wonders why...

Just why is it that any chap you meet and fancy is either attached/gay/attached/not interested? I have no intention of being a home wrecker (I have had that done to me and it's NOT nice...heartbreaking in fact) but would it be beyond the realms of this earth for me to fancy a chap who a) fancied me back and b) was single and c) was within the usual bounds of 'normal'. What's the point of meeting a nice chap and getting on really well only for weeks after meeting him he annouces he has a girlfriend (I hasten to add these weeks were not dating weeks, we met at the rehearsal space). I retreated to the other side of the table to sulk childishly over the Wine Gums and actually take the last one...The flip side of this is the chap who fancies you but you wouldn't be seen dead dating (such double standards) they are lovely guys, nice, solvent, own hair and just NICE....but nice just doesn't cut the mustard. Am I really asking too much to date a chap who I like?

Apart from that rant (excuse me) the run of the show went well, we had fabulous audiences the entire time with full houses for all but one of the houses. Rehearsals start for the next prouction this week, but luckily enough the said chap is not involved which will save me my sanity.

I have FINALLY got round to clearing two wardrobes over the weekend; go me!!! I have a huge pile of stuff to go onto ebay and another huge pile for the local charity shop. The crimson velvet frock coat has had yet another repreive (I wore it out last Thursday) so that's back in the wardrobe for a while.

On another note, I had the most wonderful late Christmas pressie from my darling friend, and it's a framed original hand tinted print from a German 'fashion' newspaper from 1881. So that's now proudly on the wall in the dressing room. Along with that she gave me a hair pin, probably around 1910-15 which is tortoiseshell and is wonderful for putting in an 'up-do'.

If you see this book around, go read it "Rivers of London" by Ben Aaronovitch, which is a hillarious romp across London.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rivers-London-Ben-Aaronovitch/dp/0575097582/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1296464839&sr=1-1

They mention a few other authors that write in the same vein so I might look into those.

This is the other book I'm reading is this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Debs-at-War-Anne-Courcy/dp/0753820781/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1296469436&sr=1-1

These girls were plucked from idle rich society where their only future was marriage to a 'suitable chap' to become, in some cases, integral to the success of winning the war; as they were well educated, many speaking French and German they were used at SOE where their pre-war knowledge of Europe was put to good use as many had been to finishing schools in both France and Germany. Others who's talent in mathematics would have never been used were sent to Bletchley Park and helped the code breakers there. A jolly good yarn from some jolly good old girls.

anway...pip pip for now

take care all

Polly xxx

on fabulous funfilled Friday

Well, my little chickadee's, it's Friday again. And I have a full weekend ahead.

Firstly it's the 'get-in' for the new set; then a tech-run through on Monday before we open on Tuesday. The costumes arrived last night from the costumier....well, what fitted didn't suit and what suited didn't fit!!!

We have used these people before and we make the same complaints all the time; but the Director insists on using this company, leaving the actors miserable over terrible costumes, it puts a pall of disappointment over the entire proceedings. And what makes it worse is that I know that the company has THE most fantastic stuff but because they have SO much stuff they just use the "same old same old" time and time again. I usually visit their unit a week or so before a production and very diva-ish demand to see what they have set out for me, and then if it's not right (which it usually isn't) then I very politely ask to see something else more appropriate. I feel strongly that after all the time I have spent rehearsing and line learning then the least I can expect is a reasonable costume!!!!!

Anyway....as I said there's lots to do, getting bits of personal "bits" together, props etc. And as it's a late Victorian production, then it's great for shawls, broches etc. As this is a huge cast and backstage isn't the biggest in the world, I'm trying to be organised and take as little as possible in the way of personal bits with me. BUT with 5 totally different outfits ALL requiring different footwear it's going to be harder than I thought.

But when all is said and done, tickets are going well and it looks as if we shall have a good run. The trouble with Rep Theatre is that as soon as one play is done, then it's straight into rehearsals for the next one...oh for a nice break (but I know I'd moan terribly if I wasn't doing anything).

I must make some Rocky Road this weekend as I promised it to the chaps in work when it was my Birthday but then there was the snow and I was ill THEN there was Christmas THEN I couldn't be bothered last weekend...so I have PROMISED that I will make it on Sunday.

I've just finished reading "Wait for me" the memoirs of Deborah, Dowager Duchess of Devonshire (Chatsworth in Derbyshire is the family seat) she was the youngest of the famous or infamous Mitford sisters...Unity tried to commit suicide on the day that war was declared as she was right wing and was obsessed with Hitler; on the other side Jessica (known as Decca to the family) was a hard line communist and went to Spain during their Civil war where she lost her husband. Diana married British facist leader Oswald Mosely (leader of the brownshirts) and was incarcertated in Wormwood Scrubs during the war after being "shopped" by her sister the famous author Nancy (who wrote The Pursuit of Love)as being a dangerous subversive. The lives these sisters lived including the other sisters who lived quieter but none the less interesting lives are a window on a world that no longer exists in England and certainly didn't exist for the majority of the population. But for anyone who likes Evelyn Waugh and the decades of the Bright Young Things....these sisters were brighter than most.

If the above ramblings have interested you, then there are another two books that I would recomment:

Letters between Six Sisters - edited by Charlotte Moseley

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mitfords-Letters-between-Six-Sisters/dp/1841157740/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1295019440&sr=8-1-catcorr

and

The Mitford Girls by Mary Lovell

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Mitford-Girls/dp/B002TXZSK8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=digital-text&qid=1295019282&sr=1-1

Have a lovely Friday all

pip pip

Polly

xxx

wishes all her readers a ripping 2011

Well, happy 2011 to you all!!!

Christmas was rather quite in chez-moi, as all were ill (in some cases malingering -but we won't go there...) and spending most of the Big Day in bed wasn't part of my "plans to have fun" and drink cocktails in my new cocktail glasses. But hey-ho...New Year was slightly better, with fun and games and a little gambling on the old cards (I won but I won't brag...much). However, the majority of the hols was spent, reclining on the sofa balancing a box of chocs, a glass of wine and the dvd remote control. I veg'd out on films that I haven't watched for aaages. So 2011 was greated with relaxation although coupled with a cold.

I have actually started what I planned to do some time ago...have the biggest clear out ever. And so far the cupboards in the tv room have been ruthlesly sorted and so much rubbish was binned, along with a pile of knicknacks to the local charity shop. So it's only the dreaded wardrobes and dressing room to go....

On a brighter note, here are some pics of the snow that was very reluctant in thawing. I adore the snow but wellies and jeans aren't really that "vintage".

anyhoooo...pip pip for now and I hope that January isn't too grim for you all

Polly

XX