The finish line is in sight!

Goodness me the endurance race that has been my February is close to the finishing line!
Songs for Grown Ups closed last night - it was the best fun! Our second venue was a small downstairs club seating about 50 people and it felt just right for what we do.
Costumes hung away, wigs and makeup stowed, sales tallied and initial post show reflections begun.
We have video being edited, but not photos.

Except a couple of selfies! From left to right: Gertrude aka Penny, our dour and terrifying stage manager/care giver. Penny is a smiler and it was an act of supreme self control to maintain a poker face! Constance in her new robe, revealing all her chins. Peeking in at right is Clever Hansel. We all look like our characters!
So, that complete, I've spent today organising everything I need to do in order to drive to Auckland tomorrow! It's an 8-10 hour drive so I am wanting to get going earlyish.  Our Sarah gets married on the 4th and I am part of the "week before pit crew"!
The sewing machine, steamer as well as all the usual stuff one needs for a week away are pretty much under control. NOT under control is the Stepmother of the bride outfit. It is mostly finished in a bag - I have some sewing tasks to do up there so I can finish it then. My attempts to make an orange lace bolero were stymied by me being an EEJIT (more later) so at my Kat's suggestion I dyed one I already own orange, then will overdye it red later. Nobody needs two orange lace boleros.
But today I did fit in some retail therapy. I rarely buy RTW, but I wanted a back up shrug option, and found a black chiffon one at City Chic which could be useful. Also making it into the bag are a leopard skin dress, a fetching halter neck top, and a bra and undies set SO BRIGHT it could be seen from space. I also talked another lady into buying a dress that looked amazing on her.
Oh my, I am looking forward to this week away. A change is as good as a rest and with an action packed schedule of preparation and fun, it will be change not rest, but joy is very invigorating and I am VERY joyful about this.
So many photos and tings to share when I get back. I've done so much interesting sewing but it will have to wait.
Love to you all xo

Opening Night

We did it! We got through to the end!

It was crazy - Hans got delayed in Auckland and didn't land until about 6.30, I went to a meet and greet of a producer from the Melbourne Fringe before our show so I had to get my face and hair on hours early. And other chaos, not to mention sharing a dressing room, short tech turnarounds, first night nerves and that strange feeling of diving into the abyss that cabaret always gives one. There is only so much we can script after all, besides the songs.

 My Partner in Crime, Hans aka Clever Hansel. I love this picture as it shows him with his uke and two gadgets, all very quintessential!

I love this shot, it is us to a T. It's not from last night - honestly taking photos couldn't have been farther from our minds! 

I dropped surprisingly few lines, but am working to not drop any at all tonight. It's a strange feeling doing it again - with cabaret as we usually put a show together, it is a one off, like a chalk drawing on the foothpath washed away by the rain. A mixture of sadness and relief comes with this! 

So wish us luck!

Who's Queen?!

 So, how does one Emcee a Burlesque show dedicated to the band Queen? As a queen of course!

 Zip up RTW short jacket, embellished with real lace from my stash, and the pale blue sash of a Monarch.

 Bustle overskirt whipped by my shop seamstress Kat, when I realised the day before that I was not going to find the one I already had in time. Wee crown by my lovely friend Paul, on a lace headpiece and veil.

 Of course, it wouldn't be a Burlesque show without a bit of disrobing nonsense. In this case, while singing Crazy Little Thing Called Love!

 That's a worrying expression!

The final reveal! The devore velvet fashion corset I bought online in sale from Ashley Stewart. The velvet frayed away from the seam allowance on first wearing. Disappointing but I like it enough to fix it. RTW is what it is!

So now, back to show writing and rehearsing. As you were xo