I feel a lot has happened since last week and yet very little has happened at the same time. It's hard to describe, I guess. Maybe it's just in contrast to the feeling of waking up in a new country every day, so the day-to-day travails here in Northampton seem to be unworthy of mention. And then I look back and think, no...we've put almost two whole shows up in a week, as well as vocally learned four.
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| My work ethic is impeccable, though it does require a lot of chocolate breaks. |
That's quite a lot of progress in not a whole lot of time. According to our music director and choreographer, we seem to be ahead of schedule and picking things up really quickly. They seem quite pleased with us as a cast as well, which I think will serve us well when Belinda comes back to the studio.
Which is Monday.
Commence mild panic attacks...
But on many happier notes:
We had Thanksgiving!!
It was a total success, and everyone came away with full bellies and happy hearts. Especially for us four Americans, I think it was a nice way to make what could have been a homesick and lonely experience into a very positive and festive one. And personally, I'm such a sucker for introducing outsiders to things I love, so it was such a treat to see Dima and Chris so happy with everything that came out of that night. Perhaps we have a couple of converts..? :)
It was back to work as usual on Black Friday--which is apparently a thing in England as well! I was so supriursed to see signs touting their BF sales, and I couldn't help but wonder why on earth they would mark the same day as Americans for the beginning of Christmas shopping?/ England is full of mysetries.
On Saturday night, right after rehearsal, I successfully navigated the British Rail system and made it to the Young Vic theater in London's West End to see the my marvelous friend Kyle star in The Scottsboro Boys. The production was incredible, very moving, and a total workout for the entire cast! I don't envy the people in the front row/splash zone, let's just say. I had fabulous seats (thanks, Kyle!), and got to share many a congratulatory beverage with him afterwards...not only because of the success of Scottsboro (sold out through the rest of the run!), but because Kyle will be making his BROADWAY DEBUT as Enjolras in the revival of Les Miz coming back to Broadway this season. I know what I'M going to be spending some of my hard-earned cruise ship money on when I get back to NY!
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| Cuz nothin' says "welcome home!" quite like seeing your friends slung dead over a barricade. |
Sunday morning I had the pleasure of gallivanting around London with Peter and Sue White, whom I've known since I was a wee lass. They are two of the kindest, funniest, sweetest people around, and I'm so fortunate that we were in town at the same time. I got a great walking tour of London, had delicious cheeses, drank a tot or two of tasty wine, and just generally had a grand ol' time. It was a little bizarre to be touring London again after having not been there for 11 years. Very little came back to my memory, much to my displeasure. BUT, it meant I got to experience everything almost as if it were the first time, so it was still completely magical.
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| I mean....c'mon. Trafalgar Square at sunset. MAGICAL. |
So after that fabulous weekend, it was back to Northampton and learning and dancing and singing and laughing and drinking far too much tea and just getting back down to the grind. It's been so nice to have the full company together, and I am a liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiittle bit infatuated with our dancers. They are so graceful and gorgeous, and I have been entranced to the point of distraction more than a few times during run-throughs.
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| wheeeeeeeeeee! |
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| Ugh. Stunners. |
So that's pretty much it from the homefront. We finish staging our second show tomorrow, have Saturday to drill it in, and then have a glorious day off on Sunday. Hopefully I'll have a bit of time to update then.
Lots of love to you all!
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