What a roller coaster of a career I have chosen? Honestly, would I have it any other way? I have a feeling I'm not really a monorail kind of chick but there are times when one does like to take a break from the ups and downs and enjoy some personal time with the cotton candy vendor.
My last post reflected the process i was working through on my last production. I'm here to gladly report that I am in fact.....Large..hell, X X Large( two 'Xs)...not the small I was so worried I would be. The production of The Medium/Carmina Burana was very well received and it was a true pleasure to create such a magical and frightening world with my colleagues. Everyone was on the same page, from the first day of rehearsal and finding such a safe place to explore some very dark themes is cathartic and welcomed. My Father traveled to see the production and saw it THREE times! We had such a wonderful week together. Think..CASINO! Dad and I supported the economic growth of the Motor City with lots of slot machine pulls and even managed to walk away with a few pennies in our pocket. I loved it! After having him in the audience for 3 performances it was very difficult knowing he wasn't out there for the remaining three. I could feel his energy from the crowd and his unwaivering support of me ranks up there with the great wall of China as one of the mighty wonders of the world.
My current project is Marriage of Figaro. Marcellina is role I've played many times...9 to be precise. I know this opera inside and out. The Act 2 finale never fails to engender a musical stirring in me. Not really from MY music, but from the collection of perfect tones Mozart scattered on that parchment. It is a miracle every time I hear it. It grounds me and gives me succor when my mind is racing to balancing issues in the sextet or what precisely WAS that cut in Act 4. Living in the now, Mozart style.
I've been in Detroit for about 7 thousand weeks now. My hotel room is lived in, my luggage is dusty and I'm overdosed on lean cuisines and string cheese. (That is about all my tiny bar fridge will hold). I've enjoyed this time of reflection. There have been a few dark nights of the soul but that's life I suppose. The oddest thing is my lack of sleep. I simply cannot sleep in this hotel...at night. I have resorted to Tylenol Pm and luckily most rehearsals start in the afternoon so I manage to fill ye olde sleep docket. It's been strange. My thoughts are always with Mom. After 8 months I finally had a dream about her that wasn't a nightmare. She was restored to full health and it was a normal spring day. Nothing special occurred other than her being there. It was wonderful and heartbreaking at the same time. I feel her around me at this time. I haven't before, not like this. When she died I had this ridiculous notion that she would just appear to me and assure me everything was wonderful. That we would have this mortal coil bending relationship. I was actually angry that she hasn't appeared. It's irrational. After all, she is busy! I can only imagine the activities she is organizing. Not to mention the heavy duty guardian angel duties she is shouldering these days. Still, I really appreciate that she made the time to spend with me in dreamland. I look forward to our next foray.
