Tonight the MADC threw a cast party for us at the Vintage Wine Bar in Bugibba (thanks!). It was nice to see everyone again, although not enough time had passed for us to start missing each other *grin*
The wine bar is a nice place to hang out, and the chefs kept up a steady flow of foccacia which were made and baked on the spot, yum. I enjoyed drinking wine, eating foccacia and hanging out with friends old and new, but I had to leave early due to having work the next day. Unfortunately my camera is on the fritz, so no photos, but other people have uploaded plenty to Facebook so never mind.
I'm sure that I'll see some people again at or in other shows, but others I might not. It's sad to think that our little community has disbanded. When you spend three months rehearsing six nights a week followed by two weeks seven to a dressing room, you can't help but become close.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Monday, January 5, 2009
Hi-ho, hi-ho
Today it was back to work for me, after having been on leave for the whole of the Panto run.
Last night I had to dash off immediately after the show ended, because my sister had come to watch and she was going to give me a lift home. So I missed all the hugging and saying-goodbyeing, and also any crying (good as was not wearing waterproof mascara, haha).
Leaving the cosy world of theatre and re-entering the corporate environment was a bit of a shock to the system, especially the transition from the theatrical late-to-bed-late-to-rise to having to drag myself out of bed in the chilly pre-dawn. Urgh.
In chorus, I was one of the oldest, and the only one married - talk was of boyfriends, parties and theatre, and we spent most of our time putting on our make-up and getting in and out of costumes. At work, I'm one of the youngest - talk is of children, spouses and customers, and we spend most of our time, well, working.
Theatre is more fun but I do have two consolations - the pay is better, and I am absolutely forbidden to get my belly out.
Last night I had to dash off immediately after the show ended, because my sister had come to watch and she was going to give me a lift home. So I missed all the hugging and saying-goodbyeing, and also any crying (good as was not wearing waterproof mascara, haha).
Leaving the cosy world of theatre and re-entering the corporate environment was a bit of a shock to the system, especially the transition from the theatrical late-to-bed-late-to-rise to having to drag myself out of bed in the chilly pre-dawn. Urgh.
In chorus, I was one of the oldest, and the only one married - talk was of boyfriends, parties and theatre, and we spent most of our time putting on our make-up and getting in and out of costumes. At work, I'm one of the youngest - talk is of children, spouses and customers, and we spend most of our time, well, working.
Theatre is more fun but I do have two consolations - the pay is better, and I am absolutely forbidden to get my belly out.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Interview: Dorielle
Name: Dorielle Scicluna
Panto Role: Chorus girl
Non-Panto Role: Student
How did you come to be in the theatre scene?
It's pumping in my veins! I used to attend a community group, and we used to organise musicals, so that's how I started out.
How about Panto, how did you come to be involved in it?
I was a member of MADC, and that's how I found out about the audition.
What is your favourite genre in theatre?
Musicals, they combine my two greatest loves - music and theatre!
What has been your most embarrassing theatrical moment so far?
In a musical number during Panto, I made a huge mistake – I missed a step and went the wrong way... and I'm in the front line!
What has been your best theatrical experience?
Hearing the audience applaud takes my breath away.
And what has been your worst theatrical experience
During Soirée rehearsals, getting hit by someone's foot in my eye - lots of blood (I'm scared of blood) and twelve stitches!
And finally, what has been your most special theatrical experience?
When a guy proposed to his girlfriend on stage during Panto!
If you could play any role at all, in any production, what would it be?
Christine in 'Phantom of the Opera', in London, because I love Phantom and she's perfect.
If you could give one piece of advice to a person thinking about getting involved in the world of theatre, what would it be?
Don't choose Panto, because they expect you to know a lot of things without telling you! For example that you're not supposed to give your back to the audience, or that you can't really talk on stage, you have to pretend.
Say something nice about someone else in the cast.
Laureen is really hilarious, she's my 'twin sister' and people even confuse us!
And finally... what's a phrase that will now forever remind you of this year's Panto?
Aħna min aħna?
Panto Role: Chorus girl
Non-Panto Role: Student
How did you come to be in the theatre scene?
It's pumping in my veins! I used to attend a community group, and we used to organise musicals, so that's how I started out.
How about Panto, how did you come to be involved in it?
I was a member of MADC, and that's how I found out about the audition.
What is your favourite genre in theatre?
Musicals, they combine my two greatest loves - music and theatre!
What has been your most embarrassing theatrical moment so far?
In a musical number during Panto, I made a huge mistake – I missed a step and went the wrong way... and I'm in the front line!
What has been your best theatrical experience?
Hearing the audience applaud takes my breath away.
And what has been your worst theatrical experience
During Soirée rehearsals, getting hit by someone's foot in my eye - lots of blood (I'm scared of blood) and twelve stitches!
And finally, what has been your most special theatrical experience?
When a guy proposed to his girlfriend on stage during Panto!
If you could play any role at all, in any production, what would it be?
Christine in 'Phantom of the Opera', in London, because I love Phantom and she's perfect.
If you could give one piece of advice to a person thinking about getting involved in the world of theatre, what would it be?
Don't choose Panto, because they expect you to know a lot of things without telling you! For example that you're not supposed to give your back to the audience, or that you can't really talk on stage, you have to pretend.
Say something nice about someone else in the cast.
Laureen is really hilarious, she's my 'twin sister' and people even confuse us!
And finally... what's a phrase that will now forever remind you of this year's Panto?
Aħna min aħna?
Prank'd
It is a time-honoured tradition that, on the last night of Panto, pranks are played on the cast. The best pranks usually come from the backstage crew, but cast are allowed to prank each other too. The idea is that the cast and any audience members who have already watched the show on a previous night will realise that there are pranks going on, but anyone seeing the show for the first time won't really be able to tell (unless you hit the holy grail of pranks and get someone to corpse on stage!) Some people actually buy tickets to see the Panto twice just so that they can see both a 'normal' show and the last night, that's how entertaining it is.
Yesterday, the day before closing night, the chorus dressing-rooms were a-buzz with heated discussions regarding possible pranks. I lost count of the number of people who stopped by tolecture remind us that all pranks must be pre-approved by the director and the stage manager, and that the audience has paid good money to watch and therefore we absolutely must not disrupt the show for any reason.
I didn't get to see all the pranks, but I was up close and personal for one of the best ones - the poor principal girl had to read a note out to the entire chorus, and what she found inside was... very graphic... Not only did she corpse, but half the chorus got the giggles too. Heheh.
The backstage crew managed to prank me three times in the same scene. First I have business with a clipboard and pen, then I chuck part of my costume (a lab-coat) backstage and the crew sort out the costumes and hand them back to us a bit later in the scene so we can wear them again onstage.
So, first I went to pick up the clipboard and pen, and found both to be liberally smeared with vaseline. Ick. Then (as expected) the clipboards contained porn. You can basically assume that wherever there is a piece of paper used as a prop in Panto, it will contain porn during the last show. Mine had an extreme close-up of, well, never mind. And finally, when we dashed backstage to put our coats back on, I already suspected that the crew would do something like put things in the pockets, but instead the prank was very simple and very elegant - all the coats were inside-out. Hah.
My hands are well-moisturised due to the fact that, every single time any member of the chorus had to dance with any other member of the chorus, vaseline was involved. I was pranked in the market scene by the guy I have to beat up - he had tried to prank three other people in the cast with vaseline on heavy props that have to be carried throughout the first dance, so backstage pranked him with vaseline on his prop, so then while he and I were struggling in the mêlée just after the dance, he used the opportunity to work copious amounts of vaseline into my hands (at the beginning of a very long scene...)
Vaseline, it's the prank that keeps on pranking.
Two hours later, I got my revenge during a dance half-way through Act II, when I again happen to dance with this same guy - the look on his face as he made his way towards me on the stage showed that he had realised what his fate was about to be. Heheheh. On the other hand (literally) he then worked his well-smeared hand up and down my bare forearm while we were jumping around on stage. Very distracting, trying to sing, dance and act while being felt up.
In the last couples' dance, the girls didn't prepare vaseline for the boys (and they had a quick-change and therefore no time to prepare anything for us) - instead we put on extra lipstick and lots of sticky lip-gloss and agreed on a point in the dance when we would plant a smackeroo on our partner. I didn't manage to carry out this cunning plan though - my partner is about my height but he was still tall enough that he just turned his head away and I couldn't reach his cheek. *sigh*
My favourite prank of all came at the end of Act I. I flew off the stage (literally, I was supposed to be a goose) and was surprised to see a bunch of the backstage crew standing around dressed as brickies. Surely they were planning something. I was half-way through getting dressed for the last scene of the Act when I twigged - during the kiddies' scene (which had just started), the kids help to build a wall made out of polystyrene bricks, but because it takes so long, the actors do most of the building before getting the kids involved. Bricks... brickies...
I grabbed the rest of my costume off its hanger, snatched up my spectacles from the make-up table, and got to the stage just in time to see the crew march out to build the wall, dressed in trousers and white vests, handkerchiefs on heads, cigarettes a-dangling. They brought their own props too - a bucket and trowel, T-square, and even a packed lunch. Took a lunch-break too. It was brilliant.
Yesterday, the day before closing night, the chorus dressing-rooms were a-buzz with heated discussions regarding possible pranks. I lost count of the number of people who stopped by to
I didn't get to see all the pranks, but I was up close and personal for one of the best ones - the poor principal girl had to read a note out to the entire chorus, and what she found inside was... very graphic... Not only did she corpse, but half the chorus got the giggles too. Heheh.
The backstage crew managed to prank me three times in the same scene. First I have business with a clipboard and pen, then I chuck part of my costume (a lab-coat) backstage and the crew sort out the costumes and hand them back to us a bit later in the scene so we can wear them again onstage.
So, first I went to pick up the clipboard and pen, and found both to be liberally smeared with vaseline. Ick. Then (as expected) the clipboards contained porn. You can basically assume that wherever there is a piece of paper used as a prop in Panto, it will contain porn during the last show. Mine had an extreme close-up of, well, never mind. And finally, when we dashed backstage to put our coats back on, I already suspected that the crew would do something like put things in the pockets, but instead the prank was very simple and very elegant - all the coats were inside-out. Hah.
My hands are well-moisturised due to the fact that, every single time any member of the chorus had to dance with any other member of the chorus, vaseline was involved. I was pranked in the market scene by the guy I have to beat up - he had tried to prank three other people in the cast with vaseline on heavy props that have to be carried throughout the first dance, so backstage pranked him with vaseline on his prop, so then while he and I were struggling in the mêlée just after the dance, he used the opportunity to work copious amounts of vaseline into my hands (at the beginning of a very long scene...)
Vaseline, it's the prank that keeps on pranking.
Two hours later, I got my revenge during a dance half-way through Act II, when I again happen to dance with this same guy - the look on his face as he made his way towards me on the stage showed that he had realised what his fate was about to be. Heheheh. On the other hand (literally) he then worked his well-smeared hand up and down my bare forearm while we were jumping around on stage. Very distracting, trying to sing, dance and act while being felt up.
In the last couples' dance, the girls didn't prepare vaseline for the boys (and they had a quick-change and therefore no time to prepare anything for us) - instead we put on extra lipstick and lots of sticky lip-gloss and agreed on a point in the dance when we would plant a smackeroo on our partner. I didn't manage to carry out this cunning plan though - my partner is about my height but he was still tall enough that he just turned his head away and I couldn't reach his cheek. *sigh*
My favourite prank of all came at the end of Act I. I flew off the stage (literally, I was supposed to be a goose) and was surprised to see a bunch of the backstage crew standing around dressed as brickies. Surely they were planning something. I was half-way through getting dressed for the last scene of the Act when I twigged - during the kiddies' scene (which had just started), the kids help to build a wall made out of polystyrene bricks, but because it takes so long, the actors do most of the building before getting the kids involved. Bricks... brickies...
I grabbed the rest of my costume off its hanger, snatched up my spectacles from the make-up table, and got to the stage just in time to see the crew march out to build the wall, dressed in trousers and white vests, handkerchiefs on heads, cigarettes a-dangling. They brought their own props too - a bucket and trowel, T-square, and even a packed lunch. Took a lunch-break too. It was brilliant.
The end is nigh
There's just one more show to go.
Some people are going around lamenting, others are rejoicing - I'm not sure how I feel. I'm relieved that I get my life back as of tomorrow since my evenings will be my own again, but on the other hand I love being on the stage. On the other hand, I am sick of scrambling in and out of costumes ten times a night. On the other hand, it's exciting to stand in the wings wearing them. On the other hand, I'm fed up of making a nightly mess on my eyelids with eyeliner. On the other hand, I'm getting better at it.
On the other hand, I should go get ready for the show.
Some people are going around lamenting, others are rejoicing - I'm not sure how I feel. I'm relieved that I get my life back as of tomorrow since my evenings will be my own again, but on the other hand I love being on the stage. On the other hand, I am sick of scrambling in and out of costumes ten times a night. On the other hand, it's exciting to stand in the wings wearing them. On the other hand, I'm fed up of making a nightly mess on my eyelids with eyeliner. On the other hand, I'm getting better at it.
On the other hand, I should go get ready for the show.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Interview: Laureen
Name: Laureen Spiteri
Panto Role: Chorus
Non-Panto Role: Professional giggler
How did you come to be in Panto?
It's my best friend's fault! Sheforced persuaded me to go to auditions!
What is your favourite genre in theatre!
Comedy, because it makes you laugh.
What has been your most embarrassing theatrical moment so far?
When Dorielle knocked off my wig during one of the dances...
What has been your best theatrical experience?
Panto rehearsals, because we had some good laughs.
And what has been your worst theatrical experience
Any time when the audience doesn't laugh and clap (and doesn't get the jokes!)
And finally, what has been your most special theatrical experience?
Making friends!
If you could play any role at all, in any production, what would it be?
Any role in Chicago - because it's sassy!
If you could give one piece of advice to a person thinking about getting involved in the world of theatre, what would it be?
It's a fabulous experience, but very time-consuming. Try it though if you want to!
Say something nice about someone else in the cast.
I cannot say anything nice about someone, but I can say a million nice things about the cast because they're all great, and we became like one big family!
And finally... what's a phrase that will now forever remind you of this year's Panto?
Dulur!
Panto Role: Chorus
Non-Panto Role: Professional giggler
How did you come to be in Panto?
It's my best friend's fault! She
What is your favourite genre in theatre!
Comedy, because it makes you laugh.
What has been your most embarrassing theatrical moment so far?
When Dorielle knocked off my wig during one of the dances...
What has been your best theatrical experience?
Panto rehearsals, because we had some good laughs.
And what has been your worst theatrical experience
Any time when the audience doesn't laugh and clap (and doesn't get the jokes!)
And finally, what has been your most special theatrical experience?
Making friends!
If you could play any role at all, in any production, what would it be?
Any role in Chicago - because it's sassy!
If you could give one piece of advice to a person thinking about getting involved in the world of theatre, what would it be?
It's a fabulous experience, but very time-consuming. Try it though if you want to!
Say something nice about someone else in the cast.
I cannot say anything nice about someone, but I can say a million nice things about the cast because they're all great, and we became like one big family!
And finally... what's a phrase that will now forever remind you of this year's Panto?
Dulur!
Panto newbies learn superstition and tradition
Actors are notorious for being a superstitious bunch - the number of theatre-related superstitions is incredible and most actors seem to have a few personal ones of their own too. Some common theatre superstitions include never saying the name of 'the Scottish play' (Macbeth) inside the theatre, not whistling on stage, not wishing an actor 'good luck', and not wearing a particular colour (the banned colour varies from country to country). Here's a quiz that will test your knowledge of the subject - I scored eight on ten.
Turns out that Panto is not immune to superstition - I did not know this, but it is considered unlucky in general to speak the last line of any performance in rehearsal, and this superstition is followed in the case of Panto. Now the last line of every Panto is always the same: "And as we always say in Panto, be nice to each other!".
When we were up on stage during our first performance with an audience, the chorus member standing right behind me muttered out of the side of his mouth, "Now we're all going to say, 'Be nice to each other'". The chorus girl standing next to me had never actually watched a Panto, so she was very confused, and that's when I realised that we had never actually said the last line before! I imagine that several chorus members were very surprised, because quite a few had never watched a Panto before being in this one.
Panto newbies had more surprises later on in the run - I didn't know until a friend explained to me on the 29th of December that during the very last show of the year (which would be the next day) the cast sing Auld Lang Syne on stage, and champagne is passed around for us. Well, everyone in the chorus knew how to drink but not everyone knew the lyrics! It was a bit late to be learning archaic Scots, so them as didn't know it made up their own words, and I doubt anyone noticed.
All the superstitions and traditions are fun to learn and use, and contribute to the feeling that entering the theatre is like entering a different world. I guess that having offstage magic helps to make it happen onstage!
Turns out that Panto is not immune to superstition - I did not know this, but it is considered unlucky in general to speak the last line of any performance in rehearsal, and this superstition is followed in the case of Panto. Now the last line of every Panto is always the same: "And as we always say in Panto, be nice to each other!".
When we were up on stage during our first performance with an audience, the chorus member standing right behind me muttered out of the side of his mouth, "Now we're all going to say, 'Be nice to each other'". The chorus girl standing next to me had never actually watched a Panto, so she was very confused, and that's when I realised that we had never actually said the last line before! I imagine that several chorus members were very surprised, because quite a few had never watched a Panto before being in this one.
Panto newbies had more surprises later on in the run - I didn't know until a friend explained to me on the 29th of December that during the very last show of the year (which would be the next day) the cast sing Auld Lang Syne on stage, and champagne is passed around for us. Well, everyone in the chorus knew how to drink but not everyone knew the lyrics! It was a bit late to be learning archaic Scots, so them as didn't know it made up their own words, and I doubt anyone noticed.
All the superstitions and traditions are fun to learn and use, and contribute to the feeling that entering the theatre is like entering a different world. I guess that having offstage magic helps to make it happen onstage!
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Life after Panto
Just finished watching Grey's Anatomy... and at the end there was a trailer for the finale double bill, next Thursday at 8pm.
And guess what?
I'M GOING TO BE HOME! Haha, I can watch television again!
And guess what?
I'M GOING TO BE HOME! Haha, I can watch television again!
Weight loss and Panto
After the photo shoot in October, I decided to get serious about losing some weight, especially since there would be belly-baring costumes for the show.
My short-term target was to get back to my pre-wedding weight because in a year of being married to a man who can cook, I put on six kilos (ouch). My long-term target was to lose a further six kilos, which would put me at a good weight for my height.
I learned how to count calories, this site was great for getting an idea of the calorie content of various foods. So I started keeping tabs on what I ate throughout the day, and fell into a routine of eating supper at around 6pm before heading off the rehearsals, and then not eating again until breakfast the next day. I also had a decent breakfast and upped the fibre in my diet.
Between the diet and the dance rehearsals, I lost three kilos in two months, which is not fantastic but encouraging, and I started to feel healthier and had more energy too. I then lost a further two kilos in the two weeks that we having been having Panto performances (all that dancing every night!). So I'm almost at my short-term goal, and I'm well pleased.
Unfortunately, I won't have Panto to help with my long-term goal over the next few months (only four shows left!) but I'm hoping that I'll continue what I started. The Wii that I'll be getting for my birthday should be a fun way to exercise, especially the Wii Fit game that tracks your weight gain/loss over time.
So, Panto has been good for my health, hooray! I rather overdid it today, having New Year's lunch at my mum's, mmmm, but I'll be good tomorrow, promise.
My short-term target was to get back to my pre-wedding weight because in a year of being married to a man who can cook, I put on six kilos (ouch). My long-term target was to lose a further six kilos, which would put me at a good weight for my height.
I learned how to count calories, this site was great for getting an idea of the calorie content of various foods. So I started keeping tabs on what I ate throughout the day, and fell into a routine of eating supper at around 6pm before heading off the rehearsals, and then not eating again until breakfast the next day. I also had a decent breakfast and upped the fibre in my diet.
Between the diet and the dance rehearsals, I lost three kilos in two months, which is not fantastic but encouraging, and I started to feel healthier and had more energy too. I then lost a further two kilos in the two weeks that we having been having Panto performances (all that dancing every night!). So I'm almost at my short-term goal, and I'm well pleased.
Unfortunately, I won't have Panto to help with my long-term goal over the next few months (only four shows left!) but I'm hoping that I'll continue what I started. The Wii that I'll be getting for my birthday should be a fun way to exercise, especially the Wii Fit game that tracks your weight gain/loss over time.
So, Panto has been good for my health, hooray! I rather overdid it today, having New Year's lunch at my mum's, mmmm, but I'll be good tomorrow, promise.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Gotta go Wii
Hah, now I know why my husband couldn't find a Wii to buy for my Christmas present!
Every night, the Dame invites six children up on stage to help the heroes complete a task, but before that she interviews each one briefly (hilarious to watch). Before Christmas, she asked each one what they wanted for Christmas (Hannah Montana merchandise was coveted by the girls) but now that Christmas is passed, she asks them what presents they got.
So far it seems like about ten percent received toys, sixty percent got a Nintendo DS, and the rest got a Wii. Children, hah.
Of course, this means that pretty much every night, the Dame gets to make jokes about needing to go Wii. I won't repeat what she said after a little boy reported receiving a joystick.
Every night, the Dame invites six children up on stage to help the heroes complete a task, but before that she interviews each one briefly (hilarious to watch). Before Christmas, she asked each one what they wanted for Christmas (Hannah Montana merchandise was coveted by the girls) but now that Christmas is passed, she asks them what presents they got.
So far it seems like about ten percent received toys, sixty percent got a Nintendo DS, and the rest got a Wii. Children, hah.
Of course, this means that pretty much every night, the Dame gets to make jokes about needing to go Wii. I won't repeat what she said after a little boy reported receiving a joystick.
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