Click it. Click it good.
The Animal Rescue site is having trouble meeting its demand, according to the word on the street. True or not, it's a good site (and sister site of other do-goodery-for-free sites - Breast Cancer, Rainforest, Child Health, etc.).
I'm putting it in my links, but figured I'd just mention it here, too. Click it every day. Costs you zippo. Feed animals in need. Rack up good karma points.
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/
Do I have a face?
How about over here? Do I have a face here?
I spent yesterday morning trying to regain some semblance of having defining features in the facial region. We retaped the show, with lights much lower. Since during the actual show (on the tape) the lights washed out a few small details. Like having eyes.
It took a while to get the lights low enough that my face would show up on the video camera. After multiple scrambles up to the light board, changing levels and combinations, climbing back down to the stage, and asking Christine if I have a face, we changed the setup a bit. Christine stood on the stage and stared at bright lights- some with color gels, some just white- until the wussy crybaby said she was blind and couldn't see. Quitter.
It's not perfect, but it's better. And now, I have eyes.
In other news:
Last night, Sarah, Alae, and I went to go see this outdoor Bollywood performance thing, as part of all the shows and free stuff going on in association with the Commonwealth Games. Some 20,000 other people also went. Needless to say, since we only showed up 45 minutes prior, we did not get in. Along with thousands of others.
Instead, we explored the "Stolenwealth Games - Camp Sovereignty" area. People from a variety of local Aboriginal tribes have an area fenced off with plastic tape and have been camping in the gardens there for the two weeks of the Games to bring awareness to their cause and as a protest. All are welcome to come in, but you can't crash the fence - you have to come in through their gate - which is an interesting way of saying, "of course you can come in, but it's because we're letting you in. Stop trampling wherever you please without paying attention to what's already there."
We were offered the opportunity to go through a welcome ceremony which they explained was the oldest in the world. So even if it's just one of the oldest and perhaps changed a bit for this space, that's pretty neat. The guy had us line up along an imaginary line and leave all our bags and stuff. I thought maybe, in the way of making a point, they'd grab our stuff while we walked elsewhere. But that didn't happen. After introducing ourselves and being handed a small eucalyptus branch with leaves, we walked into a circled area, surrounded a fire, and put our leaves onto the hot coals. The leaves started smoking and we moved around the circle, each pulling some of the smoke onto ourselves, cleansing and purifying ourselves. As Sarah said, I wonder if we were purifying ourselves for the sins of taking their land... But he was doing it, too, and it didn't seem like that was what the ceremony was about. And anyway, we smelled nice (as well as like a campfire) and were cleansed. Much cheaper than a day at the spa. Afterward, we were welcomed to stay and enjoy the land and relax. I drank the "Sovereign Tea".
Then we went out for thai food.
"Wow...
she does a
spot on American accent." (The comment from more than a few audience members. I said thank you.)
There are a few more photos from the night posted at the photo site.
move - the technicolor spectacular
It's a good thing one of the first moments of the piece I get to just stare out at the audience. I had a nice little moment of "ohmigoshlookatallthepeoplehere." It was wonderful that the place was pretty much sold out. It was also moderately horrifying that the place was pretty much sold out.
But it went pretty well. There was one moment of, "hmmm, I have no idea what the next section is. it's actually happening- I've forgotten what comes next." But the pause was brief and only noticeable to me. I remembered and moved on with life. On the video, you can't tell. And I'm not telling you where it was.
Actually, there were a number of moments where there were other thoughts running through my head. Yes, the sign of a focused, dedicated performer. There was, "Oh, I know her! That was nice of her to come!" and "I wonder if I skipped something. I don't think I did. Let me think back a minute on what I remember saying...No, I don't think so. Maybe I should pay full attention to what I'm saying." Oh, if only that was an exaggeration.
But it went well and I received really positive feedback. Especially about eye contact and it giving a direct connection. Apparently it freaked some people out. Go, go Gadget: I.E. eye contact.
The most amusing compliment came from the front-of-house woman who had given me all kinds of attitude before the show. Afterwards, she was all smiles and told me (a few times) that she really liked the show and that she thought it was very interesting. So now I merit being nice to...
After the show we had a booze'n'schmooze - aka wine and cheese and
polite conversation. I was surprised how many people stayed after, and even more surprised at the number of people who were talking about ideas from the piece. I figure, people will stick around if you give 'em liquor, but you can't
make them talk about the piece. No matter how aromatic the bouquet. So that was nice.
On Saturday morning, Christine and I are going to go back to the theatre to retape the piece. The tape came out great - except for the white lights that got put up too high and so my whole face was whited out on the tape. Just one giant glowing orb. In the rush of the opening, of course everything gets speeded up - so seeing my face is pretty important in getting what's going on. Especially for that eye contact thing.
It was an amazing opportunity, to be associated with a place that has such a history. After such a high-intensity couple of days, filled with anxiety and craziness and errands, one would think that at the end I would be filled with such relief and exhaustion that I would fall asleep in moments. I was so thrilled it was over that I was kept awake, practically buoyant, for at least an hour.
Oh the things I'm learning...
A few days ago I watched a taped rehearsal of my show, which goes up tomorrow.
From watching this tape, I learned that a) my voice is annoying*, b) I speak way faster than I had any idea, and c) a certain pair of jeans is terribly unflattering to my ass.
I had a final dress rehearsal today. Tomorrow night, the show. And after that? We drink.
*Yes, I'm annoyed by the sound of my own voice. On this tape. It couldn't really be like that, right?
Grab your cabbages and think a minute*
Today has been full of a grand hoo-hah.
The Queen is here and her movements are being followed as if she were the Queen of England or something. She's here for the Commonwealth Games (which are happening this year in Melbourne - a very big deal, let me tell you) - which involve the 71 countries who voluntarily consider themselves part of the Commonwealth. Today, HRH was at the Sydney Opera House and the cameras captured every curtsey, every formal dress uniform, and of course, her little white gloves. The Antiques Roadshow (Brit version) showed a special on the floating palace, Britannia. The morning shows interviewed those who have contact with her. And they all mention her real affection for Australia.
On every other day, Australia seems to try to prove how much it
isn't England. Today, people appeared pretty happy to have
their Queen in their cities. As one announcer said, "Aw, they're all just chuffed." But still, "God Save the Queen" was not played. The Aussie anthem was.
I also saw
Mars - and that was very cool. The saying goes that the sun never sets on the British Empire. It's interesting to think that the major empires in the future may be Earth empires. That seeing Mars will one day be no big deal. (Yes, I know we've been able to see photos for a little while now, but now, if I want to check in on Mars to see what it's up to today, I can.)
South Africa won a one-day test match in cricket today against Australia in what is being called the most spectacular match ever. The Aussie's first passed the (record-breaking) 400 run mark, and then SA beat them by one with a ball to spare. (Who doesn't love big news in cricket?)
And the final big hoo-hah of the day- my mosquito bites are huge. Sexy.
*My quote of the day, from the tv show, Huey's Adventures in Cooking.
If you're coming, let me know and I'll put your name on the comp list.
And if you're not coming, I'll put your name on the "socks for Christmas" list.
MOVEA performance piece @ La Mama
Tuesday – 21 March 2006 – 6:30 pm
205 Faraday St, Carlton
***
You can't be on the train this late at night without a reason...
Seven different women using public transport. And one more trying to figure it out.
Screwing and getting screwed. Sanity and safety. The space we create with our presence.
A quickie on being alone. In public. With everyone else.
***
Written and performed by Halley Cohen
Directed by Sarah Hillman-Stolz
$5 - tickets available at the door
reception to follow performance
More info: lamama.com.au or
halley_cohen@hotmail.com
Who knew?
As naive young thing coming to the land down under, I had little idea what was my school's reputation. The person I wanted to work with was here and it was in Melbourne, where we wanted to live. So, fine. That was pretty much the end of it. Anyway, I read this today:
"In the Arts and Humanities, La Trobe won a place in the top 25 international universities - ranking at no 23." *
Does this mean I have to do work now?
*The ranking is by these guys:
The Times Higher Ed Supplement . (You have to log in to see the full rankings, but if you're interested, there's a 14-day free trial option.)
Anyway, this ranking list is problematic in how they weight certain items, ignore others, etc. So either way, no one should take it too seriously. Except for Harvard. They take everything too seriously.
City of Churches, my ass
If someplace is advertised as the city of churches, it would not be crazy to expect to see churches, and lots of them, in said city. I was in Adelaide, "City of Churches", last week for their huge Arts Festival and Fringe Festival. I was ready to be overrun with church-y goodness. I was all ready with my "Ooh, look at that stained glass!" and "Wouldja count all those saints!"
I was not overrun. I saw a few churches. Not a lot. Clearly, I was in the heathen section of town.
Either way, it's a very pretty small city. I got to go to an arts festival and call it research, since my thesis deals in performance. Always hard at work, I am.
And I swam with dolphins. Also part of the research. Riiight...
This blog was almost called something else
In recent weeks, I have been considering fleeing the scene.
Quitting school and moving into the woods.
Really.
I'm staying put for now, but just think, we almost had "Hinterland Halley - Halley in the Glades"...
(Feel free to share alternate titles, you clever folk, you.)
