Tag Archives: Roxy

Thinking about Theatre

Posted on September 22, 2015 by mohawkvalleygirl

The answer to the question, “What was I thinking?” is pretty much always, “You weren’t thinking.  You are a huge idiot and you bring all your troubles on yourself.”  There is something vaguely liberating in the admission.  Or am I just glass-half-fulling?

No matter.  For this week’s Monday Mental Meanderings, I bring you another theatre update.  Are any of my readers tired of hearing about Ilion Little Theatre?  I cannot fathom such a thing.  In any case I am too tired to think of anything else to write about (and it’s not even Tired Tuesday yet. Yikes!).

Yesterday was closing performance of Roxy,  (I think we can say it all together now:) the play presented by Herkimer County Historical Society at Ilion Little Theatre  (ILT).  Naturally we followed up with a cast party.  Oh all right, I may have possibly had just a sip or two more wine than was strictly necessary.  I had a wonderful time with my theatre friends, but I got lousy sleep and I am feeling far from my best this morning.

Now I can hear the unkind laughter.   I assure you, I am laughing at myself at this point.  But why do I feel as if nobody is laughing with me but only at me?  Like you never did anything stupid!

Anyways, that is not what raised the question of what I was thinking, and as always I apologize for going on about my own ills.  On to the theatre update.

Tonight we begin rehearsals for the first official show of the ILT season:  Lunch Hour by Jean Kerr.  It is to be directed by Suzanne Rodio.  I am stage manager.

I realized this morning that if I had thought about it for even a short time, I would not have agreed to such a thing. I’m tired, for heavens’ sake!  I’m not a young woman and I don’t lead nearly as healthy a lifestyle as I ought to.  Suzanne has set an ambitious rehearsal schedule.  I ought to be glad about that, because she is very organized and obviously means this to be a good show that does not have to pull together at the last minute (oh how I hate opening night miracles!) (although I suppose it is even worse when you need one and it doesn’t happen).

Well, just listen to me whine.  What a big, fat baby!  I’m going into a show with a strong script and a good director.  More to the point, I LOVE theatre!  I want to work on a play!

I’m sure I’ll feel better tomorrow, as long as rehearsal doesn’t run late and I get a good night’s sleep.  Here’s to not feeling too tired on Tuesday!

 

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When’s That Cast Party?

Posted on September 20, 2015 by mohawkvalleygirl

This would probably be a good day for Wrist to Forehead Sunday.  It is closing performance of Roxy (can’t say closing night; it’s a matinee) (I’m not going to say again what Roxy is) (Oh, OK, it’s a play I’m in).  I have to pick up Steven at work at one to get to the theatre late, and I have a number of things I must get done first.  Naturally, I have spent some time looking at Facebook and reading blogs before starting anything.

However, for your entertainment today, I offer a food post about my contribution to the cast party (can’t say cooking; it is raw):  homemade salsa.

I thought of the salsa when I saw that I still had some Roma tomatoes in my refrigerator.  I had purchased them from a vendor at the Mohawk Garlic and Herb Festival in Little Falls last Saturday, and I knew them to be flavorful and fresh.  I asked Steven to purchase some fresh cilantro when he went grocery shopping, if available.  I was in luck.

I made the salsa yesterday, when I was waiting for Steven to get home for lunch.  First I minced some red onion I happened to have.  You know how big red onions can be.  This one has enhanced several salads and was almost gone.  I minced what was left and hoped it would be enough.  Then I chopped the tomatoes.  After chopping two finely I went with bigger chunks for the other four.  For one reason, I was getting tired of chopping. For another reason, I wanted chunky salsa and thought some bigger chunks would be nice.

The aroma of the cilantro was intoxicating.  I pulled leaves off stems and started chopping.  I don’t know if I got the pieces small enough but I did the best I could.  I sometimes make salsa in the blender or food processor, which ensures finely minced cilantro, but it also condenses the tomato considerably and I only had six tomatoes. Also, I really like the chunky stuff.

Steven had also purchased a jar of pickled jalapeños, so I chopped up a few of those.  I was careful not to add too many, because I didn’t want to make Steven’s bald spot sweat.  Next I squeezed in some fresh lemon juice.  I know, lime is more common, but I didn’t have any fresh limes.  I added some cumin and lemon pepper.  After some thought I found the salt-shaker/pepper-grinder and added a grind or two of pepper and a very little salt.

I stirred well and put the mixture in the fridge so the flavors could blend overnight. I figured if I had accidentally put in too many jalapeños, I could add a can of black beans and some corn.   This morning Steven and I tried it.  Yum!  No additions necessary.

Of course I hope my fellow cast-members enjoy the salsa.  However, if they do not, I can assure you it will not go to waste.  Now I must hit Publish and get on with the dozen or so chores I want to complete before taking the stage for our final performance.  I feel sure you hope I will break a leg, so thank you, and Happy Sunday, everyone.

 

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Post then Play

Posted on September 19, 2015 by mohawkvalleygirl

Oh SWELL!  I’ve got the dreaded Type It In And Backspace It Out disease!

I grit my teeth and somehow keep from erasing that sentence.  Oh this is bad!  On the brighter side, it is Lame Post Friday.  I think we’re all expecting something foolish, so here it is.

I just sat here looking at the blank space and wondering what to put next.  So far, I got nuthin’.  In my defense, I have a play to do tonight.  I have to fix my hair, brush my teeth, get my stuff together, put the right clothes on… I already looked over my lines twice today.  Perhaps a third time would be better…

For anyone just tuning in, the play is Roxy, presented by the Herkimer County Historical Society at Ilion Little Theatre.  We opened last weekend.  We close this weekend.  Three more performances!  We sold out last weekend, and we have already sold out for this weekend.  People seem to like us.

However, I have a blog post to make.  A Friday Lame Post.  Traditionally on Lame Post Friday, I indulge in random observations and half-baked philosophy, so here it is:  At work today, I looked out the window and saw the dog that lives in a house across the street.  I said, “There’s that good dog.”  And that is also my philosophical observation for the day, I like to think that all dogs are good.  Discuss amongst yourselves.  I have to go get ready for my play.

 

 

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Roxy to Romance

Posted on September 16, 2015 by mohawkvalleygirl

It is Tired Tuesday, folks, and you can just get mad at me, because I’m not apologizing  (“I’m sorry but I’m not apologizing” is one of my favorite sayings).  In fact, I wrote most of a very good post about Saturday’s visit to the Garlic Festival (full name Mohawk Valley Garlic and Herb Festival).  But, as often happens with me and this kind of post, I want it to be BETTER.  I’ll work on it.

In the meantime, here is an update on theatre news.  The first official production of Ilion Little Theatre will begin rehearsals with a read-through tonight.  Roxy (you know, that play I’ve been blathering on about for weeks), if you recall, is actually a production of the Herkimer County Historical Society AT Ilion Little theatre.  It is not officially part of the ILT season.

The first ILT production is Lunch Hour by Jean Kerr, a romantic comedy.  I have agreed to be stage manager.  I have not acted as stage manager since sometime in the early 1990s, but I daresay I have not forgotten how.  At least I don’t have any lines to learn.  Auditions were held a couple of weeks ago.  The play is cast and we are read to go!

And I am missing the read-through tonight.  The director said it will be OK.  She understands that I am tired.  After all, killing your husband with an ax, burning the body and then getting hung for it all weekend kind of takes its toll.  And I have to do it all again this weekend.  I’m not complaining, mind you; I love to be in a play.  A good night’s sleep tonight will be just what I need.  Hope to see you all on Wuss-out Wednesday.

 

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Roxalana Snapped?

Posted on September 15, 2015 by mohawkvalleygirl

Some people might think we have had  enough of All Roxy All The Time.  They could be right.  That doesn’t mean I can think of anything else to write about.  So I was sitting here with no idea what to write a blog post about when I thought I remembered a post titled “Roxalana Snapped.”  I thought, I’ll re-read that post and perhaps it will inspire me.  Imagine my surprise when I found it was only a draft.  Here it is:

Some time ago I wrote about going to hear James M. Greiner speak about his book, which I purchased that day, Last Woman Hanged: Roxalana Druse. Today, for Middle-aged Musing Monday, I thought I’d muse a little about the book.  (See?  It was even a Monday when I wrote the draft. It was fate that I should use it today!)

It’s a good topic for a Monday, because I like to spend a good portion of Sunday watching Snapped, a documentary show about women who kill. The victim is often the spouse. So I think of Last Woman Hanged as a kind of an historic Snapped.

Of course a book is usually classier than a cable television show. For one thing, few books include cheesy reenactments. Regular readers know I love cheese, but not all cheese is created equal. I love cheesy horror movies. Cheesy reenactments, not so much. I’m trying to picture what all they might have reenacted from Roxalana’s story if Snapped had been around in 1887.

It’s probably a silly thing to speculate about. In this century, everything probably would have played out quite differently.

And that is what I wrote on June 26, 2012.  Wow, that was a long time ago.  Could I have envisioned at that time that I would one day be on stage, doing a reenactment (I HOPE not a cheesy one!) of that very murder?  It boggles the mind.

 

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Thinking about Life After Roxy

Posted on September 14, 2015 by mohawkvalleygirl

Yes, it is Wrist to Forehead Sunday.  Did you expect anything else?  I confess, I had some hopes.  Oh well, as that great philosopher Mick Jagger pointed out, you can’t always get what you want.

I have just returned from the matinee performance of Roxy.  I bet you thought All Roxy All The Time was last week, but you were wrong.  In the first place, we all know that the week really begins on Monday and ends on Sunday.  In the second place, Roxy runs for two weekends.   I can write a LOT more about Roxy!

I probably won’t, though.  I’m already looking forward to life after Roxy.  For one thing, I’m thinking about going to the Garlic Festival next year and NOT having to worry about a show that night.  I’m thinking about what it will be like to stage manage instead of act.  One advantage of that is I can wear comfy clothes on performance nights instead of a costume with crinolines (yes, I’ve been wearing a crinoline, go ahead and laugh).  I’m thinking if I ever act in another play (NOT by any means definite), I would prefer a more traditional narrative structure (not that I didn’t adore Jack Sherman’s Roxy script, I did, very intriguing piece of work).    And I’m thinking I might direct…

Wow, that’s a lot of thinking for a Sunday.  And it’s enough blogging (haven’t used that verb in a while).  Forget Wrist to Forehead Sunday!  I’m going on to the knitting, wine drinking, TV watching portion of the day.  Hope your weekend is going well.

 

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Anticipating Adventure

Posted on September 12, 2015 by mohawkvalleygirl

It’s that moment in a blogger’s life, when you have a whole day of adventures about to start, you have not written a blog post and you wonder if you have time to come up with something before people get here and the adventures begin.

Some people might think I should not be having adventures today but should be recruiting my energies for tonight’s performance of Roxy (you know, that play?  I think I may have mentioned it).  They may have a point.  However, when several members of your family have made a special trip and your husband has gotten a rare Saturday off to go to the Mohawk Valley Garlic and Herb Festival in Little Falls, one feel obligated to make just a little more effort.

For the record, opening night last night went well.  We had more than a sold-out house, and nobody walked out (like in the dream I had Thursday night; perhaps you read my blog post about that).  I remembered all my lines.  The gun misbehaved, and I had to yell,  “BANG” once, but these things happen in live theatre.

As for today,  I wrote a few post cards and finished up two letters.  Steven and I walked to the post office to mail them.  It felt good to take a walk.  We are having a lovely day, not too hot, nice little breeze.  It may rain later, but that’s OK.  As I often say, I ain’t sugar; I won’t melt.

So this is my blog post for today.  Not such a much, perhaps, but you’ll have that in a daily blog.  Soon I shall be off to buy garlic at the festival, then to kill my husband and suffer the consequences (theatrically speaking).  I hope to see you all (figuratively speaking) on Wrist to Forehead Sunday.

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Lame Actor’s Nightmare

Posted on September 12, 2015 by mohawkvalleygirl

We interrupt All Roxy All The Time to bring you Lame Post Friday.  I thought all week about beginning a blog post that way.  Is it the thrill I was hoping for?  Hard to say.  In any case, it is opening night, how can I not talk about Roxy ?

Dress rehearsal last night went pretty good.  Then I had a dream that it was dress rehearsal again and people were walking out.  In the dream, one of the walkers said, “I was sitting there being bored, when I thought, I can just go home.”  I guess this is my new actor’s nightmare.  Of course the traditional actor’s nightmare is about being on stage and not knowing anything about the play, but you know me.  I just have to be different.

In fact, I stopped having the traditional actor’s nightmare many years ago, when we had our company, Murder For Hire.  We did interactive murder mysteries.  A large portion of these mysteries was mingling with the audience.  There was also a question and answer period.  You get a lot of practice staying in character and thinking on your feet.  I loved it.  I soon found that I would still have the dream about being on stage in an unknown play, but it no longer bothered me.  In the dream, I would just start talking.

I have every expectation that tonight’s performance will go very well.  I have very little worry that anybody will walk out, although I suppose anything can happen.  I intend to break a leg, but not literally.  I’ll report back on Saturday.

 

 

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And Another Thing About That Play…

Posted on September 11, 2015 by mohawkvalleygirl

I thought of that headline yesterday.  Then I did not write a blog post yet today.

Tonight is dress rehearsal.  I don’t like the shoes I found for my character, but the rest of my costume is very nice.  We have two ladies working very hard to make everybody’s costume right. I think they are doing a marvelous job.

I’m sorry, I’m a little distracted right now.  I got mandated for overtime at work so am pressed for time.  I have about an hour to finish this, get in the shower, fix my hair, put in my contacts, get all my stuff together, and get to rehearsal.  I looked over my lines once today.  Perhaps twice would be better.  Oh dear.

On the brighter side, it is Non-Sequitur Thursday during All Roxy All The Time Week.  What could be better than a little disjointed babbling about the play?  Oh, I know, a lot of things could be better.  Only I did not write any of them earlier and I can’t seem to write them right now.

Our rehearsal last night went pretty good.  The dialogue in one of my scenes got messed up.  The other actor in the scene and I had not noticed, but the stage manager pointed it out to us.  After the scene we were both still a little puzzled about what went wrong.  Imagine my chagrin earlier today as I was looking over my lines and realized it was MY screw-up.  Everybody thinks I am so good at learning lines!  I’m mortified!

Then again, that is the excitement of live theatre.  Somebody might screw up.  It might be me.

Right now I must get in the shower. Otherwise, even if I do know all my lines, I still might stink up the stage.  Happy Thursday, everyone.

 

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Actors Have to Eat, Too, You Know

Posted on September 10, 2015 by mohawkvalleygirl

Another thing about being in a play is that often one does not have time to grocery shop. Yesterday, therefore, I made a salad for today’s lunch using that old standby ingredient, What I Already Had In The House.  Today I make bold to offer a food post as part of this week’s All Roxy All The Time.

First I dumped a can of black beans into a colander and rinsed them.  While they drained I chopped up a tomato, zucchini and part of a red onion I had in the fridge.  I had purchased the tomato and zucchini at T & J’s Fruits and Vegetables in Herkimer earlier in the week, just to give the post a little local flair.   Next I sliced a few green olives.

For dressing I used mayonnaise and a little pub mustard (I like to buy different kinds of mustard; pub is the latest one I’ve tried).  To this I added a small spoonful of horseradish, a dash of hot sauce, garlic powder, salt-free lemon pepper, and cumin.  I taste-tested it as I stirred and it seemed OK.  I thought it could only get better as the flavors blended.

I’ve been eating it as I write this (at lunch time the next day) and I pronounce it  pretty good.  It got a little soupy, as salads with chopped tomato sometimes do, but not too bad.  Perhaps it is not a gourmet masterpiece, but as weekday lunch, it’ll do.

As a blog post written while I ate lunch at work then hurriedly typed in before rehearsal, I hope this will do.  Happy Wednesday and, oh look, I didn’t Wuss Out!

 

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