Shakespeare — Page 10

The Problem With Doing Paperwork In The Kitchen

April 3, 2013 at 8:57 am by Claudia

My kitchen table is that catch-all we all have: a place for incoming mail, things to be sorted and, occasionally, the place I spread out and work. Yesterday, I was all set to start work on Twelfth Night, so I headed to the kitchen. Along the way, I noticed some cobwebs way up on top of the pantry, where we have an old bread tin and a basket on display.

Well, that simply had to be dealt with before I could start work on the text. So I grabbed my long handled duster and eliminated the cobwebs. The next thing I knew, I was climbing up on my stool, taking everything down, cleaning the top of the pantry, and washing the bread tin.

pantry

But what about all the pottery that is displayed on top of the kitchen cabinets? You know, those places that are out of reach and somehow never get dusted?

Well. Now that I was aware of just how dusty things could get up there, I had to take action.

Yep. I was soon climbing on counters, retrieving my pottery, vacuuming the tops of the cupboards, washing the pottery.

washingpottery1

While the pottery was drying, I sat down and started Act 1 of Twelfth Night. About halfway in, I returned the pottery you see in this photo to its proper home and grabbed some more from the other set of cabinets. Same drill.

washingpottery2

I continued my work on Act 1 in the middle of my own particular stage setting consisting of vacuum, attachments, stool, duster, table filled with books and paper, pottery drying in the dish rack and Scout sleeping beside me.

That’s what happens when you try to do paperwork in the kitchen. Too many distractions.

Today I tackle the top of the hutch. And Act 2. But first, I have to run some errands.

Don’s having a great time. Yesterday, he had costume fittings and got his hair cut. It’s short. The look reminds me of old photos of George Orwell. He also met the rest of the cast and had lunch with the director. And explored Prague. He thought he would start filming today, but he has the day off. So he’ll have at least one more full day to sightsee. Lucky Don! Then it’s an early call on Thursday and filming all day.

Skype is wonderful. We can see each other and chat a couple of times a day and I love that. He is having a great adventure and I love that, too.

Happy Wednesday.

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Shakespeare, Crochet & Pennies

March 29, 2012 at 10:31 am by Claudia

esterday I tackled Acts 3, 4 and 5 of The Tempest. Now I can work outside today and not feel guilty. I’ll have to take another pass at the script in a few days, but the bulk of my research is done. That creamy crochet? A special order for my blogging friend, Meri. Have you ever visited Meri? She’s very talented and I’m proud to say that I am the lucky owner of some of her creations. Crocheting these scarves is such fun, but especially so when I’m making one for a dear friend. If you have a special order in mind, don’t hesitate to ask. Meredith just completed a special order for Belinda – a flower scarf in her favorite University of Tennessee colors.

There you go, Meri, a close-up of this pretty color. I’m using the bamboo/silk yarn for this so it will be especially soft. It’s taking me a bit longer than usual. I’ve been crocheting so much lately and I’ve also been digging and wielding a rake and shovel. This has caused some soreness in my right hand with swollen fingers to boot. Don’t worry, I will list it on Etsy for you in a couple of days!

Don has been an actor for 40 years and has done a lot of televison over those years. Actors get residual payments – that means that when an episode is re-aired, a certain percentage of the initial payment to the actor is calculated and a check goes in the mail. If it’s a first or second residual, that paycheck can be a nice chunk of money. Sometimes, it’s not so much.

No, you’re not seeing things. One cent.

When I said in yesterday’s post that we were saving our pennies for a new mattress, I wasn’t kidding. As Don says, it cost more to mail it.

Let’s see, how many penny quotes does this conjure up?

A penny saved is a penny earned. – Benjamin Franklin

A penny for your thoughts. – Proverb

Penny wise is often pound foolish. – French Proverb

If it’s a penny for your thoughts and you put in your own two cents worth, then someone, somewhere, is making a penny.

There are more, but Steven Wright’s is my favorite, so I’m going to quit while I’m ahead.

By the way, I have a book review up today for Prime Suspect 3: Silent Victims. Just scroll down one post.

Happy Thursday.

Talking to Shakespeare

January 10, 2011 at 6:01 pm by Claudia

Scout read all your compliments on her chapeau and she says thank you. Although, to be brutally honest, Scout knows she is pretty. She just does. Even if I never told her how pretty she is (but I do – all the time) she would still know.

My pretty white kitchen table is currently covered in research materials. I have begun text work on The Merchant of Venice. Today I spent hours in my sun-filled kitchen reading, note taking and immersing myself in the play. Tomorrow I go to Manhattan to work with the lead actress, who plays Portia. We are doing a little pre-rehearsal work on the text. I’m not officially under contract until the end of the month. Since we are due for another snow storm Tuesday night and Wednesday (sigh), I scheduled my 2 sessions with the actress around the dreaded weather. The other session will be on Friday, which gives us enough time to shovel out, once again, from several inches of snow.

I have this pattern of behavior: I tend to put off gathering up all my research books and beginning my text work. ‘No, I’ll wait. Let me finish my crocheting,’ or ‘I have to do the laundry first’ or any one of a number of reasons I give to delay the process. But once I begin – especially with Shakespeare – I become immersed in the research and detective work. No matter how many times I have worked on a particular play, I always learn so much. There is such depth, such rich language and such truth in his work. I guess that’s to be expected when working with the greatest playwright that ever lived. And perhaps the greatest writer that ever lived. I’ve always said that if I could go back in time I would want to meet Shakespeare. We would sit down in a pub and I’d ask him how he knew what he knew. How did he become so wise about human nature? How did he know so much about the complexities of the human heart? How did he write in iambic pentameter and do it so beautifully? How?

That would be quite the conversation.

I’d like to talk to Mozart, too. And Gershwin. And Rachmaninoff. And Abraham Lincoln. And Fred Astaire. And Frank Capra. And Jane Austen.

And Harper Lee. But she is still with us. She just doesn’t grant interviews. Oh, I have a long list of questions for her.

If you could go back in time, who would you like to chat with? I’d love to know.

The Problem With Doing Paperwork In The Kitchen

Shakespeare, Crochet & Pennies

Talking to Shakespeare

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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