Hi guys,
Well I must start off on a bit of a bad note and say I’m pretty disappointed I didn’t get any comments or replies to my last blog. In case you don’t remember or didn’t read it I asked for feedback, opinions, criticisms and compliments on any of the costumes so far so that I could take new opinions and visions into account when finalizing the costumes as I was having a bit of a creative blank. Unfortunately, I still received no feedback. Disappointing. But, on a good note I none the less have almost finalized all costumes. I went shopping on Friday and the following is a list of my purchases:
Dympie - a beige skirt. clip - on pearl earrings. cream glomesh handbag. (i also have a navy skirt option)
Gordon - lemon shirt. beige knit vest. tie. tie-clip. banker arm bands.
Stephen - navy suit jacket. grey king-gee style shorts. belt with feature buckle. knuckle-duster ring.
Monika - black cardigan. wedding ring (in case she’s still wearing it). clip on earrings. gold leather handbag. navy court shoes.
Paula - A NEW DRESS, it is an aqua metallic knit a-line dress, very easy to attach a hood with organza - it will look like part of the dress. cream glomesh handbag (diff. style to dympies) clip-on earring, lots of tacky bangles.
Hope to have time to show you all these new costumes on Monday, if not do your best to imagine them! Good news – no one will have to go on in their birthday suit! I would still like to see Kim and Scotts costumes because as of yet, you’ve both told me you can get your own and I need to know NOW if I need to get you anything, otherwise it’s going to get to too late notice. Hopefully this time I’ll get some feedback.
Thanx yall

Ok, so I know I haven’t made much progress on these in a while. And – I’ll be honest while I intended to do more shopping in the holidays – I simply didn’t find the time. I’ve changed Goofy’s style and know Mel’s skirt needs to change. Apart from that, gordon’s suit is pretty much set – I’m working on Monika’s top at the moment – it is going to have beaded flowers sewn into it. I must find Paula a hood but personally, I like the dress we have for her – I am, however willing to do more research. I’m also planning on looking into aprons for waiters. Right now, I think the most important thing for me is to have some feedback from you guys on what you think of the costumes so far, so then I can take some new visions and opinions into account when finalizing the costumes. I’m having a bit of a creative blank so PLEASE, help me out and give me some feedback, criticisms, compliments and new ideas because as of yet – I’ve heard nothing in regards to cossies. Mond – thankyou for showing me your waiter costume – its great. Scott and Kimmi, I’d appreciate if you guys could show me yours too, even a photo will do. Mel, I’ve seen your shoes and I like – Elise I think I recall you telling me you also have shoes so if I could see them that’d be great! Hoping I see replies to this blog asap – I need you ready steady act!
Thanks! Ciao

We have a blocked play!
The two rehersals during holidays were very beneficial! Despite the lack of attendance to the first rehersal, we got through a scene which needed further work and development – in which Monika was drunk and had an encounter with Gordon and a fight with Dympie. This scene is going well and Mel – you’re getting there with your outburst, still work on getting more angry and stern with variation in your voice and making the fight look as natural as possible – as if its happening on the spot – audience members need to feel uncomfortable and together, you and I need to work on creating this atmosphere.
Chanov, our little encounter is wonderful and I look forward to bumping in to you in many rehersals to come – remember how uncomfortable this situation is for you – while you stay and chat because you’re very polite – all you’re thinking about is getting away from this crazy, widowed, drunk woman!
Rehersal number two was great – we finished the blocking and finally had a full run through! Everyone is going really well and characters are beginning to really come alive! I, myself, learnt that while in my drunk scene – I must obviously be drunk and this can be quite comical, the dialogue in this section is very important. The realizations that Monika’s coming to are huge, and not only is she revealing them to the entire bistro – but to herself for the first time. She’s thinking as she’s talking and I have to portray that she’s realizing and remembering things as she says them, avoiding seeming like the lines are rehersed. I have some feedback id like to share on the progress of other ready steady act members!
Mel – great to see you took our advice and researched something for Dympie, BPD. I read your blog research and could easily relate a lot of the things to your character immediately – now that you have this research, the important thing is how you used it. You should be thinking about instances in which you can identify BPD in Dympie and use it to establish her motivations for things, for example her extreme moods and her attitude toward Paula, justify her actions with this research. I think this will really help develop Dympie (though she’s already awesome)
Elise – I said this to you today, but I guess there’s no harm in adding it to the blog. Yes, Paula is a whiny character and whinges to Dympie a lot. But, I think if you look at what she’s saying, there’s often sence in her words and you can take it on a different angle. I find the a great number of your lines are being said in “whinge” and many can be interpreted differently. Other than that, I think Paula’s coming along really well – your outburst to Dympie is great – I can almost feel the tension in the air, and I can genuinely see Paula getting hurt by Dympie which is awesome!
Goof – while I know you weren’t there in the holidays I still have a couple of things to comment on. I picked up on the fact that you’re not as similar to Stephen as we initially thought – and from what I’ve read on the blogs, others seem to agree. While on the outside, you may have the cocky, flirty attitude in common – I don’t think you have the deep complexities inside that Stephen has and it is important that these are portrayed in your character. I think a backround story and further research will really benefit you and im happy to help! Don’t get caught up in your similarities with Stephen and take for granted that you can be yourself on stage and just say his lines – the fact is you’re not in your mid-thirties and haven’t experienced some of the horrible things he has (I hope!) the accent is sounding much better and I have every faith in you that you can make this character work!
Kim – your publicity flyers look great and thanks for your input at rehersals! I’m glad you enjoyed it. I like the idea of you being a waiter and having a love affair with mond! Hehe
Scott – going strong – love your work! Thanks for the blog, its great to see some directors notes up there and hope they continue! I know we tended to interrupt you sometimes and put in our opinions on the way things should be done but the way you take what everyone says into account , try different things and make a final call is very commendable. You’re a great team player 
And Mondy, thanx for filling in as Stephen and you’re going strong as waiter!
Well, I hope everyone benefited from that and enjoyed reading it! I’ll be back….
Peace