Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Seasonal Shift

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I started a new puzzle the other day but I never got to it yesterday.

It was a full day, with a first read-through of Jane Eyre in the morning and 3 hours of coaching in the afternoon. I’m tired.

I have more coaching to do later this morning.

The actors are very nice and eager to figure out the dialects.

It takes such concentrated effort to coach one-on-one. But when you’re in the same room as the coachee, it’s easier to pick up on facial expressions or frustration or whatever mood the actor is in. It’s much, much harder to do when coaching via Zoom. With Jane Eyre, I was coaching actors sitting in a board room and they were quite far away.

By the way, after I finished for the day I told Don I was absolutely sure I was speaking too loudly the whole time I was coaching. Not on purpose, of course, but I think that “They’re far away and I have to talk loudly” feeling crept into my voice. I’ll try to do better today.

On my break between the read-through and coaching sessions, I ran outside to water everything, folded clothes that had just come out of the dryer, and made a quick lunch. Don had gone out to take some pictures.

I’m coaching for two hours today, so it won’t be quite as tiring.

Then Jim again, later in the week.

The theme for this week is Zoom Dialect Coaching.

Don mentioned that it’s dark now when he gets up. And we both keep mentioning that it’s getting darker much earlier in the evening now. Sigh. Summer, you’ve been a huge challenge, but I’m not sure I’m ready for you to go. I think it’s fortunate that I’m coaching now, just as I was last year around this time when I coached during September – December. I’m so busy that I won’t have the time to be sad for very long..

And the light is different. You can tell that we’re heading into Autumn.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

 

Busy Week

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I have a busy week ahead, so posts might be on the short side.

Yesterday, I worked with Jim for a chunk of time. Today I have the read-through for Jane Eyre and later in the afternoon, I coach some actors. And more tomorrow.

I was really tired after my session yesterday and I’m sure it’s because I haven’t done any one-on-one coaching for over six months. I clearly have to get back into coaching shape.

Our house isn’t conducive to attractive, clutter-free Zoom sessions, by the way. We’ve tried everything. I am now zooming in the den, with my chair turned toward the table and some of the blinds shut. It ain’t great, but it will have to do.

Meanwhile, we’re extremely dry here. We might get some rain next Monday. Might.

Madeleine.

Katie.

I’m going to vent for a wee moment. Theaters are on tight budgets and many of them lost scads of money during lockdown. I completely understand that. Add to that the fact that dialect/voice coaching is always near the bottom of the list in terms of budget.

Yes, I’d love, love, love to earn more money than I do working in the theater. But I never have and I’m used to it. More importantly, how am I supposed to coach an entire cast when learning a dialect takes time and they’ve given me the equivalent of 5 days in which to perform this magic? Two of those days will involve watching and taking notes on a run-through and a performance. So, it’s really only 3 days of coaching. For several people.

It’s impossible. I just have to pray that they get it and/or have a good ear.

My name is on the program, so it does reflect on me, and I am once again very frustrated about the whole process. Add in having to do it via zoom, and I want to scream.

Okay. Thanks for letting me vent a bit. I won’t address it again. As I hear all too often these days, “It is what it is.” I’m not faulting the theaters. I’ve spent my life in non-profit theater. I know how tough things are for them, especially now.

It’s just hard.

Stay safe.

Happy Tuesday.

 

Starting In

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An August morning, with the changeover into fall on the horizon. Brown grass from the heat wave, struggling coneflowers. The phlox and brown-eyed susans are doing just fine, as is the Queen Anne’s Lace sprinkled around the property.

And the limelight hydrangeas are pretty glorious this year.

I’m also changing over. Next week, I start coaching Jane Eyre; most of it will be via Zoom – at least at this early stage. I’ll also be doing some zoom sessions with Jim and another actor from A Man of No Importance. Suddenly, I’m getting emails from stage managers and artistic directors about rehearsal schedules and meetings. This will only last a couple of months, but as usual, I feel the no-yes of working. My routine is about to change and I’m not sure if I’m ready for that. But I’ll be working with actors and helping them – which I like. Always the no-yes.

More prep today. More watering outside because it will be 88 degrees today. Then, the temperatures will drop a bit on Friday. Yesterday morning was beautiful. There was a breeze, no real humidity (it came later in the day) and sunshine. I did some weeding and then I spent some time on the porch.

I’m always nervous before I start a show. Even though I’ve been doing this for over 35 years, it doesn’t matter. Am I prepared enough? Will I be able to communicate with the actors? Will I be of service? Both shows are on a budget so my time is limited. And there’s only so much you can do with five days of work. Thankfully, with Jane Eyre, a few of the actors who did it in Hartford are coming back, including the actress who plays Jane. But there are also several actors who are newly cast.

Anyway, that’s where my head is at the moment.

Stay safe.

Happy Thursday.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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