Tag Archives: theatre

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.

 

 

I Start Lame and Go From There

Perhaps posting every other day will be a thing for a while.  No promises.  However, I managed to find my way to the dining-room-table-top and, well, here I am.

I just paused to get some coffee.  Surely that will help (after all, somebody’s name might be Shirley).

Not the cup I am using, but I wanted to add an illustration.

In my favor today:  it is Lame Post Friday.  Although I have made a habit lately of making my Lame Post Friday post early Saturday morning and my Throwback Thursday post early Friday morning, I feel fairly certain today’s will be somewhat of a lame post.  Then again, a couple of Throwback pictures might pep things up.

A favorite scene.

From spring of 2019, a scene from Morning’s at Seven at Ilion Little Theatre, with my dear friend Jim.  That play is a great theatre memory.

Oh yeah, Christmas is coming.

I was casting about, looking for other theatre memories but found this shot of my late, dearly missed husband, Steve, and a newscaster from WKTV whose name escapes me, stuffing the bus with toys for poor kids for Christmas 2019.  I must purchase something with which to stuff the bus this year.  Or perhaps I could win something at 4Pet’s Sake Food Pantry’s basket raffle on Saturday (preview of coming attractions).  I donated an afghan to the event.

May be an image of text that says 'BASKET RAFFLE 4PetSake Mohawk Legion 43W.MainSt, 43 W. Main Mohawk Food Pantry Inc. Benefits 4PetSake Food Pantry Saturday December, 2nd from 12-4 PM'

I plan to be there!

So now we have veered into Non-Sequitur territory, and I am over 200 words.  I adjourn for more coffee and wish you all a pleasant Friday.

 

I Bought the Book!

Yesterday I made my way to Ilion Little Theatre, where local author Dave Dellecese was having a Story Time and Signing for his new book, Lucy and the Ghost Take the Stage.  Two of my favorite things: theatre and ghosts!  And a book I think my grandniece, Evie, might like for a Christmas present (I feel free to put it here, because I am fairly certain she does not read my blog).

The author with his book.

Dave Dellecese has been a good friend ever since I joined Ilion Little Theatre. He is an excellent actor and director as well as a talented writer. I am so impressed with his prolific output!  I really must up my writing game.

I had to take the above picture twice, since in the first shot I inadvertently got Char, president of the club, in the background.  When I said I had gotten her blurry in the background, another lady said, “That’s the ghost!”

I did not stay to hear the reading or even eat a cookie, because I was not feeling well.  Nothing contagious; I just have not been eating in the most healthy fashion, especially on Sunday. In my defense… OK, I have no defense.

You can follow Dave Dellecese on Facebook or at https://davedellecese.com/.

 

What Am I Supposed To Be?

Prior to 5 a.m. and prior to work is not the appropriate time to make a Lame Post Friday post.  I’m just saying.  However, I am sitting here, grateful for my first cup of coffee, and determined to make a blog post so it will be at least three days in a row.  Yesterday in my title I threatened to make this blog All Lights, Camera, Murder! All The Time, but I am not yet ready to actually do so.  For one reason, I neglected to take any pictures at last night’s rehearsal.  It was not really all that memorable.  Speaking of memorable, I need to get to work learning my lines.

 

It’s hard to get a shot of the whole band.

My dilemma today is what to wear tonight.  My friend Kim and I plan to go to a Halloween Party at Ilion Elks Lodge, featuring our favorite band, The Posers.  That shot is from an evening they played there last January.

I usually have little problem coming up with a costume.  I have a large collection of costumes and costume pieces from previous Halloweens and plays I was in, in addition to a lot of stuff I have picked up along the way, just waiting for the opportunity to use them.  Tonight, however, the temperature is supposed to be unseasonably warm.  The Elks Club, with all the people sure to attend the party, will probably be steaming.  Even if not too bad, once we start boogying down to the great sounds of The Posers, I will no doubt begin to sweat.  The black velvet gown and red-lined cloak, which is my go-to costume as a common or garden ghoul, will not be that comfortable.

If only I had a long enough blond wig, I could go as Lady Godiva (I just said that with the devilish intention of giving some of you an unfortunate mental image) (you know who you are).  I suppose I could wear what I wore to the DooDah Parade some years ago.  As I recall, I mentioned in a previous blog post that I put that outfit together merely with the intention of keeping cool.

Bonus! I could wear my tiara!

My problem with that is, people would ask me what I was supposed to be, and I do not know what I could tell them.  On a float in a parade (I always insist on riding in the Doodah Parade), viewers are forced to draw their own conclusions.  Being me, of course, I suppose I could make something up.  So my assignment for today is (1) figure out what I am supposed to be in the above get-up or (2) come up with something else.

In the meantime, I have (pre-1) come up with a respectable-length blog post for the third day in a row.  I like to celebrate every small win.