I love my 19th century hairdo.

Tonight we will be doing our first preview of A Christmas Carol. After several dress rehearsals and tech runs I think we're all itching to have an audience. During final dress last night enough silly little things happened to make it feel like a final dress (getting my skirt caught under some furniture, being seen in the house lights while exiting after the Act I blackout etc.). Y'know, those little things you need to get out of your system before you open.

I'm really happy to be doing this show with so many talented performers. Our Scrooge is Billy Vickers, a 21(!) year Shaw Festival veteran. He's a joy to watch. And the cast as a whole is made up of very strong and seasoned actors.

And you know what I love? My 1850's hairdo. I've been putting my hair up in a high bun, with big fat sausage curls at the side of my face. At first I was sweeping my bangs to the side, but now I've started curling them. I look like a gigantic doll and I love it. I'm not gonna lie: I kind of wish this hairstyle was still "in".

The Story of Stuff.

I just got an iPod in June and already the headphones are broken. I like your products, Apple, but is this an example of planned obsolescence? The idea of replacing my 5-month old headphones with a new pair got me to thinking about all the wasting I'm doing: always forgetting to bring my reusable grocery bags when I go to the store, taking those uber-packaged frozen dinners to rehearsal because they're so convenient, buying things that I just don't need.

Okay, so it wasn't just the headphones. I also just watched The Story of Stuff which is a fantastic deconstruction of our society's production and consumption model. It is definitely worth a viewing.

As far as I'm concerned, sustainability is en vogue this year, and I'm going to stop treating it like that thing I'll get around to as soon as I have enough time. My goals for the coming year:

1. Try to use Freecycle whenever I need something or want to get rid of something.
2. Never buy another plastic water bottle.
3. Avoid buying items that come in heavy packaging.
4. Support green companies.
5. Remember those reusable grocery bags!

Toronto Star article about the "other" Marias.

Mornin', everyone! (Well, it's morning here in Prince George anyway). Today there's an article in the Toronto Star about the 8 Marias from HDYSAPLM who, well, aren't Maria. Want to hear what Allie, Tamara, Kyla, Katie, Donna, Jayme and Marisa have been up to? Oh, and me? Check it out here.

Yesterday it snowed...

which I suppose is alright because this is northern B.C. and it is November. I'm enjoying my daily walk to and from the theatre, sporting my big white muck lucks and black toque with the ear flaps. I'm going for the "puffy and warm" look while in Prince George. Every so often I'll get a sniff of the pulp and paper mill, but it's not so bad. It smells a little bit like home cooking at first and then you realize THAT'S NOT FOOD. So far I haven't ventured out into the town much because there's lots of work to be done, but when the show is up I'll go exploring. Everyone keeps talking about the Value Village. I don't know why. Is it a really good Value Village? I must find out.

YES THEY DID!

Thank you, America. You did it!

I can't quite see Russia from here.

Well, I have started rehearsals with Theatre North West in Prince George, B.C. Yesterday was our first day, after having flown in from Toronto on Saturday. Want to see the first picture that comes up when you image-search "Prince George, British Columbia" on google?

Amazing. It turns out that this is "Mr. P.G.", an anthropomorphic assortment of logs who greets newcomers to the city at the intersection of Highways 97 and 16. Thanks, Wikipedia! I haven't seen this guy in person yet, but I think I have to.

We rehearse 2-10 here, and by the end of yesterday's rehearsal my body thought it was 2am because of the change of time zone, and moving the clocks back an hour. But other than getting a little sleepy, rehearsal went very well. Ted Price, the AD and director of A Christmas Carol, is very efficient in his directing. We've already blocked Act I, and I expect we'll have blocked Act II by the end of Tuesday's rehearsal. Oh, did I mention today is a day off? Total score.