Note to Self #20

Some Green Rooms really are green. This one is a happy green, it's flattering for everyone, and it makes any opening night bouquet look like a million bucks!

Spring?

Despite some tropical style downpours and cold temperatures (8 degrees) recently, it IS actually warming up and spring flowers are popping out here and there. This Calla Lily is in the gardens at the cottages in Lorne.

The Linen Room

... back in Lorne for the weekend. Folding linen, housekeeping and working Reception...

Mug Central

Morning Tea break and general tea and coffee consumption are a part of MTC culture. Each production in rehearsal has a table in the Green Room with individual mug for each Cast, Crew and Creative Team member.

Hugo Weaving (Lord of the Rings Trilogy, The Matrix) is rehearsing for a Mainstage show in the studio next to ours. His mug is usually gone from the Green Room first thing in the morning... he obviously likes his tea!

Why I'm Wagging School

wag: (verb) to skip; put off; play truant.

I wagged classes at Latrobe this last week -- and I'll be wagging a few more before the middle of September!

I've been assisting on A Streetcar Named Desire, the next show in Melbourne Theatre Company's Educational EXPLORATIONS season. Pretty cool stuff, eh? I'm excited. Who needs uni?! (Well, I do -- to stay in the country -- but that's moot!)


This is a great learning experience! The cast and Brett Adam, the director, have only 3.5 weeks of rehearsal before a 2 week season (2 matinees a day) for school audiences. With the constraint of only 90 minutes of stage time, Brett has chosen key scenes from Tennessee Williams's famous work which will be interspersed with commentary on symbol, action and theme.

I love going to rehearsals, and I am reminded that time flies when you are hard at work in studio spaces with no windows.

Lolly of the Week

A really cool Lebanese family runs the Milk Bar around the corner from our flat. Needing a sugar fix last night, I asked the daughter for her advice on a good lolly. She recommended this -- a Sour Strawberry ZOMBIE CHEWS -- said it was "Grouse". (adverb meaning good; cool; totally wicked. Only heard with some frequency in the Outer Suburbs.)
It was both grouse and lots a fun.

Greek to Me

This week, I needed a bit of inspiration or encouragement to get through some assigned reading for a Theatre History course at university. I've never been a fan of Greek Philosophy. Never. It all just gives me a big headache!
So, I laughed out loud on the tram when I read the following in an excerpt from PLATO"S REPUBLIC:


Plato quoting Homer: " 'Odysseus smote his breast, chiding his heart: Endure my heart; thou hast borne worse things than these.' "

Indeed!
Thanks, Plato -- for quoting Homer and putting things in perspective. Cheers.