Last Saturday a piece of my heart broke. I think there was an audible crack when I heard that a dear friend passed away very suddenly. All I could think was that the world had lost one of the good ones far too early, again. The shock and anger I felt really kicked me in the gut, but after Janice’s memorial today, I realise how thankful I am that I knew her and that I’ve got people like her in my life.

I met Janice in my first AmDram production in 2008 and, largely because of her kindness and good spirit, I’ve kept coming back to the theatre and to acting. Without AmDram in my life, so many amazing things wouldn’t have happened.

With AmDram, I get to be on stage and act and live out a part of my dream.

Every time a production moves into the Masque Theatre, I feel like I’m coming home again.

I get to make new friends. Each cast becomes a family really and the end of each production is bitter sweet.

Just some of the casts been lucky enough to call my theatre families

So thank you Janice. Thank you for inspiring me with your enthusiasm and your kindness.

Me, Robyn & Janice

Rest in Piece dear friend.

In honour of That Scottish Play opening this evening, I thought I’d share some Scottish wisdom with you

1. Money cannot buy happiness but somehow, it’s more comfortable to cry in a Mercedes Benz than it is on a bicycle.
2. Forgive your enemy but remember the bastard’s name.
3. Help a man when he is in trouble and he will remember you when he is in trouble again.
4. Many people are alive only because it’s illegal to shoot them.
5. Alcohol does not solve any problem, but then neither does milk.

FYI, That Scottish Play is the one that Shakespeare wrote that’s apparently bad luck to talk about… Please don’t make me say the name!!!

Upon the heath

So here it is… The obligatory 2010 in a nutshell post. The post where I look back on the year that has been and say some stuff about it… It’s been a year like most others, some good stuff happened, some bad stuff happened, some really crappy stuff happened. Most importantly I think I actually learned some really important lessons about life and friendship this year. I’ll probably relearn the lessons again next year because that’s how people are, but right now, I’m kinda happy about it all

So what happened in 2010? Deep breath… Here we go:

• I discovered blogging and created this lovely little home for myself! It’s been great fun and I can’t wait to build up my blogs even more next year.
• I worked very hard, at one point I think I was working about 4 jobs at once (freelancing, part time job, plays, voice overs!!!)
• I did two very successful plays this year: Rumours and Gigi. SO MUCH FUN!!! I don’t think I have ever laughed so hard in my life before than I did backstage during Gigi.
• I made some awesome new friends this year! Truly awesome people
• I also cemented two friendships that I will treasure for the rest of my life, and the best part is that they are as close friends with each other now as they are with me. We are all three quite different but somehow that just works. And I take it has a huge complement to me that they took the time to get to know each other and become friends!

Oh. Em. Gee. BFFs

• So on the down side, I lost some friends, which sucks. Not sure exactly what happened and I don’t want to dwell on it. I’m glad the worst of the nastiness is over and I’m actually past the emotional part of it.
• On the losing side still, we lost a family friend to the Son of a Bitch that is cancer. The less said about that the better. RIP Carla.
• So what else happened… My family had some ups and downs but we’re still together with all our animals too.
• I got a new phone! Yeahness! And a new laptop… which switches itself off for no reason and is still doing it after being “repaired”
• I discovered Google Calender! Life changing! Facebook events you can eat your heart out!
• I started a bucket list. And I’m filling it slowly with things that I really want to do or try or accomplish and hopefully, one day, I will.
• I had a personal trainer for 2 months, trying to give myself a kick up the arse and get fit. It worked! I fell off the wagon a bit but I definitely think it was worth the money.
• Oh yeah, there was that World Cup that happened How much fun?!?
• There was also a lot of giggling, cocktails, drinking games… Well the drinking games was just that one time and NEVER AGAIN, EVER! Until next time…
• I also re-found my direction. After a lot of hesitation and messing up (well I think I’ve been messing up), I think I may have actually found something that will work and I can be happy with

And I think that was most of the highlights…

This is my happy place. It doesn’t look like much, I know. It’s a large room full of tools, clothing, boxes, rostra, stairs, and all sorts of random odds and ends. It probably also hasn’t been cleaned thoroughly since it’s grand reopening 50 years ago. This room can also go from being completely quiet and bland to complete madness and chaos, full of shouting, nerves, laughter, running around and just general mayhem. What is this completely random place that is my happy place, you ask… It’s the green room behind the stage at The Masque Theatre of course

I actually dread the end of any show because I know I will have to leave this place not knowing exactly when I will come back to it. There is something about this place that makes me feel like I belong, like I’m finally in the right place at the right time and I know what I’m doing. I don’t if it’s just because I get to act when I’m here, or if because I’m with people who start off as strangers but become family almost over night or what the magic spell of this place really is. All I know is that without this space, what was left of my sanity would have packed up and gone home a long time ago.

Sorry, I know this post is revoltingly soppy and sentimental, but I can’t help it. Gigi has just ended and that family has been disbanded and I’m a little sad… But at least I know I can say for sure that I have made some excellent friends and my time in this green room was very well spent time

I can’t wait for the next show!

So on Sunday the Gigi cast finally got to move into the Masque! It was awesome, it was like coming back home after a long holiday. It really is a home away from home. Of course, this home was still a blank canvas and needed some TLC to turn it into Gigi-land. So we spent the day painting, moving things, building sets, messing around and generally bonding as a team. Here’s how the day progressed…

It's all so empty...

First things first. We measure out where everything has to go.

Mr Director lays it all out for us

Putting it all together

We also painted some props... and each other I ended up with a rather large black streak up the back of my leg...

Then as the day went on things got a little silly. We had some Air Guitar…

We had some gangstas…

But we spent the day working hard... Or hardly working just teasing

If you want to see how the set turned out and what all our hard work did, which you know you do… You’ll just have to head on down to the Masque between Friday 3 December and Saturday 18 December and watch the show!

Bookings are already open! Ticket prices are R80 for evenings and R75 for matinees.

To book phone Masque Theatre Bookings on 021 788 1898 (o/h) and for more information head over to http://www.muizenberg.info/masque.html