Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Commuting

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I had to work in the city yesterday and I’m going in again today. Some days, I just don’t have the time to write a post and get out the door in time to catch the bus. That’s what happened yesterday. I know you understand.

Let’s just say that when I’m working on a show, I may not post every day.

But, I usually do.

I’m working on a production of A Man for All Seasons. Yesterday, I watched part of the blocking rehearsal just to get an idea of how the actors sound. Today, I’ll be coaching several of the actors in individual sessions and I expect to put in one more day this weekend doing the same thing.

As per usual, I’ve coached at least three of the actors in the past; in a couple of cases, about 20 years ago! They’re a talented group and it will be fun to work with them.

Yesterday was a snow/rain day with gray skies and it was cold. Fortunately, I can exit from Port Authority and only have to walk a block to reach the rehearsal studio. Unless we were actually rehearsing in  Port Authority, I couldn’t do better.

Don and I have left gift ideas go until the last minute and now everything I’ve thought of to put on my list is either unavailable, no longer being made, or would have to travel a long distance! What to do? I’m entering panic mode. We don’t want to spend a lot this year as we’ve had our trip to Europe and that was present enough. But we do like to see a few presents under the tree.

We’ll figure it out.

Sorry to be brief, but I have to get going. Another day in the city today.

Happy Friday.

 

 

Prepping

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I fear I haven’t much to share with you today. I spent the afternoon and this morning reading the script for A Man for All Seasons. As I said on Instagram, I’ve been working in theater for over 40 years and I have never liked reading scripts. Never. So I tend to put that duty off until I have no choice. Since I just learned that I will be spending some time in the city tomorrow checking in on a production of that play that I’ve agreed to coach, I figured I’d better get on with it.

I will spend the rest of the day today working on the script, checking pronunciations for a standard British dialect, looking up my notes on a Spanish dialect, and looking up Latin pronunciations. I know nothing about Latin so I always hope that the actors have already figured all of that out, but in case they haven’t, I’ll have to see what I can find out.

Alas, the sun that has been in evidence for the past few days has disappeared and it looks to be a gloomy day out there.

We watched Stagecoach  on TCM last night – one of my favorite movies. I’ve never been a John Wayne fan but he is just wonderful in this movie. Heartachingly sincere and subtle in his acting choices, something he wasn’t as known for later in his career. Claire Trevor will break your heart. The supporting cast is wonderful. And directed by the great John Ford, filmed in Monument Valley. I’ve seen it many, many times, and I never get tired of it.

Okay. I have to go and get to work.

Happy Wednesday.

Reading, Books & Coaching

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Getting a good photo this morning is a challenge. It’s so dark out there – even now, at 10:30 am. The gray skies and general yuck are the precursor to the rain that’s arriving this afternoon. We’re due for almost an inch of it. Yesterday was unseasonably warm and sunny.

Go figure.

These gray days are tough for me. I have to force myself to be cheery and positive. I’m realizing that they are best spent with a good book in which I can lose myself. I am very into reading lately, thank goodness. After the reading drought earlier this year, I’m back at it and, oh my, it helps enormously.

Understand that I have stacks and stacks of books to be read. Way too many! They’re on the ottoman, on the floor and on the bookshelves. But this particular stack is what I’m tackling at the moment.

Two James Lee Burkes that I haven’t read, the newest Susan Hill which arrived last week, and Joe Ide’s second in his IQ series. The third was just published, but I had somehow missed out on the publication of the second, so I’m reading that first. In fact, I’m reading it right now. I fell for his style when I had to read and review IQ, the first mystery in the series. He’s a wonderful writer with a unique voice.

And tomorrow’s mail will bring the newest Louise Penny! Heaven!

I had another long day in the city yesterday, but not as long as some, thank goodness. I left for the bus around 7:15 and got home around 4:00. Rehearsal went well – I worked with the young man who is taking over the lead male role. Since he’s primarily an Australian pop star (with a large following stateside) who has done a bit of television, he’s not used to speaking onstage in a Broadway house. I requested the rehearsal so I could take him through all of his dialogue and help him understand vocal energy, fully voicing the ends of his lines, articulating clearly – that kind of thing. He’s a great guy and eager to learn, so working with him is quite rewarding. He’s such a personable and polite young man. He takes over the role this Thursday and I’ll go back around mid-December to watch him in a performance and check in on his progress.

No Christmas decorating yet. You know I don’t do any of that until the second week of December. I may put up the lights on the porch, but that’s it until later. I like my holidays to be separate and, since we love to keep the tree up through the New Year, decorating now would be way too soon. I’ve never understood decorating before Thanksgiving and then dismantling everything on Christmas afternoon. Doesn’t the Christmas season extend to New Year’s Day? Or am I just old-fashioned?

There are times that I like being old-fashioned.

Besides, I haven’t even thought about presents yet.

Two questions for you today: When do you decorate? And what are you reading?

Happy Monday.

 

 

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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