Grillin' in the Rain...

John is in Madrid at the moment and so you are stuck with me yet again- you could do worse!

We had a lovely barbecue on Saturday in spite of the weather. You should have seen my cute husband standing outside in his cowboy hat grilling as the rain fell down! Of course- if I hadn't been so busy playing hostess, I may have taken a picture or two to share with you, but you know me: no time for pictures- must keep guests happy! Everyone had a wonderful time- helped along by my mother's famous potato salad recipe, apple pie, fairy cakes (it's their word for cupcakes) and beer. We even played Cranium at the end of the day. Did you know they have a UK version? There were six of us left (three guys/three girls) and one of each sex was a Brit, so we played men vs women and tried the UK version. What a mess! The men kicked the women's butts- mostly because our neighbor is a Cranium Wiz!

We also introduced our cats to the neighbors' kitten that night. It went pretty well and I predict they will be BFF by the time we leave.

We had a good dose of New York friends this weekend. Laura was in town for the show, Phillip spent the weekend with us, and Elba and her boyfriend David came to the BBQ and met up with us at a pub on the South Bank Sunday night.

John is in Madrid until Wednesday afternoon- I miss him terribly! I'm sure he'll have some fun stories to share when he returns.

Until then- have a great week!

Two in one week- what a treat!

Hello! It’s the Missus here! Before I tell you how the show went last night, I want to take a moment to tell you about what I call “London Fridays.” Every Friday morning, without fail, I encounter hundreds of people rolling suitcases behind them or lugging large duffel bags on the tube. It’s sort of like an army of weekend warriors! Yes, I do realize that people all over the world go away on the weekends, but this is a phenomenon. They bring their suitcases, duffel bags, backpacks to work and leave for their weekend holidays from there. It almost feels like the city is being evacuated every Friday – hundreds of people flocking toward the nearest exit. I imagine it must be difficult, though. I mean it’s hard enough to focus on Friday, especially when you are going out of town for the weekend. Why would you want to torture yourself by staring at your suitcase all day? Can you imagine? Just staring at it- knowing that the cute swimsuit you bought for the beach is in there waiting to be worn or the tickets to the concert are calling your name- but you are stuck creating spreadsheets and making copies! I am told that while this is a year-round phenomenon, the number of suitcases does increase exponentially with nicer weather. By the way- when does that nicer weather start? And that, Ladies and Gentlemen, is the phenomenon of London Fridays. On with the show…

I am happy to report that the show was a success. The performances were fantastic (especially John’s) and the audience loved it. There was an adjudication at the end, about which I was quite nervous. It was an older man who sat in the FRONT ROW and wrote throughout the three shows. He also made a lot of disgruntled noises during the first show, which did not help my nerves! He tore the first play apart. I agreed with everything he said, but it was brutally honest and I thought he could have found a more constructive way of saying that the show sucked. Then-in my opinion- he was a little too kind to the second show. It was a full-length that they cut for the purpose of the festival and we all know how well that usually turns out! I would be interested to see the full-length, but the one act didn’t do much for me. He thought it was good, though. Then- it was our turn….HE LOVED IT! He said the dialogue was “snap-crackle-pop!” He said it was “nicely stylized” and the characters were “clear.” He commented on everything we had worked on- it was a GREAT FEELING! The only negative thing he had to say is that in general he doesn’t like the American Male Voice and that John might have slowed down a bit to help those who don’t understand the “jargon.” Well, unfortunately, that was a choice I made as part of the style that he had complemented earlier and I had never thought of the fact that people might not understand the accent. It definitely gave me something to think about. Afterwards, I introduced myself and thanked him for his comments and he gave me another note, which was right on. He was very complimentary and I was very pleased.

BUT---I have to vent to you because you will understand. The guys who run the festival were extremely friendly and laid-back- really nice guys. At tech, I was a little put-off by their relaxed nature since I’m used to the very strict regime of the Sam French Festival and Fringe and because I’m a bit OCD about organization and efficiency. I told myself to embrace it and be thankful for the change, but deep inside I was worried- worried that "relaxed" really meant "not on the ball." Well, guess what- they messed up! For those of you who don’t know the play, Below 14th is a very easy show techwise. There is: lights up, lights down and three sound cues. Cake- Well, they brought in the opening sound cue before John was set, snapped at my actress to enter BEFORE they brought up the lights and brought in a sound cue, which was the cue for a line, late! Needless to say, I was very unhappy with the tech, but the cast handled it all beautifully and no one was the wiser. So, all-in-all it was a great night. The end.

Double Your Pleasure...

John and I have decided to each write a snippet tonight to make up for the fact that it's been over a week since our last blog. Surprise! I'm starting! I am so sorry that I left you hanging about our dinner at Christopher's and The Crucible. We had a fantastic night! Most of you will remember that we got a free dinner for two at Christopher's because of our bad experience when Flo was here. Well- let me tell you- when you walk into a restaurant with a letter from their manager apologizing for the horrible service and asking you to give it a second chance- people treat you like royalty! The service was IMPECCABLE and the food was ten times better than it was in February. So, suffice it to say the manager has really turned things around- go him! And it only got better from there. The Crucible was astonishingly good. The production design was simple and very well-utilized. The acting was honest. The direction was easy. He didn't put anything on it- didn't change the time or the language- he let the play speak for itself and it did. This is one of my favorite plays and the production was everything I'd want. We thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish. What a great night!

In other news---Below 14th goes up on Thursday at 7:30. We have tech tomorrow and we are definitely ready. I only wish we got more than one performance, but that's life! Laura (the playwright) and Philip are coming in Thursday to see it. And to celebrate the show and their being here and Memorial Day--we are having our first party. We're having a Barbecue on Saturday at our place---and of course it's supposed to rain all week- YAY!

Finally, I've taken another theatre-type job. I'm helping to coordinate a Community Arts Festival the weekend before The Fourth of July. It's a little bit of extra cash and I think I'll be making a couple of good connections. Most importantly I'll be helping a community put up an Arts Festival- which I think is pretty cool! One of the guys I'm working with on the festival is a director and he told me the best way for me to get Directing work here is to create my own work and get people to come see it. Sound familiar? So, Playwrights, start getting some stuff together, because once Below 14th is over, I'm going to start focusing on proposals and putting up my own production and I'll be calling you! That's all from my end- so without further ado...

RAUL! KING OF THE TANGO!

English schools are going to start sending warning notices to parents when their children are fat. Starting from Pre-school. I think that is the best way to raise healthy, well balanced children. You certainly won't develop low self-esteem or eating disorders when you are told you are FAT by your school. I'm sure they'll waste millions of pounds trying to socially educate parents and students on how not stick your finger down your throat or sleep with the first person who looks at you. Which brings me to another point - Britain's youngest mother is Eleven years old. WOW!

In other news, Arsenal lost the Champions cup to Barcelona. Not only did they lose it, they were winning until the last 10 minutes, and then they lost it. It's just like being in Philly. So no more football until June, when the World Cup starts. I think I will actually support England. I feel almost like a traitor, but come on, which one of you guys is going to support/care about the United States? Reminder - this is the MEN's world cup and Mia Hamm retired, so put your hand down Meredith. I will actually be in Frankfurt for Togo V. South Korea. Can you think of anything more exciting!

We made an impulse buy at Woolworth's. Corey Feldman's Directorial debut was only 1.99! We had to get it.

I go to Madrid Memorial Day evening for work. Jamie can't make it, so it won't be as awesome as it could be - but I believe I will struggle through somehow.

A Quickie

Hi everyone-

My first paid directing gig has come and gone. The Showcase went up this week. I think it went well and the Producer was happy, so - YAY! I'm hoping we can work it out so that I can direct some more in the fall. It depends on if the dates I'll be out of town conflict with the Showcase dates. We shall see...

I am very excited to announce that John and I are going to see the RSC Production of The Crucible tomorrow night!!!! I am very excited because I love the play and this production has gotten great reviews. We're going to try Christopher's again (the restaurant that gave me SQUID and then apologized with a free dinner for two) and then head to the theatre. I'll let you know how it goes!

Have a great weekend-

Have You Missed Me?

Hello Everyone--Jamie here! Sorry it's been so long...I've been a little busy and I have lots to tell!

First, I have an announcement: I have a new cousin! My Aunt Stephanie had a beautiful baby girl named Emily Rose Cooper on 5 May. YAY, Steph!

Speaking of 5 May, isn't it interesting that they don't celebrate Cinco de Mayo here? What a shock to my system to not be drinking Margaritas on Friday! Well, don't worry- I made it through on Stoli and diet coke. By the way, they don't call it Stoli here. When I order a Stoli and Diet--they usually look at me funny and I have to say "Stoli Vodka" and point. They say the whole name here. Who the hell says Stolichnaya?! Well, I guess it's not hard to say, but let's be honest- Stoli just sounds cooler! In other news...

I'm temping at a Property Management Company for rich people. The job should last until the middle of June. I'm finishing off a Maternity Leave because the woman before me got the lead in Pygmalion at a decent off-West End Theatre. It's fine. The people are pleasant, the work is easy and the pay is good. I've been a little stressed this week with temping, the Showcase, Below 14th and trying to keep up with my weightloss regiment for Flo's wedding. Guess which one has taken a back seat? But the Showcase goes up Tuesday and Wednesday, so that should give me a bit more time. Speaking of the showcase...

It's going well. We had a run-through yesterday and the Producer was very happy (which is good.) I've had a few problems with people who don't agree with me and don't take my direction, but overall it's been a great experience and I hope they ask me to do another.

Below 14th is also going really well. The cast is topnotch (they really are- I'm not just saying that because I'm married to one of them) and I feel very confident. I've just finished 20 letters inviting Artistic Directors of Fringe and Off-West End theatres to the show in the hopes of finding someone willing to give me more work. We shall see...

I am also happy to report that after only 4 months of living in London my name is in the Programme at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. Yes, I'm in there in a list of about 500 Stewards, but I'm there! I had my first Stewarding session today. It's opening weekend and the show is Coriolanus. I got stuck inside next to the gift shop selling programmes and renting out cushions, seat backs and blankets. So I didn't see the show but I did stay warm. I met some lovely ladies, mostly senior citizens, and Dominic Dromgoole walked past me. There seems to be a bit of skepticism among some of the Stewards regarding him. Everyone was so fond of Mark Rylance and I guess Mr. Dromgoole isn't as much of a woo-er as Mark was. I suppose time will tell.

In other news- John bought a grill today. We are hoping to have a cook-out Memorial Day Weekend. It's not actually called that here, but there is a bank holiday on Monday and it's the weekend after the show AND Phillip will be here. We're both looking forward to putting the Conservatory and Patio area to good use.

Well, that's all for now. I hope you're all doing well. Drop us an email if you have a chance and let us know what's up.

Cat Party

Banks closed = PARTY!

We have the day off today - National Holidays here are actually Bank Holidays. Banks close to celebrate something or other, and just about everyone else closes too. So we celebrate May Day!

The cats are great - they have adjusted quite well. Jovi love/hates the conservatory. We bought them new food dishes. One dish says Cat Party! and has a cat wearing a party hat. We're feeding our neighbors' kitten while they are away for the weekend. He's a lot of fun too. Which is good. Nothing worse than a boring kitten.

Jamie and I stepped in a big pile of poop Friday night. Whoops - I mistyped "Went to see American Dreamz". We also rented Revolver. WTF happened in that movie? I looked it up online and it still sounds like a load of BS with a big budget.

We noticed that our building has a neat plumbing fixture. An artifical waterfall was cascading next to our bedroom window earlier today. We go outside and see that there is a pipe sticking out from the 3rd story gushing water. I wonder what it was draining. Then again, I don't.
It has since stopped.

Rehearsals are going well for Below 14th. I've already learned a lot from Jamie. Jamie's other showcase is coming along as well AND she just got a new temp position as an assistant to a Real Estate sales team through June!

Signing off from the Mirror World of the UK,
John