Where’s The Loose Connection?

voltee ♦ April 5, 2011 ♦ 3 Comments

Item: Dress Color/Fabric: Grey, acrylic Designer: H&M Years Owned: 4
Oh, man. First let me begin by saying that I do not buy H&M’s sizing. I do have lots of clothing with European sizing, and they are about two sizes larger than H&M’s. I just spent an agonizing amount of time trying to get this dress onto poor Trixie. It really is difficult when there is no air to expel from the lungs.
So, yes. It looks as though I am beginning this post by saying that this dress is too small. It’s not. I just can’t take in a full lungful of air while wearing it. Or lift my arms above my head. Other than that, it fits like a dream!
I wore this in the summer of 2007, in Company. That summer was chock full of drama and very, very busy for me. I was opening the gym at 5:30am four days a week at the front desk. I was transitioning into becoming a Personal Trainer. I was at rehearsal all the time into the wee hours of the night. I think that I was getting somewhere around four hours of sleep per night. And I was terrified and intimidated by this show in a huge way. Needless to say, I got very thin.
It was really my very first “singing” show, being Sondheim and all. I had had one previous opportunity to audition for a Sondheim show in college. It was Sweeney Todd, and I was thrilled. It’s my favorite musical. In preparation, we had a movie night at one of my friend’s dorms, and watched the movie. We then discussed who was going to audition.
“I am for sure!” I exclaimed.
The room was silent.
My friend Will looked at me with pity shining deep in his eyes.
“Kerry,” he said gently. “This is Steven Sondheim. It’s for people who sing.”
“I sing…” I whispered.
He grabbed my hand. “No. It’s for people who really sing.”
And everyone nodded.
I know that this is one of those things that you’re supposed to laugh off and say “Screw them!”.
I am just not built like that.
I did not audition for Sweeney Todd. In fact, I did not audition for anything for many, many years. Long after I moved to New York.
Then, yes. I was nervous about Company. About all the singing. And the part when I had to take off my clothes.
What I should have been more nervous about was the dancing.
I didn’t really think about that part of it. There hadn’t been a dance call at the audition. And it was the first show I had been in directed by my brilliant friend Kevin. So I was woefully unprepared.
It was the trio, “Drive A Person Crazy,” that nearly did me in. It was fast, had ridiculous harmonies, and steps that truly made me feel like Steve Martin in The Jerk. It almost made me quit.
I remember asking for help at a vocal rehearsal from the other two girls in the number, Annie and Diana, who are both geniuses at learning choreography. I felt stupid, but they were so gracious and kind about it. We went outside, and Diana said “Ready?”
And then they were both dancing, full time and perfectly, through the entire first verse, while I was still trying to figure out the very first step.
Surprise! I cried. Lots.
But eventually, I figured it out. And let me tell you, those steps were seared into my brain- I think I could do most of it right now under duress! (left, right, nudge, nudge!)
Here’s my fave pic of the the three of us:

I never did figure out how to cross myself properly, though, until the last weekend. Not being Catholic, and never have having occasion to do it before, I always went the wrong direction first. Oh, well. It worked with my character, I suppose…
And we had a great time getting ready for that number- most of the time we rocked out to “Ms. New Booty,” but I think there were other songs, also. It was just about the most fun I’ve ever had on stage.
This is the dress that I ended up wearing for that number. I really don’t think it would happen these days- I would most likely pass out- but it fit perfectly then. I had such a wonderful time finding costumes for that show with Kevin. It really opened my eyes to the world of costuming, and how much costumes can define a character and add to the vision of the show.
On the whole, Company was an amazing experience for me, and absolutely one of my favorite shows of all time. I like to think that I’ve improved vastly in my ability to learn harmonies since then, but since I haven’t done another Sondheim show, I guess I haven’t done any other “real” singing.
I joke.
I have learned in the past few years that it’s not always the quality of the singing that matters. It’s also the ability to apply eyeshadow.
Anyway, I do still love this dress. I had envisioned myself wearing this all the time, perhaps with large black sunglasses, eating a pastry and looking into the window displays at Tiffany’s. Really I’ve only worn it in real life once, and that was just this past Christmas Eve. Since I didn’t do any choreography that night, it worked perfectly. But should I keep it?

**This one means a lot to me. I’m keeping it for a while.