The Lack of Appeal Regarding: Children

25 minutes before dialects, and blog I shall.  The CMC is filled with Education majors.  Abigail and I have an odd hatred for education majors.  We have reasons; very biased and wrong reasons none the less, but reasons.  It includes women willingly thrusting themselves into their continuous gender roles, taking a job in a society that demands one, but really, it's the exact job society expects.

That and they all look like soccer moms.  And I hate babies/children.  That's possibly the main reason.  Actually that is the main reason.  People are obsessed with babies, and they are just ugly little mini humans in my minds.

Or course, to all the above there is exceptions.  I was an adorable baby. I love all my elementary school educators who didn't see me as an ugly little mini human.  My best friend, bless, is an education major with a baby obsession.  And I love her dearly, despite the fact that we have arguments over which is better; cats or babies.

P.S.  It's cats.

I guess, really, in the baby/child mania of our present society, people oftentimes see only cuteness and this drives the thought of children doing anything bad away from an adults mind.  It's a vicious cycle, really.  Child rubs sandwich on body, people find it funny, but, "don't do it again, okay."  Child thinks, "they find this funny," and they do it again, and again, and then it's not funny anymore, but the negative reaction has been set so they start doing more stuff and it's funny but then it's not, and it's a horrid cycle.

And I know Jesus said to love the little children.  And I do love them; but I don't like them.  At all.  I know other people disagree; and that's your opinion.  I hope you love children until you die.

Jenny, I hope you read this and relish in all of this and hopefully cry because it makes you sad that I dislike children so very much.  I love it when I'm with all your education major friends and I talk about my baby hatred and they gasp and say "But, it's an ickle baby."  And I say, "I don't care.  I'm going to punch it in the face.  Like you."

I don't dislike all children, though.  I adore well behaved, not asking for my attention all the time, quiet children.  Does such a thing exist?  Yes, because I was one.  Basically, I was the peak of perfection as a child.  I was a mini adult.  And I was a genius.

Now, where as I don't like children, I do love teenagers.  Something about the angsty age of not knowing anything but thinking you do appeals to me (perhaps because I'm equally dramatic) and  most people hate the age of teen.  It takes all sorts of people to make up this world though.  So regardless of the education majors invading MY CMC, I thank them and God for what they do because Providence knows that I would rather detach my legs and use them as crutches than look after one child for over 5 minutes.

-Me

Harry: A History of Our Love

*note:  As I read over this, I realize this may be moreso for myself than anyone else.  And Harry, my first love.

Right now, I am in love with this day.  It's absolutely perfect.  I have one class, and in that one class, it is a movie day.  After that I am free.  No rehearsals, no dance class, nothing.  Just me.  And I have plans.  That mostly include napping.  All I really want is a good nap, and have a good Sims festival.

Fall weather is so perfect.  The trees are beginning to change, and the wind has just that right amount of something to it.  It's like everything is extra magical, and you never know what good and wonderful things are going to happen in fall.  I mean, it feels like anything can happen.  Including getting a letter that will take you off to Wizard school.

I've always considered fall weather to be 'Harry Potter' weather.  I started reading Harry Potter in the fall, and all the movies usually come out in the fall, and it's truly beautiful.  I remember the 7th grade, when we had the NCHPFC (North Carolina Harry Potter Fan Club).  It was the first time I had ever made friends that I truly had something in common with and truly enjoyed.  7th grade was a very odd year. I used to wear Oshkosh clothing and I had a mushroom haircut (Abigail's hair was much worse though).  All the other girls my age were beginning to explore possibilities with boys.  But not me; there was only one boy in my life.  Harry Potter.

This story begins with hatred.  I hated Harry Potter.  I told my dad "whatever movie you buy, don't buy Harry Potter.  It's so stupid."  I would draw pictures to emphasis my hatred and degrade people on the bus who read it.  I was very angry against Harry.  It was so stupid.  Wizards, witches, brooms, wands.  How.  Silly.  But, my dad bought it.  And he loved it.  He gave it rave reviews and stressed for me to watch it.  In my depths, I wanted to.  So eventually, I sat down with my favourite doll and we watched Harry Potter.  I was taken away by it's story.  It was so beautiful.  I had to use the bathroom so bad, so I paused it and sprinted to the bathroom so I could get back as soon as possible to watch Harry Potter.

Afterwards, I was amazed.  Here this beautiful thing was in creation and I had been missing out.  I instantly told Abigail our judgement had been wrong.  Harry Potter is amazingly good.  Around this time, I begged my father to buy the books.  He bought all four, but they had one stipulation.  He must read them first.  He quickly read the first one, and then, it was in my hands.  I read that book with speed and love.  I craved for the time when I would come home after school so I could read my beloved book.

Anticipation for the new movie was mounting.  Chamber of Secrets was set to arrive soon and everyone was in the mood.  I began talking to people about HP, and I quickly made friends.  Some of them had read the 1-4 books, others had not, others were beginning the adventure.  But we knew of one thing:  We loved  Harry Potter.  We would spend lunch after lunch, P.E. class after P.E. class talking, discussing, explaining.

After a while, a club was formed.  Many ideas were thrown out there on what to do, but we knew had to go to the movies.  In preparation we formed a little 'boot camp' of Harry Potter (or whatever the presidents were wearing at the time: sandal camp, tennis shoe camp, etc) where we would 'learn' magic.  I say 'learn' very loosely, because we would wave sticks and be like *swish and flick* Wingardium Leviosa.  Nothing happened of course; it was just us playing.

We made 'witch names' for everyone.  Mine changed multiple times, but it began as Aphrodite, (for whatever reason someone chose to name me that), but then I chose my own which was Stella Star, which might be even cheesier.  My favourite of my friends nicknames would be Becca's which was Nearly Headless Fluffy.  She had a rap to go with as well.  "Where my head, head, heads at."  She was a ghostly, almost headless, three headed dog.  What's better than that?

The movie came closer.  We would play Harry Potter Uno in math class.  All our papers would be on a Harry Potter books.  If not that, then the UK, magic, unicorns, something somehow related to Harry Potter.  All our posters would have some sort of Harry Potter theme.  It was as if we were a force for all things Potter.  Catherine would write newsletters for our club, discussing the movies, the books, and most importantly our preparations.  We were going to go the movie, then to Catherine's house for a party.

The day arrived.  After school we were going to go straight to the theatre for the 4 'o clock showing or Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.  We dressed up (sort of).  I wore a witch hat with green feathers all around the brim.  Catherine's mom had gotten us advanced tickets for the occasion, so we were set.  We sat in the theatre, and it was everything I could ever ask for.  We laughed, we cried, we clapped at the end, and when Lucius Malfoy came on with his beautiful ponytail, I tactlessly said, "Oh my gosh, he's gay, he has a ribbon in his hair."

Mind you, these were the days when you are 12 years old and you're just learning about homosexuality and it's funny for whatever reason.  They thought it was hysterical; to the point that during presentations about Harry Potter, then made sure to mention it when talking about good ol' Lucius.  Afterwards we headed to Catherine's, were she fixed us Butterbeer.  It was atrocious - "why are their chunks of butter floating on the top?"  And her mom fixed us a British meal.  We were sorted (somehow I was in Hufflepuff?  Whatever, jerks, I'm a Gryffindor.) and we made wands.

Things wound down after the movie.  We had a secret Santa thing, and we all gave each other owl key chains.  But then, Lord of the Rings came about and everyone slowly forgot about Harry Potter.  I tried to make them cling; I took control of writing newsletters and organizing functions and so many things, but it never worked.  Non-fictional boys became important, and football games and so many other things.  They had forgotten about the boy wizard.

Our club fizzled to Abigail and I as its only members (and I'm almost certain she kept on with me, for me).  Throughout the years, we did various other things to celebrate our HP love.  But in the end, I remained obsessed and they grew up.

That fall was one of the happiest of my life.  The two other periods in my life when I was as absolutely happy as I was in that time was when I first started being involved in high school theatre and all the memories after that in FPAC and the first summer I worked at the SMACPAC and everything attached with that.  I have a feeling somehow that this semester might have that Harry Potter magic on it.  It almost feels like it.

I love you Harry, and you'll always be real in my heart.*

-Me

*Yes, Chris I know that Harry Potter isn't real.  But he is to me, so shut it.

I WAS PRESIDENT OF THE INTERACT CLUB.

Mmm, Life is so good; especially when you have a backpack full of bananas.  Shall I explain?  At WCU, there is an all-you-can-eat cafeteria.  And, if I'm going to pay $6 for a poorly made meal, I'm going to pack up some bananas for the road.  I'm now the proud owner of 8 bananas, and they are all piled in my bookbag.  Be jealous.

So, life is very lovely at the moment, and although I do have a French test to study for, and I am blogging while eating a banana, and although Volpsers has found by blog, and although I have to be careful not to mention too much about spandex and it's nice effects and what not, life is nice.  I have one of those cold sores in your mouth deals right now, and I have some professional numbing stuff [Mother = Dental Assistant], but it melted in my car and instead of going on the sore, it has gone all over my mouth and I can't feel my tongue.

I made an 85 on my Charleston dance.  Whatever; I know I'm a winner.  Stupid Chris made a 95, while even stupider Volpi made a 100.  So maybe their efforts weren't ignored after all.

So, last night, I was here at WCU in the good ol' CMC until 10 at night.  Chris, Jacklyn and I were working on a floor plan for Susan's class.  Chris being the one with the architects scale, Jacklyn with her company and me with my math savvy know how - I know you're going to say something about how I wasn't that impressive, but just remember who wanted to use 3.92222 ft while I suggested the correct alternative of 3' 11"* - was quite an experience.  So, Chris actually did do more than provide the scale, and, with the three of use, we got the job done.  Without any arguments or outbursts, but there was some playful eraser throwing.  jerk.

*okay, so 3.922 is right, because it's using 10 = 1 instead of 12 = 1, so you were right, but my way is just easier.

And I was so hungry.  So very, very hungry.  Susan also tried to glorify the techies today by saying, "yeah, maybe we should pair of the acting concentrations with the technical concentrations... because this shouldn't be that hard..."

Thus:
Actors = Stupid
Techies = Genius

To which I wanted to say, "did they graduate number 17th in their class?  Did they make 100's in all of their maths, sciences and theatres?  Were they valedictorian of the 5th grade class, with 18 awards, including citizenship!?  WERE THEY PRESIDENT OF THE INTERACT CLUB?*  No, because they were too busy making out under the drafting tables in the vocational building.  I know what I'm doing."  *dramatic hairflip; stalks out of the class room*

Okay, so I may be a little dramatic.  And, I really do, truly respect what the techies do (myself having been one countless, countless times before).  But I do hate it when anyone questions my intelligence based on a stereotype, when I know that I, and my group, are probably the only ones who have done the whole thing right.  I'm not stupid; in fact I'm smarter at anything technical vs. anything in regards to acting.

Besides, did you see their measurements on the board Susan?  I'm more on with my singing.

*and now, a brief and boring story.  Abigail and I were actually co-presidents of the Interact club our senior year.  Did we believe in anything it stood for?  Meh, cooperation, whatever.  Anyhoo, at the homecoming game, Olivia Rusch was crowned queen, and in her little biography, it said that she was PRESIDENT of the Interact Club, and, mind you, she wasn't even a part of it.  I'm not saying she wrote these falsehoods, but whoever did needs to know that WE WERE THE PRESIDENTS.  Ooo, it burns me up to this day.

**I was also president of the the non-existent Drama Club.  We had Drama Promas, until the disco ball fell and almost killed us all.

***I'm the one in the pink top, the tu-tu, the trucker hat and the huge glasses.  It was a weird phase for me.

And this makes me miss the simplicities of high school the most.

I had a plan for this blog, but I don't really know where it's going right now.

I will say the other day I picked up some guy who wanted a ride to the 'Caf.'  I had parked at Ramsey, and I was in my car, texting or something and he came up and ask for a ride.  Now, wait for the description:  He was muscular and topless, with a massive shark tattoo on his back, stomach and side.  Instead of a shirt, he was wearing a sash made from cellophane and a pair of Adidas black and white flip-flops from the 90s.  He was nice as he could be, but I still was kind of frighted, especially after the whole Jeff ordeal and "why do I keep trusting strange men?"  Lucky, he did not try to find any ticklish spots.

I have to meet Abigail for tomfoolery of sorts, so I leave you with a question, and I expect an answer:

Who wears the grey headband better?

-Me

Pee.Ess.
Abigail just comes over and, pointing at my professional numbing stuff, says "Oh, gash, I love that stuff.  Oh, please, may I use some, please, please, please."  I don't say anything because I want her to think it's chapstick, but then I decide against it, and so I say, "um, Abigail, do you know what that is?"  As she sniffs it, she says, "Yes, I know!  I love it.  I love it when my mouth is numb."

...she's currently drooling on my shoulder.  "I can't feel my mouth, Rachel, I can't feel it."

I'm surrounded by idiots.

Nothing says "I'm protesting my typecast" like a naked romp on stage.

In news not directly related to me:

Spring Awakening is being made into a movie
I'm kind of, sort of, not really fond of this musical. Music: good. Theme: bad bad baddy bad. It's like a gigantic teenage angst drama set in ancient Germany or something. All the same, we all know I'll be at the theater.

After all, not much can be worse than Mamma Mia!

Zac Efron: NO MORE FOOTLOOSE D:
WHAT? You and Daniel Radcliff wanting to create a new image for yourself. *sigh* Silly Zaquisha, do you not know that you are forever indebted to HSM? It created you. And I say much of the same thing to you DanRad. You are forever Harry Potter (at least in my mind...)

Speaking of Zac and Daniel parallels:
Pants off to gratious nudity!

Everyone is prepping up for Aida as of right now on the Overlook side of things. All us teenagers (hold on a second; I'm 18. I'm an adult. *snort*) are going crazy. I've [almost] got the audition dance down pat, except for the rhythm (Rhythm!? What is this rhythm you speak of?!) but, at least I have the moves down... right? Anyhoo, I can hardly wait and, with my almost official job at the Dessert Factory this summer I can just shimmy on over to the SMACPAC and party with buttons and what not. YEAH!

And today as I went into the scene shop Luther and some guy took time out of class to play us a concert with a harmonica and a fiddle respectively. They were both good, but I couldn't help but reflect on the randomness of it all. I mean, who does that?

Besides Uncle Scotty, the piano, and his Broadway/Disney songs and my singing "Memory" at the top of my lungs. But we hardly count as odd.

In other, other, other news, I won't be seeing any of you for 2 whole weeks much. Working tech for "Almost Maine" here at WCU for practicum hours. Happy? No. But the actors were loving enough: they all got us a bottle of Sunpop. Small cast; they seem weird enough. As for skill, not too bad. There were parts where I should have been laughing/crying and I did neither throughout the whole production, but hey, whatever, they're not bad. It's a cute play in general although I'm not sure if it's something I'm going to like watching as many times as I'll have to. Although rehearsals are from 6:30 to about 9:30 and by the time I get home it's 10, so technically, I now live at Western. Fortunately Jenny shall sacrifice her dorm services when necessary and I am pleased for this. Besides these times I have to be there around 12:00 on Sundays, so you know what that means: no church. Miffed? Yes. Does that matter. No.

And I have to dress in stupid winter clothes. To move things backstage. So take the amount I sweat now and multiply it by 10,000. It may not be snowing on stage, but it definantly will be raining.

Anyway, they should probably be dressed warmer because, technically it's Maine (hm, how about that!) and it would be sort of cool for them to have a snow machine but I'm not judging, I'm not, I swear.



...whatever. Judge for yourself.

ANDD GUESSS WHATTT?
And here's an explanation. SO THIS IS ESSENTIALLY LIKE CHRISTMAS COMING EARLY.
I really should buy me another Harry Potter shirt. All mine are like, from the fourth movie and from a time when shorter shirts were in. And I need longer shirts because I have a huge torso.... sooo...

HARRY POTTER IS COMING OUT JULY 15TH AH.
So many preparations.

Speaking of which, if everyone remembers my previous audio problems in my car (lack of iPod adapter, Linda Ronstadt, etc.) I am delighted to say I have found a temporary answer to this problem of nothing to listen to by checking out Half Blood Prince on audio tape.

Jim Dale (who was from Barnum. Which is the worst Broadway. Ever.) does the voices and its... concerning? Yeah, I'll go with that. Because:

1. Bellatrix and Narcissa sound Italian, for, some, reason.
2. Dumbledore sounds like he's going to die any minute (Hm, how ironic!)
3. It is so hilarious to hear Jim Dale trying to do female voices. He has a great narrator voice, but gee, to here him try to get all high pitch like Hermione with the I failed everything flail is made of fail all on it's own. And Ginny sounds like a man. But I hate Ginny so it's okay.
4. Snape sounds like a chain smoker. And less malicious and more drawing. For some reason I imagine him sitting in a high back chaired and stroking a cat. And wearing a turban. I dunno. Which reminds me of Draco. Who reminds me of... I don't know what, it's just bad.
5. Just a side note: Voldemort is probably the dweebiest villain ever. "LETS SMASH SOME BRIDGES! THAT'S EVIL, RIGHT?! YEAH!" I mean, who does that?
6. And I had to stop the tape when I heard Jim Dale's Fleur voice. I died.
7. Lastly, Tonks sounds way too perky.
8. Never mind, this is lastly: How we are first introduced to Harry.

Whatever, I'm done.

-Me

I have a case of tavern beaver.

*note: If the pictures are poor looking to you, I apologize for I couldn't useflash. If the videos shake, I don't apologize for laughter cannot be helped.
I also apoliogize for the snark and the fact that this is one very large review. Seriously, it took me three days.

It's that time of the year again: high school spring musical festivals. Thus equaling confidence boosts and a guide at what not to do in the theatre. What flabbergasts me most is people actually think of these as good productions. I go outside and I hear "we should do ours like that." I don't know if its just a partiality issue or they really think its that good. Of course, I'm a little critical...

After the joy that Smokey's Cinderella brought me and seeing the large red and yellow billboard advertising it, I decided to go to Swain's Beauty and the Beast. Scotty, Effie, Kelly and I all piled in the Eclipse and headed out, getting Burger King along the way, sort of missing the road off the exit (my fault) and finally arriving at 6:45. Of course, I started laughing before I got through the door but I contained myself, got my ticket and program and sat down.

Program Notes: A very sophisticated program (oddly, the most impressive thing about these shows is the program) with a large asterisk next to the title and a suspicious footnote assuring us that they were legal. On the back they discussed how they were the only school in the Smokey Mountain conference area that did a Spring Musical (because I haven't been in one for the past 3 years...?) and how the production cost $8,000 dollars.
...
Probably went to all those billboards because it defiantly didn't go to the production.

Anyhoo, they were also audience goodies in the form of light up roses that you raise at the same moment that Belle does at the end and she lifts it and you lift it and you can be like Belle...?

First thought: This is going to suck. Badly.

Act I


So here we start with the basic Beauty and the Beast beginning with the "Once upon a time, selfish and spoiled prince, ugly hag, take the rose, ugly hag I sneer at you, I is a beautiful enchantress, OH NOES, I beastify you, Noooo, etc, etc." Except, as everyone else is used to the deep voiced, slightly creepy guy, the guy who did it had more a game show feel about his voice. "Who would ever looove a BEAAST!?!"

Blegh. Anywho, the hag drops her cloak to show a beautiful enchantress bedazzled in an 80s prom dress (honestly, you should have seen those sleeves!) and she flits around, casts the spell on him and frolics off. Frolics mind you, and not at all in a foreboding manner. As Bob Barker says "And she turned him into a hideous beast," the enchantress enchants, the prince collapses to the floor in despair and... nothing happens. But they spoil us early and show the beast in his castle admiring his caramelized human heart rose and feeling distraught and pained, etc.

Lets skip forward to the classic village scene. Firstly, for some reason, they used a lot of the people who play main characters in the castle (i.e. Mrs. Potts) as villagers as well. Because I guess they didn't have a good enough part or something...


Anyway, it starts with the stagehands coming on while everyone else is coming out and placing benches on either side of the room and then going back into the prop closet to chill or something. Belle starts singing and... we have no idea where she is. Turns out she is in the back of the audience.

Yeah, that's effective.

Finally she shows up halfway through the song, walks past us in her dress bedazzled with a teacup fabric and she sings, the villagers sing:


And everyone looks onward with faces of apathy:

And that little girl sitz in the orchestra pit the whole time among the seats in there. While the play was going on. Adding to that, the backstage mothers kept coming out by the side doors to watch some then they went backstage and then we see them again and *cough*unprofessional*cough*.

Enter Maurice with his frosted peach fuzz moustache and girlish tricorn!:



And your machine...? Right?
The funny thing about this was that he picks up a piece of wood spins the wheel with his bare hand, puts the thing above the blade and drops the outer piece. "OH IT WORKS!" It's sort of like, "Oh Fairy Godmother, look at the pumpkin carriage!" But we never actually see it. I call this the "you couldn't think of anything creative, could you?" moment.


That squawking? Yeah, that was a clarinet.
The band was terrible but I give them kudos for trying. I mean, how good can you be when your band director reads a book during the scenes that the band isn't playing in? Of course, I would probably be doing the exact thing.

So, Maurice takes his invention and goes into the Scrim Forest and the girls in black with the plastic wolf masks go after him and he runs and ends up at a mysterious castle:



They also [lovingly] placed a painted statue of my cat above the cheesy painted fireplace:



...and we meet the rest of the cast. ROLL CALL:



Lumiare: The tall skinny candelabra with the weird French accent. And for some entirely unknown reason I think he reminds me of Jonathan. No idea why...
Cogsworth: The fat clock who has a weird french/English/country accent. He was hilarious for all the wrong reasons.
Babbett: The girl who doesn't look like a feather duster but more like a girl bedecked in feathers. Mrs. Potts: The tea pot who has hooker lipstick and looks like she was made out of a couch.
Chip: CHIP HAS LEGS, CHIP HAS LEGS!!

And last, but not least:



THE BEAST: The dreadlocked creature who sounds like Christian Bale when he's pretending to be Batman. He also has an angty teenager thing going and I am vaguely reminded of Napoleon Dynamite. See he even has that whole "gosh," thing going on.
And those horns!

"Mamma I think I scared him." Because a life sized teacup with legs isn't in the least bit scary.
*facepalm*
So, after a Beastfit, Maurice suffers but lets go back to Belle...

Wait one second! We haven't met Gaston! You know, Gaston the hot, fit guy everyone wants to date with an elevated ego? Oh, do I have a treat for you!


So, I think it's safe to say that they didn't typecast.

Anyway, Gaston fails, Belle notices her father is gone, goes through the scrim forest mysterious castle, etc. For some odd reason there are moving gargoyles:



God bless them gargoyles. Their mommas love 'em.
...by this point, I think people were looking at me as I made a scene.

Moody dreadlocked Batman Beast enters and pitches another Beastfit:


Belle goes up to her room and laments at her misfortune and whoa is me. Frankly, I just like the fact that the wardrobe girl keeps her face completely stoic the whole time. Secondly, I love the fact that she goes "I'm sure I have something you could wear" opens her doors and out just falls a dress... it's not in the drawer and its just wadded up and falls out...? How convenient.



Flash forward to le tavern scene:

May I introduce the chair that wasn't painstakingly constructed from limbs by Effie:
The random wall of deer heads and drag queens boys with blue eyeshadow and maroon lipstick:
Tavern Mugs constructed from dogfood cans and handles that were hotglued on:

The guy who stuffed his pants into his socks and his Sperrys:

Oh and there is something else that is amazing about this scene, but it will have to wait until later.

Le Tavern Scene est over, and we go back to La Castle and Beastie throws yet another Beastfit but Belle refuses him and says she'll starve but, hey rules were meant to be broken, so Lumiare and the Cowboy Candles serve her. Nothing says "you're welcome" like a single plastic Turkey:




"Try the grey stuff..."
What grey stuff? Is it in the plastic turkey or around it? Or under it?

This is the Rug of Fail:


He and his be-tennis-shoed feet tried to flip, they really did try. But they failed, sighed and went off to the side in disgust/apathy.



I post this simply because the gargoyles started dancing. At this point I hunched onto the ground in laughter and Kelly had to dig her nails in me to silence my giggles.
I died. Died.

Back to moody, dreadlocked beast and we see his girl side in low and awful dulcet tones:

And Act I is finished! Onward to:
ACT II.

Lights up... to this:

It's okay though. When you're 60 years old its hard to stay awake. We'll forgive her.
To be honest, Intermission was the most enjoyable thing out of the whole play. We guffawed like crazy and people were probably highly insulted. But hey, if you suck you suck and we're sure to remind you of it. As Scotty put it, Intermission was like a glass of cool water on a hot day.

ACT II

We start with Belle in the Scrim Forest and the girls with the wolf masks come out and the Beast comes to defend but it all happens behind the Scrim Trees so technically, we see none of it.
Something There begins and our dreadlocked Beast pecks at his soup, Belle refines him, she bedecks herself in a hideous 80s dress as well and they go into the library and share sweet, sweet moment and you can just taste the "teen spirit."

Somewhere around here Beast and Lumiare go up the stairs the carpentry class [lovingly] made and offstage while their microphones were still on and someone says "stay in character."

Hows that for embarrassing?

Human again happens but it was so anti-climatic I don't see any importance in discussing it.
As was for the tavern scene except for this one part that we shall see later. :)

So lets just step forward to the scene we all care about:
The big date scene between Belle and the Beastie:

As you can see, Belle has what every high school puts their princess in: a prom dress. I swear, creativity is dead.

The table is set yet again with a plastic turkey for them to share:


Plastic turkeys are recylcable apparently.

Instead of eating they just stare at their plates...

...and once the plastic turkey isn't going to be edible anytime soon they decide to dance and we get a looksee at the beasts very large and awkward tail:


So Belle and the Beast go into the Garden and talk about life or something; I wasn't really paying attention. *shrugs* So the beast and Belle have moments and then Belle laments about not being able to see her poorly moustached daddy and the beasts hands her a mirror made out of plywood and lights and she sees hes ill or something and wants to leave to help him. Beastie lets her go, but sort of sulks about the whole matter and the utensils of the house are like "YOU DID WHAT!?"

And the Beast says, "Leave me alone for my soul is like fragile fragile lilly now." As he laments we all feel a little deja vu from Cinderella with the whole "lets sing in front of the curtain while the scene changes, yeah, that's cool."

So, at this point, nothing was really happening, I had about a minute and a half worth of memory and half of my battery power left and what I really wanted to film was the transformation scene. So, I sat back and *cough* enjoyed the rest of the performance. The funny thing was, that during the mob scene everyone tramples into the audience and their bodies are like 2 inches away from me, and I die again guys. Because when the meaty girl in front of you is squawking, what else can you do?

So, yadda, yadda, big fight or whatever over Belle, Gaston falls over the edge, which might be cool if it wasn't 5 feet from the ground, and perhaps, hey it may be cool if WE COULD SEE IT. i.e. Don't stage the big climatic stuff in front of a railing.

*facepalm*

So, here it is. Marilla is turned on, and with her small battery power and one minute left I start filming. This is what we wait for. The Transformation is the biggest and coolest, not to mention the most high tech, scene there is:

Guys, I had to stop filming because Belle wandered the stage for over a minute while the Beast changes. You see her pick up the rose near the end, but I stopped it because it was going nowhere. The best thing is to look back and see all the old women holding there's with the most tranquil face in the world. Like, "this is my slice of heaven."

So the Beast come out from SR and it's all "lookie Belle its me," and Belle is like "it is you." Everyone is human again, Belle and the Beast (without shoes?) come out and sing the ending along with the stereotypical shifting crowd of happiness.

Reader, I hurled.

BUT, but, but, there was one part that did make it into my top ten of life moments. This was the moment of great in this show:

For some odd reason, they strategically placed a stuffed beaver on the bar. Why? I don't know. But it was made of epic win. He was by far the best actor (he never blinked, not once I tell you) and will forever be known as the Spaghetti cat of the theatre.

To rebound from the pain we all had choclate shakes and laughed so hard it hurt in the car. Guys, this was worse than Cinderella. (Hm, theres something I never thought I would say) The sets were terriable, the costumes, the actors, the singing, heck the whole thing. The only thing I liked was the programs and the tavren beaver.

And you know whats sad? They did this same show last year and it was such a hit (you heard me right) that they wanted to redo it to make it better. Can you only imagine what it was like?

If you want to witness this you still have a chance for on March 27 - March 29 2009 it is till playing at 7:00, but I wouldn't suggest it. I give you the cliff notes graciously and accept them as such.

My brain hurts. Gooday.
-Me

Robbie is Rap-tastic

You know how Graphic Novels are usually associated with dorks who dress up in leather and go to things like Dragon*Con? Well, I guess Disney is now shooting for that audience because look at their latest addition to the family.

"An All New Graphic Novel." You've went too far HSM. Way too far.
Adding too going to far, look at the new "required" book in the bookstore for a COLLEGE CLASS.

Let me say it again: REQUIRED. What? This is probably the worse example of good literature (writing style), ever, and it's REQUIRED. Not saying it's not a good story, but for College? Bah. But there were other vampire books so I only pray (oh please, oh please) that it's a class on Vampires and not the awesomeness of Twilight.
Now, lets talk about immaturity. This is me. In a shopping cart:

It was very painful and I had a headache afterwards. No one would know it but when clothes are on top of you (and Depends, Hannah Montana calenders, Oprah magazine, diapers, and shoes) it gets rather heavy. But no one realized I was in it the whole time we went around the store... except when I whispered and they looked startled at the basket. Luckily Alex and Brianna kept their cool until AFTER we left.

I sort of regret not jumping out at someone. :(
In other things, Kelly and I went to see Rabun Gap's Cirque. The movements were excellent (this one kid did a push up; sideways; on a pole; a vertical pole) and with all the jumping, standing on rubber balls, hoops, nets and the tiny Asian in a banana suit, I was amazed. But with everything, I am horribly critical, and even though their set was fantastic (or at least the city part; the forest was horrid) and their energy superb, their costumes had that terrible pulled-yet-inconsistent-style to it. Not enough jazz to them.

Whereas there movement was terrific, their acting sort of lacked (sort of, not terrible) at least the two leads were good. Some tall boy in a striped hat and Dylan Duvall played the magician or something. He was definitely the best (which is ironic because the best one learned under the leadership of Oh Mighty Tyrant) and was the only one w/o face make-up. Adding to that, none of those kids knew squat about doing face-makeup. It looked like a three year old had painted on for Halloween.

Afterwards, Kelly and I went back to the senior parking lot and played with her sisters camera: we screamed for it, we laughed for it, we goofed off for it, we got under her running car for it. It was magic. Everett showed up and we attempted to do pictures with me as the third wheel looking mortified at them, but they never turned out well.

We also went to Fatz before and got Everett as our waiter, who brought us Air Heads (blue raspberry) and paid for our meal. But it was all good because we left him a $20 tip.

Saturday was game night and Everett, Kelly and I dominated at Cranium. I lovingly got nominated to do all the acting bits which was great because they guessed them right off. Afterwards we went upstairs and watched The Soup. Or at least Kelly and I did because their was a mass clearing of everyone in the middle of it.
So, yesterday I had my advisor meeting about arranging classes for next semester and I get tons of theatre ones. I have one dance class that runs from 10:10-1:15 and then another movement class that is 2 hours long. So basically, I'm going to be a muscle with and perhaps a little bit more rhythm. Not much; but a little. Along with that I have the possibility of taking a make-up class and a lecture class with Terrence Mann that includes lots of movies. Only thing wrong with this is that my first class would be at 8 in the morning and my Terrence Mann class would end at 7, so essentially, if I go with this plan (hint: I don't think so) I get no sleep. Along with that Susan really wants me to become a design major vs. acting because I apparently have talent in the field. But just wait until she sees my debonair acting. Yeah. I wiggle my eyebrows at that.

Speaking of me and my rhythm and my debonair acting:
Seussical is essentially wearing me out. I scraped my knee yesterday, thus dubbing this play the next Footloose. But, regardless of all the sweat, all the soreness, all the orange juice, all the tiredness and droppyness, I would have it no other way. Everytime I feel my sore thigh I think about how much fun I'm having and I smile and hit it again for more reminecence.
I wish I could say I feel like I'm doing well, but this whole synchrony thing is killing me. Perhaps after an intense dance workout which would include various other things (such as popsickles and nailpolish) I may be able to do those C things with my legs. But, all the same, I can't help feeling like I'm way TOO big compaired to my fellows. For example:

(i.e. I'm the one in the striped shirt) Actually, I don't know what I was doing in this picture. Perhaps I look just slightly better now? Besides my inability to dance, I sing all the songs extreamly low which isn't a bad thing, but I just hope it's on key. Adding to all this, did you know it is next to impossible to get my shoulders to move? I try to shimmy and I end up looking like I'm having a shaking fit all over. I hardly know.
Oh, and I did not obtain a poster, so until I get one, Sevy's windows shall be blank. :( Adding to that, I have window markers in blue and white and guess what is being created on the back of Sev on March 1st? Just guess because, ooooh, it's going to be delicious. I wiggle my eyebrows at this as well.
Everything is just too much fun. :)

And now, I leave you with a gift from the gods. Robbie has created a little rap for us regarding a song from Seuss, and I daresay I was just fortuate enough to have the means to record it at the time. Enjoy because I surely do:



-Me

On a Tuesday, you can see forever...

This is a beautiful morning.  It reminds me of the simple pleasures of high school.  I remember running for milk in the morning, one in each hand for Scotty's cereal.  Everyone would watch and shake their heads or laugh.  It's now a general joke to get me to run.  The weather is super pleasant and the only thing missing is my old friends and Robbie's closet that I need to clean out.  Again.

My acting class is going relatively well.  My acting teacher told me he was disappointed because we got into character but didn't get in the character.  It's hard to explain but he wants us to literally become that person.  He also noted that some of us were way too cartoonish (which I think he means too much energy and too "big") and to that I guffaw for we all know that "do it big" is the motto of life (not to mention it makes more sense.)  I'm not sure what's going on... but I like our way better.

He also has told me that I was too perky.  Hm...

And we did this game.  What you had to do was lay down on the ground and relax while your partner felt all over you helping you with "tension."  I know I was supposed to relax but it's awful hard to when you are trying your hardest to look serious.  I daresay I felt a little violated.

Before class though, I dropped by Uncle Scotty's and watched some skits.  I happened to record this one of dearest Jonathan:

I just adore the ending.  Then I was off to Acting to be violated then I came back to see Scotty again.  I walked into his third period and I saw Jennifer who actually bear gripped me, and I commented that black made her look slim but threw in some fat jokes all the same.  She informed me that she had lost weight and to that I received a "well Rachel found it."  Jerk.  Then Ric hit me with his marble track pole and in the corner I saw him give Everett a high five. 

I then sewed some buttons on Nikki's costume and ate about fifty chocolate squares.  Alex decided she would rather put thread on a shirt than art so she showed up and we all talked a lot.  Everett stole my glasses and made good use of them:

Which was so phenomenally adorable that a picture was taken.  I then finished and school was out.  Lori (Kelly's sister) came in waiting for Kelly who then showed up and this is where the fun begins.  Kelly drew me an amazing picture of me as a star killing people (their were carcasses surrounding me) and Everett wrote me a charming poem that ends in "if you would lose 50 pounds then you wouldn't be so round."  We all decided to go waste time together so we got in Sev and went.  But first we had to drop of Lori at the health department.

So I wasn't quite sure where to go so they were directing me and they told me to turn and I accidently went in the wrong lane.  So I just go over the median and drive on until Kelly and Everett notice that there is a cop behind me (no blue lights mind you.)  So I keep driving and park at the health dept. and Lori gets out and we sit there and next thing I know I have this lady cop at my window.  She tells me that I need to pay more attention to the road and less to my friends.  Not only that but she says it super cocky and the ironic thing is that my friends were paying attention to the road as well and helping me with it.  Kelly said I was pitiful and to make me feel better she sat up front with me and we left Everett in the back where he belonged.  We then went to Wal*Mart and bikes were rode in the aisle and a hula hoop tournament went on.  And we looked at an Obama book.  Blegh.

I was hungry so we went to Dairy Queen where Everett and I bashed every one of Kelly's lovely beliefs (bible style) and it was sort of like a dog chasing its tail.  We then left, and Everett taught me how to use my cruise button (because I suck at driving apparently) and we went to the play ground where we climbed up the slide and then went down it, see sawed, spider swung, (not very successfully.  Poor Kelly.)  and did lots more.  It was great fun.

Onto rehearsal which was fun (the best part is to watch us bird girls scamper across backstage at mach speed.)  This part is one of the most fun parts ever.  I love to dance but not only do I get to dance I get to be a diva as well.  We discussed getting matching underwear with "Bird Girl" on the butt and we then had some lovely conversations about everything.  I believe this is going to be an amazing play.  Robbie had some footage of the whole thing and I told him he should make a whole video of it and hand it out to us all.  It would be amazing.

Oh and Chris showed up and we all had great fun talking about Western and old plays we all did together.  Kelly and Chris talked about their wonderful moments while dancing and it was hilarious.  Brianna and I then talked about life and it was deep.  Fun, fun, fun.  :)

And this Friday I have a birthday party to look forward to.  Someone turned extremely old and someone else is youthful so good day to them.  Pizza and movie is my style.  :)

-Me

Oh yeah, I was supposed to be reading my Psychology...

Ahhh, my first Acting class

woeirlewj, it was oddly, and most unexpectedly, amazing.  Guess that's what happens when you trust God to make it okay for you.  I was expecting to be surrounded by kids who floored me.  First off, only 10 in the class.  Secondly, the rough majority are technical.  Thirdly, I have more experience than any of them, and I am the only one who is part of a big important theatre troupe:  A little something called Overlook Theatre Company.  Besides, our stage kicks FPAC's any day.

To that, I mean the new one.  SMACPAC, not FAC.  

So, needless to say, I am super excited.  And Respect for Acting is optional reading (thankfully.) Even though I had Taylor's reassurance that it was a very helpful book:

Rachel snorts at her book "respect for acting."5:05pm - 3 Comments

 Taylor Bryson at 5:59pm January 8

that is a really good book

 Rachel Alford at 4:32pm January 9

Really? It's assigned, and I thought it would be a piece of "Acting. Is an Art." kind of crap, but you just gave me some hope.

 Taylor Bryson at 6:08pm January 9

no its a very useful book. alot of acting books are dont look at them as something that will be broing or typical..it really helped me get a grasp on my acting

But now that it is no longer mandatory, I still may pass.  Besides, I already have a method down.  It's called:  Get on stage and have a blast.  And sweat.  Lots of sweat.

Anyhoo, in classypoo we got in a circle and talked about ourselves, and I have to keep an Acting Journal and document the... discoveries in my acting each day.  I believe I am really going to like my teacher (of course, after what I am used to Voldemort would seem like a nice teacher) and he seems to know what he is doing.  Although I have my method doesn't mean I won't listen and try someone else's.  I'm glad I have it with a few people I know and we did all sorts of bonding activities today.  Our teacher said the best way to work is as a unit, and aye aye, I agree.  I mean, look at us.  We all do the plays and we also all go eat pizza and watch movies and don't play tricks on anyone and have bloggers and EVERYTHING.  Bonding.

Speaking of us, I went and visited the play site today.  Lots of fun fabric, fun with Scotty and Everett, fun anonymously sending Sam messages of this picture of Everett...

...fun sitting there doing nothing while everyone did something, fat jokes steered in my direction, seeing Paul F, eating clementines and everything else in sight, and I got to see what my jacket will look like:

And I want the blue beehive wig.  FYI.

Oh and I sent Troy a picture of his fabric because he pestered me all yesterday asking me if I had seen Scotty and his reply was simply:

Lol sweet

Nothing says "Thank you" like that.  I guess it's because he can't see the keys enough to txt out a decent response.

...I say that with love.

And get this... guess who wants to play the female werewolf in New Moon, which is the sequel to Twilight.

But I do like her jacket.  A lot.  Anyhoodle, I despise her in the HSM franchise (her, her character, her singing, everything) and for her to taint the presence of my favourite whack vampire obsession love series? 

NO.

-me

Pee.Ess.  REHEARSALS IN LIKE TWO HOURS AHH.

I agree Velma... whatever happened to class?

Okay, I had a fairly interesting conversation in theatre today... I was almost surprised by the openness of it all.  A little too surprised.

 

Being a person of just and moral values, not to mention a little class, I was slightly flabbergasted by the conversations that went on.

 

We didn't have class today, but we had to meet in groups together.  Before I know it, everyone is in a display of exerting certain bodily functions, talking about their "poop buddies" and fatchlateing quite openly.  Not only was I surprised, but appalled and disgusted.  Yes, it's something that we all do, but I dare say, it's a private matter.  I'm a very open person to most things, like my fear of nudity and participating in pee wars.  But number 2 conversations are completely unacceptable.  Perhaps I'm slightly old fashioned, but pleease.  I don't want to hear about it. Blargh...

 

Speaking of blargh, did anyone see The Soup this past week?!  I think I nearly died from laughing... true, nothing can beat spaghetti cat, but, the line "tickle my belly, and I'll pee in your face!" not only made me think, what is happening to toys today, but it made me think I was about wet myself.

 

Lets talk about the drama kids who don't have "poop buddies."  I went to my first member meeting last night, and how much fun.  Pizza!  Coke!  FOOD!  And one thing I can hardly wait for...

 

SMOKY MOUNTAIN CENTER FOR THE ARRRTS.

 

Part of me already thought that this would eventually happen, but now that it is... yay!  I just can't wait to claim MY dressing room.  You know the STAR dressing room.... permanent residence, right there.  I should pretty much go ahead and install my Harry Potter cutout.  But I would have to put a pillowcase over his head, because I would feel like he was watching me change.  I used to have a big problem with that.  Couldn't change in my bedroom because Harry looks at me from ever single direction.  Creepy.

 

So, I stayed for play practice, and I realized how much I longed to be in the play.  Stupid wedding.  Then I asked Effie who the girl in the blue shirt was.  She then replied that there were two people with blue shirts, and we laughed hardly at my stupidity.  Silly, silly Rachel.

 

Afterwards Kelly and I went on an adventure of searching for wireless internet with Beatrice and Sevy, after we did an interesting jig of pure excitement in the parking lot. We eventually found it at the Chamber, and we then continued to look up movie trailers and screaming like little girls at a Hannah Montana concert (IT'S MILEY!), holding hands and squeezing things in anticipation and excitement. I then had a spaz attack while driving and went slightly off the road.  Kelly was scared, but we knew someone would rescue us... in our daydreams.  :(

 

Why is the power out... I don't understand.  I bet the library is on lockdown, and I'm going to be stuck here forever.  And ever.  I don't think we can get out of the library.  I'm barricaded here.  Perhaps I'll go roaming around stealthy; investigating the bathrooms, pretending like I'm a secret agent, rolling under tables.... and everyone knows I would do it too.  I'll have to potty in the dark too, wandering for a toilet.

 

Well I have a book due by Friday...this Friday, and regardless of the fact that it is in the dark, I'll have to find light, *sigh* somewhere.  Stupid.

 

-Me