Travel Journal Pick Up - MAY 1, 2011 HILTON HEAD ISLAND - Every thing is running on schedule. Hank met us at the theatre, gave us a tour, signed and gave us his book too! Went to lunch first, then to housing, a lovely condo near the beach - Fiddlers Cove. The warm air so soothing. Back to the theatre for tech. Which goes quite well. We run it with cues, then go cue to cue. Ann and Andrew, from Next Stage - Bath - drop into rehearsal - I am thrilled to see them - it has been since September! After tech, back to condo for a walk on the beach and a light dinner. Very happy with the SCRC black box theatre. Quite comfortable, acoustics excellent. I've discovered I've no access to a computer. The condo is not wired. J will work during the day while I have our little one and then I am performing every night. So no access. A week without one. A week of emails piling up. But there it is. I will make the best of it. I have posted the wrong charity, Hank tells me, but I cannot correct this now until I am home and can revise the link. Home is where I have "contribute" so there it is. The correct charity is linked here: http://www.hhisafeharbour.org/

Pick up from Travel Journal: April 30, 2011, Saturday
I write today from Savannah, GA. So comfortable down here. One arrives and one feels taken care of. I feel I have a special link or tie to the south. When I came down here for graduate school (University of South Carolina) I had just been through a terribly difficult time. And here we are, my dear father, Anthony Eterovich, has just passed away. It's very hard to explain how comforting the warm wind is. May is a perfect time to be here because it's not too hot yet. Though the heat never bothered me much, I used to walk around carrying a large cup of ice and sipping it as I walked up the street to rehearsal. Wish we could see Jeannine, but will be too hard to make the trip up and perform. We had a lovely meal at Vic's By the River. Our little one went to sleep early because no nap today. But I worry about everything and am excited to see the theatre tomorrow, May1.

http://www.hiltonheadtheatre.com/Just back from a rewarding week in Hilton Head, South Carolina. I will provide updates as I look back in my journal from the week. There was no opportunity to do real time updates. The condo where the theatre located us had no internet connection. I performed the show every night and was not able to go to the club house during the day to do updates. On my project list, get a new phone! I can't believe I've waited so long to do this! Just very out of date! Want to post photos as well. SCRC is an absolutely lovely theatrical space with wonderful acoustics. Jane Austen did well in there!

Photo by Owen Benson

Every day is a fun day. Even when there are challenges. Even when everybody in the house has a cold. Working though, lots on my mind. Today worked through the first half of Jane. Focused on my posture and the body types of Mr. Bennet, Mrs. Bennet, the Dutchess, Mr. and Mrs. Harcourt and Miss Tilney. The silliness must still be based in reality. Even though I was tired from running around, I still feel joy from doing this work. Couldn't get it out of my mind that Michael Kahn said he might come to see the show at the EAG. But I'm sure he says that to all his ex-students to give them encouragement without really meaning to come. I guess, after all these years, I feel like someone that is as big a deal as he is wouldn't come to a play by little old me. But then there is part of me that loves to hope and loves to imagine it. I feel I can say almost anything I want here, secretly, I think I am the only one that reads my blog! So how can it matter if I express a little self doubt here? It just happens some times. I'm working on "Belles" too. I've found a really nice ending for the play, I think. Like the idea of continuing the Ballroom Dance motif throughout. Photo taken by Owen Benson at the 10th Annual Jane Austen Festival in Bath, UK.

Rehearsing Jane today with props. Working on word endings. One gets lazy, you see. So I am back at it and really having fun. I love the idea that anything can happen (within reason)! Worked on differentiating the physicality of all the characters Jane plays. Amazing that ballroom dancing makes me much more conscious of my body in space. If I were running an MFA program I would make yoga and ballroom dancing part of the required curiculum. What is the well-rounded performer? With so much (technique) out there, sometimes the basics get left behind. Moving and speaking, not just so one is in character, but so one is communicating that character with an audience. Communication must never be left behind. I love all aspects of the theatre and some would say, in my old age, have an appreciation that I never had when I was younger. So this bit of acting I get to do in "Cheer from Chawton" and the writing I get to do on "Belles" I really have come to cherish.

Yesterday, April 7th, was my first ever Skype Interview as Aphra Behn. I was so nervous beforehand! I reviewed the script I had prepared with Dr. Cheryl Wanko's help. We were doing revisions up until the night before. But it went really well! I was surprised to find that I was able to connect with the students and the students really appeared to be having fun. They seemed to be happy with the fact that Aphra questioned and challenged some of the things they asked. I need to work on my endings. I could feel that. When I got to the end of my response, there didn't seem to be any finish. But I look forward to continued work on this! Shout out to Dr. Wanko - want to keep working on this with you! Yay!

Worked with Dr. Cheryl Wanko on Friday, March 25th, another run at how a Skype interview with Aphra Behn would go. I was speaking too slowly, searching for words. Not happy with it. Aphra Behn's mind works like lighting, she speaks at a normal, if not, fast pace. Then it hit me. There are answers to most of the students questions right there in my Love Arm'd text. My secret is, once I get the questions, I will cut and paste and modify answers right out of my text. And it's amazing, I really do remember almost all of that text, though it has been a year since I have performed it! I am excited about this. This I can get my teeth into!

"Belles" has been postponed to September 9th, 6pm due to family illness. On a lighter note I am preparing Aphra Behn for a Skype interview with Dr. Cheryl Wanko's West Chester University students. A shout out to West Chester U Theatre Department with congrats on their recent production at the KCACTF! With regard to the interview, it will be custom made, I am weaving Aphra's words in with spontaneous responses to students questions, how will it go? Thinking stages right now but giving me new ideas about revising the show too!

EVENT POSTPONED TO SEPTEMBER 9TH, 6PM
"Belles of Beaverdale" on Broadway!

Previously scheduled for Friday, February 11, 2011, 7:30 pm, "Belles of Beaverdale" a reading of a new play by Karen Eterovich, directed by Erma Duricko starring Louisa Cabot, David Copeland, Marianne Cullinan, Michael Graves, Susan Laubach and June Springer. Part of the Friday Night Footlight Series at the Dramatists Guild, 1501 Broadway, 7th Floor, in the Frederick Loewe Room. A Midwestern take on Three Sisters for 5 characters.

Just realized I had 7 gigs to post! It's 11pm and I got them all up. Now to prep a New Year's Newsletter. You go along, you think nothing is happening and then there it is, stacks of mail all around me, how to get to it? But this is a happy kind of busy to be! Miss Bates in Bath, silly, silly, silly!

Where did the week go? We are at the airport. Show was yesterday, we sold out! Every joke landed. Very gratifying. Lots of questions after the show. Amy should be glad, people gasped at end when I spoke with my American accent. I don't know if I'll get any kind of review but I was very happy with how the show went. And I was nervous beforehand. The Wessex Suite was a lovely venue. The platform ended up working better than I expected. The people were responsive, laughed alot. Expect the unexpected. Many were in costume and I loved that. Acoustics mediocre but not as difficult as the library - those books absorb sound. Our little one came in for part of the show, she watched for a while, Mummy very distracted but stayed on course. Tech started at 12 noon. Jackie had everyone in place. Worked thru lights and sound and with folks playing my family. Everyone was happy to be there and in the mood to have fun. Once finished with all that, there was another show at the venue. I went downstairs, slowly applied make-up, wig, put on jewelry and started running the show full tilt. My voice finally seemed warmed up and I got thru most of the play before it was time to go upstairs again at 3:15. Ran Miss Bates several times over, as I got confused the first few times. But glad I stayed with it because the pay off came in the performance where I stayed straight on course. Around 4:00 I went downstairs again to do final prep, write some thank you's, suck on cough drops. Then up again at 4:25 as they were getting the last few audience in. You enter and you are terrified. Heart pumping. Will they be cross with me or go with me. You ride it out. Intake of breath, terrified look, sudden smile, everyone laughs. I think they'll go with me. Next joke coming up, "Fanny and I are just back from London, I was hardly there a minute before I could feel my morals declining." Big laugh, I've got them. Tense during the Pride and Prejudice sequence, aware everyone knows it. Susan and Amy admonishing me to go slower here paid off. Just trusted the words, welcomed the audience in the world. After P & P, things got easier because I trust more. Fun with Northanger Abbey, Henry and Eliza, Lady Susan. Wandered into audience after Tom Lefroy for the Three Sisters section. Jane's language in that is great. Miss Bates was hysterical, warm responses from everyone. Ann says I'm a clown. I love playing comedy. Who knows if I'll get to do this again? But much joy experienced in making people laugh. I must continue somehow. Don't know if anyone reads these posts, but they are fun to write.

Night before show. We've been to Cornwall and back. Visited Stonehenge and Salisbury too. Saw Knee High's production of the Red Shoes at the Bristol Old Vic. Yesterday drove to Lacock - the Abbey and the village kept pristine. Delightful meal at the Red Lion. Today toured the stage area of the Theatre Royal with the Jane Festival talk on Theatre. Tired. Late now. Going to run lines and a bit later supply more details.

Arrived safely. Love landing in England or Europe. Always feel ready to go do something! Looking out from the office of our illustrious hosts, Ann Garner and Andrew Ellison. From their window I see a terrace with white, pink and red geraniums in pots of all shapes and sizes, very homey yet classical at the same time. Beyond I see some of the old stone buildings of Bath - that gray/blond stone that is emblematic of the architecture of this great city. Ivy climbing walls everywhere still very green - a cool day with a warm sun. My eyelids drooping - still want to attend the Next Stage production tonight! Must be off for now.

Lists and lists of things to do. Little gifties to buy. Each day though a little more progress is made. Worked on Henry and Eliza and Lady Susan yesterday. Tom Lefroy and Emma sections will come tomorrow. Have always loved working on H & E and Lady S. but always felt like I needed to be something more with Lady S. Am doing more mirror work now - like she is fixing her face getting reading for a secret meeting with Mr. Manwaring! "Poor fellow! he is quite distracted by Jealousy, which I am not sorry for, as I know no better support of Love." Jane Austen from Lady Susan. Photo above taken at Hanover College performance! Here's a link to Verses to Rhyme with Rose on You Tube! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPHF2ePiEiI

I am working on the dance every day! It occurred to me I should use that as my warm-up, always! Tonight I added music and reminded myself the count is much faster than what I was doing yesterday for myself. Over and over again will be the only way for me. Must stick to this resolution. Breaking the play into five sections also works very well. Allows me to do detailed work on each section. Tonight was the "Novel writing and Northangar" Section. Susan suggested I make the novel section really personal. Amy wants the lines leading up to and including "Perhaps, someday, everyone will know who wrote P&P" to be as if I am revealing something for the first time. I'm not articulating this well. Certainly the whole play should be like this. Jane's words are best: I dined upon goose yesterday, which, I hope, will secure a good sale of my second edition." Jane Austen's Letter to Cassandra, 11-12 October 1813.

Preparations continue. Not getting as much done as I want to each day. Love the work and have learned to love all the work leading up to the work. Program not done. Thinking out loud now. Worked on dance section alot tonight. I don't possess it yet. Very hard for me considering my feet. The P & P section goes better and better. Silly fun too - love to make faces and mug insufferably! What can be said of that except it offers genuine enjoyment. Facebook invites done though - quite an accomplishment. Liked going through all the faces of my friends, I mean looking at all the photos. So lucky, so happy to be blessed with such friends. It's the sort of thing that boosts one on! "Your silence on the subject of our ball makes me suppose your curiosity too great for words." Jane Austen's Letter to Cassandra, 24 January 1809

Though rainy, another great day of rehearsal in the city. Today met with vocal coach and co-director, Amy Stoller. More refinements on the text. Very happy to run entire show. Vocally hoarse. Ricky (Amy's cute little dog) approved of everything I did! He looked quite dignified as Amy gave me notes, as if to say "Now pay attention here!" I am still tending toward rushing moments especially in the Pride and Prejudice section. But I enjoyed trying out the new ideas Susan gave me too. I took so many notes I hope I remember which ones are the new ones. Feels so good to be up on my feet acting again! Don't know where or how I can find my way into another show but ... somehow. I know I am a better actor now than I have ever been. Isn't it funny that by the time you learn enough of everything, you're almost too old to do anything? But Susan actually said yesterday that I was too young for a part in a show she is directing. This was very gratifying. Nice being told I am too young for something. "My black cap was openly admired by Mrs. Lefroy, and secretly I imagine by everybody else in the room." Jane Austen Letter to Cassandra, 24-6 December 1798.

A sad day in New York City but decided to make it a productive day. Just finished an inspiring and thought provoking rehearsal with Susan Pilar. We did some sensational work on the piece today and I've got some great stuff to work on in the coming week. She reminded me about taking more moments to reveal the inner Jane, being more selfish for her sake as it were. These are thoughts I have not allowed myself to have. In the beginning you're always so worried about losing the line. Then you are cowed by the fact you are uttering such famous words. I have to remind myself that the audience is seeing this for the first time, that they don't know the conventions and that I can take my time! What joy there is in this - creating life on stage. Being reminded of that again. Husband and baby did fine without me as I knew they would but I missed them. "I cannot determine what to do about my new gown; I wish such things were to be bought ready-made." Jane Austen in a letter to Cassandra, 24-6 December 1798.

Labor Day in the US. Show at the Glen Rock Library tomorrow. Super happy about it, chomping at the bit to get out there again. Had two run-thrus today. Our little daughter witnessing the first one, or rather disrupting it! But I got through. Ready to rumble as they say but not "mumble"! No mumbling permitted. Working on conserving energy tonight. Lots of pr out there - 44 attending as of last Thursday and show in UK - all but 29 tickets are sold! "One cannot have too large a party. A large party secures its own amusement." EMMA by Jane Austen, 1816

More than a week since my last posting! Difficult to do everything and manage the baby too! But things are moving along. Almost finished sending email notices. Already have 30 reservations at the Glen Rock Public Library. The show is going to be crowded! Fun, fun, fun! Today tried to run wig over to Nilda but shop closed on Monday. Must go back tomorrow. Working on poster and flyer for England. Library flyer sent to Staples. Will post in local shops as soon as I can. "Our pleasures in this world are always to be paid for." Henry Tilney, Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen, published 1818.