I've not been feeling terribly well since returning from France so I went to the walk-in clinic today and what were they playing on the waiting room television?
Alegria.
Only in Montreal...
Showing posts with label illness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label illness. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Monday, April 5, 2010
No Rest for the Wicked, Part III
The evil flu that has the circus in its grip has struck again. This time, bright and early Easter morning. And you know that means... right before a matinee!
Ug.
"Ug" would be the sound that various acrobats, musicians and technicians make as they groggily make their way into the Chapiteau to rearrange the show, yet again.
We prepared for the worst. Once again it was one of the acrobats that got sick. Only L does a solo trampoline number, a hand to hand number and is the work horse in the group trampoline act. We were going to have a hell of a time replacing her on such short notice. There was talk of canceling the show.
Fortunately, women are made of tougher things than men folk. You see, unlike A who missed a couple of shows, C did her act when she was sick, and L did both trampoline numbers despite having spent the entire night with the porcelain princess. I think it's fair to say that she is the definition of hardcore. She did, however, skip the hand to hand act because barfing on her partner's face would have been rude.
*
That meant coming up with a new transition between my act and... I don't even know any more. The show just keeps changing... whatever came next, we made a new transition into it. The joke was that we shouldn't make it too good or the director would want to keep it.
The show went reasonably well. I was preoccupied during my act because I kept thinking about the new transition that was coming up next. There was confusion during the straps act over who was doing what manipulation when, plus other assorted scramblings.
Here's hoping that tomorrow everyone arrives with digestive systems under control, body temperatures normal, and all fingers and toes accounted for.
* If you can't read the text on the image, it says: "Fact: Girls are tougher than tigers."
Ug.
"Ug" would be the sound that various acrobats, musicians and technicians make as they groggily make their way into the Chapiteau to rearrange the show, yet again.
We prepared for the worst. Once again it was one of the acrobats that got sick. Only L does a solo trampoline number, a hand to hand number and is the work horse in the group trampoline act. We were going to have a hell of a time replacing her on such short notice. There was talk of canceling the show.
Fortunately, women are made of tougher things than men folk. You see, unlike A who missed a couple of shows, C did her act when she was sick, and L did both trampoline numbers despite having spent the entire night with the porcelain princess. I think it's fair to say that she is the definition of hardcore. She did, however, skip the hand to hand act because barfing on her partner's face would have been rude.
*That meant coming up with a new transition between my act and... I don't even know any more. The show just keeps changing... whatever came next, we made a new transition into it. The joke was that we shouldn't make it too good or the director would want to keep it.
The show went reasonably well. I was preoccupied during my act because I kept thinking about the new transition that was coming up next. There was confusion during the straps act over who was doing what manipulation when, plus other assorted scramblings.
Here's hoping that tomorrow everyone arrives with digestive systems under control, body temperatures normal, and all fingers and toes accounted for.
* If you can't read the text on the image, it says: "Fact: Girls are tougher than tigers."
Saturday, April 3, 2010
No Rest for the Wicked, Part II
First, A developed some kind of flu of death that left him completely out of commission for four days. Then, R caught a milder version of it and, being a musician, managed to get through the show, albeit with difficulty. Now, C seems to be the latest victim.
She did the show last night, though with a lighter version of her number. She also looked more like death warmed over than the sultry model she is supposed to portray in the show. But props to her for doing not only her act, but also the group trampoline act! Had it been me, I'd have sat that one out.
We did, of course, spend a good chunk of the afternoon coming up with a plan "B". Its a good thing we didn't have to do it though because it was the worst plan "B" ever. Admittedly, it really was the only option, it just wasn't a good one.
So, since we lucked out with C performing, the circus gods instead chose to throw numerous technical difficulties our way. Ropes getting stuck and dangling limply on stage, pulleys falling apart right before their moment of glory, L spraining his thumb mid-way though the show, and my personal favourite, A coming on stage without his costume because he couldn't find it. That was a classic for the ages. Especially since the other three of us were disguised as picture frames... my did he look out of place...
We've done three shows. There are three weeks to go. I'd ask what else can go wrong but frankly, I don't want to know.
She did the show last night, though with a lighter version of her number. She also looked more like death warmed over than the sultry model she is supposed to portray in the show. But props to her for doing not only her act, but also the group trampoline act! Had it been me, I'd have sat that one out.
We did, of course, spend a good chunk of the afternoon coming up with a plan "B". Its a good thing we didn't have to do it though because it was the worst plan "B" ever. Admittedly, it really was the only option, it just wasn't a good one.
So, since we lucked out with C performing, the circus gods instead chose to throw numerous technical difficulties our way. Ropes getting stuck and dangling limply on stage, pulleys falling apart right before their moment of glory, L spraining his thumb mid-way though the show, and my personal favourite, A coming on stage without his costume because he couldn't find it. That was a classic for the ages. Especially since the other three of us were disguised as picture frames... my did he look out of place...
We've done three shows. There are three weeks to go. I'd ask what else can go wrong but frankly, I don't want to know.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
No Rest for the Wicked
As I write this, I’m sitting in my caravan. I can hardly move for fatigue. I’m actually surprised by the speed my fingers seem to be typing with because I can’t imagine ever summoning that kind of energy again. And yet… tap tap tap… there they go!
Every part of me is sore. Including stupid things, like my speedy little fingers. Last night we pulled off a near miracle. A good thing too, what with last night’s performance being the premiere in my circus’ home town. As if the dramatic arts weren’t dramatic enough on their own…
The night before last, the night of the dress rehearsal, A was too sick to perform. So we put together some half-assed run where we mimed his presence and handed out his cues. My personal favourite moment would have been when 52 year old P pretended to do A’s strap act, bare-chested and all.
A is a fighter. I’ve seen him continue a show after crashing head first into the floor. And that too was a dress rehearsal. He could have stopped and it wouldn’t have mattered. He performed on a torn bicep for a ridiculous period of time. He is too proud, too stubborn, too good sit out.
Which is why I surely don’t need to tell you how shocked we were when, the morning of the premiere, we were told he would not be doing the show.
We were all so convinced that he would be up and moving come show time that we didn’t have a plan “B”. There was talk of canceling the premiere! Telling 1000 people to stay home. One thousand and one if you count the Dutch photographer who was coming in for one night only to get pictures for the Dutch portion of the tour.
Shit.
Phone calls were made. The beginning of the show was reworked, the group act was adapted. A replacement was found, but he only arrived some time after 16h00. He learned A's act and, as C and I basically sit on stage looking pretty the entire strap act, we coached him as he ran it. By the time we managed to go over everything, we were all late for the preset.
Somehow, we made it through. Under circumstances like that, I don't think there's any other choice. I suppose it's part of the magic of live performance. But I'm good for magic for the next little while. So let's have things get back to normal. Okay? Okay.
Every part of me is sore. Including stupid things, like my speedy little fingers. Last night we pulled off a near miracle. A good thing too, what with last night’s performance being the premiere in my circus’ home town. As if the dramatic arts weren’t dramatic enough on their own…
The night before last, the night of the dress rehearsal, A was too sick to perform. So we put together some half-assed run where we mimed his presence and handed out his cues. My personal favourite moment would have been when 52 year old P pretended to do A’s strap act, bare-chested and all.
A is a fighter. I’ve seen him continue a show after crashing head first into the floor. And that too was a dress rehearsal. He could have stopped and it wouldn’t have mattered. He performed on a torn bicep for a ridiculous period of time. He is too proud, too stubborn, too good sit out.
Which is why I surely don’t need to tell you how shocked we were when, the morning of the premiere, we were told he would not be doing the show.
We were all so convinced that he would be up and moving come show time that we didn’t have a plan “B”. There was talk of canceling the premiere! Telling 1000 people to stay home. One thousand and one if you count the Dutch photographer who was coming in for one night only to get pictures for the Dutch portion of the tour.
Shit.
Phone calls were made. The beginning of the show was reworked, the group act was adapted. A replacement was found, but he only arrived some time after 16h00. He learned A's act and, as C and I basically sit on stage looking pretty the entire strap act, we coached him as he ran it. By the time we managed to go over everything, we were all late for the preset.
Somehow, we made it through. Under circumstances like that, I don't think there's any other choice. I suppose it's part of the magic of live performance. But I'm good for magic for the next little while. So let's have things get back to normal. Okay? Okay.
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