Oh My! My Delicate Southern Sensibilities!
Another new journal from Jess for travel purposes, you say? I say…yes. I’m going to try to update whenever I can (once a day, maybe?) but it is all dependant on rehearsals and paperwork - two of my favorite things. Really. I wish I was joking.
Made it to Virginia without so much as a scratch or bruise - I think…Yes. I just checked. It took about 10 hours of driving (and rest stops) Friday to reach Falls Church, which is where Mum and I crashed for the night. My half-brother Glen and his family have lived there about six years now and the house looks new - great condition. We continued Saturday morning to Castleton - about another hour and half.
Just went through about 90 photos from the ride down and such. About 90% turned out good. (You do the math.) I’ll post them when I get…a reliable internet connection. (Keep reading to learn a bit more about that…)
For those of you who don’t know (pretty much everyone), I am currently a stage management apprentice for the Chateauville Foundation’s Inaugural Castleton Festival in Castleton, Virginia, for Benjamin Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia. This, of course, is all on a 600-acre farm purchased a few years back by Lorin Maazel and his wife in order to give technical and performance opportunities to post-graduate college students. (I love the idea - the execution is even better!) I start Monday and work through July 13. (The last performance is July 12, so that will probably be strike and such.) Then I return home in order to prepare to stage manage for the Riverside Theatre Works production of West Side Story.
It thus far seems like a summer camp atmosphere - lots of activities outside of rehearsals, full breakfast, lunch, and dinner Monday through Saturday, then a big Sunday brunch and dinner later on in the day. Activities include bike riding, swimming (in one of three pools, two outdoor, one in), ping pong, bowling (yes, there’s a two-lane bowling alley!), sauna, hot tub, hiking, tennis...gosh, there’s a bit of everything! (Who wants to visit? Seriously, I have enough room here for about three or more sleeping bags. ROAD TRIP!)
I’m living in what looks like a plantation and mansion from Gone with the Wind. There’s a large pond (lake?) behind the house, kitchen, library, study, dining room (with a table big enough to fit 20+ people), parlor, about 8+ bedrooms, and almost as many bathrooms. However, the house itself is about a half-mile from the paved road, so I’ll be doing a considerable amount of off-road driving. Thank goodness I have Mum’s CR-V instead of my Sebring! When I moved in my things earlier in the day, I was told I would be staying in Clay’s Room. (All the rooms have different names - Washington is the one I can remember right now. They’re all named after political figures from 1776-1876-ish.) Anyway, I unpacked everything from the car, and then unpacked all my bags (as much I could, since the room was fairly small and a bit dark). After dropping off Mum at the airport in the evening (she drove down most of the way), I stopped in town to pick up a Torpedo from Quizno’s. (It was alright - not great, not terrible. I ate it, so far it’s staying down, and those are the important things, right?) When I got back to the house, I see a man standing outside, I believe carrying in groceries. So I grab my things and practically hop over to him. (I was so excited to just see SOMEONE after that drive! Paved roads? Bah!) Introductions and such. Turns out he’s staying in the room next to Clays Room. Hmm, I think. I was supposed to share a bathroom with two females. Then I meet Mr. and Mrs. Parrish - lovely! That old-fashioned Southern charm all the way - deeeelightful! I let Mr. Parrish know I’ll be in Clays Room. He tilts his head slowly and says, “No one’s staying in there. You’re supposed to have the Madison Room.” Really? Okay! So I went from a twin to a full-size bed, more floor space and - gasp! - my own room! I offer to stay in one of the rooms with another person, but Mr. Parrish will have none of it! I pack (again), move everything over, re-unpack, and am now quite content with everything (except my eating habits - nothing new).
Best part? Everyone here loves animals. The Parrish Family has a black lab named Midnight (but I didn’t know that when I met him, so I call him Bill). The Theater House has two cats - one orange and white, one brown/black with a few white hairs. The orange one has his/her ears a bit chewed up and is very skittish. The brown/black one I’ve named Sam. (Anyone get it? Anyone?) I’m thinking the orange one I’ll end up calling Sookie at some point. (There - you should have it by now.) I’m such a dork!
Everyone I’ve met is super-friendly (that Southern hospitality and such, even though I’m not that far south) - I even struck up a conversation with a girl named Brie (haha - of course I did) who works at the “local” Rite Aid about cell phones versus alarm clocks. (The closest town is 20+ minutes away, so “local” fits here.) I needed to buy an alarm clock because (surprise, surprise) I get NO reception on my cell until I hit town, meaning my phone doesn’t even know what time it is now. (This should make rehearsals interesting…) This lack of reception includes internet, though I will likely be able to use the internet at the Theatre House, another 15+ minutes away.
Speaking of which…the main draw of the Maazel’s property (and where I’ll be spending the majority of my time) is the Theater House - gorgeous! I’m going to try taking pictures in the next few days - they’re in the middle of a light hang for Britten’s Turn of the Screw, but I got to see the preliminary set and lights from the balcony. It’s a brand new theater. The seats aren’t attached to the floor - they look like dining room chairs in rows. The booth is magnificent! I can’t wait to get Lucretia (which hasn’t even started rehearsal) into the theater.
There’s a farm on the Maazel’s property, but it’s more like a zoo! (Literally.) I got an e-mail from Ronit (I interviewed for the apprenticeship with her) saying that the popular “Omar the Camel” would be around. Little did I know that when Mum and I came up over the hill we would see so much more - a zorse! It was AWESOME. (Ashleigh - it reminded me of you due to Dico’s magical zorse. Heh.) Also saw a zebra (what?!?) and some goats (all native to Virginia, I’m sure…well, at least the zebra). I guess I’ll meet Omar (and whatever else is living there) tomorrow.
It’s dark out now - almost 9:30. I’m so used to seeing a few city lights (even in Maine) that it’s eerily quiet and dark. There’s a ladybug flying around my room, but it keeps running into the fan and getting thrown into the wall. Oh my! Tried to get it out with no luck. It’s getting a bit breezy, so the room is the perfect sleeping temperature right now. After I’m done writing I’d like to sleep, but I think my belly has other plans. (Mostly being a pain by causing me pain - yucky!*) Now a moth is hanging out on the dresser right next to my bed. I need to find a way to get rid of these creatures! Any suggestions? (Aaaaand another moth just flew in. Where are they coming from? The window’s closed…Alex - you wouldn’t like it here - too many spiders. Everywhere. Ugh!)
My plans for tomorrow? Finish my pre-rehearsal paperwork (I have, like, one hour of work, maybe, if all goes according to plan, which it never does) and explore the grounds a bit after brunch. I want to walk down to the pond and check out the paddle-boats and canoes. (Sunscreen is a necessity with this.) Oh, and I’d love to meet the ASM and AD for Lucretia - I heard they’re moving in tomorrow into the room next to mine! (I am in desperate need for human contact! Not sure why…) I’ll take pictures of everyone and everything I can while I’m here, but eventually I might have to do some work. (And pictures of me working are not terribly exciting or different.) Wish I knew where I could find a Scarlett O’Hara-style dress to borrow. I’d love to take some dramatic photos of the other residents (male and female) walking down the stairs or running to the lake/pond in a multi-tiered dress. (Does that make me weird? Wait, don’t answer that.)
* One more little thing - I’ve been sick since approximately April 1 and dropped 26 pounds (last I checked at the beginning of the week) from not eating. When I don’t eat, I’m in pain. When I do eat, I’m in more pain. After going through four doctors, the fifth one is wonderful. She gave me medicine to have before I eat so that my stomach will relax and I can eat a bit more. (That’s why I haven’t dropped more than 26 pounds by now.) However, I started going to the chiropractor (what?) about two weeks ago (four times a week for two weeks) and have been eating a bit more than I was. With no chiropractor in sight here, I’m a bit worried that I’ll go back to eating crumbs (and feeling full) and become more ill. As long as I can eat a couple meals a day and snack a bit in between, I’ll be fine. But with my appetite completely nonexistent right now (I shoved down that sandwich I just ate like it was my job) I’m afraid I won’t be able to stay in good enough health to stage manage, as I find it to be so emotionally and physically draining. Those of you who saw me during Proof know I can SM while feeling pretty terrible, so…here goes nothing! May I break legs (and may they not be my own for once)!