Weekend Viewing Guide

On Saturday night the first episode of Doctor Who premiered in the US. Many fans breathed a sigh of relief- though still warming up, both Matt Smith and Steve Moffat presented an excellent first effort. The show had energy, Amy and the Doctor had great chemistry and a story arch for the whole season has already been hinted at. Prisoner Zero tells him "the silence is coming," that someone is leaving cracks in time. I've already seen the second and third episodes that have aired in the UK and can say without giving away much, that cracks appear in those episodes as well. Amy's memory also proves to have inexplicable gaps that the Doctor doesn't understand in the third episode. On the Doctor's radar in the end of the first episode something that looked like one of the cracks blipped across the screen, but I could be wrong. It was late when I was watching. When watching Who attention to detail is extremely important, but some people get carried away. I don't want to be one of those people, but it's easy to make wild speculations in a show like this.
The trailer for the fourth episode shows the return of River Song and the Weeping Angels, both pet creations of Moffat from his episodes "Silence in the Library/The Forest of the Dead" and "Blink." Rehearsals have been running late for me on Saturday nights, so the DVR and I are becoming best friends.
This Sunday was the first part of Small Island on Masterpiece Classic. I've never read the book, but find the story very interesting and would like to read it now. Masterpiece has been struggling to re-define itself and bring in a younger audience, they seem to be hitting their stride with this season's stories taking place in the early part of the 20th century around the World Wars. I eagerly anticipate what their next season will bring.

Since I'm Not Busy Enough Already...

I applied to be a contributor to the popular music and film blog "The Playlist". It's a different style than I'm used to here and in the paper, but it might be beneficial and it's always good to get one's name out. Who knows, one day someone might pay me to write something. *Dreams*
My first article appeared tonight under my real name, not my creative writing name (Odessa). I also realized that I must start watching more contemporary films and reading magazines like Entertainment Weekly.
You can check out the blog here.
And, because I promised I'd mention it: I had the most peculiar pleasure of meeting my friend Lynn's boyfriend last night. His name is Richard and he runs his own comic company, InterVerse Comics LLC. Our conversation started at a very strange point and hit several others before the evening was through and I had to go to rehearsal. Oh, yes, speaking of busy, I'm performing in a Greek tragedy in an outdoor theatre next month.

Jane Austen and Getting Plastered

These two things are not connected, I would never imply that Miss Austen would behave indiscreetly at a public gathering or in even private. However I would like to note that today is her birthday. Her 234th birthday if my math is correct. What with all the turmoil surrounding her lately with paraliterature and poor adaptations, I suggest that in remembrance of her work, pure and untouched by others, we take a moment to read some favorite passages today. Northanger Abbey here I come! Though not very popular, I think it is hilarious. What are your favorites?

Now to the "getting plastered" bit which I'm sure sounds scandalous. Well, you may be dissapointed, but I mean it literally. An aquaintance of mine is directing an updated version of an ancient Greek play in the spring. To help out with her lack of actors I auditioned and was cast. Part of her vision for the piece is to have the players masked and perform in almost a pantomine style while the chorus narrates. last night we made my mask.
If you have never had strips of plaster soaked gauze applied to your face, you probably don't know how trippy it is. First you have thick greasy layer of vaseline applied to your face and straws pushed up your nose to enable breathing (always important). When first applied the strips almost feel nice, like a thick, damp second skin. Slowly though, they harden and draw away slightly, but are still somehow stuck to you; I imagine it's what an exoskeleton feels like. When it was set the plaster ended up sticking to my face more than it should have and left bits clinging to my red, irritated flesh. Due to the cumbersome and quick-drying nature of the paster paste applied over top the gauze, drops ended up in my hair and in my eyelashes. The latter led to me getting plaster dust in my eye.
As I washed my face with shampoo- which my friend supplied, assuring me it was fine for my skin- I reminded myself how much I love the theatre, and how lucky I was not to be the girl that is playing my daughter (in spite of our closeness in age). She ended up with a glop of plaster paste in her mouth which had to stay there for the fifteen minutes it took to set her mask. I realized too late that some photographic evidence should have been taken. Oh well.