The Universe and I have a Love-Hate Relationship.

Well, today was certainly an interesting start to October. Happy October everyone, the best month of the year (and that's not just because it's my birthday). ;)

Thursday's are those individual days, where everyone has different schedules. Voice was really nice, a great start to the day. Learned a few really helpful warm-ups. I love that class. Auditions was good too, I feel like i'm making progress with this monologue, and i've got lots of work to do this week, but i feel progression. Then Alexander BLEW my mind today. She basically moved around my shoulders to where, i guess they should be and it was crazy. I didn't know they could do that. I've been holding them up for so long she like positioned them back and down and when i saw the comparison between the one she left alone and the one she fixed. OMG. I started laughing so hard i cried. Crazy crazy. Dialect was good, we went through our monologues and he helped us with pronunciation. He was mine was very good and that i had a lot of colour in the words which was great to hear. Of course there are a few things i need to work on, but it as really helpful. Ok here's where it gets interesting.

So i get out of Dialect at 6:35. I need to make it to the Globe for a 7:30 show. Egads. So i SPRINT to the tube station on Kensington High street. I have all my bags and crap with me. Now, the circle line and the district line mix together a lot. AND I KNEW i needed to get onto the circle line. But i was dumb and helped this guy and just RAN onto the train. And the second the doors closed i realized i was on the wrong train. AND OF COURSE it stops for like 7 minutes before it can move on to the next stop. SO i get off at Earl's Court and SPRINT to the other side of the station to get on a train that will take me in the OTHER direction back toward Mansion House which is where i need to get off for the Globe. So i get on and it's 6:52. I'm very calmly flipping out. For those of you who know me well, you'll know that a.) i HATE HATE being late and b.) Despise even more things out of my control...like the speediness of trains.

So i'm sitting there, and i actually think to myself, well theres nothing to do now. Everything's ok. I'm on the right train and when i get off i'll just run. At least i didn't lose my oyster card. Then i'd be screwed *giggle to myself*

Five minutes later, i check my pocket as i get up to get off the train. And of course, my card is gone. I check everything, my bag...even though I KNOW it was in my pocket. And i know it must have fallen out as i ran through the station at Earls Court. Practically ready to start sobbing (and its 7:04) i go up to someone at the stop and explain. They tell me to wait at the ticket booth. SO i do. Of course i'm stuck behind an idiot who can't figure out how to use their card. I thought i was going to explode. I had to pay for my ride and then i FLEW OUT OF THERE. Ran as fast as i could down the street, in an out of people, across the millennium bridge and FINALLY reached the globe, panting and practically ready to clobber someone over the head if anything else went wrong. I found Aylia and Sienna who kindly held a spot for me and recounted to terrible events.

Then we saw the show. I can't tell you how brilliant it was. I mean, i've already told you...but seriously, it was still fantastic. I would got see it a MILLION more times. I loved every moment. And i must say it was nice seeing it dry. I loved it.

After we wanted to try and stage door it so we could say hello to Naomi again. But it turns out most of the actors go to the bar (the Swan) afterwards so one of them told us just to go there. We did and we ran into Naomi who was so sweet. But we also met Jack who played Orlando. Isn't he beautiful? This is Aylia and him in the bar. He was soooo good. We also met the young woman who played Pheobe and the man who played Touchstone. Everyone was so kind and gracious. It was brilliant.

I stole this from Aylia's FB page.

Then we raced back to the tube because it was FREEZING. I decided to go back to Earls Court, hoping some kind person found my Oyster Card. Thankfully the fates had decided to forgive me for whatever made them pissed at me earlier...but my card was there! After a few minutes of waiting and proving i was indeed Tierney...the gave it back to me.

*hurrah* And then i scuttled home. All in all it was a very eventfully thursday evening which thankfully turned out well!

Miss you all! Cheers!
--T

Ps. I guess Billy Shakes is right, All's well that ends well! (oH...come on...i had too...) :D

"Answer me in one word."

Oh Tart Tuesday.

So far i've had a wicked busy week! I warn you now, this is going to be a very photo heavy post! :D

TUESDAY

Alright, so we had a few classes in the morning but after that we had these "cultural outings" that they planned for each of us. They assigned us a person in the group to go with, and then we'd go out and explore the place they assigned. Kate and I went to the "Transportation Museum" which, was actually interesting...but a little silly. But today was also TART TUESDAY. Because we were low on time Sinead and I went to Whole Foods and got those glorious raspberry chocolate tarts we had been lusting after. They were really great, especially the raspberries...but the chocolate filling was a bit much for me. Next week we are hoping to try out that french place on Kensington High Street. ;)

Alright, so kate and i met up and headed to the Transport Museum. I, because i am an idiot, left my flat keys and my walet back at the flat. Somehow i still remembered my camera, theatre ticket and change purse? Anyway poor kate had to pay for me...but this is what we walked into.

They had all these examples of Trains, Carriages and buses. In each they usually had fake people from the era. (See above) Here is Kate hanging out with this fine lady in the OmniBus!

Kate riding the T in the 70's

Different types of tickets

In the tube section they had different examples of Art that people have done based on the tube map. In this case the artist named all the stops after different stars. It's pretty awesome brilliant. (We arn't allowed to use the word awesome.) ;)

Kate driving the bus!

This is what they believe London will look like in 2055. 

Looks pretty nice, except there are like a MILLION airplanes and Air Vehichles. But i thought it looked pretty. I'd live there. They also said that in 2055 80% of people will either walk or ride their bikes everywhere...mhmm? I'm not sure if i believe that.

It was actually pretty fun. ALthough, it really was silly at times. They even put in fake horse poo where they had horses pulling the carriages. But all in all it was pretty educational and fun. it was also a lovely way to get to know Kate. we had fun. But we had three hours at a museum that took us an hour. So afterwards we walked around the market. Tuesday, if you didn't know, was SUPER rainy. Like on and off POURING. While we were exploring the market we ran into this guy doing some street performing!

He was pretty funny. Ironically it started POURING moments before he did his final "impossible" trick, but he was pretty great otherwise. He was from Argentina! :)

Then we headed off to the Globe early so we could get in line to stand by the stage! Seriously. POURING. I mean sometimes it was on and off. But it was pretty hilarious. Plus, i didn't have my walet so i didn't get to buy anything really at the shop. But i did snag 50p from Kate to get a button that says "I defy you, stars!" (50 points if you know the play, although if you don't i'm disappointed in you).

Aylia, Ann, Sagan, Caitlin (all waiting in line)

Sinead, despite the rain we were all very excited ;)

If you can tell, the stage is very slick...which makes it a little difficult for the actors sometimes ;)

Ceiling of the Globe

Geoff and Vanessa

They sold these cute raincoats with a line from Merchant of Venice on it. 

Alright, so after waiting out in the rain, we got to go in (i was third in line so we got RIGHT IN FRONT in the middle of the stage. It was honestly so fantastic. Umbrellas arn't aloud down in standing because it will block everyones view, so we just had to stand their in the rain for the entire show. But i can't even begin to tell you how worth it it was. From the very moment they stepped onstage to their fantastic dance off stage, it was worth standing in the pouring rain. IT was such a fun, energetic show. And they totally played with the whole rain thing. In the middle of the show one of the characters ran forward (it was Pheobe) and she slipped and landed right on her rump. It was HILARIOUS, but they all want along with it (after some laughing) and actually, all the next few lines were all about falling in love, which made it even funnier. It was such a true theatrical moment that you really only experience at the globe.

(Jack Laskey and Naomi Frederick) {image}

Rosalind played by Naomi Frederick was a masterpiece to watch. I don't know how to explain how clear she was, but it's almost as if she was just speaking normally. You could not only understand every word she said, but truely comprehend the meaning of every word. It made the verse so easy to listen to. She was beautiful. :) And Orlando (played by Jack Laskey), besides being super attractive, was also wonderful to watch. He an Naomi had lovely chemistry and he also was so easy with the verse. Really everyone really fantastic. Touchstone was HILARIOUS, and so was Jaques. The show is just so funny, and this production was simply enchanting!

Something cool, if you've watched History Boys with me...or heard me rant about it...then you might recognize this young man. But Jamie Parker was in the original cast of The History Boys (West End, Broadway and Movie) and he played Oliver (Orlando's brother).

Cool huh? {image}

Alright, continuing on. Really, it was such an amazing experience, even with the rain. Because, when else will you be standing watching such a brilliant show with pouring rain? I was worried about the actors with their leather and beautiful costumes. The costumes were all so fantastic too. As You Like It is such a beautiful show. At one point Orlando came on (right before the intermission) and threw sheets of his poetry into the audience. Of course we tried to get as many as we could. Someone put one on my back, and because it was SO RAINY it stayed there until i got home ;)

At the end they had this huge celebratory dance, and still a few of the actors slipped...it was so funny and energetic. The audience was totally with them every step of the way. It was so much fun. We couldn't stop clapping and they had to come out a few times. We took the train home, soaked to the bone but GUSHING about the play. Aylia, Sienna and i are hoping to go again in a few weeks!

WEDNESDAY

Alright, so we had theatre history. And then we were all downstairs waiting to get ready for our masterclass. And Kate, one of the lovely ladies that helps organize everything for us, was telling us about the masterclass. She says something about how lovely Naomi is, and if we liked the show last night. Suddenly the name clicks with like half of us and we all gasp. YOU MEAN NAOMI FREDERICK FROM LAST NIGHT? WE'RE MEETING ROSALIND?!?!?! Yes.

So we got our masterclass with the lovely Naomi. Let me say, it was so exciting. We basically sat in a semi-circle around her with Richard beside her asking questions about her career, about As You Like It. Her and Richard know eachother, and it was really such a sweet, lovely interview. I took lots of notes, and had such just drank in every moment. She gave us some wonderful advice and really was just all around the kindest person. She's so talented! We were all so star-struck. And after we took a group picture, which hopefully i can snag eventually.

Then of course we had lots and lots of rehearsals for the GALA that night. Basically it was an opening for the new Fordham center. We all (as a chorus) recided the Prologue to Henry the Fifth (O, for a Muse of fire that would ascend the brightest heaven of invention...), did a historical dance and then sang Linden Lea. It actually went very well. Then we watched a video where Fordham basically asked for donations...and then we got free Fordham hats. Altogether it was totally worth all the work we did :D

Here is a picture of me in my Corset for Historical Dance, they are actually lots of fun! (Please ignore how TERRIBLE i look...)

Then we all went home to crash. It's been difficult going everyday without a break, but it's almost here. ;)

THURSDAY

Today was really calm compared the past million days. IT's mostly individual or small group stuff. Voice, Auditions, Alexander Technique and Dialect. But all spread out.

highlights:
-Doing a monologue from An Ideal Husband (Wilde).
-Alex Tech was really awesome, it's so strange. She readjusted my balance to show me what would be more effective than what i do...and it feels so strange because it's balanced, but so unbalanced. I'm not sure if that makes sense, but it was cool. So i think i'm really going to benifit from it.
-Dialect was cool too, we're doing stuff from Ernest, which was fun for me. ;)

SO that was super super long. Sorry, but i hope you've enjoyed it. It was a really fun week despite how busy it was.

Right now i'm trying my laundry machine. It keeps making funny noises, so lets just hope it all works out in the end.

Cheers!
--T <3

PS. The title is from As You Like It. (Act 3. Scene 2. Line 215)

"All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players:
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages."