So, apart from my VERY dysfunctional character family (Think Mamma Mia in Elizabethan England), I have found the most amazing family in the people that I work with.
Let's see....
I've found a few mother and father type figures, several siblings, aunts and uncles- not to mention those awkward cousins who I wonder if I'm really related to but I love anyway so I must be related to them.
This Sunday I woke up after a MARVELOUS Saturday and my world crashed down around me. My Grandpa Jones will never be able to see what I've done in Ren Faire. I can't tell him (physically) about how much I've learned or what my plans are or how amazing all of these people are.
For anyone who doesn't know by now, summer after my junior year in high School, June 21, my Grandpa died.
Our birthdays are one day apart. I like to think that my Grandpa and I had a special bond. There were a lot of things about him that I didn't realize we had in common until I heard about them at his funeral.
I miss him a lot. I know that his passing when he did was probably a good thing and spared him a lot of pain. He had senior dementia and it was hard for all of us. Whenever I hear bagpipes I think of him, and owls are sort of symbolic of my Grandpa. He carved the most beautiful things out of wood and owls were one of his favorites.
So I go up to Ren Faire really just trying to keep myself together. During morning meeting I drew an owl in my Captains Log and tried to keep it together. Then I went back to the green room and tried to keep myself together. I'm pretty good at shutting everything off and keeping myself together. I tried to bring out my character when playing Towers with Hawkyns and Frobisher, but it really wasn't working. This is what happens when I shut down. Non-functional not good stuff. I was ready to label the day as a "fake it till you make it" type day.
I ended up backstage in the Pole Barn just needing some space to breathe and possibly cry. One of my friends who plays Jinx the over sized Jester asked if I wanted to talk and was very nice when I couldn't really bring myself to do so because I knew I'd pretty much lose it. John came in and I got asked again if I wanted to talk about it. By this time I had my hat over my head and pulled low over my face because I was starting to cry.
Let's get another thing straight. I don't cry easily. Some people will cry at the drop of a hat. I used to have a complex where I saw crying as being weak, but only if I was the one crying. I'm over that but I still don't cry easily.
I can't lie to these people. I just can't. It's pretty much impossible for me to be dishonest around any of the rennies because if I was I'd feel so awful I'd rat myself out. So I started to talk about how I miss my Grandpa. I wish I could tell him things without talking to the air. I knew there would be certain milestones in life that he won't be there for (like my wedding), but I wasn't expecting to be upset that I can't tell him about Faire. I'm sure I said a few other things but your brain gets foggy and your nose gets rather stuffy when you're crying.
John and Jinx were great. They gave me support and didn't try to say "I understand." John actually made a point of saying that he doesn't know what I'm feeling, but he's lost people too and we do go through these moments. He said that Ren Faire is probably the safest and most supporting place to have a moment like the one I was having.
They said how proud they were of me, and how proud they know my Grandpa is of me. Even if I can't see him, he can see me, which I do believe (still sucks on my end of the deal). Then Lettuce came in and asked who she needed to kill and sat with us for a little while as I finished calming down and we had a good laugh about how these types of moments never happen when it's convenient.
The first rehearsal for Street Cast I went too, I was sitting by myself on the benches before things started. I heard an owl hooting.
Just as a side note- the rest of my dad was fantastic and I had so many laughs and fun times. This summer has passed too quickly. Thank you to all of my family in RenFaire. I don't think I've been able to trust people so much or so quickly as I have with all of you. I can't wait for the next two weekends and the new adventures they will bring.
Showing posts with label Support. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Support. Show all posts
Monday, August 20, 2012
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Midseason
Just a small post about my thoughts now that the season is at the halfway point.
Words honestly are failing me.
I went into this experience thinking that I'd have fun with some pretty open minded people (I come from a fairly conservative family and background) and entertain a lot of people paying to spend a day in Elizabethan England.
I thought that I'd learn one or two things about acting and performance while combining my love of history with my love of performance.
I knew that this summer would either blow my mind, or I'd never be able to go back to Bristol again. This was a terrifying risk for me since I've been going to the Faire my whole life.
I was so wrong about all of my expectations.
I have fallen in love with the cast and crew. I can honestly say that never have I ever cared about a group of people so much so quickly. Each person that I work with feels like a family member. I have a few sisters, brothers, a lot of cousins, six amazing dads, a few mothers who are the sweetest people on earth, not to mention all of my crazy aunts and uncles. I feel safe around these people. These people make me feel like I have value and talent.
I haven't just learned a few things about performance, I've learned about a billion things. There are things that are probably more subconscious than others, but overall I've been stretched in every direction. At first it was really scary to put myself out there, but I'm getting more fearless as time goes on. Not reckless or totally without fear, I'm just able to say "We're going to do this and it's going to be okay." I've learned to laugh off my mistakes and just roll wherever the scenes go.
I've had so many mentors in my teachers from BAPA as well at the veteran Street Cast members. Even members of other casts have been teachers to me. Above and beyond I've learned that I really do need to take care of myself. I'm so used to taking care of others and pushing myself until I drop. I've come to realize that I do need to start taking care of myself since I am such an active person. I am always going to be an active person, it's just apart of who I am.
Even more so, I came into this summer uncertain of myself. I don't know where I stand on a lot of grounds. There are a few things that I will not waver on, but almost everything else is still being written. It is because of my time at Faire that I am re-evaluating what I want to do with my life. I didn't know that I had just a passion for history and performance beyond the realm of dance. It's difficult because this means I need to take a new look at what I want to do, but there are more options than there were before. Although I'm still learning my own opinions and figuring out what I think about things, I'm more confidant in what I do know about myself.
Anne has gone through an evolution from the time I created her to who she is today. She started out as this slightly softer spoken, very respectful, extremely wary, shy young woman. As of last weekend she is an out spoken, questioning, precocious, still a little wary, daring young woman. Before the gates opened Anne would never have openly said to the Captain that something was his fault. This Sunday she boldly contradicted the Captain and blamed him for several things (one of which being a wound she sustained from a bar fight). She still has respect for her betters, but she's willing to take a risk.
I like her and admire this sixteen year old girl I portray. I like the moments when I say something that Anne would say, or when Anne says something that I would say. I like seeing how the characters of Bristol reflect something of the people who play them and vice versa.
I went into Bristol not knowing what I'd find. I found home.
Words honestly are failing me.
I went into this experience thinking that I'd have fun with some pretty open minded people (I come from a fairly conservative family and background) and entertain a lot of people paying to spend a day in Elizabethan England.
I thought that I'd learn one or two things about acting and performance while combining my love of history with my love of performance.
I knew that this summer would either blow my mind, or I'd never be able to go back to Bristol again. This was a terrifying risk for me since I've been going to the Faire my whole life.
I was so wrong about all of my expectations.
I have fallen in love with the cast and crew. I can honestly say that never have I ever cared about a group of people so much so quickly. Each person that I work with feels like a family member. I have a few sisters, brothers, a lot of cousins, six amazing dads, a few mothers who are the sweetest people on earth, not to mention all of my crazy aunts and uncles. I feel safe around these people. These people make me feel like I have value and talent.
I haven't just learned a few things about performance, I've learned about a billion things. There are things that are probably more subconscious than others, but overall I've been stretched in every direction. At first it was really scary to put myself out there, but I'm getting more fearless as time goes on. Not reckless or totally without fear, I'm just able to say "We're going to do this and it's going to be okay." I've learned to laugh off my mistakes and just roll wherever the scenes go.
I've had so many mentors in my teachers from BAPA as well at the veteran Street Cast members. Even members of other casts have been teachers to me. Above and beyond I've learned that I really do need to take care of myself. I'm so used to taking care of others and pushing myself until I drop. I've come to realize that I do need to start taking care of myself since I am such an active person. I am always going to be an active person, it's just apart of who I am.
Even more so, I came into this summer uncertain of myself. I don't know where I stand on a lot of grounds. There are a few things that I will not waver on, but almost everything else is still being written. It is because of my time at Faire that I am re-evaluating what I want to do with my life. I didn't know that I had just a passion for history and performance beyond the realm of dance. It's difficult because this means I need to take a new look at what I want to do, but there are more options than there were before. Although I'm still learning my own opinions and figuring out what I think about things, I'm more confidant in what I do know about myself.
Anne has gone through an evolution from the time I created her to who she is today. She started out as this slightly softer spoken, very respectful, extremely wary, shy young woman. As of last weekend she is an out spoken, questioning, precocious, still a little wary, daring young woman. Before the gates opened Anne would never have openly said to the Captain that something was his fault. This Sunday she boldly contradicted the Captain and blamed him for several things (one of which being a wound she sustained from a bar fight). She still has respect for her betters, but she's willing to take a risk.
I like her and admire this sixteen year old girl I portray. I like the moments when I say something that Anne would say, or when Anne says something that I would say. I like seeing how the characters of Bristol reflect something of the people who play them and vice versa.
I went into Bristol not knowing what I'd find. I found home.
Monday, July 16, 2012
A sadly short post about opening Weekend
Apologies for the long wait, I came straight home from opening weekend at BRF and woke up on Monday morning to go and be an intern for Spotlight Youth Theater's Project Dance Camp. There shall be a post about that on my Astonishing blog shortly.
In short, the camp went through Friday and I didn't have time (or energy) Friday night to write anything. However, I have made use of my "Captain's Log" and wrote down many things that I discovered on the first weekend.
~Opening Weekend~
I was extremely nervous. Like can't eat breakfast, think you might throw up or pass out nervous. I wasn't as nervous as I was for the audition for BRF, where I was about to burst into tears (says the girl who does not cry), but I was pretty darn close.
Luckily, I have the most supportive cast in the WORLD to work with. I haven't interacted with anyone who tries to shut me down during a bit.
Even more important, I'm working with a Captain who not only shows me the ropes, but pushes me out and makes me start things (mostly wooing). When you've been portraying a Captain for several years, you ought to be at least good at it by now, but my Captain is more than good, he's brilliant! I swear I'll come up with a more descriptive word once my brain comes back from a 9 day marathon of physical activity.
Speaking of the physical side of being at BRF, the first weekend wasn't too bad. I took plenty of small 5 to 10 minute breaks, even if it was just sitting down on the Street and giving "free advise." I also downed enough Adam's Ale to have to visit the privies more times that I want to count (or admit) right now. I also made sure that I was snacking on salty things and drinking lots of "gator's aide" to replenish all the good stuff you need from that. The soup at the Dirty Duck Inn pretty much saves me every luncheon (sometime after 1pm) and keeps me going through the afternoon.
So now the things that I learned the first weekend- or was reminded of.
Reminder- If you aren't Failing 50% of the time, you aren't trying hard enough. (Note: Fail more).
Lesson- Simply talking to people is good. You don't always need a bit to make a connection.
Observation- Frobisher's mustache might poke his eyes out one day if it keeps getting longer.
Lesson- Every time you stretch yourself you find how elastic you truly are.
My first weekend was a plethora of discovery and sad to say: a lot of playing it safe. I took more risks the second weekend (also I found more of my character the second weekend). I can still take lots of more risks and am making a point to try and do so. I don't want to hide behind my Captain, I want to be able to work alongside of him. Even though I was told that I did very well on opening weekend, I knew deep down that there were times where my lack of self confidence got to me and I let the Captain take much more of a lead than I might have. Especially on the first day when I was excited but really had almost no idea how the day would go.
A note about my Captain for those of you who haven't met him, and even those who have: I really could not have asked for a better person to learn from and work with. Simply finding out how to hold my own around him when he's being the larger than life personality of Captain Frobisher has been a very good exercise. Combine that with the fact that he's pushed me out and made me take control of what we're doing a few times (which was terrifying, but in a good way), each day is a mental marathon as well as a physical one. All of this has made me a better performer and made me less self conscious and more able to just let go and let the scene go where it wants to!
My Captain, if he has taught me anything, has taught me the importance of "yes and." We've done some ridiculous things and it's all because we both just kept on saying "Yes, and." There were times were in my head I said "Really? Really? You want me to do what?" But then my other mind kicked in and said "This is funny! Let's go with it!" Point and example- wooing. It took me two weeks to become comfortable enough to simply make myself as ridiculous as possible and invoke "Venus' knees" as a compliment during a wooing. Don't ask where that came from...I have no clue.
Things that worked this week-
My mustache bit where I go about with a drawn on mustache and ask people how to grow better facial hair.
Asking men for advice on how to be manly (works really well with teenage guys).
My no cannibalism allowed contract. 3 times in four days and each the time reaction has been different, it's fantastic!
I promise that I will write another post about the most recent weekend, but that will come later today. There were many things that happened on the first weekend, but the second weekend only gets better.
In short, the camp went through Friday and I didn't have time (or energy) Friday night to write anything. However, I have made use of my "Captain's Log" and wrote down many things that I discovered on the first weekend.
~Opening Weekend~
I was extremely nervous. Like can't eat breakfast, think you might throw up or pass out nervous. I wasn't as nervous as I was for the audition for BRF, where I was about to burst into tears (says the girl who does not cry), but I was pretty darn close.
Luckily, I have the most supportive cast in the WORLD to work with. I haven't interacted with anyone who tries to shut me down during a bit.
Even more important, I'm working with a Captain who not only shows me the ropes, but pushes me out and makes me start things (mostly wooing). When you've been portraying a Captain for several years, you ought to be at least good at it by now, but my Captain is more than good, he's brilliant! I swear I'll come up with a more descriptive word once my brain comes back from a 9 day marathon of physical activity.
Speaking of the physical side of being at BRF, the first weekend wasn't too bad. I took plenty of small 5 to 10 minute breaks, even if it was just sitting down on the Street and giving "free advise." I also downed enough Adam's Ale to have to visit the privies more times that I want to count (or admit) right now. I also made sure that I was snacking on salty things and drinking lots of "gator's aide" to replenish all the good stuff you need from that. The soup at the Dirty Duck Inn pretty much saves me every luncheon (sometime after 1pm) and keeps me going through the afternoon.
So now the things that I learned the first weekend- or was reminded of.
Reminder- If you aren't Failing 50% of the time, you aren't trying hard enough. (Note: Fail more).
Lesson- Simply talking to people is good. You don't always need a bit to make a connection.
Observation- Frobisher's mustache might poke his eyes out one day if it keeps getting longer.
Lesson- Every time you stretch yourself you find how elastic you truly are.
My first weekend was a plethora of discovery and sad to say: a lot of playing it safe. I took more risks the second weekend (also I found more of my character the second weekend). I can still take lots of more risks and am making a point to try and do so. I don't want to hide behind my Captain, I want to be able to work alongside of him. Even though I was told that I did very well on opening weekend, I knew deep down that there were times where my lack of self confidence got to me and I let the Captain take much more of a lead than I might have. Especially on the first day when I was excited but really had almost no idea how the day would go.
A note about my Captain for those of you who haven't met him, and even those who have: I really could not have asked for a better person to learn from and work with. Simply finding out how to hold my own around him when he's being the larger than life personality of Captain Frobisher has been a very good exercise. Combine that with the fact that he's pushed me out and made me take control of what we're doing a few times (which was terrifying, but in a good way), each day is a mental marathon as well as a physical one. All of this has made me a better performer and made me less self conscious and more able to just let go and let the scene go where it wants to!
My Captain, if he has taught me anything, has taught me the importance of "yes and." We've done some ridiculous things and it's all because we both just kept on saying "Yes, and." There were times were in my head I said "Really? Really? You want me to do what?" But then my other mind kicked in and said "This is funny! Let's go with it!" Point and example- wooing. It took me two weeks to become comfortable enough to simply make myself as ridiculous as possible and invoke "Venus' knees" as a compliment during a wooing. Don't ask where that came from...I have no clue.
Things that worked this week-
My mustache bit where I go about with a drawn on mustache and ask people how to grow better facial hair.
Asking men for advice on how to be manly (works really well with teenage guys).
My no cannibalism allowed contract. 3 times in four days and each the time reaction has been different, it's fantastic!
I promise that I will write another post about the most recent weekend, but that will come later today. There were many things that happened on the first weekend, but the second weekend only gets better.
Monday, July 2, 2012
The Last Weekend without Patrons
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!
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!
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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