A Rationing of Kisses

Malachy, now seven-years-old, is a very different creature from Malachy-at-four, or Malachy-at-six. He was such a snuggly little fellow, and on many occasions would put his dirty little hands around our necks, and cover our faces with ferocious kisses, to the point where we called for mercy.



However, he has reached a point in his life where he feels kisses are just too unmanly. But his sisters and mother are slow to agree with him, so he has devised a plan.



His plan runs thus: if he establishes the routine that each family member may have one kiss in the morning, and one kiss in the evening (and by kiss, he means holding out his cheek in tolerant disdain) then he will appease our silly whims, without his character being completely marred.



As his older sister, who used to cover his soft baby face with kisses, this takes some getting used to. For now, when I bend down and brush my lips across his fuzzy head, I hear him say "You realize that counts as your evening kiss, and you have no more left today."



Oh well......



At least I know he still loves me. About three weeks ago, just after school got out, he nestled next to me on the couch. With a sad face, he told me he was going on a trip to visit our relatives for Christmas. I smiled, and said "Of course. I'm coming too!" His eyes grew very wide, then very happy. "You! You're coming with us?" he asked. Then he told me he was happy to go after all! So Cute.

Riding his bike at a campground near Crater Lake

Stage Make-up

Stage Makeup

One Kit—Many Uses

Image—such a fragile thing

Can be heightened, altered, covered—

Self-nature changed first outside then within

Wearing another’s identity with a sort of wonder.

Realizations. Curiosity. Empathy.

A mind opened by donning a different persona.

Corrective:
What if my nose was thin? My face less round?

Glamour:
Smooth skin, large eyes, glossy lips
One questions beauty—what do what do appearances signify...

Old Age:
Augment frown or smile lines?
Softening, creasing, portraying experience that can only truly come with time

Alien:
Unearthly—Other-worldly

Animal:
Zebra—stark stripes—opposites=depth
Individuality balanced with community membership

Historical:
What distinguishes one time from another? Humanity…certainly not.

Gender reversal:
Subtleties too lengthy to mention. Unimportant fact: fake facial hair itches

Plaster Mask—
Simply Anonymous

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Stage make-up was decidedly one of my favorite classes this past semester. We would spend one day a week doing research and designing, and the following class would be application. I have a binder FULL of drawings, and images used for inspiration. Anyway, I thought it would be fun to post a couple of the applications:

Sad Clown

Alien (of sorts!)

Fantasy: peacock masquerader

etc.

etc.

Moderate Old Age (grumpy)

Extreme age (I was assured the colors would work under stage lights)

Gender Reversal (duh)

My absolute favorite

(I went to get a chai with a friend after class, and these little kids couldn't keep their eyes off me--so much fun!)

MUNCH

1920s accurate

(Outlined lips, thick fake lashes, rosy cheeks)

1920's surreal

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Don't Mention My Name"

This past semester, I had a wonderful opportunity with my friend Kathy to co-direct (and costume design, prop design, etc. ) a high school show for the charter school my siblings belong to. The production was "Don't Mention my Name," by Fred Carmichael. It is a comedy/mystery about a fellow who shows up at a hideously furnished bed and breakfast, not knowing who he is, or why he is there. All the other characters have different names and identities for him, and the plot leads everyone on a merry round of confusion.

Our cast was so dedicated and enthusiastic. I have never met such a sweet and talented group of high schoolers. We had no offstage drama between the cast members! Matthew designed and built the set. It was so impressive, and I am so grateful, and so proud of him. The school (Principle, teachers, staff members) were so supportive and nice to work with. I think they enjoyed watching their school be "magically" altered into an entirely different world. Also, a local (haunted!) bed and breakfast lent us the furniture and props. Jason, Kathy's husband, took all these beautiful pictures.

Altogether, this was an amazing experience. I admit there were moments when I was worried about logistics, but everything came together in the end with beautiful results. The list of things I've learned from this project seems infinite. I feel more sure than ever that my vocation lies in the world of educational theatre.

Thank You to everyone involved. I LOVE YOU!

The Cast and Crew

"Dexter Chandler, you DID make reservations?"

"A new color my accountant gave me--book keeper red!"

"He could hurt his back...pushing up like that."

"We're sardin-ees"

Bart and Spike, our devoted techies

Notes at the final dress

~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~