Location, location, location

I bought a table today.

I bought a table today for three reasons:

1. I was at a friend’s/colleague’s housewarming party last night. They moved into their place 2 weeks ago, and it looks like they’ve lived there for years. I’ve been in my silly little basement suite for 8 months and it still looks like a hobo lives here. It’s terrible. I don’t even like inviting people over because I’m ashamed of the disarray. Part of this is because I have GRAND PLANS and some of those PLANS require money that I am hesitant to part with (see: a real bedframe). But today I went browsing and this little kitchen set was on for half price, and I couldn’t say no when it was exactly what I’d been looking for, at a cheaper price than the second-hand ones I’ve been looking at locally. And now the kitchen’s done.
2. I’ve long had this theory that if I just had a little table and chair set in my kitchen I might actually eat at a table, rather than on the couch while defending my dinner from the pup. So far it’s worked for 2 meals. We’ll see how long it lasts.
3. Oops. Can’t remember the third.

Why am I writing about a new table? Why don’t I have anything more interesting to write about? Not sure. Probably because my life seems overwhelmed with work and the play right now. We’re 5 weeks from opening night and our consultant was SUPPOSED to come and give us feedback a week from today (giving us 3 rehearsals to get things in shape). Today we learned the woman messed up her schedule, and is coming Tuesday instead.

I may or may not have had a meltdown.

And not in-character either (though I get to do that too. Apparently I’m very good at crying at the drop of a hat. Probably because I am very good at crying at the drop of a hat).

I am not 100% happy with how my timing is going yet with this play. We’re completely off-script, have been for a couple weeks, so now it’s just getting the rhythm and the mannerisms down pat. I’m a perfectionist, I can’t help it, and until I have that one run through where I just kill it, I won’t be happy. And I’m so not there yet.

I guess there’s pleanty of time, but I really wanted to be in top form for the consultant. I wanted what she saw to be a PERFORMANCE. I guess I’ll just have to adjust my expectations.

The Nerve(s)

Well, I woke up this morning with a stomach full of knots and sweaty palms.

This evening I’m going to do my first audition in … almost 10 years? Wow, I’m not even entirely sure how long it’s been. I know I was in a few plays in the last year of high school, but I can’t remember if I actually auditioned for the parts or not.

Something tells me I may have. So maybe it’s been a little less than 10 years, maybe more like 8. But it’s daunting either way.

Our local community theatre group has auditions for a show that will begin in September or October. It’s a cabaret-style musical at the Black Box Theatre in Kelowna — a tiny, tiny little stage downtown that only has room for about 70 or 80 people. We’re doing a show called The Fabulous Fifties (?). I’ve never heard of it, I think it’s written by someone relatively local and is about royalty coming to Kelowna to open the floating bridge in the 1950s.

So yah, it’s a musical. A cabaret-style musical, and I’ve been sporaticly breaking out into a Jackie-rendition of Fly Me To The Moon every couple of hours for the past four days (since I found out about the auditions). I’m basing my version on Diana Krall’s take. I don’t have the most beautiful upper register singing voice, so at least this one is in my range (though I am changing some of the notes because I’ll only be singing the first 32 bars).

It’s been a lifetime and a half since I’ve done any singing at all. I used to be really into musical theatre, but couldn’t find the time in university and then moved up north shortly after. This is the first chance I’ve really had to try my hand at the game again. And man oh man do I have a case of nerves.

I’m sure I’ll be fine, I’m sure I’ll get through it, but the idea of putting myself out there again is terrifying. Standing up in front of strangers and singing when I KNOW I’m rusty and KNOW I can be pitchy if I’m not careful. But at the same time, I also know that I don’t have an absolutely terrible voice. I know that with practice I could do a good job, and it’s something I have always dreamed of doing again.

So I’m finally getting out there. Finally trying to steer my future and my life in a direction I want it to go, instead of just letting it glide along in whatever direction the road goes.

So if you’re awake at 7:15 PT, send some good vibes my way. I’ll be feeling around for them 🙂