And I'm Smiling... Smiling like the cheshire cat darlings... No wait that was in Alice... I'm Smiling like a load of Munchkins somewhere over the rainbow... Or flying monkeys hauling off that pesky Dorothy... No... that was Oz... Erm... I'm Smiling like a little awful Annie that's been adopted by a gazzillionaire... The main thing is that I'm smiling again and all the hard work has been worth it... tho all tooo soon i'l be smiling like a walking talking teapot or candelabra.... either that or snarling like a Beast.... but that's a whole other story....
I'm over the worst of a nasty little bout of Manflu thanks to a course of Antibiotics... And these from my GP whom... I might add... doesn't usually believe in prescribing them (without pleading and almost begging him for them) but this time around took one look at me and said
"So Princess... You're here for some antibiotics by the look of you"
The thought crossed my mind to make him beg to prescribe them for me...
Any way it is opening night tommorow (Wednesday) Hurrah! Ther will be 5 performances and if rehearsals are any indication then it's mor like 7 performance nights....
My work is done and dusted early for a change and the last few days have left me just sewing a button here or replacing elastic there... No Major dramas...
There were the usual artistic arguments and an attempt to usurp Princess by the 16 yearold Understudy for the Head Costumier
(Who just happens to be the daughter of said Head! And having worked hard at developing a good working relationship with her I was't about to let this little upstart attempt to screw things up)
Well... Princess was not going to tollerate being told what to do by a 16 year old and quickly put a stop to her upityness in attempting to order me about in "Mummy's" absence. I let her know very quickly and much to her shock that in "Mummy's" Absence... which was most of the time...
I, Princess was head of costumes and that unless "she pulled her head in" and started to treat me with some respect then I would quite happy to walk and leave her to it...(Fully knowing that if I did that then absolutely nothing would get done)...
She attmpted to continue the behaviour so I called a meeting with both "Mummy" and the Director to discuss 16yo's rudeness and over bossy behavior and lay dwn the law...
After some sulking on her part she got the message... Very loudly and Very clearly.
Mummy also got the message and appologised on behalf of daughters behaviour! I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall when they got home that evening....
After this intervention things ran very smoothly... Though I remain unconvinced that "Mummy" was not the root of the problem to start with... after overhearing just by chance... whispered discussions between the pair of them over costume choices for certain characters when they thought I was busy elsewhere then denying that that was what was being discussed whan I called them out... My suspicions confirmed by instant denial and reddening faces on the pair of them.... Nuff Said!...
Anyway here are some pics of the costumes... Many were foundlings from op shops... but many were also made for the show...
Enjoy...
The foundling "Hartnell" on stage... In the "Warbucks" Mansion
Maids and servants costumes all created for the Previous production of the show... Along with "Sandy's" dog suit... Recycled for this show...
Lilly St Regis, Rooster and Miss Hannigan... Lilly and Rooser created by me... Miss Hannigan... Foundling...
NYC... Most of the support cast dresses made by me along with capes stoles and hats... and male support cast sourced by me from stock or op shop finds
The "OXIDENT" Hour of Smiles... Hosted by "Mrs Healy's little boy Burt"
"Never Fully Dressed" Orphans... All mine... but done with some help for last years production of "Annie Junior"
President Rooservelts Cabinet... All sourced from Op Shops! Apart from the guard which is a reproduction of the original uniform created by the head costumier...
"The Mansion" Grace's Yellow number is one of mine! Warbucks suit is a foundling altered to fit..
And that's about all the photo's managed to take as I was so enthralled by the talent these kids bring to the stage I forgot that I had my camera with me... No... Seriously! You would be hard pressed to see a better porfomance by an adult cast. These kids are 13 to 18 year olds... and they are truly brilliant! I'm so proud of them all.
Take a bow kids.....
And now that Annie is done and dusted on my part... Princess can sit back and enjoy the show... Well until next week when I have to start designing an Egg Whisk, a Bottle Opener and Salt and Pepper shaker costumes for the school's production in December of "Beauty and the Beast"... Along with goodness knows how many other costumes that might be required...
I'm Still Smiling Darlings...
That looks like a wonderful production! Congrats on whipping the costumes and costumers into shape!
ReplyDeletePS: Nice touch with the Presidential Seal.
The sets and props people go out of their way for authenticity.. Me not so much... I tend to concentrate on overall palettes and individual costumes employing some "Creative Licence"...
DeleteYou must have been working nineteen to the dozen, Princess!?! I especially love "Grace's yellow number" and I don't particularly like yellow - Bravo!
ReplyDeleteSo, time for a FGES interlude before you start work on Beauty and the Beast?
Mr DeVice... One might say that I've been "Flat out like a lizard drinking"... but that would be not quite the truth as the bulk of the costumes were done. But still fitting and alterations take time for a cast of 60...
DeleteI'm very proud of Grace's "Show Stopper" It's one of the "Most Commented on" Costumes along with Lilly's ensemble... And all ain a good way..
I'll try to work on something with the FGES before I start working on the next show. I wonder if they could understudy for the wilting rose... they are still in Mother's Pickling Jar afterall...
Oh wow! I am once again amazed by your talent! Both with fabric and with handling difficult power-plays.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you're feeling better. If you needed antibiotics, it wasn't manflu.
Keep smiling lovely, you have lots to smile about. Look at the fabulous stuff you're doing!
Roses
xxx
Powerplays can be difficult to manage at the best of times, Rosemarie... This one I saw coming from a distance and so had some time to strategize my response and orchestrate some back up from the producer... They too had been on the recieving end of the little upstart's rudness...
DeleteAnd i'm feeling much better now the pressure is off for at least a little while...
*mwha!*
ReplyDeleteKeep that smile, it suits you!
The yellow thing looks good - I may be biased, I like yellow, and orange and thus ...
These powerplays never stop; girly may have been pushed a bit, but whatever, there's a production to be done and that's it - maybe she learned a bit professionalism this way.
Relax dear Princess. You mentioned other things on the list (sorry, I forgot the details), take a breath and relax, new adventures come along! Hey mate, it's simply good to find you so upbeat!
Thanks Mr Mags... the Yellow dress has become the "Show Stopper"
DeleteThe power plays stopped when she realised that I had the final say on puting together costumes and that my role was not to fetch and carry for her... it was much more a case of things being the other way around. If I had the director chasing me over costumes that I had given miss upstart to finalise I would refer her directly to miss upstart as to why the job had not been completed... She soon learned that taking on the title also means taking on the responsibility to get the job done...
I'm in relax mode as we speak... The curtain goes up for opening night at 7 pm tonight... so i still have a few hours to catch up on some house hold chores before then...
On your clock it's 05:30 ante meridiem - that's morning, right? So its Thursday already - how was it then?!
DeleteIn comparison to last years production... This one ran
Deletea lot smoother and for an opening night was fantastic!
The level of production and performance from the cast was more like you would expect for two or three shows into their run. All the kids are just so switched on and confident! Even to the point of adlibbing when something goes wrong with an orchestra cue or a misplaced prop or forgotten line...
I'm sure it will only get better throuought the remainder of the week. I'm really looking forward to seeing the growing professionalism in the kids...
That sounds really well. I hope the things runs now on its own and you can relax a bit. Cheers!
DeleteWow! It looks fabulous! Congrats
ReplyDeleteThanks Jason... the production did look fabulous and sounded amazing with a live orchestra. The kids in the show did themselves proud... And to think that Warbucks and Grace are only 14 year olds the talent is quite stunning...
DeleteWhere is my order of "I'm an Infomaniac Bitch" t-shirts?
ReplyDeleteHA! It's probably still being delivered by "Poste Canadia" darling... Not a bad idea... tho I'm also thinking a "Banned by Infomaniac" T might have equal marketability... you could be onto something Darling... you could sell them with the other merchandise on your "World Domination Tours"...
DeleteI love Am Dram and all the back stage performances!
ReplyDeleteWonderful job, Princess, as always.