This post is going to be a little bit different. I'm going to lump the two days into one. Why? Because I'm the author and I can.
Saturday- The Last Day of BAPA
To be honest it wasn't the most eventful week. I still had tons of fun and did a lot with my character. One of the Fools and I came up with a bit where he calls me out as a girl and we have to drag a patron in to help me discourage him. He is one of two people who are actually allowed to call me "Anne" without getting socked (or a very dirty look). I did have to make it known that people need to call me "Andrew" or I might not play with them. Most likely I will respond that I do not know their "Anne" but they might address me as "Master Andrew."
My electives on Saturday were phenomenal. My first class was taught by the director of the BRF Fight Cast and he also plays Robin Hood. He's a really cool person and I loved what he had to say about simply making a personal connection with a patron that wasn't apart of a big "bit." I'm really looking forward to having those "small moments" with patrons where I just get to talk to them. I'm looking forward to the big/funny stuff too, but those genuine moments are what people remember for years.
My second elective was about Elizabethan Maritime history. It was taught by the man who plays Sir Francis Drake. It was one of the best history classes I have taken. He was really hilarious to listen to and even though I was pretty tired, I was avidly listening. Plus, I got to try hardtack! It's not that bad once you get used to kind of gnawing at it for half an hour.
After BAPA ended and we all had a mock-cry, the cast of Ren Quest held a BBQ for everyone and I got to hang with a bunch of the cast and just have a good time. We did some improv and I got to go up once (there were SO MANY PEOPLE), and it was a lot of fun.
SUNDAY- DRESS REHEARSAL!!!!
Sunday was oodles of good times. This past Thursday I got a taste of working with patrons when I went to the train station downtown and passed out fliers with some of the cast (Captain Frobie included) and it was great to get a sense of working with the Catpain and sort-of-kind-of "patrons" (aka- the commuters).
So when Sunday rolled around I loved having one last chance to just play with the other characters, at the same time, I really really really can't wait to talk to patrons.
Wearing my costume wasn't that bad. It was hot, but when you're doing things in costume you don't think about it too much. I love my costume. I love my hat, my shirt, my pants, my doublet, I especially love my belt with everything hanging on it.
We started out with playing Hot Seat and I got to go up twice. Once with my shipmates, and once with Captain Frobie. It went ok, I've had better Hot Seats, I think I would consider it a warm up more than anything.
Then when Dog and Pony went up with their Muppet-like puppets, I started freaking out because they are SO FLIPPING COOL! I will start wigging out whenever they come near me. Everyone thinks it's really hilarious.
The next super-duper (trying not to use the word "awesome") part of the day was when we split up into our groups and walked around the site. The Captain showed me a map that he drew of the "new world." It's really funny. Kind of one of those things you just have to see or ask me to explain in person. After looking at the map we started our "walk about" and wandered all over the site as Captain Frobie told me which places were good to interact with people in, which shops like the performers (and which ones don't), and just general Faire-things-I-should-know. We ran into a couple characters and got to try out some interactions. The more I work with these people, the more comfortable in my character I get. There's only so much you can do on your own before you need to just start working through things with the people you run into.
I also got to try some of the famously good soup from the Dirty Duck Inn. It's amazing. I'm so glad I get to eat there all summer!
After lunch we had full cast rehearsal for Opening Gate, Closing Gate, and Parade. Mostly there was a lot of joking around while waiting to rehearse Closing Gate. Lots of teasing and general good natured fun.
The next thing that I'll mention is that after our official rehearsal was over I got to hang with some of the women in our cast. These women are so much fun to talk with. One of them told me that I am a "Find." I think the best translation is that I'm of value to the group. I got so many compliments from people yesterday and I was overwhelmed by the support that I've received.
My favorite part of the day is actually my change in backstory. Mwahahaha- the elusive and not often used backstory. I didn't come up with this new story, but my friends Captains Hawkins and Frobisher did.
Apparently Anne is the daughter of a woman known as "Easy Fanny." She has 5 or 6 possible fathers, but she does know that he was a famous Captain. This means that it could be Drake, Hawkins, Frobisher, Wynter, De Goiti, or possibly one or two others. I've been giggling about this since lunchtime yesterday. I like it a lot better than my old backstory and it's a lot simpler to explain!
So concludes my last post about rehearsals and BAPA. I honestly don't know what posts will look like from here on out. I'll try and post about each weekend, but I can't guarantee anything. I'm going to miss telling a lot, simply because I can't tell everything- there's too much to tell!
Here's to getting ready for patrons!!! Please come and play with me! Anne will be ever so happy!
Showing posts with label BAPA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label BAPA. Show all posts
Monday, July 2, 2012
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
BAPA week 4
I am a bad, bad, bad little author.
I'm so sorry for keeping this post from everyone! In truth, this weekend was very busy and VERY tiring and I've only just found the time to actually post these things today. I've been running around for two days making stuff for the faire (a pouch and belt mug holder thingy), and somehow the internet was just not on my priorities.
Now to tell all that happened on Saturday!
First of all, we met in a different place than normal and I almost got the stages mixed up. Newbie moment! Note to self- the GLOBE STAGE is not the one with the seven deadly sins painted on the back, that's the Lord Mayor's stage (I think, not 100% sure).
Week 4 of BAPA saw me in group 4 with all the other Uppper Dialect people, along with our Italians from the Comedia Del'Atre troupe. They are FANTASTIC and please play with them when you come up and see us. They make me laugh all day long.
We had our movement class first and went over introductions with a specific movement that people would recognize. I strike a semi-manly pose and look around knowingly. Apparently I did that look around thing without trying and the teacher loved it, so I'm keeping it!
Movement class was fun this week because we learned about how different points of our bodies can be "headlights" that direct attention and we learned how to use them. We can focus all of our attention on one particular person, or direct our headlights to shine attention on everyone (relatively speaking).
After movement came dialect where we translated our various breakfasts into Elizabethan English. I had eaten sausage on an English muffin, so that wasn't hard to translate, but some people came up with the BEST STUFF. Imagine translating Lucky Charms Cereal into Elizabethan English. I was almost crying from laughter at some of the elaborations people came up with.
At lunch the Dirty Duck Inn was having a sale on some lightly used objects and I bought a mug for $10!!!!!!!!!! Btw- that's a very very VERY reasonable price for a mug that I know I'll be able to drink out of. I've had trouble finding anything that's durable enough that doesn't have lead content. Now I don't need to worry about that anymore!
After lunch came Street (aka- Improv). We did a LOT of status/dominance work. It was a lot of fun. I think for almost all of the games we did each person would get a card from a deck of cards and would hold up the card to their forehead and guess how "high up" they were bases on other people's reactions. If you were a King, everyone loved you. If you were a 2, well, better luck next time.
Characterization was a big character interview session. Different characters came up and were asked questions about themselves and it was interesting to see how other people's characters were coming through.
My two elective classes were pretty good. I had Character Class Interactions, which essentially was a lot more of the status/dominance thing, but I feel like I've hammered that concept into myself and my character and I've got a decent grasp on it.
Sea Shanties was a little disappointing because I knew most of the songs, but it was fun to sing them with everyone! I really do love sea shanties. I got my carpool to sing them on the way home on Sunday. :)
That is most of what happened on Saturday. Well, anything worth noting anyway. Thanks for waiting for the post!
I'm so sorry for keeping this post from everyone! In truth, this weekend was very busy and VERY tiring and I've only just found the time to actually post these things today. I've been running around for two days making stuff for the faire (a pouch and belt mug holder thingy), and somehow the internet was just not on my priorities.
Now to tell all that happened on Saturday!
First of all, we met in a different place than normal and I almost got the stages mixed up. Newbie moment! Note to self- the GLOBE STAGE is not the one with the seven deadly sins painted on the back, that's the Lord Mayor's stage (I think, not 100% sure).
Week 4 of BAPA saw me in group 4 with all the other Uppper Dialect people, along with our Italians from the Comedia Del'Atre troupe. They are FANTASTIC and please play with them when you come up and see us. They make me laugh all day long.
We had our movement class first and went over introductions with a specific movement that people would recognize. I strike a semi-manly pose and look around knowingly. Apparently I did that look around thing without trying and the teacher loved it, so I'm keeping it!
Movement class was fun this week because we learned about how different points of our bodies can be "headlights" that direct attention and we learned how to use them. We can focus all of our attention on one particular person, or direct our headlights to shine attention on everyone (relatively speaking).
After movement came dialect where we translated our various breakfasts into Elizabethan English. I had eaten sausage on an English muffin, so that wasn't hard to translate, but some people came up with the BEST STUFF. Imagine translating Lucky Charms Cereal into Elizabethan English. I was almost crying from laughter at some of the elaborations people came up with.
At lunch the Dirty Duck Inn was having a sale on some lightly used objects and I bought a mug for $10!!!!!!!!!! Btw- that's a very very VERY reasonable price for a mug that I know I'll be able to drink out of. I've had trouble finding anything that's durable enough that doesn't have lead content. Now I don't need to worry about that anymore!
After lunch came Street (aka- Improv). We did a LOT of status/dominance work. It was a lot of fun. I think for almost all of the games we did each person would get a card from a deck of cards and would hold up the card to their forehead and guess how "high up" they were bases on other people's reactions. If you were a King, everyone loved you. If you were a 2, well, better luck next time.
Characterization was a big character interview session. Different characters came up and were asked questions about themselves and it was interesting to see how other people's characters were coming through.
My two elective classes were pretty good. I had Character Class Interactions, which essentially was a lot more of the status/dominance thing, but I feel like I've hammered that concept into myself and my character and I've got a decent grasp on it.
Sea Shanties was a little disappointing because I knew most of the songs, but it was fun to sing them with everyone! I really do love sea shanties. I got my carpool to sing them on the way home on Sunday. :)
That is most of what happened on Saturday. Well, anything worth noting anyway. Thanks for waiting for the post!
Sunday, June 17, 2012
BAPA Week 3
Forgive me, dear readers, for I am posting this a day late. However, this may become a new thing for reasons that will become apparent later in this post.
BAPA week 3 was just great, except for the two bug bites I got on the back of my legs. They are on each leg, but in the exact same place on each leg! What the heck?
Dialect part one was as usual very good, but it went very quickly. I love dialect, I think I'm going to have to start learning several of the different English dialects because they are just awesome.
Then came the beloved and dreaded Street Class (aka- improv).
Our teacher decided that we were going to work on endings when interacting with patrons. He also decided to be that patron and be various patrons from that lovely hot flaming place.
When I went up I got the Patron Who Can't Keep on Topic.
So I try my bit about asking him to show me his walk because being a man, he must have a very manly walk. From there on out it turned into a partial back story telling mixed with a lot of "How the heck do I get out of this?" Somehow I made it out and was very relieved.
I also got a note, apparently I had a hard time with eye contact and kept glancing over the "patron's" shoulder. I know that I have struggled with eye contact in the past and it was a very good reminder for me to work on that, especially when it comes to patrons.
The next improvisation exercise we did was a lot better. I was paired with one of the Comedia troupe and we had to acknowledge each other and show who was the more dominant person (see my second rehearsal post about the status vs. dominance thing). Even though I completely outranked the Comedia player, she was in control of the scene because Anne-Drew is desperately trying to not be found out. The Comedia player kept going at how she thought I was a girl and it was hilarious. I mean, she had an Italian accent and her way of moving is just fantastic. I loved that scene and I really felt my character coming out. I was very defensive about how I was most definitely NOT a girl. It was great and I can't say how much fun I had with that one scene.
One of my friends who plays Captain Hawkins said that he was starting to see my character and I was very pleased by this compliment because it meant that someone else besides myself was seeing something.
Then came Characterization and the downpour of rain that we almost got stuck in. Luckily we ran into the pole barn (which is like a prop house) and did character interviews. I like the homework for this class this week because we have to be our character as if they were at home alone. This is going to be fun coming up with something for Anne Drew.
Then we all went to a slightly damp lunch and after lunch came possibly the best class of the day- Split Second.
In split second we learned about our character's instinct and whether our character is a fight or flight personality. I learned something very interesting. I am a fight personality, but Anne is a flight personality. Now, there are some fine lines to each person. I will stand my ground and not back down, but I won't always challenge someone either. If they provoke me then I will defend, but I won't outright attack.
Anne on the other hand will run if she can, but if she has to stand her ground then she will do her best. She ran away because it was 1) a flight instinct and 2) the only way to get out of a potentially dangerous situation.
The other classes of the day were great too. Dialect was fun because as the upper class accent, our group had a pretty good handle on it and we just talked about random things in our accents with Elizabethan grammar.
My electives were really good and I can already see how they are going to be put into good use. I took a class on storytelling and basically the class taught us how to use our life experiences to tell "true" stories as our characters.
My other class was about "hit and run" street. A hit and run is where you just say one liners as you pass purposefully through a crowd. I can't wait to use this! You can compliment, carefully insult, accuse and confuse, but always build up the patron.
Then came history which was taught by a fantastic man, I was on the edge of my seat the whole time hanging on his every word. This man was an amazing speaker and I can't wait to hear the second half of his speech.
The reason I did not post this last night was that I stayed for the just-for-kicks improvisation event at 8:30pm. I got home around 11pm last night and was just too dog tired to do anything but fall into bed.
Between the time when BAPA ended (around 6pm) and when the improv started I went out for dinner to two friends. One of them is the a fore mentioned Capt. Hawkins and the other is a carpool friend I'll be calling the Fishwife because that's what she plays in Kids Kingdom (or KK).
I had the best time with these two new and fast friends. Everyone I make friends with is so open and there have been so many instant connections that I have made with people. Actually, Capt. Hawkins and I took a walk around BRF before the improv games and just talked about a lot of stuff and I have found a very kindred spirit. This happens so rarely to me that I'm beyond excited to have found such a person at BRF.
The Improv was great. It wasn't apart of BAPA, it's just a thing for cast for after hours kicks and giggles. I didn't have much, if any, trepidation or nervousness about going up and doing stuff. I only stayed for about and hour or so, but it was totally worth it and I believe that I'm going to continue to attend to really get a good grasp of improvisation and just going for things onstage. I went up three or four times and I am proud that I did. I also laughed so hard that I almost cried at some of the other scenes.
BAPA week 3 was just great, except for the two bug bites I got on the back of my legs. They are on each leg, but in the exact same place on each leg! What the heck?
Dialect part one was as usual very good, but it went very quickly. I love dialect, I think I'm going to have to start learning several of the different English dialects because they are just awesome.
Then came the beloved and dreaded Street Class (aka- improv).
Our teacher decided that we were going to work on endings when interacting with patrons. He also decided to be that patron and be various patrons from that lovely hot flaming place.
When I went up I got the Patron Who Can't Keep on Topic.
So I try my bit about asking him to show me his walk because being a man, he must have a very manly walk. From there on out it turned into a partial back story telling mixed with a lot of "How the heck do I get out of this?" Somehow I made it out and was very relieved.
I also got a note, apparently I had a hard time with eye contact and kept glancing over the "patron's" shoulder. I know that I have struggled with eye contact in the past and it was a very good reminder for me to work on that, especially when it comes to patrons.
The next improvisation exercise we did was a lot better. I was paired with one of the Comedia troupe and we had to acknowledge each other and show who was the more dominant person (see my second rehearsal post about the status vs. dominance thing). Even though I completely outranked the Comedia player, she was in control of the scene because Anne-Drew is desperately trying to not be found out. The Comedia player kept going at how she thought I was a girl and it was hilarious. I mean, she had an Italian accent and her way of moving is just fantastic. I loved that scene and I really felt my character coming out. I was very defensive about how I was most definitely NOT a girl. It was great and I can't say how much fun I had with that one scene.
One of my friends who plays Captain Hawkins said that he was starting to see my character and I was very pleased by this compliment because it meant that someone else besides myself was seeing something.
Then came Characterization and the downpour of rain that we almost got stuck in. Luckily we ran into the pole barn (which is like a prop house) and did character interviews. I like the homework for this class this week because we have to be our character as if they were at home alone. This is going to be fun coming up with something for Anne Drew.
Then we all went to a slightly damp lunch and after lunch came possibly the best class of the day- Split Second.
In split second we learned about our character's instinct and whether our character is a fight or flight personality. I learned something very interesting. I am a fight personality, but Anne is a flight personality. Now, there are some fine lines to each person. I will stand my ground and not back down, but I won't always challenge someone either. If they provoke me then I will defend, but I won't outright attack.
Anne on the other hand will run if she can, but if she has to stand her ground then she will do her best. She ran away because it was 1) a flight instinct and 2) the only way to get out of a potentially dangerous situation.
The other classes of the day were great too. Dialect was fun because as the upper class accent, our group had a pretty good handle on it and we just talked about random things in our accents with Elizabethan grammar.
My electives were really good and I can already see how they are going to be put into good use. I took a class on storytelling and basically the class taught us how to use our life experiences to tell "true" stories as our characters.
My other class was about "hit and run" street. A hit and run is where you just say one liners as you pass purposefully through a crowd. I can't wait to use this! You can compliment, carefully insult, accuse and confuse, but always build up the patron.
Then came history which was taught by a fantastic man, I was on the edge of my seat the whole time hanging on his every word. This man was an amazing speaker and I can't wait to hear the second half of his speech.
The reason I did not post this last night was that I stayed for the just-for-kicks improvisation event at 8:30pm. I got home around 11pm last night and was just too dog tired to do anything but fall into bed.
Between the time when BAPA ended (around 6pm) and when the improv started I went out for dinner to two friends. One of them is the a fore mentioned Capt. Hawkins and the other is a carpool friend I'll be calling the Fishwife because that's what she plays in Kids Kingdom (or KK).
I had the best time with these two new and fast friends. Everyone I make friends with is so open and there have been so many instant connections that I have made with people. Actually, Capt. Hawkins and I took a walk around BRF before the improv games and just talked about a lot of stuff and I have found a very kindred spirit. This happens so rarely to me that I'm beyond excited to have found such a person at BRF.
The Improv was great. It wasn't apart of BAPA, it's just a thing for cast for after hours kicks and giggles. I didn't have much, if any, trepidation or nervousness about going up and doing stuff. I only stayed for about and hour or so, but it was totally worth it and I believe that I'm going to continue to attend to really get a good grasp of improvisation and just going for things onstage. I went up three or four times and I am proud that I did. I also laughed so hard that I almost cried at some of the other scenes.
Saturday, June 9, 2012
BAPA Week 2
Also Known As- Anne is part of the Elite Upper Class!
and Anne ran away.....
So now I'm the driver of a carpool and I'm picking up 3 people with one person getting dropped off at my house. I only got lost 1 time on our way to BAPA though, so I'm happy, and the map had the wrong directions anyway!
Now onto BAPA-
Apparently if you are doing an upper class dialect, you are apart of a family that has money. Not wealty merchant or well paid servant money. Nobility money. 1% of the population money.
Now I have to figure out a new story as to why Anne ran away from her posh lifestyle.
Other than having fun with an accent that I already (theoretically) know, I totally failed the first round of exercises in improvisation.
YAY FOR FAILURE!!!
After that first flop round I did fine and felt reasonably okay with how things went. We learned how to engage patrons when they are walking past us, and when we are walking past them. It's fun!
In character class we did a lot of what body part our character leads with. I am going to have to experiment a LOT to figure this out for Anne.
We also have to come up with our catchphrase- here's mine, "Anne Drew, Cabin Boy to Captain Frobisher!" I think that gives the people a very good idea of who I am. Everything else can come along later.
Later in Movement class we learned about leading with different centers. We used our heads, hearts, stomachs, and powerhouse. Like I said above, I've got a lot to experiment with during the next week.
Then I took a history class about the history of Bristol, and wish I had taken the class "What Elizabethans knew." Why? Because as much as I loved the Bristol history class, I think I might have found more tidbits that I could have used in the Elizabethan class. Oh well, that's what libraries are for!
Then I learned how King Henry the 8th had a big temper tantrum because the Pope wouldn't let him divorce his wife. The man had issues. He wanted a son, so badly that he divorced one wife and killed another! Oh wait, he divorced wife #1 because wife #2 wouldn't sleep with him until there was a ring on her finger and a crown on her head. Well, she kind of gave in once Henry started going through with the divorce and her and Anne B needed to get hitched before her baby was born or else the child would have been an illegitimate child.
And everyone was so excited because Anne was going to have a boy!
Oh wait....
The baby was a girl.
Oops.
Today was wonderful! But it was very hot and I did get very tired by the end of the day. I've just finished dinner and I'm amazed at how much better I feel now that I have some protein, veggies, and sodium back in my system.
Look for tomorrow's post!
and Anne ran away.....
So now I'm the driver of a carpool and I'm picking up 3 people with one person getting dropped off at my house. I only got lost 1 time on our way to BAPA though, so I'm happy, and the map had the wrong directions anyway!
Now onto BAPA-
Apparently if you are doing an upper class dialect, you are apart of a family that has money. Not wealty merchant or well paid servant money. Nobility money. 1% of the population money.
Now I have to figure out a new story as to why Anne ran away from her posh lifestyle.
Other than having fun with an accent that I already (theoretically) know, I totally failed the first round of exercises in improvisation.
YAY FOR FAILURE!!!
After that first flop round I did fine and felt reasonably okay with how things went. We learned how to engage patrons when they are walking past us, and when we are walking past them. It's fun!
In character class we did a lot of what body part our character leads with. I am going to have to experiment a LOT to figure this out for Anne.
We also have to come up with our catchphrase- here's mine, "Anne Drew, Cabin Boy to Captain Frobisher!" I think that gives the people a very good idea of who I am. Everything else can come along later.
Later in Movement class we learned about leading with different centers. We used our heads, hearts, stomachs, and powerhouse. Like I said above, I've got a lot to experiment with during the next week.
Then I took a history class about the history of Bristol, and wish I had taken the class "What Elizabethans knew." Why? Because as much as I loved the Bristol history class, I think I might have found more tidbits that I could have used in the Elizabethan class. Oh well, that's what libraries are for!
Then I learned how King Henry the 8th had a big temper tantrum because the Pope wouldn't let him divorce his wife. The man had issues. He wanted a son, so badly that he divorced one wife and killed another! Oh wait, he divorced wife #1 because wife #2 wouldn't sleep with him until there was a ring on her finger and a crown on her head. Well, she kind of gave in once Henry started going through with the divorce and her and Anne B needed to get hitched before her baby was born or else the child would have been an illegitimate child.
And everyone was so excited because Anne was going to have a boy!
Oh wait....
The baby was a girl.
Oops.
Today was wonderful! But it was very hot and I did get very tired by the end of the day. I've just finished dinner and I'm amazed at how much better I feel now that I have some protein, veggies, and sodium back in my system.
Look for tomorrow's post!
Saturday, June 2, 2012
BAPA Week the First
So Presumably you've read the prequel to this post from my other blog- Astonishing. If you haven't, go read it. This post will make a lot more sense!
Also- I am VERY TIRED, but I want to get this post out before I reach that 24 hour mark where these memories need to be frozen and then thawed out again each time I access them. Did I just compare my brain to a freezer? Yes, that is how tired I am.
Today was just for us "first years." It sounds so Hogwarts, I like it a lot.
First things first our lovely Artistic Director gave us a lot of guidelines (also known as rules) and a rousing pep talk. I swear- this woman is the best pep talk/motivational speaker I have ever heard. Anyone else would sound really cheesy saying what she says, but it works when she says it. She's really energetic (isn't everyone who works at BRF?), and says things so sincerely. BRF cast and crew is like a family, we support each other and root for each other. If there is a problem, we solve it. High school drama will not be tolerated (thank God!). And everything is said cleverly and with positive humor! I think I'm going to get abs from laughing.
Every person I have met today has made me want to work harder than I have ever worked (only we don't say "work" we say "play") in my theatre career. EVER. Now that I have stated that at the beginning, I no longer need to reiterate it throughout this post.
Next- We had a lovely lesson in Theatrical Elizabethan English (because we don't relaly know waht they actually sounded like, so there is an official Theatrical version which most people recognize)- which I am fondly nicknaming "Where to put those -eths and -sts." This was taught by our amazing Director of the Guide of St. Laurence (Dirty Duck Inn, where the cast can buy cheap and yummy food! From here on out this is referenced as DDI or St. Ls or anything that has to do with Duckies) and The Earl of Leicester.
The first thing I learned at BAPA came from these two brilliant people- I am supposed to FAIL. My teachers want me to have failure, because that means I DID SOMETHING and TOOK A RISK, and Failures are to be CELEBRATED. If I don't have one failure each time I'm on site doing something, I'm not trying hard enough. We all clapped and cheered for the people who failed when called upon to conjugate verbs in Old English. We also clapped for the people who did well, and for any introduction. Basically we were clapping all day for anything.
After we found out where to put those pesky little thees and thous and yous and "eths" I got to go to DIALECT CLASS, which is pretty much the same thing that I was doing, except with an accent. Now I can listen to my dialect CD 24/7 along with my music CD.
After Dialects, I went to Improv. Oh improv. The thing I am greatly intimidated by. Greatly. G-R-E-A-T-L-Y. I blame the theater program of my youth.
Here's why.
Those improv classes were filled with the popular and talented people who got LEAD ROLES and were looked up to and slightly intimidating. And I was never one of those people. I didn't lump myself in with those talented people and therefore felt extremely shy. Anyone who knows me knows that I am not that shy. So whenever I was called on (I never volunteered) to go and improv, I panicked and my mind when blank. That's the worst thing that happens when you do improv. Improv is about thinking on your feet. Ergo- I never took improv again and have had only a handful of good experiences with it. The funny thing is, I met a girl with the exact same problem. We both love improv, it just intimidates the HECK out of us.
Ironic that my role in BRF is all about improvisation. You may laugh. I laugh about this every day and then freak out.
However, BRF is all about support. I have never been in a more supportive group. For the first time in my life (or maybe second- but that's one exception that I will post about on my other blog sometime....in the future) I didn't feel judged when I felt like I was flailing around like a fish out of water.
My Director of Street Cast taught improv and it was totally scary and a lot of fun. It also taught me that I can get past myself and think on my feet. I just needed to be around people who were pretty much strangers until a few hours previous.
After that came lunch and I was hungry and I ate and my food was gone way too fast.
Then came Characterization- which is a lot like Improv, but you do a lot more "character" type things. Like acting like a cow. I'm not kidding. We had to mix ourselves up and close our eyes, then we were assigned one of 4 animal sounds and had to find our common animal groups with our eyes closed.
Did I mention that this class was taught by the wonderful Jane the Phoole?
It was fun. I liked this class better than improv, mainly because I was given a character to portray in one way or another. Even if it was a cow. You may laugh, I am without a doubt laughing as I write this.
After that came music, we learned two or three songs. Not much else to say. It was fun! I've been in choir and musical theater, so it was a lot like a choir class. I liked the music class a lot though (there just isn't too much to say other than that).
Then came the best part of my day....MAYPOLE DANCING!!! If you have never done maypole dancing, DO IT. Come to BRF and dance with the Bristol Buskin Frolic (also known as BBF). They are great and I wish I could be dancing around a maypole every day. It's addicting. Running around in circles to music while holding onto a ribbon that you swear is about to pull you off the ground at any second. Best Thing Ever.
There's one pattern called the spider web where some dancers sit on the ground while the others weave around them. I got to sit down while other ribbons where wrapped around mine and the other "sitters." Here's the fun part- sometimes you don't weigh enough to resist the pull against your ribbon that you are pulling taught and you go flying through the air! Or in my case- rolling on the ground. I just about died from fun. I swear if I had any breath left after an hour of maypole dancing I'd be a grinning giggling mess.
After all that fun we got to go sit for a history lesson. The Earl is a well spring of knowledge, I would love to just listen to him all day and glean information from him. Him and just about any of my other teachers.
After that we got papers that we're supposed to turn in tomorrow with our elective class choices for the next 4 weeks. I am having the WORST TIME choosing what I want to take- total kid in a candy store. Go figure I'd nerd out about whether I should take history of Bristol or Sailing in Elizabethan Times.
The Artistic Director came back for final announcements and asked anyone who had a fish out of water moment to see her afterwards. I chose to go, not because I felt totally out of my league, but I wanted to hear what she had to say, and the improv hesitation still niggled at me.
Like I said above- this woman is the best at pep talks. She gave a speech that was so full of caring and encouragement. Any anxiety I might have felt was pushed away by the caring that this woman exuded for every person who was in the "I'm not so sure about ___" group. She assured us that we were chosen, and there is a reason for us being there. She told us to reach out, ask questions, everyone wants us to succeed. the BRF cast and crew is like a family.
I totally can see why she stresses that the BRF cast is like family. I'm already making friends with weird and crazy people who are exactly like me- only crazier. I get to go back tomorrow and PLAY with these people. I was practically in tears as I was driving home I was so happy.
I'd come to this Faire every year for one day, and that one day sustained me until I could come back. I would dream about the Faire and now I'm working it. Every time I step onto the grounds I feel like I'm home. Today was more than an affirmation that I am supposed to be here.
I can't write the events of today and do it the justice it deserves. It was just too incredible. Think of the first time you experienced the magic of the Faire and multiply it by a thousandfold. That was my day today, the good and the improv.
I can't wait for tomorrow! I get to meet all of the cast!
I know I've left out a lot (Like the bee landing on my hair that I kinda sorta touched and then freaked out about), but this is honestly the best I can do at this time of night, being tired as all heck. I had a major adrenaline rush typing this and now I want to crash and sleep until my alarm wakes me promptly at 7am.
The way God is working in my life is more than awe inspiring, I feel like my childhood dreams are reality and that my time is finally coming. The strange sensation of waiting for some hidden "thing" has waned a little bit. I finally belong somewhere, I don't need to feel strange.
“Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: "What! You too? I thought I was the only one.”
―C.S. Lewis
I'm not the only one any more.
Also- I am VERY TIRED, but I want to get this post out before I reach that 24 hour mark where these memories need to be frozen and then thawed out again each time I access them. Did I just compare my brain to a freezer? Yes, that is how tired I am.
Today was just for us "first years." It sounds so Hogwarts, I like it a lot.
First things first our lovely Artistic Director gave us a lot of guidelines (also known as rules) and a rousing pep talk. I swear- this woman is the best pep talk/motivational speaker I have ever heard. Anyone else would sound really cheesy saying what she says, but it works when she says it. She's really energetic (isn't everyone who works at BRF?), and says things so sincerely. BRF cast and crew is like a family, we support each other and root for each other. If there is a problem, we solve it. High school drama will not be tolerated (thank God!). And everything is said cleverly and with positive humor! I think I'm going to get abs from laughing.
Every person I have met today has made me want to work harder than I have ever worked (only we don't say "work" we say "play") in my theatre career. EVER. Now that I have stated that at the beginning, I no longer need to reiterate it throughout this post.
Next- We had a lovely lesson in Theatrical Elizabethan English (because we don't relaly know waht they actually sounded like, so there is an official Theatrical version which most people recognize)- which I am fondly nicknaming "Where to put those -eths and -sts." This was taught by our amazing Director of the Guide of St. Laurence (Dirty Duck Inn, where the cast can buy cheap and yummy food! From here on out this is referenced as DDI or St. Ls or anything that has to do with Duckies) and The Earl of Leicester.
The first thing I learned at BAPA came from these two brilliant people- I am supposed to FAIL. My teachers want me to have failure, because that means I DID SOMETHING and TOOK A RISK, and Failures are to be CELEBRATED. If I don't have one failure each time I'm on site doing something, I'm not trying hard enough. We all clapped and cheered for the people who failed when called upon to conjugate verbs in Old English. We also clapped for the people who did well, and for any introduction. Basically we were clapping all day for anything.
After we found out where to put those pesky little thees and thous and yous and "eths" I got to go to DIALECT CLASS, which is pretty much the same thing that I was doing, except with an accent. Now I can listen to my dialect CD 24/7 along with my music CD.
After Dialects, I went to Improv. Oh improv. The thing I am greatly intimidated by. Greatly. G-R-E-A-T-L-Y. I blame the theater program of my youth.
Here's why.
Those improv classes were filled with the popular and talented people who got LEAD ROLES and were looked up to and slightly intimidating. And I was never one of those people. I didn't lump myself in with those talented people and therefore felt extremely shy. Anyone who knows me knows that I am not that shy. So whenever I was called on (I never volunteered) to go and improv, I panicked and my mind when blank. That's the worst thing that happens when you do improv. Improv is about thinking on your feet. Ergo- I never took improv again and have had only a handful of good experiences with it. The funny thing is, I met a girl with the exact same problem. We both love improv, it just intimidates the HECK out of us.
Ironic that my role in BRF is all about improvisation. You may laugh. I laugh about this every day and then freak out.
However, BRF is all about support. I have never been in a more supportive group. For the first time in my life (or maybe second- but that's one exception that I will post about on my other blog sometime....in the future) I didn't feel judged when I felt like I was flailing around like a fish out of water.
My Director of Street Cast taught improv and it was totally scary and a lot of fun. It also taught me that I can get past myself and think on my feet. I just needed to be around people who were pretty much strangers until a few hours previous.
After that came lunch and I was hungry and I ate and my food was gone way too fast.
Then came Characterization- which is a lot like Improv, but you do a lot more "character" type things. Like acting like a cow. I'm not kidding. We had to mix ourselves up and close our eyes, then we were assigned one of 4 animal sounds and had to find our common animal groups with our eyes closed.
Did I mention that this class was taught by the wonderful Jane the Phoole?
It was fun. I liked this class better than improv, mainly because I was given a character to portray in one way or another. Even if it was a cow. You may laugh, I am without a doubt laughing as I write this.
After that came music, we learned two or three songs. Not much else to say. It was fun! I've been in choir and musical theater, so it was a lot like a choir class. I liked the music class a lot though (there just isn't too much to say other than that).
Then came the best part of my day....MAYPOLE DANCING!!! If you have never done maypole dancing, DO IT. Come to BRF and dance with the Bristol Buskin Frolic (also known as BBF). They are great and I wish I could be dancing around a maypole every day. It's addicting. Running around in circles to music while holding onto a ribbon that you swear is about to pull you off the ground at any second. Best Thing Ever.
There's one pattern called the spider web where some dancers sit on the ground while the others weave around them. I got to sit down while other ribbons where wrapped around mine and the other "sitters." Here's the fun part- sometimes you don't weigh enough to resist the pull against your ribbon that you are pulling taught and you go flying through the air! Or in my case- rolling on the ground. I just about died from fun. I swear if I had any breath left after an hour of maypole dancing I'd be a grinning giggling mess.
After all that fun we got to go sit for a history lesson. The Earl is a well spring of knowledge, I would love to just listen to him all day and glean information from him. Him and just about any of my other teachers.
After that we got papers that we're supposed to turn in tomorrow with our elective class choices for the next 4 weeks. I am having the WORST TIME choosing what I want to take- total kid in a candy store. Go figure I'd nerd out about whether I should take history of Bristol or Sailing in Elizabethan Times.
The Artistic Director came back for final announcements and asked anyone who had a fish out of water moment to see her afterwards. I chose to go, not because I felt totally out of my league, but I wanted to hear what she had to say, and the improv hesitation still niggled at me.
Like I said above- this woman is the best at pep talks. She gave a speech that was so full of caring and encouragement. Any anxiety I might have felt was pushed away by the caring that this woman exuded for every person who was in the "I'm not so sure about ___" group. She assured us that we were chosen, and there is a reason for us being there. She told us to reach out, ask questions, everyone wants us to succeed. the BRF cast and crew is like a family.
I totally can see why she stresses that the BRF cast is like family. I'm already making friends with weird and crazy people who are exactly like me- only crazier. I get to go back tomorrow and PLAY with these people. I was practically in tears as I was driving home I was so happy.
I'd come to this Faire every year for one day, and that one day sustained me until I could come back. I would dream about the Faire and now I'm working it. Every time I step onto the grounds I feel like I'm home. Today was more than an affirmation that I am supposed to be here.
I can't write the events of today and do it the justice it deserves. It was just too incredible. Think of the first time you experienced the magic of the Faire and multiply it by a thousandfold. That was my day today, the good and the improv.
I can't wait for tomorrow! I get to meet all of the cast!
I know I've left out a lot (Like the bee landing on my hair that I kinda sorta touched and then freaked out about), but this is honestly the best I can do at this time of night, being tired as all heck. I had a major adrenaline rush typing this and now I want to crash and sleep until my alarm wakes me promptly at 7am.
The way God is working in my life is more than awe inspiring, I feel like my childhood dreams are reality and that my time is finally coming. The strange sensation of waiting for some hidden "thing" has waned a little bit. I finally belong somewhere, I don't need to feel strange.
“Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: "What! You too? I thought I was the only one.”
―C.S. Lewis
I'm not the only one any more.
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