Real Shady Ladies

I have spent the last few years trying to figure out what shady ladies really did wear back in the 1870s-1900s.  Contrary to popular belief, they did not dress like Miss Kitty on Gunsmoke. You know the costume - slutty can-can girl with a cheesy feather boa and cheap satin skirt that's far too short or slit up to her navel. No, the Victorian dance hall girl/saloon girl/actress wore something a bit different.

These are the costumes that I try to copy, at least to some extent. The last girl always makes me think maybe she isn't happy in her chosen profession, or that she didn't care for the photographer. Whatever the case may be, it's a unique picture, from her pose to her clothing to her attitude. And bare knees! How scandalous.

The Crucible, Part 2

crucible
— n
1.	a vessel in which substances are heated to high temperatures
2.	the hearth at the bottom of a metallurgical furnace in which the metal collects
3.	a severe trial or test

When we decided to do The Crucible, we knew it would be tough.  Some people, when I told them we would be doing it, gave me that look that said, "Teenagers doing The Crucible? What are you, nuts?" I was told that teens couldn't handle it, but I knew my kids.  They are talented, brilliant, mature kids who can do anything they set their mind to.  They could do it and do it well.

And they did. In a most spectacular fashion. They put their audience through the wringer in a grim, emotional roller coaster ride.  How many high school plays have you been to that brought you to tears? The audience reception was phenomenal, and I am incredibly pleased with my cast and crew.

However.  Yes, there is a "however." After last night, I begin to wonder if teens really can handle The Crucible.  On one hand, a lot of teen actors just can't do the material justice.  On the other hand, the kids who can do it justice may not be able to deal with the emotions they must dredge up.  Yesterday afternoon, we (the advanced theatre kids) were at a theater conference at UTEP.  It was quite informative.  At the acting workshop, one of the things the professor told them was to bring themselves to their performances.  My kids seemed to take this to heart, and while it would be great for something like "Barefoot in the Park", for The Crucible, it was devastating.

I have never seen so many tears, so many emotional meltdowns, so much anger, bewilderment, and frustration during a show.  Sure, these things happen during every show, but not on the scale it did last night.  All of the principals were in tears at one point or another, and over small things, things that would not normally have had them sobbing in the dressing room, or getting hysterical outside it.  But the amount of emotional fireworks backstage was directly proportional to the amount of raw emotion brought to the stage itself.  And that's why last night was so good.

But it's a double-edged sword.  In order to bring the intensity needed to give a good show, emotions must be brought to the surface, and they sit there, raw and open, making the owner wince at every touch.  One cannot keep up that kind of intensity for very long without feeling the devastating effects.

So can teenagers handle The Crucible? Are they emotionally mature enough to effectively deal with the emotions that they will evoke?  I wonder, and I worry - have I scarred them for life?!?!  Ok, that's The Crucible talking, but I think you get my point.

Every fire, no matter how hot, must burn down to ashes at some point.  Last night's performance was exceptionally hot.  I fear that they have burned themselves out and that they cannot do that again.  Worse, though, is that I think they shouldn't do it again. I just don't like seeing my kids dealing with that much emotional trauma.

The Crucible

Saturday was the first full dress rehearsal. We have made almost all of the girls' costumes, and a few of the boys'. The rest were rented due to time constraints.  But I'm rather pleased with the outcome.  Here are some preliminary pics.

Stressed Out

I tend to get stressed out this close to show time, especially when we aren't finished making the costumes. I know I'm stressed out because everything anyone does just irritates the hell out of me. Giggling teenage girls were the culprits yesterday, and it isn't like I can avoid them in a high school.

Another thing that bothers me, though less so, is that when my best seamstress looked at a dress I was debating on a closure for and said "I can put a zipper in that, easy," I said YES!  A zipper!!! Gah!  But, at this point, I just want it done.  Plenty of Puritans had zippers - in The Crucible.  I'm sure my dress did when I played Rebecca Nurse in the 70s.  So much for my lofty costuming aspirations.

Still Tweaking

It's been a while since I had a blog, so it will take me a while to have Draped to the Knees (2.0) looking as I like.  Bear with me while I go through birthing pains.

Shoes

Period-type shoes are so hard to find. Why do they have to put zippers on lace-up boots?  Do they really think we are incapable of spending a few extra minutes tying our shoes? There are some really good looking granny boots out there right now, but every single one of them has a zipper. Pah! So I either buy one of 3 or 4 styles available from Oak Tree Farms or I scrounge around looking for used/vintage shoes.  Jackpot!

Found these at www.etsy.com.  Perfect for my wedding.  I guess they are vintage if you consider 80s-90s vintage. Whoever had them probably bought them for her wedding, then didn't wear them.  They are actually ivory, and a gold/cream color is one of the colors on my dress.  The other is light blue. More later.

Again With the Blog!!

I have gone too long without a blog. I realize I really need one when I am sewing, because just posting to FB is limiting.  So, the new blog.

Things  I am currently working on:

My son's Sack Coat Suit ca. 1880
Costumes for The Crucible
My fiance's 1880's Sheriff/Cattle Baron/Old West/Wedding outfit
My wedding dress (mostly finished)
Wedding favors - they'll be real cute!

So, look for this stuff in the future.