Postcard #1: Backstage

Let me just say, it’s fun to create a profile for a stranger at an airport. You can imagine who they are, where they’re going and who they left behind. You wonder who their parents are, if they have any kids, or siblings. What jobs they have, and if they like waking up every morning because of it. Suddenly they don’t seem so unidentifiable.

Something that’s been circulating around about my trip to LA is that it’s my “dream vacation”, and I must have been counting down the days. But, I don’t see it that way. Yes, was excited – I couldn’t wait to leave. But I wouldn’t label it as a dream vacation, it’s too Disney. This is not an once-in-a-lifetime trip to Los Angeles, but it may seem that way if I call it a dream.

So I leave LRDC workouts, Canada, and my siblings behind as I tackle Hollywood for one week. I’ll keep everyone informed – so check in for news about my travels, neat photos, and updates on how I’m “running” in a foreign land.

Yesterday we visited Universal Studios. It reminds me a lot of Disneyworld… lots of photo opportunities, tourist souvenir shops, and roller coasters. I mostly enjoyed the studio tour; I had no idea what the sets were actually like. The building may seem like brick; however they’re mostly Styrofoam, fibre glass and wood!

We also checked out a cute, used clothing store called It’s A Wrap. It’s filled with hundreds of clothing items from the sets of movies and television series that either didn’t use them because they didn’t work out or they were costume doubles, or they’re ones the actors actually wore. It was the tail end of a sale so everything was kind of picked over, but we managed to find a few items we really liked.

We also walked down the walk of fame while looking for a corner store that would sell milk. I’ve only seen a portion of it now, but so far ones I’ve seen include Marilyn Monroe, Judy Garland, Kermit the Frog, Walt Disney, Destiny’s Child and, more.

Wish you were here!


Pictures above: Universal Studios enterance, Jaws, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, and the front and back of some generic buildings.

Audrey

              I have a hunger for criticism –constructive of course – which much like the pains of hunger before a large meal, can be unbearable when left unfed. If I’m not given any notes after a rehearsal I go absolutely mad. I’m the type of actress, runner, and person who wants to learn constantly. I believe there can always be improvements made, no matter what level you are at. I can recall begging a director after a rehearsal to find something for me to work on. After much thought, he gave me something challenging about my character to give some thought. I was a little scared to be honest, but I was excited to work on it and improve my performance. The same applies to everything I do – there is always improvements I can be making in my race strategies, my work ethnic, almost anything and everything I do.

                The same quality can be found in a woman I particularly admire. She was elegant, talented, and one of Hollywood’s greatest icons – Audrey Hepburn. While reading a biography (Enchantment: The Life and Times of Audrey Hepburn by Donald Spoto), I discovered that she also possessed that quality. A quote from that same biography describes her drive and determination to learn all she could in order to grow and succeed in the craft: “’I’m frightened,’ she blurted out to a journalist one day after rehearsal. ‘I have no stage training whatever. Others spend their lives at it before they get anywhere. I guess I’ll have to act by intuition – until I learn.’” (Enchantment: The Life and Times of Audrey Hepburn by Donald Spoto).

She was in rehearsals for Gigi at that time, a 1951 Broadway musical. She didn’t have to act as Gigi however, she was Gigi entirely. She may not have known how to properly project, how to express her emotions properly; she had never trained as an actress and had no idea what she was doing. However, she had a rare quality. One which turned heads and make everyone look at the girl onstage. One which was determined to give the best performance she could so she didn’t disappoint or embarrass anyone. She didn’t see how truly talented she was. “She was basically a very insecure person whose very insecurity made everyone fall in love with her . . . [She was] a star who couldn’t see her own light.” (Enchantment: The Life and Times of Audrey Hepburn).

As you may be able to tell, from the book I just finished reading describing her life and career, there are many quotations which describes how frightened and eager she was to learn. All quotes below where taken from Enchantment: The Life and Times of Audrey Hepburn by Donald Spoto.

“Audrey was commanded to pose for the press, turning the last light bulb in the last letter of her name, so when the Audrey Hepburn finally illuminated the marquee, it seemed – but only in the photos – as if she might be electrocuted by sheer vanity. ‘Oh, dear,’ she told reporters huddling around her as she climbed down from the ladder, ‘I still have to learn how to act!’”

“‘My career is a complete mystery to me,’ said Audrey Hepburn, reflecting later on her success. ‘It’s been a total surprise since the first day. I never thought I was going to be an actress, I never thought I was going to be in movies, I never thought it was going to happen the way it did.’”

“‘When we got to the last scene,’ Audrey recalled, ‘we were in the car, and I was saying goodbye to Greg and going back to being a princess. I was supposed to sob my heart out. But I couldn’t cry. I was pretending to cry, but it was no good at all. There was no proper tears. They tried glycerin. Take after take, it wasn’t any good. Willy [Wyler] came over and gave me absolute hell. ‘How long do you think we’re going to wait here? Can’t you cry, for goodness’ sake? By now you should know what acting’s about!’ I was so upset – he was so angry with me. I just started to cry. He shot it, gave me a big hug and walked off. That’s how you learn. He knew that with me there was no point in trying to teach me. He would just have to make me cry.’”

“I want to retain the feeling that it is all happening to someone else, and at the same time have an idea of my own value and worth to the company. You see, I have always reached for something just above my head. If I have been able to hold on, it is because I seized every opportunity and worked extra hard on. Nothing came easily. In [stage] musicals, I was the tense, rigid girl trained for ballet who had to watch everyone else find out what to do. In the theatre, In Gigi, I acted without any acting experience. The play was a success in America and they said nice things about me. But all through the sixteen-month run, I was still learning. By the last night, I was really only ready for the first night. Out of that curious studio life of cameras, lights, noises and nerves, I had to try to bring a true performance.”

“Audrey’s success did not mean security. ‘It’s like when somebody gives you something to wear that’s too big, and you have to grow into it,’ she said. ‘I wouldn’t say I’ve learned to act yet. Often I think I’ll never learn anything. Some of the things I do onstage depress me beyond measure.’”

                Audrey Hepburn’s eloquent charm and honest performances continue to win over viewers, no matter what day and age it is. She is timeless. Her life was never a dull moment – feeling abandoned by her father as a young child and for the majority of her life, living through World War II, taking every opportunity she could get her hands on in the performing world, scandalous romances, and volunteering her time with UNICEF. Wife, Humanitarian, Actress, an inspiration – as you watch her films or learn more about this astonishing woman, she invites you to fall in love with her all over again. I continue to take every learning opportunity I can; we could all learn a lot from Miss Hepburn’s wise ways.

Hidden Heroes

back·stage

/ˈbækˈsteɪdʒ/ [bak-steyj]

–adverb

1. behind the proscenium in a theater, especially in the wings or dressing rooms.

2. toward the rear of the stage; upstage.

3. out of view of the public; in private; behind the scenes: Many of the deals were made backstage at the convention.

–adjective

4. located or occurring backstage.

5. of or pertaining to activities unknown to the public.

6. of or pertaining to the private lives of people in the entertainment industry: backstage gossip.

–noun

7. Theater . a backstage area.

There are always those who work behind the scenes. An anonymous hero – much like those read in comic books or seen in movies; lifesavers with an unknown identity. However, not every hero chooses to be Clark Kent by day and Superman otherwise. And much like fictional superheroes, we are unknowingly in the presence of them on a daily basis.

It could be a coach, a director, a teacher; the sky’s the limit. They are those who spend hours day after day ensuring that others succeed. And sometimes after their hard work has paid off, they change from tights to street clothes in a telephone booth and head on home.

up·stage

/ˈʌpˈsteɪdʒ/ [uhp-steyj] adverb, adjective, verb, -staged, -stag·ing, noun

–adverb

1. on or toward the back of the stage.

–adjective

2. of, pertaining to, or located at the back of the stage.

3. haughtily aloof; supercilious.

–verb (used with object)

4. to overshadow (another performer) by moving upstage and forcing the performer to turn away from the audience.

5. to outdo professionally, socially, etc.

6. to behave snobbishly toward.

–noun

7. the rear half of the stage.

8. any stage position to the rear of another.

There are times when the heroes are upstaged by those they assist. When the actor takes a bow and acknowledges the orchestra and technician while the stage manager packs up their station backstage. When a struggling student suddenly gets their act together and finishes the school year with As and Bs, meanwhile the teacher misses some lunch periods or puts in extra hours on their own time to answer questions and review. They are the hidden heroes.

I’m part of a leadership class this semester, and our community project is to help run basketball OFSAA at our school March 7^th and 8^th. We’ve all worked hard – asking business after business for sponsorships, collecting donations and advertising the event. We’ve arranged parking for participants, bought groceries for the coach’s room and concessions. We’ve put signs around the school directing the public to the gym, we’ve transformed the gymnasium into a professional OFSAA atmosphere and have collected volunteers. We’ve also supported our own team by selling tickets to students for Beal’s first game, help a pep rally and made posters and banners displayed around the school and athletic department. I’m sure I’m missing many other points, but it’s still evident that our class has done a lot. And it will all contribute to the athletes having a positive experience, however I’m sure not everyone there will be aware of how many hours we’ve actually out into this project.

ac·knowl·edg·ment

/ækˈnɒl ɪdʒ mənt/ [ak-nol-ij-muh nt]

–noun

1. an act of acknowledging.

2. recognition of the existence or truth of something: the acknowledgment of a sovereign power.

3. an expression of appreciation.

4. a thing done or given in appreciation or gratitude.

5. Law .

a. a declaration before an official that one has executed a particular legal document.

b. an official certificate of a formal acknowledging.

c. public recognition by a man of an illegitimate child as   his own.

          Here’s to those heroes who work backstage, who are sometimes upstaged, and who we owe a great amount to. These individuals deserve recognition for the effort that they put into helping others. I felt it was time to applaud the hidden heroes!

Hurdles

When I think of overcoming obstacles, the first thing that comes to mind is hurdles. The abundance of metal frames placed along the track which athletes proceed to jump over. I can remember one workout this past summer when a friend of mine had them set out, and she dared me to jump over one. Being uncoordinated as I am, I fell to the ground.

            But I’m not writing about my lack of coordination. Overcoming obstacles is like running hurdles. There’s something obstructing your path, and if you don’t know how to handle it you may end up on your butt. However, with practice and the proper plan of action (in this case technique), you can soar over it and race towards your goal.

            There are different types of obstacles, and we each have our own unique blend. I can think of millions I’ve crossed paths with, however that would be a rather long blog post. When I run, my obstacles can range anywhere from the weather, to my mind set. This past December alone we had some terrible weather, and I had to adjust accordingly. There are also times when I am simply unmotivated, and I then have to kick myself back into high gear.           

There are also obstacles in the theatre. Malfunctions of any sort are a major obstacle. I can recall a prop malfunction from my run of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe in which I played Lucy. One of the last performances, I reached into my cardigan pocket for the handkerchief (a vital aspect of the story line), and the only thing I found was pocket lint. And to be honest – I panicked! But myself and my friend playing Mr. Tumnus are both trained how to improvise in these situations… we just didn’t communicate very well. First I handed him my cardigan, asking him to “dry his tears” with it, since I had no handkerchief to offer him. He gave me a funny look as he took it from me, and then tossed it aside before continuing to mime the handkerchief. My character had then lost her beloved cardigan in Narnia… at least for the rest of the matinee. Regardless, it was something we could all laugh about afterwards. Sometimes the relationships between cast members, crew members, or between the two are not so friendly. Backstage drama is a monstrous thing to tame, and can sometimes be even worse when you’re caught in the middle...no man’s land. Needless to say, overcoming those obstacles requires talking things through and putting aside your differences. Sometimes overcoming these obstacles make us stronger. For example, I performed in the Haunted Village Hayrides at Fanshawe Pioneer Village every Halloween from 2005-2008. One of the largest obstacles there is the weather – how do you make sure every word you speak is heard by the audience if it’s raining? Let me describe the situation to you. It’s a large, open park with about 3 scenes running in different locations at the same time. The audience is about 10 feet away from you and sit above you on a wagon pulled by a tractor. Then add in the wind, the rain, sometimes even snow and hail. When I began in 2005, I was very quiet and found it difficult to be heard in normal circumstances. However the obstacle only benefitted me, because I learned how to project my voice without screaming all my lines. I learned how to deliver my lines clearly and loudly over the difficult conditions.

            Even when I blog, “writers block” or a tight schedule provide me with plenty of obstacles and challenges to overcome.

            Not everyone has the same obstacles. However, the dream may be the same for some, whether it’s running a strong race, giving a spectacular performance or simply coming up with the right words to say.

            Some obstacles are more visual than others. For those who were unaware, I was recently involved in the show “No Traveller Returns” by Maureen Jennings – a Murdoch Mystery set in 1895. The company who put on the production is a unique and inspiring company in London called Out of Sight Productions. This company brings visually impaired actors as well as non-visually impaired actors together in the theatre. I was very privileged to be working with everyone, and have learned a lot from the experience. Three of our actors were visually restricted, however I barely noticed. We were all working towards one common goal, despite our different obstacles.

            To be frank, I have retyped these particular paragraphs many times in fear of offending or misrepresenting someone. I have no wish to throw anyone a pity party or give excuses, only to point out the individual battles that each of us face. I can only imagine what it must be like for a blind high school athlete running laps around the track. I’ve only seen a small handful of these races at track meets myself, but I can’t help but marvel. 
            No matter who we are, what our goals are or despite our different abilities, we can all see our dreams clearly. And even though the hurdles may knock us down to the ground, we all eventually find a way to pick ourselves up and keep moving forward.

If you wish to view the webpage for Out of Sight Productions, please follow the link below:
http://www.oosproductions.com/

If you wish to view review for "No Traveller Returns", please follow these links below:
http://www.westerngazette.ca/2011/02/04/murder-in-huntsville-in-no-traveler-returns/
http://theatreinlondon.ca/2011/02/no-traveler-returns-review/

ZZZ

     I’ve done my fair share of sleeping the past couple of weeks. This month I’ve been prepping for and writing exams, training and rehearsing non-stop; my head has certainly been hitting the pillow hard. However, I had no idea that I was also falling asleep at the wheel.

     It’s seemed this winter (and winter’s past) my training seems to kick into a mild hibernation for the season. It’s not exactly where it needs to be, and I’m certainly not as focused as I am throughout the spring, summer and fall. I’ve been “asleep at the wheel” so to speak. However setting the time of year aside, I’ve been especially “asleep” this winter. My days can be so hectic, that as soon as things slow down my mind goes on vacation. Now I’m kicking myself back in to high gear.

     As I mentioned above, I had been rehearsing furiously with my cast and crew for our production which opened this weekend here in London. It’s been a delight working with everyone, and I learn and continue to grow every step of the way. However, I’ve done my fair share of sleeping in this portion of my life as well… but in a very literal sense.

     It’s a Murdoch murder mystery – set in Huntsville, 1895. A handful of colourful characters find themselves stuck together at the Inn against their wishes, partially because they’re snowed in and partially because they can not leave the scene of the crime after one of them is murdered for reasons unknown.

     During the performance, my character is absent during the last act (although I will not expose the reasoning behind it, as some may object to a spoiler). I have a decent chunk of time to kill with homework, reading, etc before entering the stage again for curtain call. During Thursday’s public dress rehearsal, I happened to doze off. Luckily I was awoken before we had to rush onstage to take our bows! It turns out that resting your head on the coat lying across a stack of chairs next to you can be quite comfortable.

     Everyone gets lazy, but it’s time for me to wake up. Perhaps I require a little chaos and craziness to keep me alert and on my toes… and to prevent myself from sleeping at the wheel.

Two Thousand and Eleven

                I don’t know about everyone else, but the New Year for me means writing the wrong date down on my homework and quizzes for about a month – and then I finally get it. But the New Year also means new beginnings, second chances and resolutions.

                I have an extremely bad habit every New Year, apart from writing down the wrong date. Every January I create new goals and resolutions for myself. Then I forget or I get lazy, my list of poor excuses could go on for many pages. My trouble is I don’t usually come up with a plan of action. I’m all bark, and no bite. I was reading an article (which I don’t know the source or author to credit, however I’m still acknowledging their work), and the statistics given mentioned men have an increased chance of achieving their goals when bets are placed, and women when they have moral support from their friends.

                 I had actually begun to set some goals back in December, beginning with a meeting between my coach and I. These meetings are for all members, held annually at this time of year. We discussed some running goals for this year, and introduced the idea of running a 5000m race on the track. The longer, the better! A personal goal of mine in the athletic field is to be more consistent in completing core exercises throughout the winter training season. Without a strong foundation, my performance and training in the track season wouldn’t be at the level I’d expect – or want – it to be.

                For true success, you have to crave it. It’s like I’ve mentioned before, it’s whoever wants it more. When a goal is set, a plan of action is required – whether you know it or not! That’s a lesson that I’ve yet to learn, but I’m getting better.

I realize that I’m writing about New Years resolutions sixteen days into 2011, however I felt it was a necessary topic to touch on, especially when I’m involved in activities which require setting goals.           

Here are a few more New Year resolutions for myself, but in regards to this blog. One, I need to post as often as I did in the fall. Two, I need more interesting topics! I’m hoping that a more relaxed schedule, lack of writer’s block and more stories from my crazy life can help me with that!

The 121,000m Dash

Follies, 2010

Last Saturday, I attempted something no one I know has done before. The mission? To run cross country Nationals and perform the final Saturday matinee of a musical all in one afternoon. My tools? Everything I needed for the race packed in one small bag, a pillow for the long drive, a hair/make-up kit packed in a travel bag, half my costume and a lunch prepared the night before. The problem? I was scheduled to race 5km at noon in Guelph, and had to make it back to London in time for a 2:00pm show. Luckily my dad drives fast!

I agreed to run Nationals the year before, and I had also accepted the role at around the same time. I had no idea the two would clash, and even though I sniffed out a conflict I tried to ignore it. But as we all know, pretending something isn’t there doesn’t make it go away. I had to face this monster, and with the help of a flexible coach and an obliging director I had worked out a tight schedule – which consisted of me running through the finish line straight into the open car door and then bolting into the theatre five or ten minutes before curtain.

10:30am, Guelph, I arrived at the university with enough time to properly prepare for the race. It had begun to snow harder than we had anticipated, but my dad figured he could make up for the possible lost minutes on the highway. I was not happy about having to race in the snow, but as a year-round runner I should be used to it by now. I met up with my other team mates and we went on a warm up jog together, cursing the snow and the ice we had to face. One member was especially upset after she stepped on a frozen puddle, breaking through the thin layer of ice and allowing her running shoe to become soaked in the muddy water below.

The four of us had plans to run in pairs for at least the first half of the race, as working together proves to have its benefits. It was more challenging than we had anticipated. It was difficult to locate your partner in the hundreds of women streaming past you, and once you did find each other it as hard to stick together. But no one could argue that we hadn’t stuck to the plan, because we all finished within several spots of each other – most of us finishing in the top 100 women.

I can not speak for the other girls, but I know personally I could have placed higher than I did. I could feel myself burning out by the very end of the season, but of course being in multiple shows during the cross country season may have been a factor.

Following the race, my dad and I located each other as quickly as we could before racing back to London. We had the GPS running so we had an accurate estimate as to our arrival time, and I used this to continuously update my stage manager. As my dad sped down the highway, I put on as much of my costume as I was allowed to bring out of the theatre doors. I used the tiny mirror on the visor in front of the passenger seat to apply my stage makeup, as well as fixing my curls into their usual springs and ringlets. I knew I certainly wasn’t going to be the prettiest chorus girl that day, but as long as I was there in time for my cue, I was happy.

One hour and seventeen minutes later, we pulled up to the stage door. Thanking my dad, I bolted inside the theatre – with ten minutes to spare.

That weekend, both my cross country season and the musical came to a close. I feel very fortunate that I was allowed to complete both, and that I had people to help me along the way, from every direction. Thank you to those individuals!

Nationals, 2010



            Conflicts can be a pain, and sometimes can lead to hard decisions. I was fortunate enough not to have to make any. But my best advice is to not put them off, deal with them before things get out of control. It not only puts a lot of stress on yourself, but also on your family. Racing and performing in one day is difficult enough