Old lady debut

Tuesday Bloody Tuesday. I had a short day answering phones at Church Pension Group through one of my trusty temp agencies. Being a temp is quite an interesting experience. There's something that really sucks about coming in to work for a company for a day. Somehow I have difficulty learning everything I need to know about the company in the 2 minutes of "training" I get upon arriving at each assignment. I don't know, call me slow.
I went to the gym after my short day then did some serious line studying for my NY Dinner Theater debut. I can't, for the life of me, remember what I did for the rest of that night. Must've been life-changing.
Wednesday morning I went to coffee with my friend Lauren. It was great to see her. After that I bummed around Sephora trying on makeup for a good two hours. I figured I should probably spend some time getting to know the makeup I was selling. ahaha. My face was raw after all that applying and removing makeup.
Wednesday night I went to see "Legally Blonde" (the musical) on Broadway. It was pretty much like the movie with a few minor differences. The understudy for "Elle Woods" (Reese Witherspoon's part) was in that night. She did a nice job. The girl who normally plays the part, Laura Bell Bundy, was nominated for a Tony Award. I can only imagine what kind of pressure that would bring, being her understudy.
The musical itself was funny. I thought it was really entertaining. I mean it obviously wasn't the most powerful and moving thing I'd ever witnessed but I think it brought justice to the new wave of widely criticised movies turned musicals.
I also loved the guy who played "Emmett" (Luke Wilson in the movie). I think his names Christian Boyle. I saw him in Spamalot last summer and he was amazing. He's so funny. I love how natural he is on stage. He did so much with a part in "Legally Blonde" that could easily have fallen flat. He made the audience fall in love with him so when Elle Woods fell in love with him, it was that much sweeter.
Thursday I worked a LONG shift at Sephora. After that I took the express train to my C.S. Lewis reading group where we're studying "Mere Christianity." I'm still learning a lot it's just such heady reading that I find myself getting lost. It's so hard to focus on something for a long time in this city. It feels like life's moving too fast to take time out to comprehend the subject matter. I'm trying though.
Friday I spent the day getting ready for my performance in "Let's Kill the Boss." I studied my lines and otherwise got myself ready. I was so nervous and excited. The show was in New Jersey so the whole cast traveled in one car (6 people) to the site. It was a great bonding time for us. My fellow cast members are hilarious. We ran lines and got to know each other's sense of humor along the way.
We performed for a crowd of about 250 people that night. The audience was great. I'm so glad they were because the interactive part would've been torture had they not. It was a corporate party with a lot of older people so I felt a tinsy bit awkward as I was playing an older woman. I was afraid they'd resent me, playing an old woman.
The show went really well. I didn't forget a single line or any blocking. Yay! The cast, other than myself, had been performing this show together for a long time now so I didn't want to come in and mess them all up. It went off without a hitch. We worked together really well. I'm so lucky to be working with them.
The show's a murder mystery and most of the audience thought I did the murdering. I thought that was hilarious. I didn't, by the way.
We're encouraged to improvise so I walked around to the tables during breaks between acts and that's when the older folks said stuff like: "You're the youngest one in the cast aren't you?" Yes I am, but I responded with some comment about a miracle face cream that makes me look young. I stayed in character although they really enjoyed trying to get me to break. "You have a young face" "Do you use Avon?" "Your osteoporosis really showed." "Don't ruin that pretty face with the sun" ok. Good advice. "Did you study pantomime? You do a good job at it!" (This from a little old man whom I'm pretty sure meant acting. Did you study acting?)
Also, I didn't know I'd bring the house down when I used one lady's walker to exit the stage after the show. I think I filled some Depends with that one. Sorry, that was inappropriate. All this to say that playing an old person for a crowd of old people can actually be a lot of fun. You just have to be careful not to offend.
After the show the whole cast rode back to NYC together. That was a trip. You couldn't pay me to drive in the city. Ok, maybe you could but it would have to be a small fortune.
Alright, my first performance is complete so now I can relax a bit. I got a call from the producer of the NY Dinner Theater telling me she was pleased with my performance. Yay! I get to keep my job! :)
I have another show soon but before then I perform in a different show through the same company. (The Sopranos spoof) That's next week so I'll be rehearsing for that over the next few days.
Saturday I saw the movie "Dan in Real Life" with my friend Annie. We went to the cheap ticket matinee at AMC theaters. I really like the theater we saw the movie in. It was huge and there was a mezzanine level. We sat in the mezzanine level and I think seeing a movie from that vantage point is a better view than the usual orchestra level. Give it a shot if you get the chance.
The movie was adorable. I loved the cast. Steve Carell was just great. He's so easy to like on screen. Well, if you get a chance, see it.
After the movie we ate lunch at some sort of Oodles of Noodles place. Then we went to a bar called "Time Out" and joined other NYC U of O fans for a viewing party of the U of O vs. USC game. There were a bunch of people there supporting the team. Everyone, including me, wore U of O gear and cheered for the Ducks as if we were in Autzen Stadium (loudly). The game was very entertaining. I got so nervous for the Ducks though. There were some close calls but they ended up beating USC 24-17(Holla)!
I met a bunch of Oregonians now living in NYC with a common interest: The Ducks. I can't think of a better way to have spent a rainy Saturday afternoon.
Now I'm enjoying a mocha at Esparks Coffee where they finally have Wifi again. (It was down for 4 painful days). I'm sitting near the window watching grown adults walk by in odd looking Halloween costumes. Just a little premature Halloween partying going on here in Queens. I'll be attending some sort of horror fest(aka lower Manhattan)on the real Halloween. Should be a scary time.
Other festivities planned for Halloween include an appointment to have an Internet connection installed in our apartment. So I will have a more reliable source soon. I look forward to that, not that I don't enjoy Esparks's mochas.