I'm back home for a few days, to find military uniforms for "Biloxi Blues", pull and prep costumes for "A Midsummer Night's Dream", and to be with my kids before and after school. This isn't even their last week, they are in school until June 11th. Next week will be a flurry of phone calls every day, making sure each child makes it to his or her bus in the morning, and gets home every afternoon. It's not that I'm worried about their safety (I am!), it's just that they're...kids...somebody has to prod them and remind them and keep them on schedule. Even away from home, that's my job.
Yesterday I had a costume exchange with a theater director in Hudson, Wisconsin. It's just across the border from Minnesota, about a 30-minute drive from White Bear Lake and St. Paul. He was looking for some specific costumes for "The Foreigner", a very funny play by Larry Shue. The play takes place in Georgia, and involves some not-so-nice men who don't look kindly on "foreigners", or anybody who is "different". And these not-so-nice men wear a signature outfit, that consists of a white robe and hood. Get the picture? And I transported these costumes, first from Bemidji to the Twin Cities, then from the Twin Cities to Hudson. And I felt a little oogey having those costumes in my car, especially transporting them across state lines! But the drop-off was made successfully, and in return, I was able to borrow several green fatigue army pants, and plenty of khaki pants and uniform shirts. This is a huge break for me, and will save me quite a bit of shopping and money. Now I just have to worry about accessories to complete the uniforms! A fruitful trip, indeed.
From Hudson, I came back to White Bear Lake to get my "Midsummer" costumes organized. I was able to find most of the costumes I need, either in the Shakespeare & Company stock, or in my own stash of costumes. Another show well underway. I do need to get cracking on some fairy wings, however.
And today? I need to get off-book for "Biloxi Blues". I need to concentrate on the acting side of this show for a bit, before getting back to the costuming side. Did I mention I'm in the show? I'm playing a hooker by the name of Rowena. I have one lovely little scene with the young protagonist, Eugene, wherein he loses his virginity, with Rowena's help. I guess one of men asked last night, "When do we get to see Emily in her drawers?" It was the Quote of the Day on the Paul Bunyan Playhouse newsletter. Dear, sweet, funny Ari. He's the actor who made the comment. One of the funniest men I have ever had the pleasure to be around, not to mention one of the smartest. After "Biloxi Blues", he will portray a young Albert Einstein in our second show of the summer, "Picasso at the Lapine Agile" by Steve Martin. Yes, that Steve Martin. But it's not time for that show yet.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
A Brief Respite
Memorial Day - a day of remembrance, a national holiday, that has become the unofficial start of summer for so many of us. Children are off school, many people are off work, and so many of us have started traditions of picnics, barbeques or backyard gatherings with our friends. It was also a partial day off for me - I worked in my sewing room for a short time Monday morning, then we were off to one such annual party.
My friend Jake has created a fabulous Memorial Day tradition that is known as MEAT FEAST. And it is just what it sounds like, a party with roasted, barbequed, slow-cooked meat as the center of the celebration. Chicken wings, ribs, sausages - these are the appetizers to the main event. And this year, the main event was a whole roast pig!
But before we got to all the meat, there was a little musical, written by Jake's 5-year-old daughter, and performed by some of the finest talent in the Twin Cities. My younger daughter had a part in this musical play, as did I! And in the tradition of backyard plays, we had one quick rehearsal and carried our scripts onstage. It was a charming, trippy story, all from the mind of an incredibly imaginative 5-year-old. you wanna know the secret to get a SRO, full-to-overflowing, incredibly receptive and friendly audience? This. It was a lot of fun, though, and the audience and cast shared a lot of laughs.
While I had my fill of chicken wings and some wonderful veggie-rific side dishes, I had to head back to Bemidji Monday night, and couldn't wait around for the roast pig. My loving husband, however, was more than happy to call me about an hour after I left, just to let me know what I was missing. Thanks alot!! The drive north was surprisingly quick, and I appreciated the long, northern Minnesota twilight as I made my way along the winding back roads through Motley and Ackeley, past Itasca State Park, finally arriving in Bemidji around 11 p.m. Several of the company members were at the American Legion hall, so I joined them for a drink before finally settling in for the night. And so I readied myself for our first rehearsal and readthru of "Biloxi Blues".
My friend Jake has created a fabulous Memorial Day tradition that is known as MEAT FEAST. And it is just what it sounds like, a party with roasted, barbequed, slow-cooked meat as the center of the celebration. Chicken wings, ribs, sausages - these are the appetizers to the main event. And this year, the main event was a whole roast pig!
But before we got to all the meat, there was a little musical, written by Jake's 5-year-old daughter, and performed by some of the finest talent in the Twin Cities. My younger daughter had a part in this musical play, as did I! And in the tradition of backyard plays, we had one quick rehearsal and carried our scripts onstage. It was a charming, trippy story, all from the mind of an incredibly imaginative 5-year-old. you wanna know the secret to get a SRO, full-to-overflowing, incredibly receptive and friendly audience? This. It was a lot of fun, though, and the audience and cast shared a lot of laughs.
While I had my fill of chicken wings and some wonderful veggie-rific side dishes, I had to head back to Bemidji Monday night, and couldn't wait around for the roast pig. My loving husband, however, was more than happy to call me about an hour after I left, just to let me know what I was missing. Thanks alot!! The drive north was surprisingly quick, and I appreciated the long, northern Minnesota twilight as I made my way along the winding back roads through Motley and Ackeley, past Itasca State Park, finally arriving in Bemidji around 11 p.m. Several of the company members were at the American Legion hall, so I joined them for a drink before finally settling in for the night. And so I readied myself for our first rehearsal and readthru of "Biloxi Blues".
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