Anne Frank

   We open The Diary of Anne Frank in a week.  It is a beautiful show, but oh, dear Lord, so sad.  I am not looking forward to watching it three nights in a row during dress rehearsals, because it is so exhausting!  A friend of mine is playing Mrs. VanDaan, and we were talking today about how, even though we know the ending, we go watch something like this play praying for the deus ex machina to swoop in and save them.
    I am ready for the fun of She Stoops To Conquer - a nice, old-fashioned comedy of manners.

Web Friends

All summer long I have been keeping track of a couple of  spiders that hang around out patio and back door.  The one by the back door we always name Pete because for some reason it makes the spider seem less intimidating to the children.(We think Pete is really a girl, but she doesn't seem to mind her moniker). Pete  has been known to bluff - you know, race out to the edge of the web as if to attack, then  she chickens out when we blow at her. 

Pete

This is a friend of Pete's.  This spider hangs below the window boxes on the patio, keeping the mosquito population down to a manageable number. This spider fascinates me with its contrasts.  It will hang completely still for hours, then, wham! attack a bug with lightning speed. 

The following are some shots of her attacking, wrapping and taking nourishment from an unfortunate insect which found its way into her web. Some are not very clear as she was moving  too swiftly for my camera to catch it all.

wrapping

more wrapping

eating

finishing the meal

After the meal, she climbed into the well of the window box to rest, leaving only her leg sticking out

It's Good to Leave Your Comfort Zone

    When it comes to theatre, I am a costume and scenic designer , as well as a teacher.  I have acted, but not a lot, since my hubby is an actor and director, and his schedule is pretty well booked most nights of the year.  This summer I realized he was not in a show first thing in the fall, so on a whim, I auditioned for Cabaret at our local community theatre.    I was hoping for Fraulein Schneider, but when the actress who did get that role opened her mouth at auditions, we all knew she was it. (Bless you, Patti, you were "truly magnificent!") I was imagining I might get a part as a member of the ensemble, and if I was lucky, as Fraulein Kost, the hooker in the play.  Imagine my surprise when I got the part of Sally Bowles!
    It was a great rehearsal period. My choreographer worked me hard, and was so patient and supportive.  Michelle never got mad, and took extra time out of her weeks to have solo rehearsal time with me. I loved working with all the dancers, who were so helpful and patient with me as I slogged through dance rehearsals while they glided.  They never made me feel ungraceful, or slow, and they were always ready to show me moves I was not comfortable with.

     Throughout the entire process, I met and made friends with so many actors who kept encouraging me.  It was a wonderful thing as there was quite a bit of self-doubt.  After all, with the exception of a directed reading and one short stint of The Vagina Monologues a few years ago, I had not been on stage as a performer in 20 years, no, more than that!  Our Emcee was a hoot - very funny, very talented and so sweet! My dear "Cliff" was very helpful and kind and always covered if I dropped a line - which I totally did closing night - sorry, Doug! Our Schultz and Schneider were such a wonderful couple - as they danced to "Married" the cast would be swaying along in the wings as we watched them.
     I have to admit to being exhausted on the days of double dance rehearsals.  I am not sure my thighs will ever be the same (and that, my friends, may be a good thing!) and I certainly have a greater appreciation for all the dancers who make everything look so easy!

     For a few days I put on the short wig, the fishnet stockings and the revealing costumes.  I let myself have fun playing Sally, a naive, self-absorbed, yet surprisingly sensitive character. I danced. I discovered that I CAN belt a song.

     So now I am back to being just me - mom, teacher and costume designer. I have homework to check at night instead of mic check, no one is looking critically at my makeup, and I am just singing for me once more.  But what a lovely time it was.
   Thank you to our wonderful cast, crew, and artistic staff.  A special thanks to Sarah Lynn - I love a cabaret!

Hurricane Irene

   Well, we put up several jugs of water, a few buckets of water for flushing toilets, and filled the tub as a back up.  We are NOT in the hurricane zone - really.  We are on the outer edges which are getting "some tropical storm winds and rain."  We have to be prepared this way because of our gorgeous trees. Our yard is full of them, and the day we do not prepare is the day one will crack and part will fall on the roof or the wires and knock out the power.  Living in our town means we are on a well, and the water pump works with electricity, so you can see the potential need for a water stockpile.
   So far, so good.  It is noon-ish and we have power.  We are getting some basement flooding, but that is par for the course around here.
    As I look out the window, I see two bedraggled sparrows hanging out in the bird feeder, trying to get out of the wet.  Many other birds have not been that smart!
   Been looking at photos of coastal areas where we have family and friends, and have been calling and emailing to keep checking.  So far, all who needed to evacuate have done so, and everyone is fine.  I keep thinking how good this rain is for our trees, as we have not had a lot of steady rain this summer - just violent and fast storms that come and go quickly.  Of course, family in Maryland and Delaware may think I am a bit odd saying that, but we are not in a flood here. (Nearby towns are - part of Margaretville is floating!)
   Then, across the country, my sister and brother-in-law are dealing with Yosemite and the environs burning as the fire rages there.  I wish I could send them some of this rain.
   Not a very cohesive post today as my thoughts are in several places at once.  Hoping you are all safe - regardless of where you are.

No Time!

   The end of summer is notoriously busy - the garden  goes insane with final vegetables needing freezing or canning.  Classes start, the kids have NOT started, so we juggle keeping them busy while we a re crazy busy ourselves.  The term, I have added a tap class.  We had the first one today, and there are 4 of us who have no experience and about 8 who have danced for 14-15 years...lots of work to do in this class, but I am really looking forward to it.  I even have to do a research paper again!  I have missed school as a student!
   Still plugging away at Cabaret.  Everyone is so nice, but, it is eating up a lot of time.  I am worried about what I will be wearing - I really am a bit thick in the middle for sequins - but that seems to be the fabric of choice for Sally's costumes - oh well.
   Have to get to a dept. meeting.

Just wanted you to know I am  not dead, just busy!

dancing and panting

   Okay, so I am cast as Sally Bowles in Cabaret at the local community theatre.  So far, I am really enjoying the experience - although getting used to a community theatre schedule as opposed to a professional theatre schedule is taking some doing.
   I only have two real dances, but boy, they are teaching me just how out of shape I am!  After dancing for two and a half hours last night, I went home and collapsed on the couch.  I got up to get some dinner, sat down again, and did not want to move.  I convinced my husband that I really needed a foot massage, and he complied. (Two and a half hours  of dancing in three inch heels can do a number on your toes).
   I climbed into bed - after having to force myself to change out of sweaty dance attire and get into pjs. I didn't even have the strength for a shower!
   I am not complaining,  just noting that while I know this is good for me, I am pooped!

recently

  Recently we went down to our old stomping grounds in Southern Maryland to celebrate a 50th birthday with a few dear friends.  It was lovely.  Southern Maryland is not known for its hospitable weather in August.  Usually it is blazing hot and the humidity is so thick you must cut the air in order to pass through it.  However, Saturday was only in the low 80s, and the humidity, while present, was not wilting.  A light breeze kept the  air moving and the mosquitos away, and generally it was a lovely day.
    Prior to the party we drove around and saw the college where both my husband and I were undergrads and where I taught for five years. We drove past our old house, which used to be one of four houses on a dirt road.  Well, some things change.  Our old house ( an ugly split foyer with no real curb appeal) now sits on a paved road and is surrounded by  a couple dozen McMansions where once it was surrounded by forest...so sad.
    We went down to Point Lookout and the children played in the surf, picked up shells, and generally had a fabulous time getting soaking wet - pictures are forthcoming - they are in the camera which is still with them.
    Sunday we split up - my husband and the two youngest are still in MD in Ocean City, visiting family, and will be doing some more traveling around the state before heading north.  My mom, and my eldest went to CT so he could have his special week with his grandmother. I had to get back here for rehearsals.
    I have the house to myself - well, the animals and I do.  I have a million projects I hope to get completed, but I also have to learn my lines - so I  have to get a bit more organized than I was today.  Because, really, there is no excuse not to get all my lines for the show memorized.
    We just started rehearsals for Cabaret, and the trickiest part for me, thus far, is getting the German memorized.  I took French!