Well, I take back everything I said about a student audience. We had our first audience yesterday morning and they were the best audience you could ever hope to have. Comprised of middle and high school students, this audience was completely involved in the play from the start to the finish. They got everything, laughed, gasped, sat on the edge of their seats – I had such fun watching their faces and their body language (in between moments of actually doing my job and taking notes on the performance.) At the end, they stomped their feet, cheered, and jumped to their collective feet for a standing ovation. The girls cheered and screamed when the leading man came out for his curtain call (we see his bare chest a lot) – we’re now calling him the Justin Bieber of the cast.
What I had forgotten was how powerful and accessible Shakespeare is. To everyone. Don’t let anyone tell you it’s hard to understand. Not hardly. This group of kids completely understood what was going on and let me tell you, they didn’t hold back in their reactions. In this age of computers, of virtual games, of virtual everything, there is nothing like live theater. There is nothing like Shakespeare. He writes about everything man feels and experiences with an immediacy that is stunning some 300+ years later. These young people will be changed by this experience.
I was humbly reminded of my high school drama club. We took a trip to the Stratford Festival in Canada every fall and saw Shakespeare done by extraordinary actors. That was my first experience with Shakespeare. I was changed forever and I’m not exaggerating. The live performances of Shakespeare’s plays, acted by a talented company of actors, excited and moved and transformed this young girl who wanted to be an actress, who loved words. Little did I know at the time that I would be working with his text so many years later.
That’s the set (taken with my iPhone.) As you can see, it’s a boxwood garden maze. The actors can walk on top of the hedges and also have lots of blocking down between the hedges. They can pop up, hide, go under the bridges. It’s a fabulous set design. That center circle is powered by an elevator and it can go up and down.
In other news, I got a Hartford Public Library card. I found out we were able to get a card as employees of Hartford Stage. Knowing I’ll be back for 6 weeks in August and September, I went for it. I was searching for a Deborah Crombie mystery that I hadn’t read and I found it. In the Large Print section. I’m not quite ready for Large Print in general, but I have to admit it’s easy on the eyes!
I’ve sewn two rows together on the quilt. I have to be honest here and say that something is always off on my blocks – doesn’t matter what quilt I’m working on. It seems I always have to wrestle with them to make the whole thing work. Drives me buggy. Is it that I can’t always stitch a truly straight seam? Is it that my rotary cutting is off? Lord knows. I envy those who make it seem so simple, who have no problem getting everything to align beautifully. I want to get better at this, but in the meantime, I just have to sigh and say “Whatever.” It is what it is. It won’t be perfect, but nothing ever is. At least in my creative life. Here’s to the journey.
Happy Friday.
I’m so happy that the performance was a hit. The set is beautiful. I could imagine sitting in the audience and watching the play. And your telling of the audience reaction brought a smile to my face. Young girls swooning over a young man can’t help but make a person happy.
I have the same problem when putting a quilt together! I see friends quilts laying so beautifully and I wonder why mine don’t. And like you, I just move on and hope I can figure it out with the next square. That perfect quilt is still waiting in my future.
Thanks, Tana! That makes me feel better. Sometimes I feel like I’m the only quilter out there who wrestles with her piecing!
That set is too cool! The play sounds great– must be very gratifying. In my 20s, I read a large print book because it was the only copy this library had and thought: “Where has this been all my life?” Don’t think I’ve read one since however!
I know – large print is awfully handy!
Love the set. That is incredible!
Lovely you could get a library card. I heart my with passion. Our public library was built just 2 years ago, is 2 stories high, with couches, fireplaces, a coffee bar, meeting rooms and incredible art. Such a great place to visit and stay a while.
The quilt is looking great. We leave on holidays 6 weeks today and I’ve got my quilt blocks cut out and pinned, ready to sew. Can’t wait!
Have a great weekend Claudia.
Wow – a coffee bar! How neat!
Wow that set is impressive! Claudia, If I may say once again, coming from generations of quilt makers. No ones quilts come out straight! They look that way and we try very hard to get them that way. It doesn’t always or even frequently happen. You do a fabulous job just keep up the good work. You are a lovely quilt maker! -Judy A-
Thank you so much, Judy.
Wow…what a set! Gorgeous! So happy the performance went well. Enjoy your weekend! ;)
Thank you, Donna!
What an awesome set! The three years Tiffany was in high school, she was always in the musicals and I painted scenery for the plays. It was so much work but so much fun!
So glad the kids enjoyed the play. There are some good kids out there today, aren’t there?
Have a great weekend.
Judy
There are. We hear so much negative stuff, but then I see kids like this and I feel very hopeful!
Love hearinghow the schoolagers loved the play. The set is amazing. Great job Claudia.
Thanks, Debby. This set designer is the same one who designed The Tempest last year.
Hi Claudia!! Wow – that set is something!! It was so creatively done. Glad the kids liked Shakespeare and had fun!! Your new quilt is beautiful too – love the colors.. Don’t worry about it not being perfect – it was lovingly created by you and it will look beautiful hanging in your home… Enjoy the rest of your day!! Francine
Today’s audience of students loved it, too!
I made a couple of little lap quilts but never again. I can’t do it properly and my seams are off. I once went to a small fabric store in the next town to order some fabric I wanted. While there, I saw a basket of homemade potholders. I picked one up and looked it over and could NOT find the hand sewn closing. I looked and looked but the woman’s stitches were the most meticulous I’d ever seen. Truly, you could not tell where she hand stitched it together. Absolutely stunning work! Good luck, sweetpea…
xoxo,
Connie
I also believe there is nothing like live theater..I have seen so many plays with my great niece in the cast which made them even more exciting for me..That set is amazing!!..I am so glad to hear how the young people enjoyed it..Stop worrying about your quilts being perfect Claudia..They are beautiful things made with your loving hands so that makes them wonderful..I am preparing to try my first one..just simple blocks of various cat fabrics with some whimsical blocks showing comical fabric portraits of “crazy cat ladies” in the center..I can not imagine it being anywhere near perfect but I know I will love it so much..being a crazy cat lady myself..lol
Claudia,
Your quilt is jut lovely. My quilting friends “square” their blocks with rulers made for this. I don’t. I think the way they come together is part of the charm.
Glad the play was such a success.
Carol
That is a stunning set – wish so much I could get to a performance, know I would love it. I’m so happy when I see kids enjoying theatre – we take Jasmin often. She also took acting lessons at our local community theatre when younger and now our 8 y.o. next door neighbor is doing the same thing.
I’ll post this weekend before I leave Claudia but may then be absent on Saturdays – and all days – for the next 3 weeks if no Internet available, or if it’s totally out of my price range on the ship!
Hugs – Mary
How exciting! And so true, nothing like live theatre and nothing like Shakespeare! Still strikes a chord with audiences because human nature hasn’t changed.
I know you’ve probably mentioned a ton of times already which play is being performed…I’ve forgotten and right now am on pain meds for dental work I had done today; I do know kids love Shakespeare. My own kids were hooked at a young age when we watched “King Clear” (as my oldest son called it) :)
Then later our homeschool group performed “A Mid-Summer Nights Dream” …they all loved it and we all had a part in the production. It was fantastic! Kids do get it.
Now the Library card is cool! glad you’ve got time to do some reading other than Shakespeare, on the side!
The quilt looks great to me. I’ve only ever made one quilt top and I’ve never quilted it. I should probably do that!
I wouldn’t worry so much about the way it turns out…unless it means you have to fuss with it around the edges once it’s pieced. Just think. There will never be another quilt EVER like this one. A One of a Kind piece!
take care, Pat
We live about an hour from Stratford Ontario, so our kids grew up with performances there. It’s nice when you can get to stay at a B&B and watch several plays over a few days!
Belíssimo cenário, Claudia! Sempre fui fã de Agatha Christie e ela costumava dizer em seus livros que a natureza humana é sempre a mesma, não importa o lugar ou a época. Shakespeare trata da natureza humana e é por esse motivo que é atemporal, e o seu talento nos transporta para a história que está sendo contada, como se fossemos fantasmas invisíveis presenciando os fatos . Você também não pensa assim?