Atticus Finch is THE sexy dad

I have a new movie trailer to talk about at some point, but I just have to GUSH about the Utah Shakespeare Festival's production of To Kill A Mockingbird which I saw the first preview of tonight.

Woof. Seriously, so so good! I love TKAM. I loved it when I read it in eighth grade and I love the Gregory Peck film, both of which I haven't acquainted myself with recently making tonight's performance like remembering a pleasant dream halfway through the day;  recalling bits and pieces of something that makes you smile and that feels familiar. I won't say of course that the play is about anything pleasant, but seeing and feeling the story come to life once more was arresting and wonderful.

The play, starting with Monica Bell as Jean Louise (the grown up Scout and narrator), settled into a natural and comfortable rhythm. The events unfolded as they do in the book, through the memories of a child, although in this case retold by an adult. The child actors were endearing and precious, especially Dill. The ensemble was what an ensemble is, not distracting. Atticus Finch was...wow.

Atticus Finch is the perfect father. I find him absolutely sexy. I find patience, uprightness, courage, love, and affection absolutely sexy and Atticus Finch is the ultimate of all of these. Played by Martin Kildare, Atticus has a softness but strength, all at once gently and deftly guiding his children to right and steadfastly and unflinchingly guiding the jury and courtroom with his undeniable congeniality and strength. I'm trying to be oh so eloquent but I just don't have enough words for Atticus Finch, nor Kildare's portrayal of him.

The story of course gets me, how could it not? My biggest take away however is Atticus' example of fatherhood. I was most touched by his interactions with the children and lost my mind when Atticus starts shouting after Jem is brought home and he can't find Scout. That tore me up like nothing else to that point had. It was all just so so phenomenal, truly.

I've seen all the current season but one (taking into account I've only seen crew views of Scapin and Les Mis as I'm back stage), and can't honestly tell you what the must see of the season is. All of the shows are absolutely phenomenal. If you're in the Southern Utah and/or Utah, Idaho, Colorado, Arizona, or Nevada area, or want to be you need to come to the festival this season, it is just the greatest, I'm out of words of praise.

Photos of Mockingbird here



P.S. I will say I didn't think the play was hot enough. The Randall Theatre is always freezing and for a Southern play everyone looked fresh as a daisy. I so wanted the court room scene to swelter and to see giant sweat stains when Atticus takes off his suit coat. If only no one would powder off! Oh well, only nitpicky qualm.

Stitchin' it!

This is what a stitcher does all day. This was the second crinoline petticoat I put a new organza cover on. Needless to say there's a lot of it. Mostly I just laugh and laugh. My friend Valerie sews to my left and sometimes I can feel the petticoat move and I know she's still alive.

Just an update

I've been working full time for the first time in MONTHS! My brain is working so much every day it's hard to come up with blog inspirations, but I'm trying! I don't know that non-sewers understand how much thinking and brain power goes into a stitching job, or any job along the costume construction ladder. There's a lot of thinking. I will say that it's nice to have been doing this enough that I can just have a job handed to me and know what to do.

This morning I took in the sides of some pants, which for non-sewers might sound easy peasey, and easy it is, quick it is not. These pants are lined in tricot and the zero point was the knee so I got to take in the fashion fabric and lining and then the waistband. Also these pants were kind of Frankenstein pants to begin with so it's all easier said than done. And joy of joys I have yet to finish the other little notes and  I have to redo the hem which wasn't noticed during the fitting. This is what I use my brain juice for. I have gotten a lot of podcasts listened to, which I might blog about later.

My big accomplishment of the week thus far has been learning how to put a new vest back on a vest. The first one I did took about 2 days, the second took half a day. I'm getting so fast they're solving another vest problem by just putting a new back on bc I can whip that out in about 4 or 5 hours now. It's an exciting new skill and I might draw some visual aids and post the technique because it's a miracle! Easy yes, quick no. That's basically how sewing goes.

Overall the build is going very well (knock wood). In case you didn't know I'm on the Les Mis team at USF and a week in we've fit over half the 30 some odd cast, probably because the day we started work our designer and draper were already in a fitting with Javert. We've also got a 6 stitcher team which is such a luxury, and the other teams don't have enough for their stitchers to do yet so at one point we had 12 stitchers on our team. What joy is ours!

A long wordy post that was mostly for my sanity's sake, but that's my life recently. Envy me? You should, I create everyday and work with fantastic people that bake and bring in candy!

Dan Stevens in "The Heiress"

http://playbill.com/news/article/165905-Downton-Abbey-Star-Dan-Stevens-Will-Pursue-The-Heiress-on-Broadway#.T7CIorvDf14.twitter

Are we excited about this? Dan Stevens is going to play suitor Morris Townsend in the upcoming Broadway production of The Heiress in fall 2012. Can I go to there? SO excited! Jessica Chastain is playing Catherine Sloper and David Strathairn is playing her father, woof.

a)American accent (even though he has the poster boy face of England)
b)more period costumes
c)lovey dovey-ness
d)the villain (but who isn't in this one?)!!!

Ug, I love the Olivia de Havilland Heiress. I'd killed to see this one. Maybe I will as a present to myself after South Korea, you know, with all the gobs of money I'll have...

Stevens played Septimus in Stoppard's Arcadia back in 2009, a performance I might have literally killed to see seeing as Arcadia is my favorite play I've never seen and Septimus is a sexy tragic beast. Top of my list for events to travel back in time to see would be the original 1994 production with Rufus Sewell as Septimus. A brunette Stevens would be my second choice.

The Bodygaurd musical

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-17906423
http://www.thebodyguardmusical.com/

Uh...the West End is producing The Bodygaurd as a musical with Tony Award winning Heather Healey (Nala from the original Lion King and Aida) as Rachel Marron. Lloyd Owen plays Frank Farmer who is best known for his role on Monarch of the Glen, but I know him as dreamy WWI soldier from The Cinder Path. I only recognized him bc of his awesome chin scar.

Owen as Frank Farmer and Headley as Rachel Marron

Now The Bodygaurd is on my short list of movies I have to watch if they're on TV (also Gladiator, Titanic, and Forest Gump), and I'll be thrilled if the musical does well, but I'm not so sure. It seems like a really intimate yet epic film to put on stage, but heck go for it! I'm dying for it to be great and want to see it! Previews start in early November, it opens in December. Christmas present?

Why I love working in theatre:

:-:You have new friends the first day you work.
:-:You have life long friends by the last day you work.
:-:There is no schadenfreude in theatre, seeing someone else struggle reminds you of your own struggles and vice versa. Everyone helps out.
:-:Watching an audience watch your work is just as great as watching the production.
:-:Actors, technicians, designers are all so different and speak different languages, but everyone's more than willing to translate and teach you.
:-:Some of the bossest people in the world work in theatre, utilikilts come to mind.
:-:Theatre makes beauty.
:-:Theatre is a world on stage for 2 hours. It isn't stop and go like film, you are taken to a new place by living breathing people (actors and others).
:-:Theatre people are some of the most respectful and understanding people around.
:-:Theatre has lots of meetings! I love meetings and collaboration!
:-:Theatre tuckers you out like nobody's business. It leads to the best nights sleep of your life.
:-:Rehearsals are great. I love every stage of them, first read through, blocking, dress rehearsals. I love watching actors grow and experiment through a character.
:-:Wearing black and going backstage makes me feel so important.
:-:Musicals are extra magical and make me cry.
:-:Theatre produces so many types and styles of stories that film doesn't.
:-:There are always attractive, charming people about because that's what actors are paid to be.
:-:Because everyone depends on everyone else you can feel infinitely helpful.
:-:Theatre makes me laugh, backstage, onstage, building costumes, having pie parties. It's always a riot!
:-:Theatre is full of people that watch the movies I watch, like the shows I like and have the interests I have.

(L to R) hemmed those pants, made that vest, made that skirt, made the trim, nothing (sorry Will!), altered that jacket, hemmed those pants (C) USF

I just got done as first hand for the Utah Shakespeare Festival educational tour, costumes designed by Scott Anderson. I got hired back for the summer and fall seasons at USF as a stitcher and dresser. I get to stay in Cedar City with old and new friends for six months! I'm getting so ready to hunker down and put up curtains!

Remind me why I'm not in London?

The BBC posted this article about the Young Vic's current production of Hamlet starring Michael Sheen. Remember how if I was in London I could just GO to these plays on a whim? That there are SO many theatres with amazing actors and plays in London? I've never seen Hamlet live, and while I think I might agree with some of the criques about this production's concept going a bit overboard, I'd get to see Michael Sheen (Wesley SNIPES!) play Hamlet. I was already a year late to see David Tennant as Hamlet, and a year early to see him and Catherine Tate as Benedict and Beatrice. The solution is for me to just move there so I never miss any of these. Also, there is currently the largest collection of da Vinci's at the National Gallery through February, wah wah.

The Tempest @ PTC

Oh my gosh, I'm so tired from dyeing all day then going to The Tempest at Pioneer Theatre Co, but I figure I'd better review the show tonight to get it out there.

The Tempest is not my favorite. I think Prospero's an a-hole (pardon my French), Ferdinand's first words to Miranda asking her if she's a virgin are ridiculous and there are just too many  stupid groups of people to keep track of that just goes on and on. I saw it in London at the Unicorn and didn't particularly care for it, but looking back I liked it a lot better than this production, well, I liked the acting in London and the design up at PTC. Maybe someday I'll appreciate it if I ever see a production that really gets to me, but this didn't.

The concept was steam punk, which you should look up bc I'm too tired to elaborate. The set design and costumes were spectacular, and although I don't have any brighter ideas I wish Miranda would be in something other than a nightgown tied between her legs. I could go on about how awesome these things were, but again, tired.

The acting was slow and uninspired. It was intelligible, but nothing special. The pacing at the beginning was cumbersome, which is partially due to the fact that Prospero talks for the first 10 minutes to explicate, and partially because the narration was just dull. The tempest at the beginning which has the potential to be the big heralding bang for The Tempest was lethargic. I have other more particular bones to pick, but eh, that'd take effort. I can say that Ferdinand and Miranda's first meeting was delightful and Stefano and Tericulo were worth watching, for their first scene. Am I being too harsh because I was on my feet for 8 hours dyeing over a hot vat all day? Maybe, but there's an issue when the audience starts fantasizing about Wendy's asiago chicken clubs when they just had dinner at Hires Big-H.

On the upside, I got to catch up with my friend Val from USF who took me to the show. Even though I wasn't thrilled by it I love going to theatre! Thanks Val!! Also, her mom told me about ghosts in Ogden, of which there are apparently many.

Utah Shakespeare Festival 50th Season Highlights

This past weekend I returned to Cedar City to see the fall shows, which were phenomenal. The Winter's Tale is definitely in my top three Shakespeare performances to date (also including Macbeth and Henry VIII at the Globe). And so, here is a list of my personal favorite highlights or moments from the 50th Anniversary season of the Utah Shakespeare Festival, in no particular order.

-Brian Vaughn and Melinda Pfundstein's performances as Leontes and Hermione respectively in The Winter's Tale. Specific scenes include Hermione's final words to Leonte's at her trial, Leontes' reaction to his infant (I cried) and to the news of Hermione's death and the final scene. Well done Brian and Melinda!

-Matt Mueller as Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet. Awesome doublet, awesome character.

-The Music Man. Seriously, my favorite musical, I grew up on the movie, but Brian Vaughn as Harold made me forget Robert Preston and the dance break for 76 Trombones made me cry for some reason, oh yeah! Because I love musicals.

-Rhett Guter as Thisbe in A Midsummer Night's Dream. As assistant costume designer and stitcher for the fall season I got to see Rhett's performance progress until I could hardly stand the last performance I saw of Midsummer at the end of the summer season because I was laughing so hard.

-Kymberly Mellen (above right) as Queen Elizabeth and Leslie Brott (left) as Margaret in Richard III. The women in this one stole the show.

-The sound design for Richard III by Barry G. Funderburg. At points the sound escalated into strange and unearthly versions of WWII bomber engines that crescendoed just until it was unbearable.

- David Ivers as Tony in Dial 'M' for Murder. So charming and so skeezy. The girl next to me at the second intermission said she didn't know if she wanted Tony to get caught or not because she knew he was a bad guy and should, but was also drawn to the idea of such an evil and calculating character actually getting away with it.

-Ben Livingston's restrained performance as Lord Capulet in Romeo and Juliet. Where many Lord C's toss and smack Juliet around when she defies him, Livingston's Capulet controlled himself to the point that it was even more terrifying than physical violence.

-The willow tree for Midsummer designed by Bill Forrester, made possible by the scenic, lighting and prop crews. Truly a magical set.

-Rick Peeple's portrayals as Buckingham in Richard III, Peter Quince in Midsummer, and Friar Lawrence in R&J were all remarkably different and fantastic. I love Rick's voice! He used it so differently for each part!

-Dan Molina's Hispanic accent and Spanish interjections in Midsummer. Having seen it so many times I caught a lot more of his character than many of the audience member's who concentrated on other characters in the scenes. Some of my favorite stuff.

-Quinn Mattfeld as Young Shepherd and David Ivers as Autolycus in The Winter's Tale. So incredibly funny. Their running gags together and apart were just the sort of out of the box comedy that makes Shakespeare so fun.

-Puck's broom from Midsummer. Seriously, the coolest, most mystical broom ever.

All photos taken from USF's website, bard.org. Check the site for ticket info and info about their 2012 season!

Drama: Hamlet (2009)

Confession: I've never finished reading Hamlet, despite its being assigned numerous times during my college career. I've also hardly payed attention to discussions about it.

That being said, I came to the RSC's version of Hamlet fairly fresh and unsullied. Of course I wanted to watch this specific Hamlet because duh, David Tennant plays Hamlet. The production (the filmed version of the successful staged play at the RSC in Stratford-upon-Avon) is an interesting film from a theatre point of view, in that it preserved some constants of theatre, i.e. many scenes are shot from less than ideal views, harkening to the fact that an audience member hardly ever has the best view for every scene.

The set was on a highly glossed and polished black floor or in haunting corridors of a brick edifice. The costumes were modern, but inventive. Hamlet was often barefoot, most noticeably during the play when he wears a tux. Queen Gertrude wears some stunning silk gowns with trains to beat the band.The English suits are sublime and Tennant in his fitted white shirt is all I could ever ask for. The final scene, played in fencing jackets is sleek and sexy (I have a weakness for fencing jackets).

Oh Tennant. I love David Tennant, so much. After Hamlet's descent into madness I must admit I couldn't help but see Doctor Who in his performance, but the comparisons were quickly done away with. The banter delivered and received throughout the play was quick, natural and witty. Hamlet's madness was believable as a spoiled young man being a jerk, but also a mourning son at his wit's end. Hamlet's "To be or not to be", a speech that has never particularly thrilled me was shot and delivered so skillfully that I couldn't look away, neither could Tennant. The last 2 minutes is delivered directly to the camera without a blink. The man is a beast. The overall performance of Hamlet by Tennant was coherent, intimate and volatile. I loved it.

I can't say much for Patrick Stewart as Claudius. I knew he was a bad guy, but in my view he wasn't evil enough, but I suppose that might be the brilliance of it. His mother was nothing special until her closet scene. Her nervous laugh and cry after Hamlet bids her goodnight as he pulls away the old man's body was shattering. Ophelia was misused and pitiful. I still haven't decided about Laertes yet.

And "the rest is silence".

Just kidding, he just died again. I love that guy.