Tag Archives: theatre

I Cut Myself a Little More Slack

Here I sit, trying to make my Slacker Saturday blog post early Sunday morning.  At least, it is not early for me, but as Sunday mornings go for other people…  Not that I know that much about other people, but I have heard.

I put off making this blog post while I had some coffee, scrolled Facebook, played Solitaire, then read another blogger’s weekly post.  Oh, and I re-read one of my posts from 2012 which I had been thinking about.  I have been writing this blog for a long time, haven’t I?  Or, as Truman Capote famously said, “That’s not writing, that’s typing.”  I fear that lately my blog has become me rambling on, not saying much of any substance, much less sharing Mohawk Valley adventures as I intended to do when I began the blog.

Like KO Grainger at the Herkimer Downtown Chowdown.

I sometimes mention one I am going to write about, then when I sit down with the Chromebook… not so much.  What, I ask once again, is my problem?  More to the point, what is the solution? I confess I do not know.  I am not having much luck with the Do It Anyways method.

Am I too chicken to write?

Yesterday, by the way, was in fact a Slacker Saturday.  I went running, as I mentioned in my late Lame Post Friday post.  I puttered around, doing a little bit of cleaning here and there.  My house, as I have also mentioned, is quite the disaster area.  I express great determination to get it clean one way or another, then wander around, feeling ridiculous for not knowing where to start.  Then I put some things away and hope I have made some progress. Yesterday I discovered the Columbo method of cleaning:  I cleaned for a set amount of time, then when time was up, I said to myself, “Oh, one more thing!”

I am obsessed with Columbo, you may have noticed.

Eventually I wrote a few postcards and walked them to the post office.  It had stopped raining by then.  Returning home, I made some popcorn and watched, you guessed it, a couple episodes of Columbo.  I crocheted while I watched (after I had eaten some popcorn and washed the butter off my hands) (I’m not a barbarian, after all), so I could feel a little productive.

Once again, I have rattled on for an appreciable amount of words (just over 400!).  I shall end with a random picture, so that my Saturday post can be Scattered as well as Slacker.

Will the curtain rise on a new act for the play of my life?

Too dark, but I feel a picture of a closed curtain is always evocative.  It is the Capitol Theatre in Rome, NY, a good place to visit for future Mohawk Valley adventures.

 

Is the Weekend Really Over?

That title suggested itself to me as I logged into WordPress to make my Wrist to Forehead Sunday post.  That is a silly way to put it.  As if the title is an entity walking around looking for work.  There is an absurdist play I read a long time ago, Six Characters in Search of an Author  (I forget who wrote it and I may even have the title wrong);  this would be A Title in Search of a Blog Post.  As if it was some sort of honor or at least a good job to be the title of a blog post.  Now I am becoming a little absurd myself.

This set was not in search of a play.

I wanted to throw in a picture to distract from my own silliness and decided to continue with the theatre theme with this shot of two guys working on a set.  I believe it was for Fallen Angel, which was presented by Ilion Little Theatre back in 2017.  I was not in that play but helped with costumes.  I don’t imagine I was a lot of help, but one does what one can.

Oh yeah, these two.

This picture relates, because Fallen Angel was about an historical local murder case, just like the case of Grace Brown’s murder by Chester Gilette, which I think everybody around here has heard of.  The portraits on the bottom are the real Chester and Grace, while the picture above is a reenactment from the documentary A Northwoods Elegy: Incident at Big Moose Lake.  That is a good movie, by the way.  I have it on DVD and now am thinking about watching it.

You see, my original plan for today was to watch a few movies while knitting, then do a Sunday Cinema post.  I see by the clock on my Chromebook it is only 6:10 (my watch says 18:10, because it is on military time) (long story, not very interesting).  I have time for at least one flick.  Additionally, this silliness (absurdity?) has gotten me over 300 words.  Score!  Another on time blog post!  Once again, I thank you for tuning in.

 

Lame Me Your Ears

You know, like “Lend me your ears”?  I was trying to think of a clever title, because I do not have anything particularly clever to say.  Cue unkind remarks about how I am never particularly clever (you know who you are).  I am home relaxing after doing some minor running around related to Deadly Night Life, the murder mystery we are putting on at Salisbury Grange tomorrow.  I’m sure a fun time will be had by all, or at least most.

It might look a little like this.

I went into my Media Library to look for a picture of a murder mystery and found this one from Shooting at the Grange, the murder mystery we presented last April.  I am a little disappointed that I did not find any of the last one we did at the Elks Club to benefit the Herkimer County Historical Society.  I looked rather fabulous in that one, although I daresay I flatter myself.

There’s a fabulous bunch!

Here is the cast of Fabulous and Fatal, the murder mystery we did at the Travel Lodge in Little Falls for the Herkimer County Historical Society in 2019.  The beautiful blonde and the lovely fellow in gold (I loaned him the dress) are in tomorrow’s play.  I positively must get some pictures!

In the meantime, I am over 200 words.  Sufficient for a Lame Post Friday post, at least by my rules for me.  I hope you are all having a lovely evening.

 

 

Post Rehearsal and Past Mysteries

I am not sure if I can up with anything for a Post-Rehearsal Post, but I will try.  I just returned from a rehearsal for Deadly Night Life, the interactive murder mystery we are putting on for Salisbury Grange this Saturday.  It went pretty well.  At least, we all had a good time and a lot of laughs.  These murder mysteries are always a lot of fun.

A suspicious bunch I’ve shared before.

Slipping into Throwback Thursday mode, here is a bunch from a murder mystery we did a few years ago, A G.R.A.V.E. Murder.  I had a lot of fun with that one.

Another fun night.

This one, Fabulous and Fatal, actually came up in a conversation tonight.  Of course we always bring up previous theatrical experiences during rehearsal.  Sometimes I have to interrupt the reminiscences to get us back to rehearsing.

Actors at work.

Here is a shot of the show we put on at the Grange last April.  I certainly hope Saturday’s goes as well.

This fabulous lady is in Saturday’s show.

For one last picture, I give you a cast member from both last year and this year’s shows.  I often have repeat cast members.  Could it be they like my scripts?  I can only hope!

 

Too Tired for a Pre-Rehearsal Post?

How about a Pre-Rehearsal Post on this Tired Tuesday (full disclosure:  I am tired most days).  I ought to be looking over my lines again, but regular readers know how seldom I do what I ought.

The rehearsal is for Deadly Night Life, the murder mystery we are putting on at Salisbury Grange this Saturday.  I have not blogged much about it, because it sold out quickly.  I did not want my local readers to get all interested then be disappointed.  However, as I have very little to blog about right now and (again, as regular readers know) very little brain to blog with, I thought I could talk a little bit about it.

Only there will be all tables on the floor.

Here is a picture I took of the Grange last April, when we presented Shooting at the Grange.  I did not act in that one, which I regretted on the day of the performance.  Oh well, I had my reasons for not taking a role, and we cannot always predict how we will feel about these things.

Here’s a shot with tables.

The above is a picture taken at one of last year’s rehearsals.  I have not taken any pictures of this year’s rehearsals, but perhaps tonight I will have a photo op.

It seems I have rattled on for over 200 words without saying much about the murder mystery, the Grange, or tonight’s rehearsal.  How typical of me.  No matter.  It is Tired Tuesday, and I always feel that a blah blog post is better than no blog post at all.  Do you agree or disagree?  Discuss amongst yourselves.

 

No Theatrical Shenanigans for Me!

Last night I went to the monthly gathering of Ilion Little Theatre in Ilion, NY.  Of course I did not intend to go (just like I did not intend to go to Fratello’s on Wednesday, I suppose).  I was too tired, I had too much to do at home, I was really not in a sociable mood, and I had absolutely nothing to wear.  Still, when I stopped at the store to pick up a few things, I made sure to include a container of dip (Buffalo Chicken Style) and box of crackers, just in case.

I blame my friend Kim for talking me into it.  She said she did not want to go without me.  Well, she is an important member of the theatre; it was clearly my duty.  Full disclosure:  I took my shower, put on a robe and waited for her to text me and talk me into it.  I knew I could count on her.  I miraculously found something to wear and gathered my things.  I made sure to get some crochet together, as I fully intended to sit in a corner if I could find one, crochet, and not really talk to anybody.

I downloaded this picture just now, so I could have an illustration.

As soon as I walked in, I saw two of my favorite people. I got hugs, which I sorely need.  Soon I found myself chattering away, munching the crackers and dip I had brought, and wondering what I had done with my crochet.  Other favorite people showed up as well as many that while not favorites I like perfectly well (I hope that’s not damning with faint praise; after all, everybody can’t be my favorite people).  I found out that a number of people I know are in the current production.  I will tell more about that in a future post (preview of coming attractions)., and I certainly plan to go see it.

Eventually I did sit down and crochet, although I kept chatting with friends as I did.  I even enjoyed some of the pot luck supper.  Kim and I left before the theatrical shenanigans that were promised.  We usually leave before the activity.  Sometimes it is charades or karaoke or trivia.  Maybe some time when I do not have to work on Friday.  I was glad I went and hope to do more with Ilion Little Theatre in the future.

For more information about Ilion Little Theatre, you can Like them on Facebook or visit their website at www.ilionlittletheatre.org.

 

Once Again, I Return to the Blogosphere

Last week was a bad blogging week.  I actually have a couple of pretty good things to write blog posts about but not much brain with which to do so.  However, I wanted to make some semblance of a post so my readers would not feel I had completely deserted them.  My last post was a Monstrous one, I think (if I go back and read it now, I may lose my momentum and never finish this post) (which some would feel was no tragedy, but I can’t worry about them).

Random photo to liven things up.

I found this picture in March 2017 of my Media Library.  It is our sweet pooch Spunky.  Speaking of dearly missed loved ones, Sunday was my late husband Steven’s birthday.  That  could explain the funk I have been in.  Grief is a weird, unpredictable kind of chronic pain.  Of course, I am a kind of a pain myself, so make of that what you will.

Steve in his natural habitat, surrounded by murder suspects.

Here is a picture of Steve doing something he loved: acting.  He is the handsome dude in the suit.  It is the cast of A G.R.A.V.E. Murder, an interactive murder mystery we did to benefit the Herkimer County Historical Society.  It was a really fun show.  I am, of course, grateful for all the wonderful memories I have.

We really were the perfect couple.

One more memory:  Fabulous and Fatal, another murder mystery for the Historical Society.  We were drag queens, or thought we were.

I will try to follow this with posts about my Mohawk Valley Adventures, of which I have had a few recently.  As always, I thank you for tuning in.

 

Wrist to Forehead Sunday is Not a Crime

It is the time of day on a Sunday where I need to either start getting ready for my Monday or make my Wrist to Forehead Sunday Post.  I pick the blog post.  I purchased one of them there Roku doodahs today so I am kind of sort of looking at In Ice Cold Blood as I type (with ten fingers on my Chromebook, lounged on the couch, just to give you the picture).  True Crime, one of my loves!

My friend Kim and I took a trip to a store which needs no plug from Mohawk Valley Girl, and that was just about as much as I bestirred myself today.  Well, I did do the dishes, and I took a shower (not at the same time, although I did splash around a lot of water while doing the dishes).  I composed an email which I sent to the actors for our upcoming murder mystery at Salisbury Grange.  I outlined the situation and listed the characters.  I hope they do not email me back and say stuff like, “Well, that’s pretty lame” or “I don’t want to play THAT character!”  I just do not imagine they will.

He did it! No, she did it!

This is a shot from a rehearsal of the murder mystery we did last spring at Salisbury Grange, Shooting at the Grange.  A few of the same actors will be in this one.  I thought an illustration would look well just then.

I must get to work writing the new mystery, which is as yet untitled.  That would certainly be under the heading of Useful Things Accomplished.  And it is a little more interesting than, for example, making tomorrow’s lunch.  At any rate, I am over 250 words for my Sunday blog post, so I will sign off with a wish that your had a lovely weekend.  I hope to see you all again on Monday, Monstrous or whatever it turns out to be.

 

I Say More Wuss-Out Than Wayback

Well, here we go again with me going days in a row without making a blog post.  I do not even know if I will finish this one today.  I have plans to go to Fratello’s Pizzeria in Frankfort NY with a friend for food and music.  I can’t even say that is a preview of coming attractions, because how often have I said I was going to make a blog post about something then did not.  I did not make that a question, because I do not expect that anybody will go back and check, least of all me, and I do not welcome guesses.

There is not much snow there currently.

I wanted to put in a picture, to break things up a little.  I accidentally clicked on this one from last January as I was fumbling around in my Media Library (still figuring out this new computer), and said, why not?  It is the path over what used to be a hydraulic canal in Herkimer, a favorite place for me to run or walk. I have not been walking enough lately and not running at all, but I hope to change that soon.  Not right this minute, of course. Right this minute I am blogging.

I do not intend to wear these to walk or run.

To mix things up a little more, I include this shot from 2015, when I was in Busybody at Ilion Little Theatre.  That was a fun show.  That makes this a kind of a Wayback Wednesday, although I had intended more of a Wuss-Out Wednesday.  Oh well, call it what you like.  I am over 250 words, and at least I have made a blog post.  As always, thank you for tuning in.

 

I’m Still Here!

Oh dear, it has been ten days since I last posted.  How embarrassing.  I have a few (very few) good Mohawk Valley Adventures to write about, but I feel I should first make an apology if not an explanation of not being here for my lovely readers, which I hope I still have.

May be a doodle of 1 person and text that says 'Please do not accept friend equests from my husband. ...He's been hacked. Mrs. ROXALANA DRUSE,'

These crack me up.

I throw in a picture which has very little to do with anything, but I saw it on Facebook this morning (yes, I peeked at Facebook before logging on to WordPress, judge me if you want to be that way), and it made me smile.  My lawyer assured me he is still working on the appeal.  Longtime readers may remember that I had the honor to play Roxalana Druse in Roxy, the fact-based play about the local murder presented by Herkimer County Historical Society at Ilion Little Theatre.  I wrote several blog posts about it.  In addition to giving me a laugh, I guess it helps me to remember past triumphs.  I trust I shall not continue in the wallowy rut in which I have become mired (what an image!) (and autocorrect seems to think “wallowy” is not a word, but as usual in these cases, it is exactly what I mean).

Regarding the wallowy rut:  I try, I really do try to do things other than sit around and feel sad, try to sleep, or read books (reading books is great, but it doesn’t clean the house, do the dishes, or make blog posts).  At first the insidious voice in my head said, “I can’t!”  I could sometimes overcome it with a gentle, “Just try”  or “Just do one thing,”  occasionally even specifying an actual thing.  Then the voice switched to, “I don’t care!”  That is more difficult to overcome, but I have had some minor success with, “Do it anyways,” or striving to ignore the voice.

I throw in a Christmasy picture to liven things up (I was sure Christmasy was a word!).

What a dull, self-involved post.  I will play the widow card once again.  This is my first Christmas without my beloved Steve.  I remind myself that it is going to be hard, don’t be surprised by that, just try to do a few things to make the season merry for somebody at least.  I guess I have gone over these thoughts before, but I must repeat them constantly to myself so inevitably impose them upon others as well.

And I see I am over 400 words.  I hope to make a real Mohawk Valley Girl post later today or tomorrow.  I thank everybody who is still reading.