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Thursday Photo Challenge: Color

It's Time to Put On Makeup, It's Time to Dress Up Right

The quest to have me costumed and coifed continues.

First, there is the issue of my death dress. In the script, after Ruth is accidentally killed by the ghostly Elvira (who was aiming instead for husband Charles), she returns from the grave during the séance that is supposed to return Elvira to hers. Fun little plot point, that, but a costuming nightmare as Ruth spirit is expected to return in a death-grey replica of whatever colorful outfit she was wearing when she last exited, alive. To circumvent this problem, the director and costumer agreed that there would, instead, be a standard “heaven-issue” garment built for both Elvira and Ruth. This would seem to be a clever idea if executed properly… but… well… let’s just say that this production has had innumerable difficulties with proper execution. As it stands at the moment, there is no similarity whatever between Ruth’s and Elvira’s garb. The reason for this is two-fold.

To begin with, our Elvira is a cute, perky, pert, slim little thing. I hate her. ;) Because she can be easily costumed to look gorgeous, a ready-made dress – much like one a girl might wear to her prom – was found on the rack and issued to her. As I am NOT a cute, perky, pert, slim little thing, no off-the-rack match had been stored in my size; and as the Elvira dress had not been built in-house, as had been promised, no matching fabric or pattern was available there. From the moment her slinky dress was chosen, mine was destined to be completely different. So much for “heaven-issue” finery! On the other hand, my dress would be tailor-made to fit me perfectly.

Enter problem number two.

During the preliminary stages of costuming, Madame Costumer was extremely thorough with her tape measure – no lump or love handle was left unturned – but afterwards those measurements were handed over to another dressmaker who, it seems, has a pile of work on her plate and, perhaps, poor eyesight. When my large, grey muumuu of a dress arrived this week for trying-on, it was not only a poor, dull, lackluster version of Elvira’s stellar outfit, it was also roughly five sizes too big! As I stood engulfed by a sea of grey material that pooled around my feet (a definite first!), it was assumed that the dressmaker had confused dresses. She had, among her orders, specs to make a dress for a man who would be playing in a cross-dressing scene -- and my dress, it seemed, had been built to his measurements. Ah well. At least it’s easier to correct a dress that’s been built too large than it is one that’s built too small!

The amusing part of this story, however, comes back to the man to whose specs the dress might have been made. Assuming that this story is accurate, it is the third time our theatrical paths have crossed in small-world fashion. Loyal readers may remember that I mentioned him a year ago in July when, after meeting briefly on a 24-hour San Diego theatre project, we quickly discovered that we had a mutual friend in Nashville. You might also remember my crossing paths with him again briefly this January in Nashville, where he was directing the show my then roommate was readying to take to sea. This time, it seems, August has attempted to fit me into Matt Thompson’s dress.

After our costumer discovered the error and pinned me left, right, and center, the dress was returned to its maker, who I’ll be meeting tomorrow for a proper fitting.

Meanwhile… last night, the director decided that he wasn’t really sold on the wig that had been purchased for me. (Never mind that he’d been there when it was chosen). Shh... don’t tell the costumer!

As we see our first audience a week from tonight in the first of two previews, we are all going in tonight hoping to see a few additional props and a great deal of improvement on the set. From there, it will be up to us to -- as Spencer Tracy might advise -- know our lines and not bump into the furniture.

Of course, that might be harder once we have it. ;)

Wig Me, Baby!

This morning I left the house to meet our director, stage manager, costumer, and two other actors at a downtown wig shop. After much discussion and tryings-on, two wigs were purchased for my head -- and my fake hair has now earned more money for this show than I will. Gotta love it!

PS. I WISH it looked this good... but mine actually leans a little more toward the curly mullet side on the ends. ;)

Photo Friday

Today's Photo Friday Challenge is "Circles." I wish that I could take a picture of our rehearsal process for this one, as we are going around in them. That said, we are two weeks from opening and, as seems now to be par for the course around here, in dire straights. Sparing the kind of detail that, if found online, could get me into a lot of trouble, I'll just say that I'm doing everything I can do on my end and crossing my fingers for the rest.

As for the Photo Challenge... I'll be taking the next several days to keep my eyes open and my camera handy and we'll see what I come up with by the end of the week.

By the way, Jake... TAG! I know you have some incredible shots for the "Plants" challenge. How about posting a few?

Thursday Photo Challenge: Plants

In Balboa Park

Wednesday's Photo Thur-Fri

As I was skimming through my former roommate's blogs last week, I noticed a rather striking picture he'd taken on one of his cruises -- a picture of the famous moai statues carved from volcanic ash on Rapa Nui (Easter Island). I was not only intrigued by the photo, but with it's posting under the heading "Thurday Photo Challenge." To this point, the only photo challeges I'd seen online had been along the lines of "Friday Cat Blogging," in which I had neither the interest nor the critter to participate. So, I went digging for information on this more interesting (and applicable!) challenge and found not only the Thursday Photo Challenge, but Photo Friday as well.

Now, when I found these challenges last week the themes were thus: Thursday, Happy; Friday, Four. But being the anal blogger that I am, I could not post a Thursday Challenge on a random weekday. I had to wait. I considered that for Friday's Challenge I'd simply refer to my already posted Imperial Beach shot, which can boast both four arches and four palm trees. But again, I would wait for Friday to post. Of course -- and I'm sure you see my dilemma coming -- when Thursday (and then Friday) came, new challenges were posted (Hot and Friend) and my planned posts were outdated. Angst!

Being, as I've said, an anal blogger, I've had some difficulty reconciling this problem to myself. For my posts to be both current and posted on the correct day, I'd have to have a photo that fit the theme ready as soon as the challenge was announced -- and though I'd give myself major psychic points for being able to do so, I'd be cheated out of the week's opportunity to be creative. Finally, I took a bit of advice from a young Tom Cruise and remembered that "sometimes you just gotta say 'what the fuck!'"

So, before the challenges change again tomorrow and the next day, I'll accept all four previous challenges with one photo:

Ah. Four Happy Friends on a Hot day!

Of course, I can take only tongue-in-cheek credit for the use of this photo as I was not the photographer. I believe that honor goes to my sister-in-law. Should you, dear reader, be either the photographer or the subject, do not worry -- I did not submit this photo anywhere. Merely posted it here.

Bwah-hah-hah!

* * * * * * * * * *

Before I stand corrected, allow me to say that the Thursday Challenge does give one a week's heads-up on the upcoming theme and photos could, in fact, be posted on Thursday, both current and creative. Friday's Challenge does not.

Overcast

It's a dark, overcast morning in San Diego. Anywhere else, I'd expect it to rain; but after a run of exceptionally hot weather, I'm happy just to get a break from the sun. In memory of sunnier (and cooler!) days, enjoy a few shots from area beaches.

The Arches of Imperial Beach

Coronado

Moonlight Beach

P.S. Happy Birthday, Jake!

Huntington Beach Bash and Ghosties

So... after a long week of rehearsals (complete with a promotion to a larger part), I tagged along for yet another weekend in LA with Orrick and Dave. This time, Orrick would be playing the International Pop Overthrow, a moveable pop music festival featuring bands from around the globe -- and Orrick's third gig in as many weekends with as many bands.

This time, he would be playing with The Shambles, alongside Manual Scan partner Bart Mendoza. To make a long, convoluted story short: Scan guitarist Kevin Ring began The Shambles after Manual Scan broke up, but when former Scan vocalist Bart eventually joined the new band it began to look a lot like the old one. Now, with different drummers and back-up, Kevin and Bart gig with both bands and Orrick, a former Scan member, makes guest appearances as the need arises.



Now, this band is an interesting creature -- and particularly interesting in reference to this gig. Although The Shambles is technically Kevin's band, Bart booked the San Diego band into the Los Angeles IPO -- on a night that Kevin couldn't play. And Bart doesn't drive. Kevin joked, "The Shambles: it's not just a name, it's a mission statement."

Kevin's absence bumped the incredible and otherwise underused Kenny Howes into the lead guitar slot and left the bass position open for Orrick. But no one bothered tell this to Orrick, who had yet to sub with this band. Two days before the event Kevin called, realizing that Bart hadn't, and Orrick began a crash-course in Shambles music.

There were no rehearsals.

Arriving early at Fitzgerald's Pub Saturday night, we waited for Bart and the rest of the band to arrive. Now, we'd only met Kenny once in passing, so it was fortunate that he is an imposing figure or we might have missed him. Once we'd confirmed that he was, indeed, the right guy ("Is that Kenny? I think that's Kenny. Kenny?") and introductions were completed, we were two-quarters of the way to having a band. Bart and the drummer would arrive together. We hoped.

The Shambles were the third act of six to play that evening. As the first band, Bikeride, played, we casually looked for Bart. As the second band, The Wellingtons, played, we nervously looked for Bart. As the host announced The Shambles, we frantically looked for Bart. Kenny was preparing his own band to take emergency stage measures when Bart arrived, drummer in tow. How they'd gotten there and why they were late would remain unknown as they were swept through the door and onto the stage without so much as a how-do-you-do.

And they frickin' kicked ass. They'd never played together, had barely met, and they wiped the floor with the acts that preceeded them. Amazing.



It was a dark venue, however, and I gave up trying to get a decent shot of the band pretty early in the set.

After The Shambles left the stage and said their Good-Evenings, we took off. Although we had some interest in the bands that would follow, the long drive home to San Diego curbed our desire to stay so late.

If you live in a city that's soon to host the IPO (sorry, it's already been through Nashville), I'd recommend a visit.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Now, back to me. ;)

I mentioned here a few weeks ago that I had been cast in a certain show about wives, living and dead, and an oddball medium. At that time, though I had read for the part of the living wife in auditions, I had been cast in the role of visiting wife who attends the seance that brings a dead wife's ghost back from the grave. It was a small part and I learned it quickly.

Things have since changed.

Early in the process, our ghostly wife dropped out of the show. It took nearly a week to replace that actress, and as soon as we did, the one playing the living wife dropped out. I was soon bumped into that role and the search began to recast the visiting wife. Talk about wife swapping! Anywho, I graduated to the larger role on Thursday, and am supposed to be "off book" (sans script) by tonight's rehearsal. Keep your fingers crossed. I'll let you know how it goes.

Redondo Beach Bash

Today is Orrick's oldest son's 21st birthday. I can't be at the celebration because I have rehearsal tonight, but I've sent along a copy of Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy for him to enjoy, figuring that he is now old enough for a Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster (the effects of which are "like having your brains smashed out by a slice of lemon wrapped round a large gold brick") and the sordid tales of the triple-breasted whore of Eroticon Six.

Birthdays are in the air this week (early November nights must be cold!), as Orrick's mother attended a surprise party for a friend of hers yesterday and Orrick and I went to LA for a barbeque on Saturday, which was his friend Dave's birthday.

Now, the barbeque wasn't Dave's gig... well, it was... except... it wasn't. I mean, it wasn't a birthday barbeque, it just happened that the host was having a barbeque on his birthday and, since the host was the drummer for his band, he was playing it. And so was Orrick. The Pike Bishops provided the entertainment for Wes' annual shindig at his home in Redondo Beach.

In the afternoon, the caterers kept visitors full of tortilla strips and Rotel dip while the chicken, ribs, and tri-tip simmered for evening consumption.


In the hours before sundown, folks were shuttled to and from the beach. As there was plenty of time before the band would play, Orrick took me down for a look.

After setting up the equipment and the camera, it was time for food. The ribs and chicken were properly slathered in tasty BBQ sauce and served with potato salad, cole slaw, pinto beans, and cornbread. Yes, Wes and his wife are from Texas (as if the Rotel dip wasn't a clue). Yee-haw, that's some good eatin'! Sorry, there's no picture here. I was too busy chowing down.

Next, the band would play. Usually, The Pikesters play original stuff, but for the barbeque, they added a neighborhood vocalist and all-around fun guy (Will) to the line-up and played a mix of originals and covers. It was a good set.

In no time and in true beer-and-a-band fashion, the natives became rowdy. If there are two words that separate the one-too-many crowd from the I'm-here-to-get-s**t-faced crowd, those two words are "keg stand." If you don't know what that is, don't feel bad -- I didn't either (if you do know: tsk tsk!) Imagine someone heels-over-head on top of a keg in a handstand position being held upright by "helpers" who are simultaneously aiming the keg's spigot into the beer-thlete's mouth. Quite a sight. To protect the far from innocent, I won't post pictures.

After much imbibing, a gaggle of giggly girls rushed the stage with Lambada-esque moves and top-lifting antics, and still... Orrick had eyes only for me.

Awwww! Come on, now. Ain't that sweet?!?

It was a long drive back to San Diego after the gig, but we were all sated and happy. Orrick took the wheel while Dave and I nodded off on the ride home. In the end, I think Dave had a pretty good day.

Now the weekend is over and we're all back to our work-a-day/rehearse-a-day lives. There are stories there, too. For another time.

You Asked for It

For those who wanted pictures....

At home before the awards:

And later, at them:

No... that's Orrick's drink. I'm not double-fisting it....

... yet. ;)

By this time, Orrick had left the Aubrey ceremony to attend his own big gig, a radio simulcast performance of local mod legends Manual Scan.

Leaving my car at the Aubrey-hosting hotel, I was delivered to The Casbah to catch the tail-end of his performance.

It was a fun night, all in all. Monday, on the other hand...

Ouch!

Aubrey Awarded