Tag Archives: theatre

NOT Tired of Being in Plays

Posted on July 22, 2015 by mohawkvalleygirl

This will be a Tired Tuesday post.  Except that I CAN’T be tired, I have to go to rehearsal!  For the sake of anybody just tuning in, I am in the play Roxy, at Ilion Little Theatre.

I spent my breaks at work going over my lines and I seem to know them pretty well. I have something of a reputation for learning all my lines pretty quickly (I know,  you thought I was going to say I had a different kind of a reputation, oh you of dirty mind)  (you know who you are).  I hate to disappoint people.

It isn’t just a generic people-pleasing thing, though. I could do a whole other blog post about being a people pleaser  (which I don’t think I am,  judging from the number of people who are none too pleased with me most of the time) and whether or not that is a good thing, but that’s not really the dynamic at work here.

I strive to be the sort of cast member that directors, backstage people, and other cast members like to work with.   For one reason, it makes things a lot more comfortable if nobody’s mad at you.  More to the point, it makes a better play, because the sort of cast member most people like working with is the one who helps make it a better play.

Oh, I can see some of you raising your hands, ready to share with me stories about this or that sonofabitch who you wanted to KILL during rehearsals nonetheless came through and made it the best show ever.  The important thing, you are ready to sniff, is not whether or not you get along.  The important thing is can you ACT?  (You may or may not say “ACT” with a gesture.)

I would argue that theatre is a collaborative art.  We produce the best plays when we work well together.  Additionally, this is community theatre.  We are doing it for fun and for love of theatre.  Of course we want to put on the best plays possible (what fun is it to be in a turkey?), but why make the process harder by working with sonsofbitches?

So I try not to be a sonofabitch.  I learn my lines.  In fact, I’d better go look them over again before tonight’s rehearsal.

 

Leave a comment

Posted in commentary, humor, personal, theater, Tired Tuesday and tagged , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Murder on Monday

Posted on July 21, 2015 by mohawkvalleygirl

I see that last Monday was “World’s Dumbest Monday”, which makes me a little embarrassed to feel as dumb as I do today.  No matter, dumb or not, I must make my blog post.

I don’t feel like watching World’s Dumbest today anyways.  I feel like watching my other favorite guilty pleasure show, Snapped.  Snapped is a documentary show about women who kill.  I think I wrote a blog post about it some time ago (too lazy to go back and check), but I have another reason to watch it and write about it today.  I feel it will inform my character of Roxalana Druse.

As regular readers may recall, I have the title role in Roxy, a play being presented by Herkimer County Historical Society and Ilion Little Theatre.  It is a new play written by a local author about Roxalana Druse, the last woman hanged in Herkimer County.  She killed her husband by shooting him then chopping his head off with an axe. I think he was asking for it, but perhaps that’s just me being in character.

That last sentence was just me being silly.  It is actually a serious play, probably the most serious I’ve ever been in.  Therefore, one might wonder if watching one of my guilty pleasure television shows is really the best way to prepare.  Listen, don’t try to second guess the processes of the creative mind.

More to the point, it’s Monday and I’m tired. It was a rough weekend and I’m not a young woman.  I studied my lines while on breaks at work and if I want to sit and watch a murder show on cable television, I will.  And I’ll write more about Roxy soon.

 

Leave a comment

Posted in humor, Middle-aged Musings Monday, Monday Mental Meanderings and tagged , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Found It

Posted on June 19, 2015 by mohawkvalleygirl

It never fails that when you think of that one perfect earring to complement the outfit at hand, you cannot find it. I know, I know, if I would organize my jewelry and put my things away when I was done with them, I would not have these problems.  Then perhaps I could think of better leads for my blog posts.

Then again, my disorganized readers are sighing with relief, “I’m not the only one!”  My organized readers are shaking their heads, enjoying that frisson of smug superiority that they probably feel eighty-seven times a day.  Do I have any readers like that?  If I do, you’re welcome.

I have limited time to make this post and not just because I was harrumphing around the house looking for the earring.  I was also harrumphing around my bedroom figuring out something to wear.  We’re going to the theatre tonight (I say it with a la-di-dah, sophisticated tone) (I’d also make a gesture, but I’m typing).

The Players of  Utica are presenting One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.  This is the second weekend.  We tried to go the first weekend, but they were sold out.  You snooze, you lose.  We must leave early, to allow get lost time and find a parking place  time. I feel certain it will be an enjoyable evening.

But I guess my blog post, not so much.  Oh well, what do you want from me on Non-Sequitur Thursday?  Hope to see you on Lame Post Friday.

 

2 Comments

Posted in humor, Non Sequitur Thursday, personal and tagged , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Off to Break a Leg!

Posted on April 10, 2015 by mohawkvalleygirl

The decision has been made to act. I only wish the decision had been made to write my blog post earlier today. In my defense, I was writing a letter to a friend, which I believe is also an important thing to do.

I do want to express how happy I am that my husband Steven decided to audition. I hope he gets a part, but I feel sure we will have fun just going to auditions. We’ll see some friends from Ilion Little Theatre. We may make new friends at Players of Utica. I can write another blog post about the experience. I may even get an article for Mohawk Valley Living out of it. And it will be something fun and different to do on a Thursday evening.

“Instead of sitting around in our sweats, watching TV,” I said to him. “Of course, that’s fun, too,” I hastened to add. Time with my husband is always worthwhile. “We’ll step out of our comfort zone,” I clarified, realizing that is quite literal, because sweats and sitting around is extremely comfortable.

I have to admit, though, it isn’t too far out of our comfort zone. We don’t often venture to Utica after dark, but a friend is nicely driving us. We have never auditioned for Players of Utica, but we have auditioned many times for many plays, and even been cast in a few (full disclosure: Steven more than me). I daresay I am much more comfortable auditioning now than I was many years ago.

Further full disclosure: I am writing this on the fly while waiting for the friend to pick us up. Ah, Monday’s hypothetical critic pipes up and says, “You don’t have to tell us you’re writing on the fly! This post sucks!” Wow, I am writing in a hurry. That is the best insult I could think of for my hypothetical critic. Never mind. I’m off the break a leg!

Leave a comment

Posted in humor, personal and tagged , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Low-Key and Gracious

Posted on March 24, 2015 by mohawkvalleygirl

Before going to the Ilion Little Theatre on Friday to see The Psychic, Steven and I met a couple of our theatre friends at Sorrento’s in Ilion, NY for a bite to eat and some good conversation.

The front part of Sorrento’s looks like a regular, low-key pizzeria, while the back room is what I call gracious dining surroundings. We sat in gracious dining surroundings. I had been a little worried about getting a table at six o’clock on a Friday night, but it was no problem. We were soon sipping wine and perusing menus.

I wanted something light and non-meat (Friday during Lent), so I chose linguini with oil and garlic, Italian dressing on my salad. Steven got a fish sandwich with french fries. The others in our party got fried calimari and spinach ravioli, respectively. The dinner also came with garlic bread, which was delicious.

While we ate, we talked about Ilion Little Theatre (ILT). Steven and I had missed the last dinner meeting, but we were told my name had come up. Some people had read my article in Mohawk Valley Living magazine, which was about ILT and the casting of our last production, Busybody.

It was a very good dinner. We’ve been to Sorrento’s many times before but not in a while, so it was good to eat there again, and a delightful start to our Friday night adventures. Sorrento’s is located at 86 Central Ave. in Ilion, phone number 315-894-9991. For more information you can visit their website at www.sorrento-ilion.com and you can Like them on Facebook.

2 Comments

Posted in humor, personal, Restaurants and tagged , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

At Least I Got My Plot

Posted on February 13, 2015 by mohawkvalleygirl

It’s all about the bananas.

I mostly said that to get your attention. I had been about to lead off with how I did not write today’s post while at work (yes, yes, on breaks), because I was writing a play. I thought it might be fun to tell you why I am writing a play.

In the play I was just in at Ilion Little Theatre (yes, still talking about that), we had a lot of laughs. One cast member was especially determined to be silly, Andy Vogel, who portrayed Constable Goddard (I feel free to use his name, because it appeared in the newspaper and on the program after all). During one rehearsal, I, or rather my character, turned around to say something to Goddard, and there was Andy, eating a banana.

“Why were you eating a banana?” I asked him after the rehearsal.

“I thought it would be funny.”

OK, it was funny. I don’t mind an occasional joke of that nature during the rehearsal process. It can break up tension or help you practice concentration. During performance? Oh hell no! I lived in fear. Then I had an idea. I told Andy if he pulled no shenanigans during performances, I would write a play for him with lots of bananas. He was delighted at the notion.

So that is what I am doing. At first I confess I spent hours looking for an idea. I would get one, realize it did not quite fit my needs, get another one, not like it at all… you know how it goes.

To tell you more would give away more of the plot than I want to talk about at this point. If a writer talks too much about what she is writing, sometimes she doesn’t want to write it any more. In fact, already I’ve said too much.

In any case, that is my post about Why I Did Not Write a Post Today. For a Non-Sequitur Thursday, I think it will do.

Leave a comment

Posted in humor, Non Sequitur Thursday, personal, Why I Cant Write a Post, writing and tagged , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Pick-up on a Wednesday Night

Posted on February 5, 2015 by mohawkvalleygirl

I did try to avoid a Wuss-out Wednesday, I really did. I bet some readers don’t believe me. Well, I’m sorry. I think I just have to realize I’m going to have a bad proportion of ridiculous posts till this play is over.

We had our pick-up rehearsal tonight. Pick-up rehearsals are usually fun, because you don’t put on costumes or act full-out. For the pick-up rehearsal for Harvey, we just sat in the lobby of the theatre and said our lines. Tonight we were on the stage and did all the usual movements, and some acting. Some lines we just kind of said, then moved on. A couple of times we didn’t say the right lines (I say it with a sheepish smile).

I wanted to make my blog post before rehearsal. In fact, I wanted to write it at work. I think I wrote two sentences. Oh wait, one sentence (I just checked). Then I felt I should study my lines. And (full disclosure) I worked on a cryptogram puzzle (don’t judge). I had some time before rehearsal, but I sat in front of a blank screen with a little voice in my head screaming, “I CAN’T do this!”

Now I’m sitting here, typing away, and realizing I still don’t have much to say. That’s why this is Wuss-out Wednesday. I’m going to stop typing now and see what tomorrow will bring.

9 Comments

Posted in blogging, humor, personal, Wuss Out Wednesday and tagged , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

In My Defense, It’s Cold!

Posted on February 1, 2015 by mohawkvalleygirl

Here’s a new feature: Saturday Misadventures. It is for those numerous Saturdays when I do not have Saturday Running Commentary but instead type down a few paragraphs of what I did instead of write a good blog post.

When we got up this morning it was one degree out according to our thermostat. I don’t know where it gets this information; the thermostat came with the new furnace. I would get one of those jobs with the big numbers to hang on the garage like my parents have, but I don’t have a window handy for looking out at the garage. If I’m going to open the door anyways, what do I need a thermometer for?

Come to think of it, I did open the door, to get the newspaper (LOVE my newspaper deliverers!). Yikes! I made sure to replace the doodads under our door meant to keep the draft out (with indifferent success). Still, it was above zero. What could I possibly complain about? Got you there: I am not complaining, I am OBSERVING!

I wrote some postcards, but a walk to the post office was clearly ineligible. I know my dog would eagerly jump and bark if I picked up the leash, but I do not want a frostbitten little pooch. I’ve been limiting her outdoor activity to short business meetings in the back yard.

Still, I could not stay home under the blankets as was my inclination. I had to put air in one tire and I had to gas up. And I had to leave my vehicle in the street, because I leave for the theatre after Steven gets home tonight. I’m in a play, remember (see yesterday’s post, among others). As the temperature rose to 2 degrees, my hopes rose proportionately.

As it turns out, for no good reason. I did not do anything blogworthy. And my brain is too frozen to remember any of the blogworthy things I did previously but have not written about yet. I feel properly ashamed of myself, but I must not repine. I have a show to put on later.

Hope to see you on Wrist to Forehead Sunday.

1 Comment

Posted in humor, personal, Saturday Misadventures and tagged , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

May I Remind You: It Is Non-Sequitur Thursday

Posted on January 30, 2015 by mohawkvalleygirl

So I am staring at the clock deciding what time I must leave to go to final dress rehearsal for the play I am in at Ilion Little Theatre.

And I have the dreaded Type A Sentence Then Backspace Over It disease. What’s a blogger to do? What I usually do, I suppose. Grit my teeth, type and leave it there! When one is determined to post every day, any words are better than no words at all.

The critics in my head are poised to argue this, of course, but they do not have a leg to stand on, metaphorical or otherwise. Critics, please note the subordinate clause that precedes the contention praising “any words.” Now they will go on to suggest that I become determined to post something good every day, but I shall not listen. I must hit publish and run.

I have been having a devilish time of it for the past day or so. When I went to put in my contact lenses last night, one ripped. This has never happened to me before. I was not aware until this morning that half of that contact remained in my eye. As an explanation, I can only offer that bit of philosophy that has helped me through many a tribulation: shit happens.

Do you know how hard it is to get a partial contact lens out of an eye? Well, I finally managed it. I will just add: I do not usually wear contact lenses. For my purposes, glasses suit me better. But I keep some one-day disposables around for specific purposes, such as being in a play.

What a dull post. I should have gone into details of my horrific eye-poking experience. Too late. I have some tea to make (for a prop) and other dramatic concerns to deal with. Tomorrow is opening night. Perhaps I will write my post late and tell you how it goes.

Leave a comment

Posted in humor, Non Sequitur Thursday, personal and tagged , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

You Could Have Saved Me Some Brownies

Posted on January 28, 2015 by mohawkvalleygirl

I do not have rehearsal tonight. One might think that this is my golden opportunity to write a “real” blog post (please note the correct use of quotation marks). One who is familiar with Mohawk Valley Girl will know how unlikely that is, especially on a Tired Tuesday.

I am back on overtime at work. How I love overtime. Working a ten hour day gives me a good excuse to slack on everything else. Oh I know, you probably worked a 12 hour day, stopped at the store, shoveled the driveway, cleaned the house, did three loads of laundry, cooked dinner and baked brownies from scratch. You probably also don’t have time to watch television, but I bet you know who was the last person to get laid, killed, engaged, gossiped about or voted off on whatever show everybody is watching this season.

Yes, when I am tired I have arguments with imaginary people who scorn my life.

My job is really not that onerous. I don’t mind going to work. I am grateful for my job and the overtime. Sometimes I even manage to write a blog post while working a ten hour day. Not, however, when I am in a play. We have two more rehearsals and then WE OPEN!!! That’s THIS FRIDAY NIGHT!!! I spent most of my breaks studying my lines. I used the part of my brain not needed for my job to think about my character. I must, I positively must be ready!

So, sorry about the Tired Tuesday blog post. And sorry in advance for Wuss-out Wednesday and Non-Sequitur Thursday. As we all know, I will offer no apologies for Lame Post Friday. I hope I still have readers by then.

But just to give the play another plug (that’s probably really why I’m so tired, but who can analyze these things?): Busybody at Ilion Little Theatre, 13 Remington Ave., Ilion, NY. Jan. 30, 31, Feb. 1, 6, 7, 8; 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 1 p.m. Sundays. For more information visit the website at www.ilionlittletheatre.org. You can also like Ilion Little Theatre Club on Facebook.

5 Comments

Posted in humor, personal, Tired Tuesday and tagged , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.
← Older Posts
Newer Posts →