It’s About Time, Don’t You Think?

voltee ♦ December 3, 2010 ♦ 4 Comments

Item: Sweater Color/Fabric: Black, angora Designer: Arden B Where Purchased: Woodbury Common Years Owned: 6
This is one of those days when I am fighting to write every single word. It is so frustrating when writing does not come easily. I think that’s why I’m so quick to give up usually.
Last night I had a fantastic time watching the DVD of Falsettos, a show I worked backstage for last year. It was a late evening, filled with food, tears, friends, memories, tears, laughter, wine, and more tears. So I was a little bleary eyed this morning for my early AM appointment. But it was completely worth it!
This sweater is something that I bought on my very first trip to Woodbury Common. I thought that it would be my go-to Fancy Sweater. But as it turns out, I really haven’t worn this very often. I wore this for the only In-Between-The-Holidays party we’ve had since we’ve lived in New York, and I think maybe one other time. The strongest memory I have of this, though, is for the Falsettos benefit show.
I am so proud to have been even a tiny part of Falsettos. I wasn’t able to help at all until later in tech week, and by the time I was involved, it was already a pretty finely-tuned machine backstage. That was due a lot to Donna, who is a magical stage manager fairyy, and also Lizzie, who has a photographic memory. Both are so immaculately organized that it’s almost like they speak a different language to me and my cluttered, chaotic brain. It was nice to kind of just show up and have an orderly list of exactly what I needed to do.
It was a great show to work backstage for. Yes, there were a few hectic moments, and some curtain-ography I don’t think I ever would have remembered without Liz’s help, but there were many moments to just sit back and enjoy the performances. And also time for some backstage boogeying, which is my favorite backstage activity by far.
I never got bored with the show for a single moment. Every night it felt fresh and exciting, and every night I was moved in some new way. It’s just such an interesting show. At times it is utterly ridiculous, hilarious even, and then very tender, absolutely real, and ultimately tragic, yet somehow uplifting at the same time. I loved the songs and the stories just from listening to the soundtrack.
But then the amount of talent that came together in this particular cast (Bill, Maria, Jim, Johnny, Vicki, Molly, and little Thomas), as directed by my brilliant friend Kevin, really took this one to another, extraordinary level.
Just thinking about the voices of every single person in the show, and the bliss that was created when they mixed together is enough to give me goosebumps even to this day. There is a moment in the show where Liz and I had to hide behind a screen directly behind four of the actors for an entire song. We could not move, which is usually an awful circumstance to be in that can feel like an eternity. But each night, when the harmonies started, I felt completely lucky to be able to be surrounded by such a sound, and I wouldn’t have wanted to be anywhere else in the world.
Watching in the wings, though, did not prepare me for the glory of the recorded version of the show. I was able to see so many moments that I missed backstage, subtle nuances, and shifting of emotions on the actors faces. Every performance was so honest and powerful. I truly, truly love this production. And every person involved!
It made me miss Lizzie a lot. Somehow she really ended up being everywhere at once during the show- it was a sight to behold. And we had such fun, helping get rid of left over props every night!
Here we are backstage at the fundraiser night, with Vicki and also Bryan, who was wonderful to work with backstage:
I wish that more people had come out to see this wonderful show. It deserved much, much bigger houses than it received. I think it should be an annual event, even just as a concert, maybe, to raise money for AIDS awareness. I think it would be spectacular!
I also wish that I wore this sweater more. I like the neckline- sometimes off the shoulders is very refreshing. I also like the bow. It always makes me think of Audrey Hepburn for some reason. Which is a wonderful thing.
But it is just a little bit too short. Not like my belly button shows, or anything, but I generally like tops to hit me right around the hips. It makes me itch, though. Angora has such a nice name, it sounds so luxurious and I think can look elegant, but I don’t find it comfortable at all. I would rather pet a real rabbit than wear a rabbit sweater, I believe. Perhaps that’s the biggest reason why I haven’t worn this more. Should I do so?

**I need help with this. I love the way it looks, but hate the way it feels. So I am still torn…