It's Not You Darling... It's Me...

Hello Dhaaarlings...

I know that I haven't posted anything now for a week or two but I've been a little busy putting the finishing touches to the costumes for "Annie"

It's opening night tonight... 

Yesterdays full-dress rehearsal was chaotic as one might expect with hoards of anxious teens all  thinking they they are the only Princess on the beach... 

After setting them all straight... to coin the term loosely.... and reminding each and every little "hissy fitter" that their costume/ role/ accessories are just as important as everyone else's in the show and that.... yes they are special but just as special as the other kids around them.

And the last minute complaints of "I don't like the costume that I'm in" mainly from teenage girls that would rather be in skin tight "Tit and Arse" displayers rather than 1930's straight line shapeless frocks!

I'ts quite understandable really... but it is set in New York in the '30s where hardly even a hint of stocking was on display! They should thank themselves lucky!... And as for the scene in the slums of Hooverville.... Well don't even get me started.

"This costume makes me look ugly" 

Do I really have to wear this? I look like a hobo"

"I want to wear something pretty"

For goodness sake darling you are meant to look like you are living on the streets... I was the depression after all.

I't wasn't until the Empress stepped in an explained to the little darlings what the depression was about... People had no work, no home, no money, lived on the streets, begged borrowed or stole and we thankful for whatever clothing they could get there hands on rather then freeze to death....

Attitudes suddenly changed! The costumes were alright to be worn after that with hardly a complaint.

They looked at the Empress with Awe! I think most of them thought that being so old she had personally lived through it! 

I got around early to giving them them a thoroughly good dose of reality after almost loosing my cool with the constant "I can't find this part of my costume"... "My whole outfit for such and such scene has gone missing do you know where it is?....

It went something like this...

I AM NOT YOUR PARENT... I'VE MADE THE COSTUME....

YOU... MY LITTLE DARLING... ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING SURE THAT YOU HAVE ALL THE PIECES NAMED AND HUNG CORRECTLY BACK ON THE COSTUME RACK WHEN YOU ARE FINISHED WITH IT. 

I HAVE SHOWN YOU HOW TO HANG IT UP CORRECTLY AND HOW TO PUT YOUR NAME CLEARLY ON IT

IF SOMETHING IS MISSING I SUGGEST THAT YOU RE-TRACE YOUR LAST STEPS...OPEN YOUR EYES AND HAVE A GOOD LOOK FOR IT UNTIL YOU FIND IT.... AND DON'T EXPECT TO BE GOING TO RECESS/ LUNCH/ OR HOME UNTIL IT IS FOUND! 

I'M QUITE SURE YOUR PARENTS WILL UNDERSTAND WHEN YOU TELL THEM WHY YOU HAVE MISSED THE BUS HOME OR ARE LATE GETING OUT OF SCHOOL!

It is quite amazing how they seem to get the message when given clear boundaries and expectations and things... to be truthful... have gone quite swimmingly.

I finished the bulk of the costumes last week which considering my health found to be quite a surprise.... I was quite sure that I had missed making costumes for a whole scene!

This week has consisted of final fittings and minor adjustments to a few of the leads costumes and making some headbands and fur capes for the NYC Scene.

The sets are looking fabulous with spiral stairways and skyscrapers. We even have a Chrysler Building and the Roxy Theatre.... and the Warbucks mansion is truly a sight to behold Chandelier and all.

I don't have any photos to update you with as yet as my camera has died!

I'll attempt to scan and load some shots from the program tonight if i get the chance.

Physically I'm knackered, I still haven't got any further news on the testing and I'm struggling to get about for more than an hour at a time and the painkillers are muddling my brain. I think I've unpicked more mistakes than I've managed to sew in the last few days and it is really pissing me off!

I think that part of the trouble is that I'm only given a weeks supply of pain relief which i am trying to make stretch over 2 weeks. My GP won't prescribe repeats for the drug so that means another 45 min drive just to get a new script and frankly i can't afford the petrol money to see him more frequently...

Oh the joys of being reliant on the State!

The Empress starts a course of Physio Next week!

So Darlings...

 In the absence of any new "Annie" photo's

Here's a little selection of Arse to take your minds off my pain....

Bottoms Up Darlings...