wine and Spirits.  Barefoot Pinot Noir, yes, please.  I felt fortunate to be able to take a left out of that parking lot and headed a short way down the road to Moose River Coffee and Beer Belly Bob’s.

I went into the coffee shop first and got a 12 oz cup of the smoothest coffee ever and a raspberry-filled cookie.  While I nibble and sipped, I worked on my latest attempt at finishing a novel.  I am still at the note-writing stage.  I know who’s going to die and how, but not sure who the killer is.  Perhaps a character I have yet to invent.  But already I’ve said too much.  It is a mistake to talk to much about stories while you are writing them; you can talk yourself out of writing them.

After savoring the last drop of coffee, I went into Beer Belly Bob’s for some beer.  I told them I was disappointed about yesterday’s tasting being postponed.  They were sorry about it as well.  I got some stuff I know I like the taste of.  In fact, I am enjoying a can now (don’t judge me).

The only other thing of note I have done thus far is accompany my friend, Kim, to Ilion Little Theatre, where we borrowed accessories for our costumes tonight.  We are impersonating a couple of murderesses from the 1800’s.  She is a new one (to us), whose name escapes me, while I am reprising my iconic role of Roxy.  I hope to talk more about the haunted tour tomorrow.  As always, I hope you’ll stay tuned.

 

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Pre-Audition Post After All

Posted on July 26, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

I cannot, can not, CAN NOT take another blogger’s sick day.  My readers will think I am a hypochondriacal whiny baby!  I know, I know, we’re not supposed to care what others think about us.  On the other hand, I want readers, and I am sadly addicted to getting Likes.  Let’s just call it a common or garden Wuss-out Wednesday and drive on.

The title of today’s post was supposed to be “Pre-Audition Post,” which I may or may not have used before (I can’t be bothered checking now). I had planned to head to Ilion Little Theatre to watch (but not participate in) auditions for Shattered Angel, the play being presented by Herkimer County Historical Society.  There are only three female roles, and I don’t think any of them are good for me.  Moreover, I have a murder mystery with LiFT on one of the performance nights (more about that on a future post) (preview of coming attractions). However, I thought I could volunteer to do SOMETHING: costumes, props, prompter… AND I can write multiple blog posts to publicize the effort.

Not that I think they will need much help with publicity.  They sold out two weekends of Roxy, the play the historical society presented in 2015 (I was in that one; perhaps you read one or more of my blog posts about it) and turned people away.  Already they have sold tickets to Shattered Angel.  I’d better figure out when I want to go and purchase mine.

My problem is, I don’t feel so good.  I was kind of overcome with the heat and humidity at work this afternoon.  I got quite light-headed and had to sit down.  My nice friend Karen brought me some Gatorade, which helped.  Perhaps I should have some Gatorade now… There, I went and got a glass.  I am still feeling rather light-headed. Sorry to keep complaining.  I guess I am a kind of a hypochondriacal whiny baby.

Be that as it may, auditions for Shattered Angel are tonight (July 25) and Friday, July 27, at 7 p.m. at Ilion Little Theatre, 13 Remington Ave., Ilion, NY.  Well, maybe I will head over after all.

 

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Snap! It’s Lame Post Friday!

Posted on June 30, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

For the record, I have not reached mine yet.

My husband, Steven, and I are watching Snapped, one of my favorite guilty pleasures.  It is, with some exceptions, about women who kill people, most often women who kill their husbands, ex-husbands, lovers, or boyfriends.  I think it is a mark of great trust in my husband that he does not mind that I sometimes watch it with a notebook and pen handy.  Ahem, it is the TV Journal, not an Evil Plan Book.  I don’t have an Evil Plan Book, although now that I say so, it sounds kind of cool.  Note to self: get Evil Plan Book.

Where was I?  Ah yes, Lame Post Friday.  However foolishly I may have posted all week (I admit that some weeks it is a lot of foolishness), I still feel free to be silly on Friday.  You can shake your head, your finger, or you booty at me.  It won’t change anything.

That’s not me on the poster, but I was Roxy.

Speaking of women who snapped, a few years ago I played one who did in Roxy by Jack Sherman, which was presented by Herkimer County Historical Society and Ilion Little Theatre.  I wrote a few blog posts about it at the time.  I won’t link back to all of them.

On the Historic Four Corners, one of my favorite spots in Herkimer, NY.

The story of Roxalana Druse was a famous local story.  To make this a post of more local interest, I include pictures of a couple of the sites where some of it took place.  Above is the 1834 Jail, where Roxy stayed during the trial and awaiting execution.  She was hanged behind the jail, the last woman hanged in New York State.

Across the street from the jail.

This handsome building is the Herkimer County Courthouse where the trial took place.

Well I don’t know how lame this post turned out to be.  I started out with television and veered into local history, not saying very much about either one.  And I don’t know why I told you what I did; if you’ve read this far, you know what I wrote.  Kind of lame of me, would’t you say?  Happy Friday, everyone.

 

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I Get Theatrical on Lame Post Friday

Posted on March 24, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

I don’t know if I can accurately describe what is going on in this scene.

It is 7:40 p.m. on Lame Post Friday, and as usual, I got nuthin’.  At least, I have things I can write about but lack the oomph to actually do so.  You’ll have that, especially with me.  I thought I would resort to pictures.  My husband, Steven, recently shared the above on Facebook as a Throw Back Thursday, and I thought it was fun.  The scene is from a DVD the Herkimer County Historical Society made for a Celebrity Roast of Assemblyman Marc Butler back in 2015.  It was just after the triumphant run of Roxy by Jack Sherman, the play the society put on at Ilion Little Theatre. I played the title role (I say modestly).   The DVD was all about the the Right to Bare Arms, an issue near and dear to Assemblyman Butler’s heart.  I don’t properly understand politics, but I enjoyed participating in the DVD.

Having downloaded that picture to share, I searched the Historical Society’s Facebook page for further photos.  First I came across a cast shot from the most recent murder mystery we put on for them, A G.R.A.V.E. Murder (perhaps you read a few of my blog posts about it).

G.R.A.V.E. stood for Ghost Retrieval And Verification Enterprises, if I recall that correctly (how embarrassing that I am not sure).

As I continued, I discovered some pictures from Who Shot JS? the first murder mystery we did for the society.  We killed off Jack Sherman, who wrote the play Roxy that I mentioned earlier.

We didn’t take a posed cast shot, but I think this one shows everybody.

Well, now I am approaching 300 words, so I can hit Publish and go back to enjoying my Friday night with a clear conscience.  I hope to see you all on Scattered Saturday, or whatever kind of a Saturday it turns out to be.

 

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Remember Roxy?

Posted on September 8, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

So there I was, trying to think of something to make a blog post about that was not whining about how I couldn’t make a blog post today or sharing pictures of monster movies, when I saw that a friend on Facebook had shared a memory from 2015, and I said, “Ah, Roxy.”

I’m being threatened by the guy with the ax, but don’t worry: I turn the tables on him.

This is a rehearsal shot from the play Roxy by Jack Sherman, that was presented by the Herkimer County Historical Society at Ilion Little Theatre in September of 2015.  It concerns a famous local murderess, who was tried in the Herkimer County Courthouse and hanged behind the 1834 Jail. I played the title role.  It was a large cast, and everybody had a chance to shine.  It was quite the theatrical experience for all involved (I believe I wrote a few blog posts about it).  Having downloaded the above photo for inclusion in today’s post, I typed “Roxy Ilion Little Theatre” into the Facebook search box to see what else I could find.

I didn’t really look like this, although I tried.

This is the poster.  The Historical Society also had little magnets of it made up.  I have one on my refrigerator now.

Isn’t he handsome?

This is my wonderful husband, Steven, who played four different roles.  Here he portrays Dr. Suiter, who rather fancied himself as a forensic expert and had a lot to do with getting Roxy hanged.  Thanks a lot, Steve!

That reward isn’t really being offered, so don’t go calling “America’s Most Wanted.”

A friend put this frame on a picture of me.  As far as I remember, no reward was offered for Roxy’s capture, and she wasn’t that hard to take in anyways.  If you want to know the real story of Roxalana Druse, I recommend James M. Greiner’s book, Last Woman Hanged.  I said I was not going to be in any more plays for a while.  Still, if anybody decided to stage a revival of Roxy… well, let’s just say I would take it under consideration.

 

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I Ax You: Is This a Good Picture of Me?

Posted on February 1, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

 

Oh I am having a dreadful case of Writer’s Block.  Seriously, my brain is blocking me from writing this post (I know, I know, that’s not writing, that’s typing, as Truman Capote said).  It is Tired Tuesday, but I truly did not want to spend 200 or so words whining about how tired I am and how I can’t think of anything to write.  So I went to my new standby: looking through photos we’ve downloaded to this laptop and picking a few to write about.  I had found some good ones of me and my husband, Steven.

I don’t want to post any pictures of me!  I don’t even like looking at pictures of me!  Many people feel this way.  Most of us look better in pictures to others than we look to ourselves.  I can’t tell you how many times people have said, “Oh, what a great picture of you,” and I have thought, “Wow, I’m not nearly as cute as I think I am.”  I don’t even like to have my own picture as my Facebook profile.  This is what I currently have:

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I was having a Lizzie Borden kind of a day.

The caption doesn’t show on my Facebook.  I prefer threatening people with an ax on general principles, not to get candy.  I can buy candy.

Oh, OK, I have never actually threatened anybody with an ax in real life.  On stage once, I held an ax over the guy who was playing my husband, after I had shot him and he had fallen on the floor. However, I was not threatening; I actually brought the thing down on that bastard.  He had it coming.  This was in Roxy, a play about Roxalana Druse, a famous local murderess. Herkimer County Historical Society presented it at Ilion Little Theatre in September of 2015.  Perhaps you read some of my blog posts about it at the time.

So now I am over 300 words.  Whined a little, showed a picture, shared a memory.  I call that all right for a Tired Tuesday.  Now I’m off to my rehearsal for Steel Magnolias at Ilion Little Theatre.  Maybe I can find my Tablet and take pictures of the progress made on the set.  I think it’s looking pretty good, and will make a marvelous Wordless Wednesday post.  Hope to see you then.

 

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Is It Worth 3,000 Words?

Posted on January 13, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

I think I may have run out of things to say about not having anything to say.

I am forcing myself not to backspace and erase that, as I did to at least three other possible leads.  I’m thinking at least one of those leads was better than what I went with, but of course now I can’t remember any of them.

Using a few random pictures seemed to work yesterday.  I wonder if I could get away with it two days in a row.

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He’s telling me what to say, and I’m thinking he’s full of beans.

 

This picture is from the Ilion Little Theatre production of Harvey in 2012.  Steven played Dr. Chumley.  I was Veda.  Perhaps longtime readers remember when this blog was All Harvey All The Time.

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My character is drinking wine, but it is not real wine in the glass, a source of much disappointment to me.

This is a more recent stage appearance: Splitting Issues last October.  I believe I also wrote a couple of blog posts about that.

 

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In jail, where some believe we belong (you know who you are).

 

I don’t have another theatre picture of Steven and me together, so I will show a picture of me in costume with Steven.  This was a Haunted Tour of Herkimer’s Historic Four Corners.  I reprised my role (wait a minute; my computer thinks “reprised” is not a word, but apparently “reprise” is. Oh, I can’t worry about that now) of Roxalana Druse, who was hanged behind the 1834 Jail.  I don’t think I did a blog post about that event (the haunted tour, not the hanging, although I never wrote about the hanging either).  How remiss of me.

So this is my Non-Sequitur Thursday post for the week.  I think I’ve jumped around enough to qualify.  If only I could think of a catchy headline, I could head to my Steel Magnolias rehearsal content.

 

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Sunshine Sunday

Posted on April 18, 2016 by mohawkvalleygirl

Spring has returned to the Mohawk Valley.  It’s been here already once or twice in 2016.  Then cold weather and snow returned.  Then we had some gloomy, rainy days, which, truth be known, I kind of like.  However, yesterday and today the sun returned in full force, and I am loving it.

Yesterday I enjoyed a walk and some running around (it was Scattered Saturday, you may recall), but Steven was sick with a cold and could not join in my enjoyment.  Today he is feeling a little bit better.  We just took a lovely walk, so in lieu of my usual Wrist to Forehead Sunday or even All Leading Ladies All The Time, I offer a humble Pedestrian Post.

I wore my crazy old lady hat and sunglasses but no jacket.  I found a white cotton long-sleeved shirt to put over my t-shirt, because I didn’t quite want bare arms.  Steven, since he is still convalescent, wore a hooded sweatshirt (our generation does not call them “hoodies.” I’m not even sure if a hoodie is the exact same thing or if there is some extra quality attached). Fashion choices settled, we set out.

We headed towards downtown Herkimer, past my beloved Historic Four Corners.  I pointed to the 1834 Jail and said, “That’s where I got hung.”  That, of course, was a reference to the play Roxy, in which I played the title role.  I’m sure it is one of those parts I will carry around with me forever, and that’s not really a bad thing.

As we walked down Main Street, we were sorry to see all the empty businesses.  I wish the area was more thriving.  At least there are a few bright spots.  Valley Exchange is open Sundays now; that’s always a fun place to look around.  Roma’s Pizza now occupies the space that was formerly Brian’s Roast Beef Deli.  I’m fond of Linda’s Consignment Shop, and The End Zone is a nice place to stop in for a beer unless Pete’s Tavern is more your speed.  Collis TruValue Hardware still seems to be going strong.

Turning down Albany Street, we saw that Crazy Otto’s Empire Diner was, as usual, doing a booming business.  Hummel’s Office Plus had some clearance items out on the sidewalk.  We did not stop into any of these businesses.  In fact, I’m sure I missed mentioning a few.  Sorry.  What do you want from me, I’m an amateur blogger not a downtown-boosting advertising agency.

We continued down Albany Street to Caroline, enjoying the sunshine.  I think sunshine is nature’s cosmetic, because almost any scene looks better in the sun.  As we walked we discussed our plans for the afternoon.   I want to sit out on our deck or front porch, perhaps with a beverage.  Steven wants to study his lines from Leading Ladies (I guess I have to mention the play at least once).

One last sunshine-related note:  I washed our sheets and hung them out on our clothesline.  I am SO looking forward to the sweet smell when I go to bed tonight.  I feel certain it will make Monday a little more pleasant.  Hope to see you then.

 

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