All That Dances Through Me.

voltee ♦ April 12, 2011 ♦ 5 Comments

Item: Blouse Color/Fabric: Beige, polyester Where Purchased: Banana Republic Years Owned: At least 6
I really want to write tonight, but I’m not sure how long I’ll last. Sitting is just about the most unpleasant activity I can think of right now, and the fact that I have to sit and write when Nate is using his laptop is seriously limiting my writing productivity.
To be frank, it sucks.
But I am determined to try! Brevity can be powerful, they tell me.
So. This blouse. An odd fact is that I can’t remember buying this blouse. I remember all of my acquisitions! Except this. It may have been in Lansing, it may have been in Woodbury Commons. Either way, I know that I have had it for many years.
I have always loved the vintage look and elegant cut of this blouse, but I’m afraid that I haven’t worn it to its fullest potential. I have always envisioned this tucked into brown high-waisted, wide leg trousers, a la Katerine Hepburn. Maybe with chunky oxfords. And red lipstick. And a suitcase.
I’m not sure why I haven’t made that happen. It might be because the sleeves are a tiny bit tight around my bulging forearms. It may also be that I am too lazy. And lack the correct type of trousers.
Anyway, this has had a rather illustrious career on stage, having been worn in two productions to date. The first was two summers ago, in Tommy. Tommy was absolutely one of my favorite show ever. I was a part of the ensemble, and it was such a fun and rewarding challenge because I got to play so many different characters. I was a soldier, a nurse, a forensic photographer, a juvenile delinquent, a churchish caroler, a junkie, a reporter, a crazed Beatle-mania-esque groupie, and a doting mother. I think that I had 11 costume changes. Which wasn’t so bad, since one of our leads, the lovely Maria, had four in the first two minutes of the show…
This blouse was a part of the crazed Beatle-mania-eque costume. But they were all awesome, as was the entire show. Exhausting, and way too many pirouettes, but awesome. The choreography was frenetic and relentless, and I loved it. The cast was filled with many of my amazing and talented friends, and all under the guidance of my flawless friend Kevin.
I can’t help but look back and smile when I think of Tommy, as I did today on my way home when I heard ‘Sensation,” a song that I really struggled to learn the harmonies, but the ever patient Paul helped immensely.
I don’t always feel like smiling when I hear songs from shows I’ve performed in, even if it was a wonderful show. Sometimes I feel a an overwhelming sort of embarrassment, a reminder of the ways that I failed to give the best performance I could have. Sometimes it takes years before I can listen to a show I’ve been in.
Tommy was a special show, and a delightful challenge, and I’m proud to have been a part of it.
Another show I am hugely proud of being involved in is the very recent Bye Bye Birdie. It’s a very different sort of pride, since I wasn’t on stage, ever. Many bits of my life were, though, in the form of my clothes. I got to assist with the costuming. This blouse was a part of another screaming teenager ensemble, only this time it was on a actual teenager. The teens in that show were all just wonderful. They worked incredibly hard, and there were no catty attitudes. The lead actress, my gorgeous friend Kat, was remarkably easy to dress, since everything we put on her body looked amazing. This was the third show I’ve done under Annie’s direction, who is inspired and gifted, and a remarkable friend. She crafted a fun and funny production, and it was a joy to be a part of it. I can’t even count how many costumes were used in that show, but there were a ton. It was truly fulfilling creatively for me, and I hope to become more involved with costuming in the future.
Right now, though, I need a little break. While I have enjoyed every show I’ve been involved with, I need some time off if I want to keep loving the theatre. It’s a lot of work to do and maintain a full time job, and I never want to view it as a burden. When I started to become involved in the theatre here, my goal was 1 or 2 shows per year. I need to stick to that I think, as long as I am working as much as I do.
I know I’m going to miss out on some fun opportunities, though…
And what shall I do with this blouse?

**I am a sucker for all things retro. This stays as long as my guns can squeeze into it.