Super Witches and the Macbeth round-up
Well, we closed MacBeth on Sunday night in Phoenix. I'll summarize my thoughts in a numbered list below. Feel free to take notes. There will be a test later.
1. I don't hate opera as much as I did, due to 2 things. When you work a show with music that you hate, you either come around to their way of thinking (drinking the Kool-Aid, if you will) or you go out of your mind because you can't get away from the music. I am, quite frankly, out of my mind enough without help; ergo, the Kool-Aid. The second thing is that I got to hear the chorus sing happy birthday to one of the dressers. There were about 50 of them singing in multipart harmony in a huge high-ceilinged rehearsal hall and it was a stunning experience. I can't hate them now.
2. That list of things that shouldn't ever be on a theatre stage? Children should be listed twice. There were 3 young girls (ages 7, 11 and 13) that I dressed for this show and we had variations on 2 conversations every night for 2 weeks.
Girls (at the beginning of act II): Can we get into our costumes now?
Me: No, you need to wait until the end of the second act. When you hear the stage manager make the call for the second intermission, I will come find you and you can get dressed.
Girls (10 minutes later): Is it the end of act II?
Me: Did you hear a call for the second intermission?
Girls: No...
Me: I'll come find you when it's time.
Girls (5 minutes later): Is it time?
Me: "Are you kidding?"
Girls (30 seconds later): "Kaitlyn...?"
Me: "Don't even ask."
So finally the stage manager calls for second intermission, God bless her, I take the girls into their "dressing room" and hand them their costumes.
Girls (each one, right after the other): "I don't want to wear these tights!"
Me: "You have to, it's part of your costume."
Girls: "I don't want to wear my shoes, I just want to wear my tights."
Me: "You have to wear your shoes, otherwise you get holes in your tights."
Girls: "How come the tights are so tight?"
Me: *Sigh*
EVERY night. Ask me if I want my own kids...
3. You know how the Shakespearian theatres were designed with seating for the upper class surrounding a stage with a pit where the lower classes would stand, mingle, eat, throw food, etc. while watching the show? Well, working with the supers is a little like being in the pit. The principle actors each have their own dressers and all attention is paid to their comfort, hygiene, temperature controlled rooms, hydration levels etc. The poor super witches - all 15 of them - only had me. Problems with your dress? Here's a safety pin. Can't get it zipped up and I'm too busy helping someone else or wrestling with the kids? Ask one of the other witches to help you. Comfort, climate control, consideration? No. No. and No. Fortunately, they were almost all fabulous people (there are always a couple of exceptions) and sometimes the pit is fun. There's all that food and you get to throw tomatoes when you don't like how the action is going.
4. We had a show on Friday the 13th. And I spent the night surrounded by witches. It goes without saying that I then went out for drinks with them. We had a great time and only got into a little bit of trouble (it's that pit mentality...) :) FYI: try the Bruised Pear, it's a "Black and Tan" but with pear cider on the bottom and Guinness on top. Delicious.
5. Per diem is a fabulous thing. "Tip the waitress 40%, we're on per diem!"
And probably the best thing is that I really got to know and like some of my super witches and they mostly live here in Tucson so I will see them again. One of them said "I pegged you as a kindred spirit immediately. You know how when ridiculous things happen and you roll your eyes and then look around the room to see who else is rolling their eyes? I saw you and I knew we would get along."
So everybody lift their Bruised Pear with cheers to kindred spirits!
And what next you ask? I started teaching last night. History of Fashion from 6-10PM. A four hour lecture class. I had a headache from talking so much by the time I left last night. Despite that, it was fun.
And I'll also be working on the next opera, Figaro.
So, more stories to come...
1. I don't hate opera as much as I did, due to 2 things. When you work a show with music that you hate, you either come around to their way of thinking (drinking the Kool-Aid, if you will) or you go out of your mind because you can't get away from the music. I am, quite frankly, out of my mind enough without help; ergo, the Kool-Aid. The second thing is that I got to hear the chorus sing happy birthday to one of the dressers. There were about 50 of them singing in multipart harmony in a huge high-ceilinged rehearsal hall and it was a stunning experience. I can't hate them now.
2. That list of things that shouldn't ever be on a theatre stage? Children should be listed twice. There were 3 young girls (ages 7, 11 and 13) that I dressed for this show and we had variations on 2 conversations every night for 2 weeks.
Girls (at the beginning of act II): Can we get into our costumes now?
Me: No, you need to wait until the end of the second act. When you hear the stage manager make the call for the second intermission, I will come find you and you can get dressed.
Girls (10 minutes later): Is it the end of act II?
Me: Did you hear a call for the second intermission?
Girls: No...
Me: I'll come find you when it's time.
Girls (5 minutes later): Is it time?
Me: "Are you kidding?"
Girls (30 seconds later): "Kaitlyn...?"
Me: "Don't even ask."
So finally the stage manager calls for second intermission, God bless her, I take the girls into their "dressing room" and hand them their costumes.
Girls (each one, right after the other): "I don't want to wear these tights!"
Me: "You have to, it's part of your costume."
Girls: "I don't want to wear my shoes, I just want to wear my tights."
Me: "You have to wear your shoes, otherwise you get holes in your tights."
Girls: "How come the tights are so tight?"
Me: *Sigh*
EVERY night. Ask me if I want my own kids...
3. You know how the Shakespearian theatres were designed with seating for the upper class surrounding a stage with a pit where the lower classes would stand, mingle, eat, throw food, etc. while watching the show? Well, working with the supers is a little like being in the pit. The principle actors each have their own dressers and all attention is paid to their comfort, hygiene, temperature controlled rooms, hydration levels etc. The poor super witches - all 15 of them - only had me. Problems with your dress? Here's a safety pin. Can't get it zipped up and I'm too busy helping someone else or wrestling with the kids? Ask one of the other witches to help you. Comfort, climate control, consideration? No. No. and No. Fortunately, they were almost all fabulous people (there are always a couple of exceptions) and sometimes the pit is fun. There's all that food and you get to throw tomatoes when you don't like how the action is going.
4. We had a show on Friday the 13th. And I spent the night surrounded by witches. It goes without saying that I then went out for drinks with them. We had a great time and only got into a little bit of trouble (it's that pit mentality...) :) FYI: try the Bruised Pear, it's a "Black and Tan" but with pear cider on the bottom and Guinness on top. Delicious.
5. Per diem is a fabulous thing. "Tip the waitress 40%, we're on per diem!"
And probably the best thing is that I really got to know and like some of my super witches and they mostly live here in Tucson so I will see them again. One of them said "I pegged you as a kindred spirit immediately. You know how when ridiculous things happen and you roll your eyes and then look around the room to see who else is rolling their eyes? I saw you and I knew we would get along."
So everybody lift their Bruised Pear with cheers to kindred spirits!
And what next you ask? I started teaching last night. History of Fashion from 6-10PM. A four hour lecture class. I had a headache from talking so much by the time I left last night. Despite that, it was fun.
And I'll also be working on the next opera, Figaro.
So, more stories to come...
posted by KBARRETT at 12:37 PM
1 Comments:
How is my Kindred Spirit? I did not come backstage Saturday evening after Figaro but was thinking of you just the same. Are you back there? I belive tis true, you are. I love you blogs and your new hairdo. Let us get together when you have a scrumpet of time. XO Renee (what the Hecate!)
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