The Theatre Course

Don't you think cloudy, old-fashioned lemonade is much nicer than clear, modern lemonade? I think it is.

Moving swiftly on, I have now been doing my theatre course for four days and it's tres tres cool. Because we have the whole theatre to ourselves it makes everything so much more professional, you know, being in an actual working theatre and working alongside professionals. I'm doing stage management and there are six of us (17 technical people in total, and about 50 actors). There are three sections to the production, which is based on stories by Edgar Allan Poe, and each acting group is doing one story. Therefore, if you do the maths, there are two stage management people for each section. One of these is the Deputy Stage Manager (DSM), who goes to rehearsals and takes notes and writes down all the cues and blocking and whatnot, then for the actual performance is at the prompt desk, cueing (sp?) the lighting and sound people, and prompting the actors. The other person is the Assistant Stage Manager (ASM) who is in charge of sorting out all the props. I am a DSM. I'm working with the youngest group (age 11-13) who are doing 'The Murders in the Rue Morgue'. Anybody know the story? I read it (it was very long and with very complicated, unnecessary language) but of course, we're doing a simplified version. Anyway, I am spending my mornings sorting out props and making stuff (today I was painting doors) and my afternoons in rehearsals. At lunchtimes us technical peeps go and buy food at the local shop and then sit by the water in the harbour. It is all very fun, although quite hard work.

In other news, my brother turned 19 yesterday (happy birthday to him) and also moved to Amsterdam. On the same day. We don't know when he'll be back, could be a month, could be a year. No idea. He and his girlfriend haven't even got anywhere to live there. Oh well, I guess it's an adventure.

Toodles,

Tallie xxx

The Cousins

Sorry for the recent lack of posts. I haven't been spending much time on the computer.

My cousin and her boyfriend are over from Australia at the moment, and staying with us. They've done a big loop around the UK and next they're off to do a big loop around Europe. Lucky things. I'm not going abroad at all this summer. Oh well, I kind of like summer in England. It's nice and relaxed.

So, hence the cousin thing, I have been rather busy, showing them around the city. Fun, though. I have also been almost completely out of touch with my friends since we broke up, except for a few texts to Claire, so I'm sorry about that.

I actually have nothing else to say. Summer holidays really aren't that exciting. Oh wait, I have something. In 45 minutes I'm going to the dentist. Wow, I never thought this blog could get tht boring, but it has. I promise I'll write something more interesting this time. Anyway, in the meantime I'm off to review Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. No, wait, I don't have time. I will soon, though.

Tallie xxx

Lyra has been cast!

They've found someone to play Lyra in His Dark Materials! See:

Dakota Blue Richards was selected from thousands of hopefuls who attended open auditions earlier this year. Open calls were held in Cambridge, Oxford, Exeter, and Kendal for the lead role in The Golden Compass.
Filming is due to start in the UK on 4 September, with Oscar-nominated director Chris Weitz at the helm.
The Golden Compass is the first planned adaptation of Pullman's bestselling His Dark Materials trilogy.
The trilogy comprises The Northern Lights - called The Golden Compass in the US - The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass. It revolves around a young girl, Lyra, who travels to the far north to save her best friend. Along the way, she encounters shape-shifting creatures, witches, and a variety of otherworldly characters in parallel universes.
Dakota was selected from more than 10,000 hopefuls when she attended the Cambridge audition in April.
"Dakota made what should have been an extremely difficult decision quite easy," said Weitz.
"We wanted a completely new face for Lyra, but I was surprised that any young girl, especially one without training, could light up the screen as Dakota does."
Pullman said he was "delighted" with the casting of Dakota.
"As soon as I saw Dakota's screen test, I realised that the search was over. Dakota has just the combination of qualities that make up the complicated character of this girl, and I very much look forward to seeing the film take shape, with Dakota's Lyra at the heart of it."

Dakota Blue Richards? Probably a stage name. I want to see a picture of her! Have to wait a while, I guess.

Tallie xxx

Last day of school!!!

Only half a day left of school! Oh yeah! And tomorrow will be fun. I love the last day of school. Everyone's in such a good mood and you just do fun stuff. I'm doing a number from our Music Theatre Group performance (not solo, I mean, but all of us) which will be OK since we don't have to wear our God-awful leotards, head-dresses and tails. And since our headmistress is leaving tomorrow, we're having a special assembly for that, which I think I'm speaking in on behalf of my year. I think so, anyway. I don't know what I'm saying, or anything.

This school year has been fun. Fun, but a LOT of work at the same time. And I know that's only going to get worse in Year 11. Now that we're fairly high up in the school there is a sort of confidence that you have, to wear your uniform untidily, to have conversations with teachers, to boss about the younger pupils (hehe). Anyway, I can't believe we're going to be Year 11s. It's weird. What's even more weird though, is that I am going to be 16 in two months and six days. Aaaaah! I can't be 16! I'm not old enough! (You know what I mean.)

Even though I really liked being a Year 10, I'm looking forward to being a Sixth Former. That'll be cool. I just have to get through Year 11 first.

Well, that's about it. Sorry to my friends who have read this, since they've heard all this several times before.

Tallie xxx

Miss Saigon soundtrack

Yeah, so I didn't watch The Crucible. I will, though.

Today the Miss Saigon soundtrack arrived from Amazon (very promptly too, we only ordered it two days ago) . YAY!!!!!! I think I know what I will be listening to this summer. My guess is that bu the time I go back to school I will know the entire two discs off by heart. You can test me in September, if you feel so inclined. I already know one song, having played it and sung along to it pretty much continuously all evening. What? No, I'm not lame, thank you very much.

You may (or may not) have noticed that I have made titles for all my posts, as it looks kinda messy just having the first few words of each entry as the title. You will also notice that they are the most boring and un-original titles in the history of the universe. Seriously. Take a look at my archive, it's actually quite funny.

Well, gotta go to bed now. Have to get a good night's sleep for Commemoration tomorrow. Most people hate Commem since it's all sitting there for hours listening to broing hymns, speeches and Bible readings. I don't mind it though, since I'm in the choir and get to sing some stuff. The speeches and readings are really tedious though, I have to say. Oh well.

Peace out dudes,

Tallie xxx

P.S. Wow, two entries in one evening! I'm getting good!

Oprah and stuff

This is nice. I found it on IMDb (where else?).

"Media mogul Oprah is set to give South Africa a huge financial and tourism boost at the beginning of 2007 by planning an exclusive New Year's Eve party there. According to Winfrey insiders, the talk show queen is inviting 100 of her closest celebrity pals to ring in 2007 with her and Nelson Mandela in South Africa. The star-studded party, which is likely to include Julia Roberts, John Travolta and Kirstie Alley, will serve as a precursor to the official launch of Winfrey's new South African girls school, which she'll reportedly open on January 2. According to American publication In Touch, Winfrey has instructed her pals just to pay for their flights. A source says, "Oprah will take care of everything else."

That'll give South Africa quite a bit of media coverage. Not sure whether that's a good or bad thing, but whatever. It didn't say where the big party would be, but I guess it'll be Johannesburg or Cape Town.

I'll be watching The Crucible tonight while babysitting, so I'll do a review of that sometime. We watched the first bit of the film in Drama and I wanted to watch the rest so I've rented it. I just hope little Thomas (aged 11 months) doesn't wake up. But he's usually quite good. He's really cute, too.

Ugh. I have to finish my English essay. It's due in tomorrow. Crap.

Talliestar xxx

Random site

OK, random site of the day - www.stuffonmycat.com. And it is REALLY random!

Also, review of Herbie: Fully Loaded coming very, VERY soon to LCA.

I'm off to have my breakfast (yes, I actually blog before breakfast. Actually, I think this is the first time.)

Talliestar xxx

Six things meme

Here's another meme. I know they're broing, but I like them! This one isn't as long as the other one.

Six jobs you've had in your life: OK, I'll have to be creative with this one. Babysitter, video labeller, envelope sticker, proof reader, movie reviewer, homework helper
Six movies you could watch over and over: Notting Hill, Stepmom, Garden State, Pleasantville, Saved!, The Parent Trap
Six places you've lived: I have lived in six different places in my life but they're all in the same city and I'm not going to give street addresses or anything.
Six TV shows you love to watch: Friends, The O.C., Desperate Housewives, Scrubs, Smallville, 8 Simple Rules
Six places you've been on vacation: South Africa, New York, Turkey, France, Australia, Italy.
Six websites you visit daily: Yahoo, IMDb, MegCabot.com, cheeruphoneypie.blogspot.com, Google, and Blogger (or I should, at least)
Six of your favorite foods: Pizza, pasta, apples, strawberries, chocolate, Fruit Gums
Six places you'd rather be: New York, South Africa, London, at the cinema, at the theatre, in a swimming pool somewhere.
Six albums you can't live without: Les Miserables, Garden State soundtrack, Mary Poppins, A Walk To Remember soundtrack, The O.C. Mixes (yes, I know there's five, but whatever), and Cats.

Tallie xxx

www.zachbraff.com

Here's a site for you - www.zachbraff.com. It's really cool and just up. There's a video post on there from Zach (who, by the way, is the star of Scrubs and Garden State) and the trailer to his new film (he's only acting in it, he didn't direct this one) called The Last Kiss. I can't wait to see it, it looks so good! It also has Rachel Bilson from The O.C. in, so that's a bonus. Anyway, check it out. (By the way, in case you recognise the girl who plays 'Jenna', Zach's girlfriend, in the movie/trailer, it's Jacinda Barrett, who was in Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason.)

In other news, Wimbledon has started (yay!) but I haven't really had time to watch much of it. Oh well, I'll watch the finals when they're on.

I'm probably going to a barn dance tongith organised my my friend Alice's church youth group thing. Should be fun, I've never been to a barn dance before.

I know there has been a huge lack of updates on LCA but I honestly haven't seen any new films! Although I have a couple of DVDs out at the moment so hopefully there should be something new on there soon!

Only seven and a half more days of school! And quite a lot of that won't be lessons either.

Oh yeah, I forgot - The O.C. Season Finale! God, it's sad! I knew Marissa was going to die but it was still upsetting. I liked the way they had her character planning to leave Newport anyway, so she had all the goodbyes with everyone and everything seemed all final. I also loved it when they went back to the model home. Well, now I'm just rambling. See it repeated tomorrow at 6pm on E4.

Peace and stuff,

Talliestar