I know I haven't blogged properly for ages but I'm too busy and important! :p
List the last 12 people who wrote on your facebook wall:
1 Mitch Wilson
2 Josh Reynolds
3 Andy Hornby
4 Sarah Green
5 Jane Dawson
6 Stephanie Hay
7 Ed Borgnis
8 Lucy Barnett
9 Lauren Tish
10. Fay Hennell
11. Kate Dawson
12. James Chapman
Q: Have you ever kissed number 7?
Probably whilst drunk ;P
Q: What's the best memory you have of 9?
Gossiping and giggling in State Fair rehearsals :)
Q: When's the next time you're gonna see 4?
I don't know! :( Soon, hopefully
Q: Is number 8 pretty?
She's beautiful
Q: What was your first impression of number 10?
I believe it was that she had very very long pretty hair and seemed quite young...
Q: How did you meet 3?
At work - I gave him a tour when he came for interview
Q: Is 11 your best friend?
No, but I don't really have one best friend anyway!
Q: Have you seen 5 in the last month?
No - she's all over the place and hard to track down! :p
Q: Do you think 12 has a crush on you?
That would be gross, he's my cousin.
Q: When was the last time you saw 2?
I bumped into him on the tube sometime last year
Q: Have you ever been to 1's house?
Sadly, no, but once he's back from Japan I plan to spend time there hanging out and drinking lots :)
Q: Would you ever kiss 6?
She's a girl...so probably not!
Q: When's the next time you'll see 10?
Not sure, but hopefully we'll go see a show before the summer
Q: Are you really close to 3?
We haven't known each other that long!
Q: Have you ever been to the movies with 4?
Ummmm no I don't think so but it would be a fun trip. We tend to dance instead.
Q: Have you ever gotten in trouble with 2?
I don't think so!
Q: What do you and number 7 talk about the most?
Outings and productions of musicals, generally!
Q: Would you give number 5 a hug?
Any time :)
Q: Would you ever go on a date with number 11?
It seems unlikely...!
Q: Are you in love with number 8?
No - but we do protect each other from hungry alsations
Q: When have you lied to number 4?
Never that I know of!! Wouldn't want to.
Q: Do you know a secret about number 8?
I wish I did...I could blackmail her with it :p
Q: Describe the relationship between number 9 and number 5.
They’ve never met. And are unlikely to!
Q: What is the best thing about your friendship with number 12?
That he's also family, and has recently moved to London, both of which are Good Things.
Q: What is the worst thing about number 6?
She's one of the few people that puts my administration skills to shame
Q: Have you ever danced with number 2?
Ummm probably at an RUT christmas party long ago... we probably danced in the foyer of the Palace quite a bit, too!
Q: How long have you known number 12?
My whole life!
Q: Have you ever been in a fight with number 8?
Nope! And I wouldn't want to be... she'd be scary, man!
Q: Does number 9 have a boyfriend/girlfriend?
She is married, I believe.
Q: Have you ever been a co-worker with number 6?
Only on our current production
Q: Have you ever wanted to punch number 12 in the face?
No.
Q: Has number 1 ever met your mother?
Yes indeed - and they got on very well :)
Q. How did you meet number 6?
At university, probably through some MTW people
Q: Did you ever accidentally physically hurt number 5?
Only by feeding her too many biscuits in the office in Edinburgh! :p
Q: What is 2's favorite food?
I don't know - probably pizza
Q: Out of your top 12, which one would you say is the funniest?
Mitch, for being reliably and hilariously inappropriate
Q: Who is the most flirtatious?
Ed. Whore.
Q: If you could change one thing about number 7, what would it be?
Stop him being a whore ;p
Q: Say something nice about number11.
She works too hard (according to her facebook statuses!) and was always smiling, even under huge pressure at C Venues!
Q: What kind of car does number 8 have?
A hired one, if any.
Q: Which one lives the farthest away?
Mitch, currently - he's in Japan!
Q: Which one do you hang out with the most?
Probably Steph at the moment, although often that's at meetings!
Q: Who is the loudest?
Ed or Josh
Q: Have you travelled anywhere with number 8?
Not really!
Q: If you gave #9 £100 dollars, what would they spend it on?
Probably something pretty and some presents for her girls!
Thursday 24 April 2008
Thursday 3 April 2008
Back-to-work Thursday
Having been off for a week, for my birthday and to deal with State Fair, I have now returned to theBROADWAY and to my new colleague Jeremy! He is turning out to be a star already, and a quick learner, which is a great help. I am feeling instantly more relaxed and able to start planning some projects.
State Fair had its first night last night, which went really well (much better than the dress!) and despite the odd technical hiccup or forgotten line, it ran smoothly and the audience seemed to enjoy themselves. Plus we had over 100 people in, which was excellent compared to the 35 we thought we were going to get!
Lyrics of the Day:
"TONY:
Tonight. Tonight.
It all began tonight.
I saw you and the world went away
MARIA:
Tonight. Tonight.
There's only you tonight.
What you are, what you do, what you say.
TONY:
Today, all day I had the feeling
A miracle would happen --
I know now I was right.
TOGETHER:
For here you are,
And what was just a world is a star
Tonight!
Good night. Good night.
Sleep well and when you dream,
Dream of me.
Tonight.
(Reprise)
TONY:
Tonight. Tonight
Won't be just any night.
Tonight there will be no morning star.
Tonight. Tonight.
I'll see my love tonight
And for us, stars will stop where they are.
MARIA:
Today
The minutes seem like hours...
The hours go so slowly
And still the sky is light.
Oh, moon, grow bright
And make this endless day
Endless night, tonight!"
- 'Tonight' from West Side Story (Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim)
State Fair had its first night last night, which went really well (much better than the dress!) and despite the odd technical hiccup or forgotten line, it ran smoothly and the audience seemed to enjoy themselves. Plus we had over 100 people in, which was excellent compared to the 35 we thought we were going to get!
Lyrics of the Day:
"TONY:
Tonight. Tonight.
It all began tonight.
I saw you and the world went away
MARIA:
Tonight. Tonight.
There's only you tonight.
What you are, what you do, what you say.
TONY:
Today, all day I had the feeling
A miracle would happen --
I know now I was right.
TOGETHER:
For here you are,
And what was just a world is a star
Tonight!
Good night. Good night.
Sleep well and when you dream,
Dream of me.
Tonight.
(Reprise)
TONY:
Tonight. Tonight
Won't be just any night.
Tonight there will be no morning star.
Tonight. Tonight.
I'll see my love tonight
And for us, stars will stop where they are.
MARIA:
Today
The minutes seem like hours...
The hours go so slowly
And still the sky is light.
Oh, moon, grow bright
And make this endless day
Endless night, tonight!"
- 'Tonight' from West Side Story (Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim)
Thursday 27 March 2008
Sondheim's Blues
You'd never guess, but I'm actually really busy at work!! Am trying to sort out all the stuff for Jeremy's first couple of days, which happen while I'm on holiday from tomorrow until Wednesday, doing State Fair.
Lunchtime lyrics!
"Hello folks, it's me Stephen Sondheim,
don't go, folks, I won't be a pain.
No, no, folks, you'll still get a fond rhyme,
it's just I got a problem that I want to explain.
You see I'm under-produced of late, very ignored,
theatrical budgets are lean,
I get my respect, I get my award,
but as you suspect, you know what I mean?
I've got those 'everybody loves me but nobody will produce me' blues,
That 'isn't he a genius, but don't give him any money' feeling.
That 'isn't he a work of art? but not fun enough,
He's ok for elitist but not popular stuff',
Those 'don't put on my albums when you want some dinner music' feelings!
Those 'I won a lot of Tonys but my shows don't show a profit' blues.
D'you hear the one about Glenn Close? Ok this is good, ready?
She said she'll do Night Music, "Revival!" she says,
Isn't that a thrill? "Send in the clowns"
But then she gets an offer, "Much better" she says,
Cruella DeVille. "Puppies! Mwaahahaha"
The Dodgers say they'll back me, "We'll do it" they say,
"if you get Bernadette" - wow, a job.
But Bernadette is busy, "Forever!" she says,
"I'm tired of being your pet"
No, no Bernadette, Bernadette, say it isn't so!
"No, no, I can't stand you! I can't stand you!"
I just flew in from my workshop of Wise Guys,
and boy, are my rhymes tired. Hahaha! Now take Hal Prince. Please.
I've... got... those... 'everybody loves me but nobody will produce me' blues,
(everybody!) "Sondheim's bluuuues!"
That 'don't put on Assassins if you plan on disco dancing' feeling,
"Feeling!!"
That 'will you write a song for me like Losing My Mind?'
'If you want a star like me then kiss my behind!'
Those 'actors love my lyrics but they hate to memorise them' feelings...
Bla-bla-blues!
Those 'write for me, I need you,
Sondheim is prestigious',
As Julie Andrews told me once,
"You're brilliant but aggregious"
[...]
Those 'God that's good, but too weird,
What was that? What a genius,
Everybody loves my writing
But the wise list find it biting
Good, bad, start, stop,
Rich, broke, hit, flop,
Everybody loves me but nobody will produce me',
Bluuuuuuuuuuuuues!!!"
- 'Sondheim's Blues', Gerard Alessandrini Forbidden Broadway
Lunchtime lyrics!
"Hello folks, it's me Stephen Sondheim,
don't go, folks, I won't be a pain.
No, no, folks, you'll still get a fond rhyme,
it's just I got a problem that I want to explain.
You see I'm under-produced of late, very ignored,
theatrical budgets are lean,
I get my respect, I get my award,
but as you suspect, you know what I mean?
I've got those 'everybody loves me but nobody will produce me' blues,
That 'isn't he a genius, but don't give him any money' feeling.
That 'isn't he a work of art? but not fun enough,
He's ok for elitist but not popular stuff',
Those 'don't put on my albums when you want some dinner music' feelings!
Those 'I won a lot of Tonys but my shows don't show a profit' blues.
D'you hear the one about Glenn Close? Ok this is good, ready?
She said she'll do Night Music, "Revival!" she says,
Isn't that a thrill? "Send in the clowns"
But then she gets an offer, "Much better" she says,
Cruella DeVille. "Puppies! Mwaahahaha"
The Dodgers say they'll back me, "We'll do it" they say,
"if you get Bernadette" - wow, a job.
But Bernadette is busy, "Forever!" she says,
"I'm tired of being your pet"
No, no Bernadette, Bernadette, say it isn't so!
"No, no, I can't stand you! I can't stand you!"
I just flew in from my workshop of Wise Guys,
and boy, are my rhymes tired. Hahaha! Now take Hal Prince. Please.
I've... got... those... 'everybody loves me but nobody will produce me' blues,
(everybody!) "Sondheim's bluuuues!"
That 'don't put on Assassins if you plan on disco dancing' feeling,
"Feeling!!"
That 'will you write a song for me like Losing My Mind?'
'If you want a star like me then kiss my behind!'
Those 'actors love my lyrics but they hate to memorise them' feelings...
Bla-bla-blues!
Those 'write for me, I need you,
Sondheim is prestigious',
As Julie Andrews told me once,
"You're brilliant but aggregious"
[...]
Those 'God that's good, but too weird,
What was that? What a genius,
Everybody loves my writing
But the wise list find it biting
Good, bad, start, stop,
Rich, broke, hit, flop,
Everybody loves me but nobody will produce me',
Bluuuuuuuuuuuuues!!!"
- 'Sondheim's Blues', Gerard Alessandrini Forbidden Broadway
Tuesday 25 March 2008
Lyrics of the Day - 'Being Alive'
"FRIENDS [frantically]:
Bobby...Bobby...Bobby baby...
Bobby bubbi...Robby...Robert darling...
Bobby, we've been trying to call you.
Bobby...Bobby...Bobby baby...Bobby bubbi...
Angel, I've got something to tell you.
Bob...Robbo...Bobby love...Bobby honey...
Bobby, we've been trying to reach you all day.
Bobby...Bobby...Bobby Baby...Angel...Darling...
The kids were asking--
Bobby...Bobby...Robert...Robby...Bob-o...
Bobby, there was something we wanted to say.
The line was busy...
Bobby...Bobby bubbi...
Bobby fella...Bobby sweetie--
ROBERT [speaking]: Stop!...What do you get? [Sings]
Someone to hold you too close,
Someone to hurt you too deep,
Someone to sit in your chair,
To ruin your sleep.
PAUL: That's true, but there's more to it than that.
SARAH: Is that all you think there is to it?
HARRY: You've got so many reasons for not being with someone, but
Robert,
you haven't got one good reason for being alone.
LARRY: Come on, you're on to something, Bobby. You're on to something.
ROBERT:
Someone to need you too much,
Someone to know you too well,
Someone to pull you up short
And put you through hell.
DAVID: You see what you look for, you know.
JOANNE: You're not a kid anymore, Robby. I don't think you'll ever
be a kid again, kiddo.
PETER: Hey, buddy, don't be afraid it won't be perfect. The only thing
to be afraid of really is that it won't be.
JENNY: Don't stop now. Keep going.
ROBERT:
Someone you have to let in,
Someone whose feelings you spare,
Someone who, like it or not,
Will want you to share
A little, a lot.
SUSAN: And what does all that mean?
LARRY: Robert, how do you know so much about it when you've never
been there?
HARRY: It's much better living it than looking at it, Robert.
PETER: Add 'em up, Bobby. Add 'em up.
ROBERT:
Someone to crowd you with love,
Someone to force you to care,
Someone to make you come through,
Who'll always be there,
As frightened as you
Of being alive,
Being alive,
Being alive,
Being alive.
AMY: Blow out the candles, Robert, and make a wish. *Want* something!
Want *something*!
ROBERT:
Somebody, hold me too close,
Somebody, hurt me too deep,
Somebody, sit in my chair
And ruin my sleep
And make me aware
Of being alive,
Being alive.
Somebody, need me too much,
Somebody, know me too well,
Somebody, pull me up short
And put me through hell
And give me support
For being alive,
Make me alive.
Make me confused,
Mock me with praise,
Let me be used,
Vary my days.
But alone is alone, not alive.
Somebody, crowd me with love,
Somebody, force me to care,
Somebody, make me come through,
I'll always be there,
As frightened as you,
To help us survive
Being alive,
Being alive,
Being alive!"
- Being Alive, from Company by Stephen Sondheim
I had a lovely Easter weekend. I am very happy :-D
Lxx
Bobby...Bobby...Bobby baby...
Bobby bubbi...Robby...Robert darling...
Bobby, we've been trying to call you.
Bobby...Bobby...Bobby baby...Bobby bubbi...
Angel, I've got something to tell you.
Bob...Robbo...Bobby love...Bobby honey...
Bobby, we've been trying to reach you all day.
Bobby...Bobby...Bobby Baby...Angel...Darling...
The kids were asking--
Bobby...Bobby...Robert...Robby...Bob-o...
Bobby, there was something we wanted to say.
The line was busy...
Bobby...Bobby bubbi...
Bobby fella...Bobby sweetie--
ROBERT [speaking]: Stop!...What do you get? [Sings]
Someone to hold you too close,
Someone to hurt you too deep,
Someone to sit in your chair,
To ruin your sleep.
PAUL: That's true, but there's more to it than that.
SARAH: Is that all you think there is to it?
HARRY: You've got so many reasons for not being with someone, but
Robert,
you haven't got one good reason for being alone.
LARRY: Come on, you're on to something, Bobby. You're on to something.
ROBERT:
Someone to need you too much,
Someone to know you too well,
Someone to pull you up short
And put you through hell.
DAVID: You see what you look for, you know.
JOANNE: You're not a kid anymore, Robby. I don't think you'll ever
be a kid again, kiddo.
PETER: Hey, buddy, don't be afraid it won't be perfect. The only thing
to be afraid of really is that it won't be.
JENNY: Don't stop now. Keep going.
ROBERT:
Someone you have to let in,
Someone whose feelings you spare,
Someone who, like it or not,
Will want you to share
A little, a lot.
SUSAN: And what does all that mean?
LARRY: Robert, how do you know so much about it when you've never
been there?
HARRY: It's much better living it than looking at it, Robert.
PETER: Add 'em up, Bobby. Add 'em up.
ROBERT:
Someone to crowd you with love,
Someone to force you to care,
Someone to make you come through,
Who'll always be there,
As frightened as you
Of being alive,
Being alive,
Being alive,
Being alive.
AMY: Blow out the candles, Robert, and make a wish. *Want* something!
Want *something*!
ROBERT:
Somebody, hold me too close,
Somebody, hurt me too deep,
Somebody, sit in my chair
And ruin my sleep
And make me aware
Of being alive,
Being alive.
Somebody, need me too much,
Somebody, know me too well,
Somebody, pull me up short
And put me through hell
And give me support
For being alive,
Make me alive.
Make me confused,
Mock me with praise,
Let me be used,
Vary my days.
But alone is alone, not alive.
Somebody, crowd me with love,
Somebody, force me to care,
Somebody, make me come through,
I'll always be there,
As frightened as you,
To help us survive
Being alive,
Being alive,
Being alive!"
- Being Alive, from Company by Stephen Sondheim
I had a lovely Easter weekend. I am very happy :-D
Lxx
Wednesday 19 March 2008
Today...
I are be mostly binding Staff Handbooks.
It's very quiet!
Bring on the long weekend...
Lyrics of the day:
"My first crush on an Irish girl,
I was ten years old
And her name was Elaine.
Little red-head girl;
Well, she looked like you,
But if you were ten.
Which you’re clearly not.
Not that you look old,
But you get my...
I’ll just stop now.
Okay, wait, ‘cause I had a point -
No, I swear I did!
Well, I think I did,
Which is all my life
(Or since I was ten)
I have had a yen
For an Irish lass.
Because God knows why,
Like the ancient curse
Of the shiksa queens.
Do I talk too much?
Which is not to say
That I’d want Elaine,
Who turned out to be
(When I last checked in)
A Republican
And a parapsychologist.
If you’ve got a four-leaf clover,
You can make my dreams come true.
I will be your Hebrew slave:
Just do the things that Irish girls do.
Talk about potato famines,
I begin to cry on cue!
Sing about the Emerald Isle and
Get your Irish eyes to smilin’ -
I could be in love with someone like you.
I just left a relationship
With a lovely girl
Named Alyssa Levine.
She was really great,
It was all my fault -
I just got upset
‘Cause she slept with my brother.
So I made a vow
Not to get caught up
In the dating scene
Or the whole routine
With the cousin’s friend
Or the who-knows-what,
Like I need that shit.
I’ve got marks to make,
I’ve got steps to climb,
It’s the perfect time!
I’ve got books to write,
I’ve got things to do -
I go out my door
And bump into you,
And the jig is up,
And my vow is through!
I don’t know what I’m doin’,
But come in and ruin me!
I will write my own “Ulysses”
If you’re there to show me how.
Take me back to Glocca Morra,
Bathe me in the River Shannon now.
If you’ll be Mrs. O’Leary,
Baby, I will be your cow.
I’ll deliver shamrocks daily,
Buy your pa a new shillelagh,
I could be in love with someone like...
You could be my inspiration
And get me past this block,
And walk me through the Great Unknown.
You could be my true salvation,
Unchain me from this rock,
And keep me from being alone,
‘Cause I’m no good at being alone!
Take me to another level!
Let me play in bigger halls!
I will do a Riverdance
As long as you keep answering my calls!
Get me out of my apartment!
Keep me from my empty walls!
Someone hire John McCormack!
Start the Wearing of the Green!
Let me win the Irish Sweepstakes!
Let me take you home, Kathleen!
I can be in love with someone!
I can be in love with someone!
I can be in love with
Someone
Like you!"
- I Could Be In Love With Someone Like You, Jason Robert Brown
I realised I never wrote about how good Chris was in his end of term performance of Company at Arts Ed (which he was) - it was very interesting to watch Acting students do a Musical, I think they interpreted it very differently to how Musical Theatre students would have.
Last night my brother and Bean introduced me to a very funny guy on YouTube from the states called Bo Burnham - look him up, he's hilarious. And he's only 17! You should also look up 'Pachelbel Rant' on YouTube, especially if you've ever played the cello.
More interviews at work this afternoon, so more venue tours for me to give, then State Fair rehearsals tonight - we ran all the dances last night as it was Lauren's last rehearsal with us, (and because Ben the musical director couldn't make it) and we're going to try to run the whole show tonight if we can fit it into 2 hours! :S Last night was much better than Sunday, though, so it's definitely on-track.
*Yawns* I think I might eat some more oreos... (Krystle came back from her holiday in the states yesterday and brought them with her! Mmmm.)
xx
It's very quiet!
Bring on the long weekend...
Lyrics of the day:
"My first crush on an Irish girl,
I was ten years old
And her name was Elaine.
Little red-head girl;
Well, she looked like you,
But if you were ten.
Which you’re clearly not.
Not that you look old,
But you get my...
I’ll just stop now.
Okay, wait, ‘cause I had a point -
No, I swear I did!
Well, I think I did,
Which is all my life
(Or since I was ten)
I have had a yen
For an Irish lass.
Because God knows why,
Like the ancient curse
Of the shiksa queens.
Do I talk too much?
Which is not to say
That I’d want Elaine,
Who turned out to be
(When I last checked in)
A Republican
And a parapsychologist.
If you’ve got a four-leaf clover,
You can make my dreams come true.
I will be your Hebrew slave:
Just do the things that Irish girls do.
Talk about potato famines,
I begin to cry on cue!
Sing about the Emerald Isle and
Get your Irish eyes to smilin’ -
I could be in love with someone like you.
I just left a relationship
With a lovely girl
Named Alyssa Levine.
She was really great,
It was all my fault -
I just got upset
‘Cause she slept with my brother.
So I made a vow
Not to get caught up
In the dating scene
Or the whole routine
With the cousin’s friend
Or the who-knows-what,
Like I need that shit.
I’ve got marks to make,
I’ve got steps to climb,
It’s the perfect time!
I’ve got books to write,
I’ve got things to do -
I go out my door
And bump into you,
And the jig is up,
And my vow is through!
I don’t know what I’m doin’,
But come in and ruin me!
I will write my own “Ulysses”
If you’re there to show me how.
Take me back to Glocca Morra,
Bathe me in the River Shannon now.
If you’ll be Mrs. O’Leary,
Baby, I will be your cow.
I’ll deliver shamrocks daily,
Buy your pa a new shillelagh,
I could be in love with someone like...
You could be my inspiration
And get me past this block,
And walk me through the Great Unknown.
You could be my true salvation,
Unchain me from this rock,
And keep me from being alone,
‘Cause I’m no good at being alone!
Take me to another level!
Let me play in bigger halls!
I will do a Riverdance
As long as you keep answering my calls!
Get me out of my apartment!
Keep me from my empty walls!
Someone hire John McCormack!
Start the Wearing of the Green!
Let me win the Irish Sweepstakes!
Let me take you home, Kathleen!
I can be in love with someone!
I can be in love with someone!
I can be in love with
Someone
Like you!"
- I Could Be In Love With Someone Like You, Jason Robert Brown
I realised I never wrote about how good Chris was in his end of term performance of Company at Arts Ed (which he was) - it was very interesting to watch Acting students do a Musical, I think they interpreted it very differently to how Musical Theatre students would have.
Last night my brother and Bean introduced me to a very funny guy on YouTube from the states called Bo Burnham - look him up, he's hilarious. And he's only 17! You should also look up 'Pachelbel Rant' on YouTube, especially if you've ever played the cello.
More interviews at work this afternoon, so more venue tours for me to give, then State Fair rehearsals tonight - we ran all the dances last night as it was Lauren's last rehearsal with us, (and because Ben the musical director couldn't make it) and we're going to try to run the whole show tonight if we can fit it into 2 hours! :S Last night was much better than Sunday, though, so it's definitely on-track.
*Yawns* I think I might eat some more oreos... (Krystle came back from her holiday in the states yesterday and brought them with her! Mmmm.)
xx
Tuesday 18 March 2008
Lyrics of the Day
"I was totally indifferent when it started,
Broken-hearted's not a thing I like to be,
So when he asked me to the movies,
I said that might be OK,
A decent way to spend an hour or two...or three.
I maintained a cool composure throughout dinner,
And I thought that he was nice, but nothing more,
And after some Chablis it's true,
There was a longing glance or two
While walking through the village to my door.
"I had a real nice time" I said,
And softly tilted back my head,
And if he was surprised he didn't look it.
I said "I don't usually do this,
But I got some tea upstairs..."
And he gently took my hand, and then...
He shook it.
Is there anything more sexy than an apathetic man?
What could possibly more set your soul on fire
Than a man who holds you to him,
With eyes of darkest brown,
Looks right through you with complete lack of desire?
No, there's nothing more arousing than an apathetic man,
Nothing builds your fever pitch to point of blister
Than a soft and sultry baritone
Who whispers in your ear,
"Well, I think of you more like, you know, a sister".
I used to think attentive men were better to adore,
Men who'd champagne, caviar and then endive me,
But nothing in the world can make my heart scream "Take me!" more
Than a man who says that he could take or leave me.
Is there any drug more potent than an apathetic man?
Friends have screamed at me to quit to no avail,
Why take chances on relationships with men that might work out,
When you've got one that you know is doomed to fail?
There's no better science project than the apathetic man,
Though he's really not a theory you can prove,
That won't stop you from the hundreds of experiments you'll try
Thinking you're the one who's gonna make him move.
So you'll don a fuzzy sweater in a lovely shade of pink,
Trace a sweet vanilla path behind your ear,
Then you'll bat your baby blue eyes as you sit upon his lap,
And he'll murmur "Oh that's right, are you still here?" !
Is there anything more swoony than an apathetic man?
Ladies try one, they are not too hard to find.
Why spend time on friends and family when you can spend your life
Wondering what the hell is going through his mind?
No there's nothing that's more moony than an apathetic man,
Though you're sure to make him yours the twelfth of...never!
So remember, if you want to love with passion unconstricted,
Bypass smitten, slightly interested and woefully conflicted,
For you'll find the vice that's sure to make you totally addicted
Is the apathetic man!"
Apathetic Man by Marcy Heisler and Zina Goldrich
- Quite true, but never again! I suppose we all say that...
xx
Broken-hearted's not a thing I like to be,
So when he asked me to the movies,
I said that might be OK,
A decent way to spend an hour or two...or three.
I maintained a cool composure throughout dinner,
And I thought that he was nice, but nothing more,
And after some Chablis it's true,
There was a longing glance or two
While walking through the village to my door.
"I had a real nice time" I said,
And softly tilted back my head,
And if he was surprised he didn't look it.
I said "I don't usually do this,
But I got some tea upstairs..."
And he gently took my hand, and then...
He shook it.
Is there anything more sexy than an apathetic man?
What could possibly more set your soul on fire
Than a man who holds you to him,
With eyes of darkest brown,
Looks right through you with complete lack of desire?
No, there's nothing more arousing than an apathetic man,
Nothing builds your fever pitch to point of blister
Than a soft and sultry baritone
Who whispers in your ear,
"Well, I think of you more like, you know, a sister".
I used to think attentive men were better to adore,
Men who'd champagne, caviar and then endive me,
But nothing in the world can make my heart scream "Take me!" more
Than a man who says that he could take or leave me.
Is there any drug more potent than an apathetic man?
Friends have screamed at me to quit to no avail,
Why take chances on relationships with men that might work out,
When you've got one that you know is doomed to fail?
There's no better science project than the apathetic man,
Though he's really not a theory you can prove,
That won't stop you from the hundreds of experiments you'll try
Thinking you're the one who's gonna make him move.
So you'll don a fuzzy sweater in a lovely shade of pink,
Trace a sweet vanilla path behind your ear,
Then you'll bat your baby blue eyes as you sit upon his lap,
And he'll murmur "Oh that's right, are you still here?" !
Is there anything more swoony than an apathetic man?
Ladies try one, they are not too hard to find.
Why spend time on friends and family when you can spend your life
Wondering what the hell is going through his mind?
No there's nothing that's more moony than an apathetic man,
Though you're sure to make him yours the twelfth of...never!
So remember, if you want to love with passion unconstricted,
Bypass smitten, slightly interested and woefully conflicted,
For you'll find the vice that's sure to make you totally addicted
Is the apathetic man!"
Apathetic Man by Marcy Heisler and Zina Goldrich
- Quite true, but never again! I suppose we all say that...
xx
Oooh, a quiz! Lunchtime blog it is... (Stolen from Jon)
1. What is something that people say to you that always gets on your nerves?
'Haitch' always annoys me... as does 'I'm fed up of it' (which should be 'I'm fed up WITH it')... my father has turned me into a grammar geek!
2. Name something you have in common with all your siblings.
My face? And being fairly musical, I suppose.
3. Whats the last thing you said to someone & to who?
"Cool" to my colleague Sherrell, just now!
4. If someone who didn't know you had to guess your name, what hint would give them?
You can't guess my name - it's impossible. Like Rumplestiltskin.
6. Have you ever called 999?
No, thank goodness.
7. Do you own an iPod?
Yes and it's just been updated with some exciting new software so I love it even more than I did before :)
8. Do any of your friends have children?
Yes - in fact Tarbit's baby has been born very recently :)
9. What CD is currently in your CD player?
Ragtime (that Tim bought me in New York - yay!)
10. Do you prefer regular or chocolate milk?
Chocolate, obviously.
11. Has anyone told you a secret this week?
Not that I know of!
12. When was the last time you had Starbucks?
I can't remember! This means it has been too long.
13. Can you whistle?
Yes
14. Are you currently wanting any piercings or tattoos?
No!
15. Do you get along better with men or women?
Men, I think.
16. Do you sleep on your side, stomach, or back?
Side. Stops me snoring :p
19. Which of your friends lives closest to you?
Ben lives just round the corner, but of my close friends I have no idea - they all live in swanky West London. Grr.
20. What did you do yesterday?
I worked all day, went home, then went to deb's and he made dinner :)
21. What concerts are you looking forward to?
Hmm I don't really go to concerts... but I'm looking forward to the Singalonga Sound of Music at my theatre in June!
22. Whats bothering you right now?
Not a lot - I am a happy bunny :)
23. Next vacation you're going on?
Hopefully to Paris in April for a weekend.
24. Last time you had butterflies in your stomach?
Yesterday
25. What did you dream last night?
I can't remember :(
26. Does your phone ring in the middle of the night often?
Very rarely - occasionally Duncan phones me at stupid o'clock, or someone drunken does!
27. What gets in your way when your sleeping?
What could get in my way? I'm in a bed! I suppose my hot water bottle might occasionally be in an awkward place.
28. What are you doing tomorrow?
Working and then rehearsing for State Fair.
29. What is something you've learned about yourself recently?
I am better at controlling my emotions than I used to be, and I am capable of more than I could ever have guessed!
30. Do you like anyone?
I like a lot of people... be more specific!
31. Do you know anyone who's married?
Yes
33. Who was the last person to make you cry?
Xander because he left work and left me all alone...!
34. What are you doing?
Sitting at my desk, typing this...duh.
35. When was the last time you cried?
Last week probably. I cry a lot - I'm a girl.
36. What is one thing you miss about your past?
I miss the freedom and independence of being at uni, I suppose, but other than that not much.
37. Are you jealous of anyone?
Not of anyone in particular, i'm only ever jealous of specific things about people rather than the people themselves.
38. Is anyone jealous of you?
How would I know?
40. Who was the last person you drove with?
Richard gave me a lift home from rehearsals last week, I think.
41. What are you looking forward to?
The long weekend for Easter this week! :)
42. How are you today?
A little tired, but on good form otherwise.
44. Are you currently single?
Yes...
46. Do you have a best friend?
I have a number of close friends whom I love dearly :)
47. Do you regret anything that you have done in your life?
No regrets - as long as you learn from things I don't see why you should have.
48. Have you ever been in the emergency room?
Probably only with my brother when he bit through his lip many years ago.
50. If you could change anything about your past, what would you change?
See above! Nothing.
51. Have you ever felt like killing somebody??
Not actually killing them. That would be scary.
'Haitch' always annoys me... as does 'I'm fed up of it' (which should be 'I'm fed up WITH it')... my father has turned me into a grammar geek!
2. Name something you have in common with all your siblings.
My face? And being fairly musical, I suppose.
3. Whats the last thing you said to someone & to who?
"Cool" to my colleague Sherrell, just now!
4. If someone who didn't know you had to guess your name, what hint would give them?
You can't guess my name - it's impossible. Like Rumplestiltskin.
6. Have you ever called 999?
No, thank goodness.
7. Do you own an iPod?
Yes and it's just been updated with some exciting new software so I love it even more than I did before :)
8. Do any of your friends have children?
Yes - in fact Tarbit's baby has been born very recently :)
9. What CD is currently in your CD player?
Ragtime (that Tim bought me in New York - yay!)
10. Do you prefer regular or chocolate milk?
Chocolate, obviously.
11. Has anyone told you a secret this week?
Not that I know of!
12. When was the last time you had Starbucks?
I can't remember! This means it has been too long.
13. Can you whistle?
Yes
14. Are you currently wanting any piercings or tattoos?
No!
15. Do you get along better with men or women?
Men, I think.
16. Do you sleep on your side, stomach, or back?
Side. Stops me snoring :p
19. Which of your friends lives closest to you?
Ben lives just round the corner, but of my close friends I have no idea - they all live in swanky West London. Grr.
20. What did you do yesterday?
I worked all day, went home, then went to deb's and he made dinner :)
21. What concerts are you looking forward to?
Hmm I don't really go to concerts... but I'm looking forward to the Singalonga Sound of Music at my theatre in June!
22. Whats bothering you right now?
Not a lot - I am a happy bunny :)
23. Next vacation you're going on?
Hopefully to Paris in April for a weekend.
24. Last time you had butterflies in your stomach?
Yesterday
25. What did you dream last night?
I can't remember :(
26. Does your phone ring in the middle of the night often?
Very rarely - occasionally Duncan phones me at stupid o'clock, or someone drunken does!
27. What gets in your way when your sleeping?
What could get in my way? I'm in a bed! I suppose my hot water bottle might occasionally be in an awkward place.
28. What are you doing tomorrow?
Working and then rehearsing for State Fair.
29. What is something you've learned about yourself recently?
I am better at controlling my emotions than I used to be, and I am capable of more than I could ever have guessed!
30. Do you like anyone?
I like a lot of people... be more specific!
31. Do you know anyone who's married?
Yes
33. Who was the last person to make you cry?
Xander because he left work and left me all alone...!
34. What are you doing?
Sitting at my desk, typing this...duh.
35. When was the last time you cried?
Last week probably. I cry a lot - I'm a girl.
36. What is one thing you miss about your past?
I miss the freedom and independence of being at uni, I suppose, but other than that not much.
37. Are you jealous of anyone?
Not of anyone in particular, i'm only ever jealous of specific things about people rather than the people themselves.
38. Is anyone jealous of you?
How would I know?
40. Who was the last person you drove with?
Richard gave me a lift home from rehearsals last week, I think.
41. What are you looking forward to?
The long weekend for Easter this week! :)
42. How are you today?
A little tired, but on good form otherwise.
44. Are you currently single?
Yes...
46. Do you have a best friend?
I have a number of close friends whom I love dearly :)
47. Do you regret anything that you have done in your life?
No regrets - as long as you learn from things I don't see why you should have.
48. Have you ever been in the emergency room?
Probably only with my brother when he bit through his lip many years ago.
50. If you could change anything about your past, what would you change?
See above! Nothing.
51. Have you ever felt like killing somebody??
Not actually killing them. That would be scary.
Friday 14 March 2008
TFI Friday
Lyrics of the Day:
"Hello, George...
Where did you go, George?
I know you're near, George.
I caught your eyes, George.
I want your ear, George.
I've a surprise, George...
Everybody loves Louis,
Louis' simple and kind.
Everybody loves Louis,
Louis' lovable
Seems we never know, do we,
Who we're going to find?
And Louis the baker is not what I had in mind.
But...
Louis' really an artist
Louis' cakes are an art.
Louis isn't the smartest-
Louis' popular.
Everybody loves Louis,
Louis bakes from the heart...
The bread, George.
I mean the bread, George.
And then in bed, George...
I mean he kneads me-
I mean like dough, George...
Hello, George...
Louis' always so pleasant,
Louis' always so fair.
Louis makes you feel present,
Louis' generous.
That's the thing about Louis
Louis always is "there."
Louis' thoughts are not hard to follow,
Louis' art is not hard to swallow.
Not that Louis' perfection-
That's what makes him ideal.
Hardly anything worth objection
Louis drinks a bit,
Louis blinks a bit.
Louis makes a connection,
That's the thing that you feel...
We lose things.
And then we choose things.
And there are Louis's
And there are Georges-
Well, Louis's
And George.
But George has George,
And I need-
Someone-
Louis-
Everybody loves Louis,
Him as well as his cakes.
Everybody loves Louis,
Me included, George.
Not afraid to be gooey,
Louis sells what he makes.
Everybody gets along him.
That's the trouble, nothing's wrong with him.
Louis has to bake his way,
George can only bake his...
Oh, Louis it is!"
- "Everybody Loves Louis" from Sunday in the Park With George, Stephen Sondheim
It is payday and I am going shopping. :-D
Lxx
"Hello, George...
Where did you go, George?
I know you're near, George.
I caught your eyes, George.
I want your ear, George.
I've a surprise, George...
Everybody loves Louis,
Louis' simple and kind.
Everybody loves Louis,
Louis' lovable
Seems we never know, do we,
Who we're going to find?
And Louis the baker is not what I had in mind.
But...
Louis' really an artist
Louis' cakes are an art.
Louis isn't the smartest-
Louis' popular.
Everybody loves Louis,
Louis bakes from the heart...
The bread, George.
I mean the bread, George.
And then in bed, George...
I mean he kneads me-
I mean like dough, George...
Hello, George...
Louis' always so pleasant,
Louis' always so fair.
Louis makes you feel present,
Louis' generous.
That's the thing about Louis
Louis always is "there."
Louis' thoughts are not hard to follow,
Louis' art is not hard to swallow.
Not that Louis' perfection-
That's what makes him ideal.
Hardly anything worth objection
Louis drinks a bit,
Louis blinks a bit.
Louis makes a connection,
That's the thing that you feel...
We lose things.
And then we choose things.
And there are Louis's
And there are Georges-
Well, Louis's
And George.
But George has George,
And I need-
Someone-
Louis-
Everybody loves Louis,
Him as well as his cakes.
Everybody loves Louis,
Me included, George.
Not afraid to be gooey,
Louis sells what he makes.
Everybody gets along him.
That's the trouble, nothing's wrong with him.
Louis has to bake his way,
George can only bake his...
Oh, Louis it is!"
- "Everybody Loves Louis" from Sunday in the Park With George, Stephen Sondheim
It is payday and I am going shopping. :-D
Lxx
Wednesday 12 March 2008
Lyrics of the day
"I noticed tonight that the world has been turning
While I've been stuck here dithering around
Though I know I said I'd wait around till you need me
But I have to go, I hate to let you down
But I can't stop now
I've got troubles of my own
Cause I'm short on time
I'm lonely
And I'm too tired to talk
I noticed tonight that the world has been turning
While I've been stuck here withering away
Though I know I said I wouldn't leave you behind
But I have to go, it breaks my heart to say
That I can't stop now
I've got troubles of my own
Cause I'm short on time
I'm lonely
And I'm too tired to talk
To no one back home
I've got troubles of my own
And I can't slow down
For no one in town
And I can't stop now
And I can't slow down
For no one in town
And I can't stop now
For no one"
- Keane, Can't Stop Now from the album Hopes and Fears (2004)
This afternoon I am going to see Mr. Chris Allen in his end-of-term show, Company at Arts Ed in Chiswick, then I'm coming all the way back across London to go to State Fair rehearsals! Rehearsal last night was both good fun AND productive - exactly as it should be - and we now have all parts cast! (The only two people we haven't yet blocked in are only in one scene each, so we're nearly there now.)
At the weekend I went to Sam Tai (from work)'s 30th Birthday Masquerade party at Bar Soho with Xander - and he was the only person I knew other than the birthda girl! We still had fun eating lollies and sticking the stars that were strewn over the tables to each others' faces, however, and I got to see Kate (Roscoe) after she had finished work which was lovely. Then I had 5 hours of rehearsals on Sunday (including a run of the show) which went pretty well.
This week at work is hard. Having got through all the piles of stuff Xander left last week, and not even having time to think right up until 5.30 on Friday, this week I'm left with bigger projects, more complicated tasks, and a lot of responsibilities at once. Contracts, inductions, hires, scheduling, professional programme paperwork... roll on April when I'll have Jeremy to help out! Am remaining duck-like: calm and unruffled on the surface, and paddling like mad underneath. ("Keep paddling, like the clappers you keep paddling, with your flappers while seeming to be dreaming and calm..." - Honk!)
Am looking forward to my afternoon off today and my weekend of fun starting with Sarah Green's 21st on Friday night in Leamington!
Lxx
While I've been stuck here dithering around
Though I know I said I'd wait around till you need me
But I have to go, I hate to let you down
But I can't stop now
I've got troubles of my own
Cause I'm short on time
I'm lonely
And I'm too tired to talk
I noticed tonight that the world has been turning
While I've been stuck here withering away
Though I know I said I wouldn't leave you behind
But I have to go, it breaks my heart to say
That I can't stop now
I've got troubles of my own
Cause I'm short on time
I'm lonely
And I'm too tired to talk
To no one back home
I've got troubles of my own
And I can't slow down
For no one in town
And I can't stop now
And I can't slow down
For no one in town
And I can't stop now
For no one"
- Keane, Can't Stop Now from the album Hopes and Fears (2004)
This afternoon I am going to see Mr. Chris Allen in his end-of-term show, Company at Arts Ed in Chiswick, then I'm coming all the way back across London to go to State Fair rehearsals! Rehearsal last night was both good fun AND productive - exactly as it should be - and we now have all parts cast! (The only two people we haven't yet blocked in are only in one scene each, so we're nearly there now.)
At the weekend I went to Sam Tai (from work)'s 30th Birthday Masquerade party at Bar Soho with Xander - and he was the only person I knew other than the birthda girl! We still had fun eating lollies and sticking the stars that were strewn over the tables to each others' faces, however, and I got to see Kate (Roscoe) after she had finished work which was lovely. Then I had 5 hours of rehearsals on Sunday (including a run of the show) which went pretty well.
This week at work is hard. Having got through all the piles of stuff Xander left last week, and not even having time to think right up until 5.30 on Friday, this week I'm left with bigger projects, more complicated tasks, and a lot of responsibilities at once. Contracts, inductions, hires, scheduling, professional programme paperwork... roll on April when I'll have Jeremy to help out! Am remaining duck-like: calm and unruffled on the surface, and paddling like mad underneath. ("Keep paddling, like the clappers you keep paddling, with your flappers while seeming to be dreaming and calm..." - Honk!)
Am looking forward to my afternoon off today and my weekend of fun starting with Sarah Green's 21st on Friday night in Leamington!
Lxx
Tuesday 4 March 2008
Argh not enough time for blogging...
Ok - quick lunchtime blog to assuage my guilt for not having blogged in about a week. So here's everything I can think of, in a nutshell.
Xander and I went to see Hairspray on Thursday, which was BRILLIANT. We also went for sushi first and then had champagne and ice creams in the interval at the theatre. Decadent all round! (see facebook for photos...) Hairspray is probably the most fun show I've seen, despite the fact that we had 4 understudies (Tracey, Velma, Female authority figure and Male authority figure) - they were excellent! Especially the girl playing Tracey (who is a walking cover). Just so much fun, and a really nice outing for Xander's departure. We then had drinks in the bar at the theatre on Friday afternoon, after a team admin lunch at Nando's (mmm, Nando's...) where I finally got to meet Claire Birch, who used to be the Administrator here at the broadway, and who also knows my mum from working at Theatre 503 (awesome fringey theatre that focuses a lot on New writing - check it out!)
At the weekend I did a bit of shopping (including in Topshop at Oxford Circus - error.) and went to Lessy's 6th birthday party. She's actually 24 but her birthday's on the 29th of Feb! Since she was only 6, the fancy dress theme was 'what you wanted to be when you were 6'... having the choice of Ballerina or Princess (I wasn't a very realistic child) I was brave and went as a ballerina! My pictures still to come on facebook, but Abby has put some up already. Chris came with me (as a science teacher) and we drank some very good cocktails and had a very jolly time. So jolly in fact, that we got a bit over-excited on the tube coming home... there are videos on facebook! :S
On Sunday I was at State Fair rehearsals, which went well despite some people being missing - we blocked most of the bits we hadn't yet finished, and then got through a run of the whole of act one and about half of act two, which I was very pleased with given that it's still a month until the show! Plus the cast had remembered almost everything they've learnt so far (in terms of blocking at least!) so that made me happy. We'll need to concentrate on getting the kids into some more chorus scenes, tidying up some of the dance routines (the Fairtones and some of the more recent small group songs) and working on harmonies this week, but I'd like to do at least one run on Sunday, if not two.
Now that Xander has left I'm very busy at work, but I managed to squeeze in a trip to see Nadim play Rolf in the Sound of Music last night with Damian and Chris Peake - Nadim was really excellent (made me feel very proud!) and it was Summer Strallen's press night, so almost the whole cast of Hollyoaks were there to support! Very exciting for star-spotting (Bonnie Langford was there too!)
Must dash - got a tour of the theatre to give. More soon
Lxx
Xander and I went to see Hairspray on Thursday, which was BRILLIANT. We also went for sushi first and then had champagne and ice creams in the interval at the theatre. Decadent all round! (see facebook for photos...) Hairspray is probably the most fun show I've seen, despite the fact that we had 4 understudies (Tracey, Velma, Female authority figure and Male authority figure) - they were excellent! Especially the girl playing Tracey (who is a walking cover). Just so much fun, and a really nice outing for Xander's departure. We then had drinks in the bar at the theatre on Friday afternoon, after a team admin lunch at Nando's (mmm, Nando's...) where I finally got to meet Claire Birch, who used to be the Administrator here at the broadway, and who also knows my mum from working at Theatre 503 (awesome fringey theatre that focuses a lot on New writing - check it out!)
At the weekend I did a bit of shopping (including in Topshop at Oxford Circus - error.) and went to Lessy's 6th birthday party. She's actually 24 but her birthday's on the 29th of Feb! Since she was only 6, the fancy dress theme was 'what you wanted to be when you were 6'... having the choice of Ballerina or Princess (I wasn't a very realistic child) I was brave and went as a ballerina! My pictures still to come on facebook, but Abby has put some up already. Chris came with me (as a science teacher) and we drank some very good cocktails and had a very jolly time. So jolly in fact, that we got a bit over-excited on the tube coming home... there are videos on facebook! :S
On Sunday I was at State Fair rehearsals, which went well despite some people being missing - we blocked most of the bits we hadn't yet finished, and then got through a run of the whole of act one and about half of act two, which I was very pleased with given that it's still a month until the show! Plus the cast had remembered almost everything they've learnt so far (in terms of blocking at least!) so that made me happy. We'll need to concentrate on getting the kids into some more chorus scenes, tidying up some of the dance routines (the Fairtones and some of the more recent small group songs) and working on harmonies this week, but I'd like to do at least one run on Sunday, if not two.
Now that Xander has left I'm very busy at work, but I managed to squeeze in a trip to see Nadim play Rolf in the Sound of Music last night with Damian and Chris Peake - Nadim was really excellent (made me feel very proud!) and it was Summer Strallen's press night, so almost the whole cast of Hollyoaks were there to support! Very exciting for star-spotting (Bonnie Langford was there too!)
Must dash - got a tour of the theatre to give. More soon
Lxx
Monday 25 February 2008
Weekend happenings...
I've had a lovely relaxed weekend, which was definitely the plan after being out almost 24/7 last weekend! My new DVDs arrived on Friday so I spent much of the evening watching episodes of Peep Show and drinking tea :) marvellous!
Anyway, on to more interesting things (the image of me sitting on the sofa watching the telly can only be fascinating for a very brief moment, if at all). I hung out in Soho on Saturday, first eating sushi and going for coffee with Mark for a catch-up (I think I may have been sitting next to a famous in Cafe Nero but I couldn't work out who she was...) and then for a few drinks with Chris, which coincided nicely with the end of the Wales-Italy rugby match. In the evening I went over to Greenwich to see a film at the 02 with Duncan - we watched Be Kind Rewind which was surprisingly heartwarming as well as funny, I'd definitely reccommend it for a chilled-out afternoon.
Most of Sunday was spent rehearsing for State Fair, unfortunately not entirely successfully as we were missing a lot of people this week, for various reasons. I managed to block one new scene and song, and to go over a few dances with the chorus, but with so many people missing, however good it looked on Sunday, when the others return it's bound to revert to being uncertain as people have to alter their positions and try to remember the steps at the same time! Annoyingly poor Alison (who's in charge of costume) arrived not long after we'd sent most of the cast home, hoping to measure everyone! I think most people should be back next week, but it's getting very frustrating as we get closer to the show that we can't progress, as we're having to re-rehearse the same things over and over, either because people were missing or we haven't got the people we need to do new things.
The most exciting thing that will be happening this week (apart from me giving lots of venue tours to the interview candidates we've got coming in for the next 3 days) is that Xander and I are going to see Hairspray on Thursday night!!!! We've been wanting to go for ages, so we're using his leaving as an excuse to make the (rather expensive) trip, preceeded by some sushi. Wooo! Also on Saturday it's Alessia's birthday party in Ealing, the fancy dress theme of which is 'What you wanted to be when you were 6' because Alessia's birthday is on the 29th of February, which means technically she's only 6 this year! I'm keeping my costume a secret (partly because I've got a choice of 3 things I remember wanting to be, and partly because I'm going to see how brave I feel...) so you'll have to wait for the pictures on Facebook!
Other than that nothing much exciting is happening at the moment, but I'll make sure I write a decent review of Hairspray on Friday.
Check out www.howstuffworks.com if you get bored, it's really interesting!
Lxx
Anyway, on to more interesting things (the image of me sitting on the sofa watching the telly can only be fascinating for a very brief moment, if at all). I hung out in Soho on Saturday, first eating sushi and going for coffee with Mark for a catch-up (I think I may have been sitting next to a famous in Cafe Nero but I couldn't work out who she was...) and then for a few drinks with Chris, which coincided nicely with the end of the Wales-Italy rugby match. In the evening I went over to Greenwich to see a film at the 02 with Duncan - we watched Be Kind Rewind which was surprisingly heartwarming as well as funny, I'd definitely reccommend it for a chilled-out afternoon.
Most of Sunday was spent rehearsing for State Fair, unfortunately not entirely successfully as we were missing a lot of people this week, for various reasons. I managed to block one new scene and song, and to go over a few dances with the chorus, but with so many people missing, however good it looked on Sunday, when the others return it's bound to revert to being uncertain as people have to alter their positions and try to remember the steps at the same time! Annoyingly poor Alison (who's in charge of costume) arrived not long after we'd sent most of the cast home, hoping to measure everyone! I think most people should be back next week, but it's getting very frustrating as we get closer to the show that we can't progress, as we're having to re-rehearse the same things over and over, either because people were missing or we haven't got the people we need to do new things.
The most exciting thing that will be happening this week (apart from me giving lots of venue tours to the interview candidates we've got coming in for the next 3 days) is that Xander and I are going to see Hairspray on Thursday night!!!! We've been wanting to go for ages, so we're using his leaving as an excuse to make the (rather expensive) trip, preceeded by some sushi. Wooo! Also on Saturday it's Alessia's birthday party in Ealing, the fancy dress theme of which is 'What you wanted to be when you were 6' because Alessia's birthday is on the 29th of February, which means technically she's only 6 this year! I'm keeping my costume a secret (partly because I've got a choice of 3 things I remember wanting to be, and partly because I'm going to see how brave I feel...) so you'll have to wait for the pictures on Facebook!
Other than that nothing much exciting is happening at the moment, but I'll make sure I write a decent review of Hairspray on Friday.
Check out www.howstuffworks.com if you get bored, it's really interesting!
Lxx
Friday 15 February 2008
Continued ...!
Gosh, well these are going to be long posts it seems, at least until I've caught up with myself a bit. So where was I?
Ah, theBROADWAY, Barking. Well due to the aforementioned lack of staff, I've been very busy with recruitment and I've also been seconded to the Marketing Department to help with press cuttings and suchlike. So technically I now have 2 jobs! This means I've been full-time since the beginning of January - not a huge shift, since I've only gone from 30 hours a week to 40 hours a week, but surprisingly tiring nonetheless. However, the marketing tasks will only last until we get a new Press and Marketing Officer (the application deadline for which was last week) so after that I'll have the full 40 hours to devote to my new Administrator work. I'll also have to teach our new administrator all about how we operate, when they are appointed, so I won't be bored that's for sure!
The last time I blogged (until the most recent post, that is!) I'd just given my first hire tour of the the theatre and was generally still quite a newbie at the Broadway. Since then I have settled in well and taken on plenty of responsibilities, as well as getting to know people, which has been really nice. Our Christmas panto, Cinderella, was a particularly fun period, as I got to know some of the cast and crew, and the atmosphere in the theatre was always buzzing! One of the best things about working here has been getting on so well with Xander, who has been a constant encouragement, getting me to take on new things and learn as much as possible, as well as being fun to be around, and knowing when to tell me to improve on what I've done. Plus he's a big Musical Theatre geek (!) so we've been on several fun outings and can chat about various geeky musical theatre topics [e.g. who has been the best Elphaba in Wicked...] As such, I'm gutted that he's leaving! Sitting at my desk just won't be the same without him sitting opposite, grooving away to Legally Blonde (or similar) on his headphones...
Speaking of theatre I've seen plenty of shows recently (or until I started working on State Fair, which has taken up quite a bit of my time) - including Wicked, La Cage Aux Folles, Uncle Vanya (the press night at the new Rose Theatre) Avenue Q (again), Bill Bailey (the Tinselworm tour, in Birmingham with Rob) and a whole weekend of Sweeney Todd! (The show at Warwick Arts centre AND the film, plus a few choice morsels of soundtracks...) I've also spent weekends in various places including Nottingham (visiting Sam and Geoff) and Cardiff (visitng my gran), and most recently I went to see Strictly Come Dancing Live at the o2 thanks to Duncan who's a cameraman on the tour! Amazing. So all in all, I've been pretty busy!
The Musical of Musicals/Throwaway project has been coming on slowly but surely (as you may be able to see from the blog - http://themusicalofmusicals.blogspot.com ) but has slowed down somewhat with Tim away in New York for the whole of this month. Steph is still beetling away with venue applications and work on the other Throwaway show, but we have at least got confirmation that we can have the rights to the Musical of Musicals for Edniburgh, money permitting. We're working on fundraising ideas to this end! We did apply for funding from the Lord Rootes foundation at Warwick but didn't get it, which wasn't really surprising since Throwaway were given the entire £5000 only 3 years ago. Onwards and upwards, as they say...
Well I think that just about gets me to a point where I've caught up with myself. It's all daily mundanity from here on in...!
Will blog more about State Fair and other exciting artsy happenings soon.
Lxx
Ah, theBROADWAY, Barking. Well due to the aforementioned lack of staff, I've been very busy with recruitment and I've also been seconded to the Marketing Department to help with press cuttings and suchlike. So technically I now have 2 jobs! This means I've been full-time since the beginning of January - not a huge shift, since I've only gone from 30 hours a week to 40 hours a week, but surprisingly tiring nonetheless. However, the marketing tasks will only last until we get a new Press and Marketing Officer (the application deadline for which was last week) so after that I'll have the full 40 hours to devote to my new Administrator work. I'll also have to teach our new administrator all about how we operate, when they are appointed, so I won't be bored that's for sure!
The last time I blogged (until the most recent post, that is!) I'd just given my first hire tour of the the theatre and was generally still quite a newbie at the Broadway. Since then I have settled in well and taken on plenty of responsibilities, as well as getting to know people, which has been really nice. Our Christmas panto, Cinderella, was a particularly fun period, as I got to know some of the cast and crew, and the atmosphere in the theatre was always buzzing! One of the best things about working here has been getting on so well with Xander, who has been a constant encouragement, getting me to take on new things and learn as much as possible, as well as being fun to be around, and knowing when to tell me to improve on what I've done. Plus he's a big Musical Theatre geek (!) so we've been on several fun outings and can chat about various geeky musical theatre topics [e.g. who has been the best Elphaba in Wicked...] As such, I'm gutted that he's leaving! Sitting at my desk just won't be the same without him sitting opposite, grooving away to Legally Blonde (or similar) on his headphones...
Speaking of theatre I've seen plenty of shows recently (or until I started working on State Fair, which has taken up quite a bit of my time) - including Wicked, La Cage Aux Folles, Uncle Vanya (the press night at the new Rose Theatre) Avenue Q (again), Bill Bailey (the Tinselworm tour, in Birmingham with Rob) and a whole weekend of Sweeney Todd! (The show at Warwick Arts centre AND the film, plus a few choice morsels of soundtracks...) I've also spent weekends in various places including Nottingham (visiting Sam and Geoff) and Cardiff (visitng my gran), and most recently I went to see Strictly Come Dancing Live at the o2 thanks to Duncan who's a cameraman on the tour! Amazing. So all in all, I've been pretty busy!
The Musical of Musicals/Throwaway project has been coming on slowly but surely (as you may be able to see from the blog - http://themusicalofmusicals.blogspot.com ) but has slowed down somewhat with Tim away in New York for the whole of this month. Steph is still beetling away with venue applications and work on the other Throwaway show, but we have at least got confirmation that we can have the rights to the Musical of Musicals for Edniburgh, money permitting. We're working on fundraising ideas to this end! We did apply for funding from the Lord Rootes foundation at Warwick but didn't get it, which wasn't really surprising since Throwaway were given the entire £5000 only 3 years ago. Onwards and upwards, as they say...
Well I think that just about gets me to a point where I've caught up with myself. It's all daily mundanity from here on in...!
Will blog more about State Fair and other exciting artsy happenings soon.
Lxx
Thursday 14 February 2008
Prompted by Xander...
...I realised I haven't blogged for ages, and that this would be a good way of keeping track of my latest directing job, State Fair for Forest Musical Productions, based in Loughton. So I'm back on the blogging scene! To begin with a plug, it's on at the Kenneth More Theatre in Ilford, from the 2nd to the 5th April, and tickets are on-sale now, so please come to see it!! I got the job thanks to Mike McLean, who teaches singing to several of Forest's members, and who reccommended me after hearing they were in need of a director. I started a few weeks ago in January, doing 2 evening rehearsals a week, and from this week onwards we're also rehearsing on Sunday afternoons. The musical director, Ben, just by coincidence, was the assistant MD on our pantomime at theBROADWAY! (More news from theBROADWAY later...)
State Fair is a Rogers and Hammerstein musical based on the 1945 film of the same name, for which they wrote the songs. Set (as the title suggests) at the Iowa ststae fair in 1946, it centres around the Frake family - Abel, a farmer and prize boar breeder, Melissa, his wife, Wayne, their son, and Melissa their impressionable daughter. I won't spoil what little there is of the plot, but it's safe to say that it follows the traditional Rogers and Hammerstein format and despite some obstacles, the family end up happy with their respective outcomes of the Fair!
Working with an amateur dramatic society is a little different from previous experiences I've had in that the committee (not all of whom are involved in the show in any way, but some of whom make up the production team) had final say on all the casting after the first round of auditions - i.e. we did the first auditions for people who are regular members and who have been in productions before, and then we were going to have second auditions but nobody could make them, so I had to let the committee decide who would play the other parts (having expressed some preference having met the company at singing rehearsals). In short - a bit odd.
However, the system also has its advantages, in that they've done a lot of productions in the past, and subsequently know what they're doing production-wise! Plus they have some money, (some of which they're going to spend on paying me) so asking for things like props is not the ordeal that it can be with a student society! The production team are usually way ahead of any requests that I have, and the cast members are generally very hard-working (possibly in part because they pay to be involved!) - they practise in rehearsals when i'm not using them, and they write everything down! This makes me very happy. All of which generally makes for an easy rehearsal process (thus far, at least) and good working relationships :)
So where are we up to with the whole thing? I've been rehearsing some big crowd scenes and most of the family's scenes (minus a few characters who have yet to be cast...) and Ben has been hard at work making cuts, teaching harmonies in the chorus numbers, playing underscoring for my rehearsals and songs for the choreographers. The choreographers (Karen and Lauren) have been equally hard at work teaching and creating, and they'll be continuing work on some of the big chorus numbers on Sunday. Ben and I are moving on to concentrate on the principles and their solos and scenes.
The props mistress is hard at work sourcing jars, a camera, tent poles and around 30 balloons, among other things, and the fliers are now printed and in circulation. Costumes are roughly plotted and are being sourced, partly from ebay (real vintage!) and partly from a costumiers. I need to have a few more discussions about the set, but it's coming together nicely in my head, at least, and after that I'll start to make a list of LX/sound cues and a microphone plot. AND we're ahead of our rehearsal schedule! I'm just waiting for something to go horribly wrong, now...
Pictures and maybe some videos from rehearsals to follow when I get them uploaded from my phone ;)
In other news: Heather is back to stay at the Buddle Charity Home for Impoverished Theatricals for this month, which is very nice - she's working at the Cochrane. I'm working hard at the Broadway, because my boss is leaving at the end of the month! This means, however, that I get promoted to 'Administrator' and I get a new colleague on roughly my level who will be in charge of office management and such, and I get to be in charge of the fun stuff like professional programme admin, hires, the pantomime (yay!) and human resources. And at least I get to keep Xander as a friend! (Can you tell I'm trying to look on the bright side?!) We've also had some staffing issues which means we're a bit stretched at present (no executive director, only one front of house supervisor, no press and marketing officer...) but we're recruiting like mad things so hopefully most of these should be resolved soon!
I have to head off now, but more soon on the rest of what I've been doing with my life...
Lxx
State Fair is a Rogers and Hammerstein musical based on the 1945 film of the same name, for which they wrote the songs. Set (as the title suggests) at the Iowa ststae fair in 1946, it centres around the Frake family - Abel, a farmer and prize boar breeder, Melissa, his wife, Wayne, their son, and Melissa their impressionable daughter. I won't spoil what little there is of the plot, but it's safe to say that it follows the traditional Rogers and Hammerstein format and despite some obstacles, the family end up happy with their respective outcomes of the Fair!
Working with an amateur dramatic society is a little different from previous experiences I've had in that the committee (not all of whom are involved in the show in any way, but some of whom make up the production team) had final say on all the casting after the first round of auditions - i.e. we did the first auditions for people who are regular members and who have been in productions before, and then we were going to have second auditions but nobody could make them, so I had to let the committee decide who would play the other parts (having expressed some preference having met the company at singing rehearsals). In short - a bit odd.
However, the system also has its advantages, in that they've done a lot of productions in the past, and subsequently know what they're doing production-wise! Plus they have some money, (some of which they're going to spend on paying me) so asking for things like props is not the ordeal that it can be with a student society! The production team are usually way ahead of any requests that I have, and the cast members are generally very hard-working (possibly in part because they pay to be involved!) - they practise in rehearsals when i'm not using them, and they write everything down! This makes me very happy. All of which generally makes for an easy rehearsal process (thus far, at least) and good working relationships :)
So where are we up to with the whole thing? I've been rehearsing some big crowd scenes and most of the family's scenes (minus a few characters who have yet to be cast...) and Ben has been hard at work making cuts, teaching harmonies in the chorus numbers, playing underscoring for my rehearsals and songs for the choreographers. The choreographers (Karen and Lauren) have been equally hard at work teaching and creating, and they'll be continuing work on some of the big chorus numbers on Sunday. Ben and I are moving on to concentrate on the principles and their solos and scenes.
The props mistress is hard at work sourcing jars, a camera, tent poles and around 30 balloons, among other things, and the fliers are now printed and in circulation. Costumes are roughly plotted and are being sourced, partly from ebay (real vintage!) and partly from a costumiers. I need to have a few more discussions about the set, but it's coming together nicely in my head, at least, and after that I'll start to make a list of LX/sound cues and a microphone plot. AND we're ahead of our rehearsal schedule! I'm just waiting for something to go horribly wrong, now...
Pictures and maybe some videos from rehearsals to follow when I get them uploaded from my phone ;)
In other news: Heather is back to stay at the Buddle Charity Home for Impoverished Theatricals for this month, which is very nice - she's working at the Cochrane. I'm working hard at the Broadway, because my boss is leaving at the end of the month! This means, however, that I get promoted to 'Administrator' and I get a new colleague on roughly my level who will be in charge of office management and such, and I get to be in charge of the fun stuff like professional programme admin, hires, the pantomime (yay!) and human resources. And at least I get to keep Xander as a friend! (Can you tell I'm trying to look on the bright side?!) We've also had some staffing issues which means we're a bit stretched at present (no executive director, only one front of house supervisor, no press and marketing officer...) but we're recruiting like mad things so hopefully most of these should be resolved soon!
I have to head off now, but more soon on the rest of what I've been doing with my life...
Lxx
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