Jitter-bugs
Dec. 12th, 2001 12:19 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ladyspriteTonight is the first rehearsal for the Ballet of Perseus, in which I have the role of Diana. It's a pretty impressive role. I have no idea how I managed to wind up with it.
The performance is scheduled for a mondo-impressive SCA event in February. It's a huge period feast to celebrate the crowning (coroneting?) of the new baron and baroness, and I doubt I've ever been to a more formal event. High court late period French aristocracy. Oh, geez.
So, tonight's the first rehearsal. I've never been less ready for anything in my life. My last part, other than Commedia performances, was as Boy #2 in a play we did in 1995. Most of the rest of the cast has been doing Shakespeare, and didn't take a 6 year vacation. When I auditioned I thought I would wind up as an attendant, one of the dancing but not speaking roles. How the hell did I wind up cast where I am?
We start rehearsing tonight, and I'm not even off-book yet. I've got most of my lines down, they're simple rhyming couplets that I'd have to work not to memorize, but I don't know any of my cues. And I have no idea of how to emote like a Hunt Goddess, which the director wants me to do.
And garb - have you seen the kind of bizarre coutoure they wore in 1600 France? Even the peasant garb involves farthingales and chemises and underskirts and kirtles and slashed sleeves. Most of my garb is 13th century English or 16th century Italian, and none of it is near classy enough. Most of it doesn't even fit anymore - I need to either take in the bodices or pass them on to someone else. And I can't sew worth a gosh-darn... I can make a T-tunic, and a simple bias dress, but Elizabethan is so far outside my league it is to laugh. But this is Carolingia, where everyone is expected to learn how to dance Lauro, make an Elizabethan outfit by hand, and autocrat an event before getting their Award of Arms.
Rehearsals start tonight, and I've got a horrid case of the jitters. Ironically, I know myself well enough to know that when the performance actually starts I'll be as calm and unruffled as a lake on a windless day. But right now, I have no idea how I'm going to face those other actors and pretend to be one of them....
The performance is scheduled for a mondo-impressive SCA event in February. It's a huge period feast to celebrate the crowning (coroneting?) of the new baron and baroness, and I doubt I've ever been to a more formal event. High court late period French aristocracy. Oh, geez.
So, tonight's the first rehearsal. I've never been less ready for anything in my life. My last part, other than Commedia performances, was as Boy #2 in a play we did in 1995. Most of the rest of the cast has been doing Shakespeare, and didn't take a 6 year vacation. When I auditioned I thought I would wind up as an attendant, one of the dancing but not speaking roles. How the hell did I wind up cast where I am?
We start rehearsing tonight, and I'm not even off-book yet. I've got most of my lines down, they're simple rhyming couplets that I'd have to work not to memorize, but I don't know any of my cues. And I have no idea of how to emote like a Hunt Goddess, which the director wants me to do.
And garb - have you seen the kind of bizarre coutoure they wore in 1600 France? Even the peasant garb involves farthingales and chemises and underskirts and kirtles and slashed sleeves. Most of my garb is 13th century English or 16th century Italian, and none of it is near classy enough. Most of it doesn't even fit anymore - I need to either take in the bodices or pass them on to someone else. And I can't sew worth a gosh-darn... I can make a T-tunic, and a simple bias dress, but Elizabethan is so far outside my league it is to laugh. But this is Carolingia, where everyone is expected to learn how to dance Lauro, make an Elizabethan outfit by hand, and autocrat an event before getting their Award of Arms.
Rehearsals start tonight, and I've got a horrid case of the jitters. Ironically, I know myself well enough to know that when the performance actually starts I'll be as calm and unruffled as a lake on a windless day. But right now, I have no idea how I'm going to face those other actors and pretend to be one of them....
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
Re: You'll be just fine
Date: 2001-12-13 03:39 am (UTC)Actually, everything went pretty well. It's a form of theatre that we've never experimented with before (late 16th century french Court Ballet), so we're all novices, sort of.
The rest of the cast are being nice, and we apparently don't have to be off book until January, so I'm ahead of the game there. And the director says I'm doing okay so far, though how I'm supposed to simultaneously be more regal, more aloof, and more bouncy-energetic is... a challenge. :)
I didn't realize I missed theatre this much! It's good to be doing it again.