On The Road — Page 118

One Last Post from the Road

June 17, 2011 at 10:14 am by Claudia

This is the Blithe Spirit set. I took this last night as I waited for our second preview performance to begin. We had a full house and lots of laughter. Whew! This space is named the Up-The-Hill Theatre. Believe me – it is up a hill.(I need to get in better shape.) And for most of this theater company’s existence, it has been the only performing space. Surrounded by trees, it springs up seemingly out of nowhere. The audiences here are incredibly loyal and they make an event out of coming to the theater. They picnic and grill and generally have a wonderful time before the show begins.

See? I wasn’t kidding about the name. The newest space is an indoor theater – the Touchstone. It is smaller in size and wonderfully intimate.

I really love the design; almost barn-like and beautiful in its simplicity.

More cows.

One of the now grown-up babies. I see this little one follow his dad around. I don’t know the fate of the others. One day, I saw a cat in the little area in which they hang out. I ran downstairs, shooed it away and immediately worried about the babies. And worried. Until I had to let go and just hope they all made it. Truly, I am not far from being a person who would pitch a tent and act as a sentry to protect the babies from all predators. Ask my husband. I am inches away from being ‘that Bird Lady.’ Feel free to substitute dog, cat, bunny, baby groundhog, chipmunk. They all work.

I’m packing boxes. Making lists. Getting ready to fly home on Sunday.

Winding Down

June 15, 2011 at 9:10 am by Claudia

Last night, I watched this movie on my laptop. Pillow Talk has always been one of my favorites and when I saw it on sale for half off at Barnes and Noble, I snapped it up. Doris Day and Rock Hudson are such fun in this movie. Everything about Pillow Talk is retro: the shared telephone party line that is a source of conflict, the “it’s okay for a man to sleep around and use women but a good woman must remain virginal” theme, the 60’s sets, the fabulous views of Manhattan, Thelma Ritter’s repeated hangovers from drinking too much. Much of it would be considered terribly un-politically correct nowadays.

But, it’s funny. It makes me laugh. I love the split-screen technique used during all the party line phone calls. I love the sound of horse hoofs hitting the ground with a bit of old Western harmonica thrown in that plays while Rock Hudson is pretending to be a cowboy from Texas. It’s a gem of a movie.

My friend, Bob, who was my boss at Boston University and who recommended me for this job, just arrived in town. So on Monday, the Artistic Director of the theater (who is also the director of Blithe Spirit) invited me to dinner at his home. Bob is staying there while he starts his design work. It was just the four of us: David, his wife, Bob and me. Lots of great conversation and laughter. I had the best time.

Things are winding down here. Today we have an afternoon rehearsal outdoors and in true Blithe Spirit tradition, rain is pouring down at the moment. Looks like an all day rain. Uh oh. I teach this morning and tomorrow morning and then my classes are done. Thursday night we have our second preview performance of Blithe Spirit and then we open on Saturday. Sunday? I pack and fly home. I’m just now letting myself remember my home, the smell of my doggies, Scoutie sitting under my legs in her ‘tunnel,’ Riley’s sweet face, the sound of Don’s guitar, sitting on the porch glider, my (overgrown, I’m absolutely sure) garden, my studio, sitting on the sofa with Don every evening. I let myself think about these things for a brief moment in time.

Soon.

Cows, a Fawn & McCoy

June 13, 2011 at 9:34 am by Claudia

As promised: Cows on a hill. Photo taken while driving and getting angry at my camera because it kept shutting off right when I wanted to take a picture.

Spotted on the grounds of the theater:

Do you see the fawn? She stared at us for the longest time.

So sweet. I saw a fawn running around frantically on the golf course the other morning. By the time I got my camera she was gone. I assume she found her mama.

As a certified obsessive collector of McCoy Pottery, imagine my surprise when I found this box in the condo. A condo, by the way, that had no other boxes anywhere.

This is on top of the cupboards in the little laundry room. Pine Cone is a McCoy Pattern. Immediately, all sorts of thoughts went through my head. I wonder if the owners have any idea this is here? Maybe I can leave a note asking if they’re selling them. Or maybe they want to give the McCoy away? I wonder how many pieces there are?

Full of excitement, I dragged a chair in there and pulled it down. What was inside?

Cans of turpentine and paint thinner.

Drat.

It seems to be an especially cruel taunt, doesn’t it?

One Last Post from the Road

Winding Down

Cows, a Fawn & McCoy

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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