This is the final weekend of "The Weir" and last night's show was actually filled to capacity, which for a Thursday evening is unheard of. At least, I've never heard of such a thing before.

I know we've highlighted the whole Supernatural aspect of the play... but it's really so much more than that. Michael Swanwick and his wonderful wife, Marianne, came to the show last night, and afterwards he wrote that the play is far more about human contact and how it's the one thing holding us back from "the abyss." It's difficult to sum up such a play when it deals in intangibles and that glorious sense of atmosphere. All I know is that, as a performer, I leave the theatre every night feeling like I've plumbed the debths of heartache and love and understanding and life... and my eyes and soul are wide open.

Sometimes, when I leave the theatre, I hope audience members have lingered so that I can hear them express something of what they thought or felt. When, as happened last night, the only thing I find are empty streets with a few dry leaves blowing away, all I can do is howl at the moon.

There are still tickets available for Saturday (the last show) at 3:00. If you come, please please stay and talk to me... because otherwise, I feel needy and have to run home to Kyle so that he can give me a hug and tell me he loves me. Which actually isn't such a bad way to end the night.

Kyle makes me feel so pretty. When I emerged from my sick bed on Sunday, I plopped myself (glamorously, of course, as carolynturgeon would say) on the sofa and tried to catch up with email. But Kyle said "Don't move! Don't move!" seeing a particular light he admired, and suddenly I felt like a film queen.



I later watched the Garbo documentary I have from TCM, narrated by Julie Christie... and was shocked (although I'd already known it, but now we're precisely the same age) to hear she was 36 when she turned her back on movie-making and lived the next fifty years hidden away in her Manhattan apartment.

At 36, life is just beginning.

I finally feel like myself today after having fallen prey to the horrific cold bug that's been making the rounds. But this, only after sleeping all afternoon on Thursday, all day Friday and all day yesterday. Kyle took good care of me by making things that sounded particularly good, in great abundance, like chili and vegetable soup. And then, today I woke up feeling like a human being again.

It certainly made performing an interesting experience, but we've gotten good responses from everyone who's seen "The Weir" and we've even added a final matinee performance next Saturday at three for people who have been turned away at the door!

I'd also planned to be far more social this weekend. I missed "That 1 Guy" at the World Cafe last night, and then he was gone this morning before I got up, so I didn't even get to meet him! Hopefully, he'll be through Philadelphia again before long.... I hope.

Now off to low-energy endeavors like knitting and cuddling the cats!

So, it came to our attention that next Friday is, in fact, Friday the 13th... and since The Weir, which is exceedingly CREEPY, will have a performance that night, we should relish that fact and get the most out of it (particularly since kylecassidy was absent on Hallowe'en!)

So, come to that performance and then join us afterwards in our desperately Gothic and chillingly Creepy house where we shall be hosting scary Spanish movie night and a "let's chat about what we've just experienced and perhaps share scary stories of our own" party.

How exciting!

So, when we were in Montreal in August, we stayed with the super awesome Kim and her father in a beautiful home filled with art and sculpture and sunlight and flowers... and Kyle was the guest photographer on the Abe and Kroenen web comic. It is finally up for your consumption and is deliciously film noir. You will be much amused and amazed by the brilliance of all involved. I count myself very lucky for having been granted access to the Behind the Scenes view....

The Abe and Kroenen Film Noir Halloween Extravaganza!

We opened last night to a wonderful audience that was with us every step of the way; it was really an incredible feeling, and I can't wait to get back to the theatre.

We're playing through November 20th. Thursdays at 7 and Fridays and Saturdays at 8 (no Saturday performance the final weekend.)

Today is my kylecassidy's birthday; he's a state away, in Ohio, so be sure to wish him a happy and delightfully haunted birthday!

Just a few short days ago, the house was full of delightful people, bursting with life and stories and laughter, and now it's filled with the sound of my rehearsed lines echoing off the walls and the occasional sound of a cat's purr. It's amazing what changes a few days can bring! Kyle's off in Ohio for his project, "Where I Write", and the house is so different without him. However, as I wandered around the rooms that first night he was away, and the following day, I found notes he had hidden for me... in the refrigerator, in the shower, under the sheets... and felt very lucky indeed.

I've meant to write about just how wonderful our visitors were -- you couldn't have asked for more interesting, intelligent, funny women and I feel incredibly lucky to have met them! In fact, I wish they were my neighbors... but as it is, they've given us an added excuse to visit Chicago and Wisconsin and Australia! Of course, I already knew how wonderful silveringridd and alibaster were, but the surprise came when tigerinvaseline and charyvna arrived. It all felt so comfortable, sitting around the "coffin table" over brunch. It was better than I ever imagined it could be.

I've finally managed to dispose of most of the left-over cake -- not knowing how many people would come to the party meant that we went a little overboard on cake and hummus. Speaking of the cake, Valya brought us lovely gifts, including the two Day of the Dead figures we used as a cake topper. Here's a photo silveringridd took.



Last night was our preview of "The Weir" and it went really well -- I'm excited to have people see it! Tonight's the opening, followed by a party at the Gold Standard, across the street from the theatre.

Kyle took these lovely photos of two members of the cast, Eric and Paul.






I hope to see you there, at the "pub."

Curio is participating in the annual "Spookeasy" at UPenn's Kelly Writer's House. The event tonight starts at 8:00 and should last about an hour; the cast of "The Weir" will be performing their very spooky monologues (minus Yours Truly, because mine's sort of the final twist of the play, so we're saving it for opening night! However I will be there, cheering my castmates on.)

Kelly's is at 3805 Locust Walk on the beautiful Penn Campus. I hope to see lots of locals there because... what better way to celebrate Hallowe'en than with spooky stories around the campfire?

Curio Theatre's production of "The Weir" opens this Friday, October 30, 2009!

To reserve tickets, visit www.curiotheatre.org, or call (215) 525-1350.

Curio Theatre Company is located in the church on the corner of 48th St. and Baltimore Ave. in Philadelphia.

Because of the nature of the play and the unique set (a pub built on the stage -- the audience enters the pub to find their seats!) there will only be 50 tickets sold for each performance, so reserving might be a good idea!

Take a look!



Preview on Thursday, October 29th, at 7:00 pm. Tickets are $10 - $15.

Thursdays at 7:00, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00

Featuring: Paul Kuhn, Liam Castellan, Trillian Stars, Eric Scotolati, Josh Hitchens

The Weir
By Conor McPherson
October 30- November 20
Directed by Gay Carducci-Kuhn
Folk tales and the supernatural are the topics shared by the regulars at the local pub. As each one tells a story they discover what they never knew about themselves and each other. The Weir encompasses the true essence of storytelling and the fierce need to connect. Conor McPherson’s other works include The Seafarer, Shining City, and Dublin Carol.

“A moment arrives, and it's hard to say exactly when because you've shed all sense of time, when you realize that you have strayed into territory that scrapes the soul.” Ben Brantley, The New York Times

And from Sunday.... shadowcaptain took this as we were leaving the venue -- the flowers were a gift from Holly and were perfect for the occasion! I love the colors in this....





Photos will continue to surface of guests and the two of us.

I read a book when I was a child called "Cinderella's Granddaughter" -- it had belonged to my grandmother, was written around WWI and was about a southern plantation where time had stood still.

I kept thinking this weekend "I'm Cinderella's Granddaughter!" And I really think I was.

This gorgeous creation was a collaboration between the lovely duo petitbout and mayfairemoon -- this is the version with the train cascading three feet behind me as documented on Saturday before our party. Yesterday, I wore it bustled, with the corset laced tightly.



I can't express at the moment, but I'll continue trying, just what a glorious weekend this was and how much fun we had with everyone.

As Kyle says, this is a wonderful life!

We're down to our last few rehearsals of "The Weir" and quite happy to have a small invited audience this weekend to test out the waters and get a little feed-back. It's a beautifully written play and we're all so deep in it, that it's hard to see it objectively. It opens officially on October 30, just in time for Hallowe'en.






maleghast was just here, left this morning, and we had a lovely couple of days, eating Kyle's amazing soup, listening to music and hearing Maleghast's tales of the road.

He took this lovely photo of us the other night:





... which brings me to the reminder that this Sunday is our post-wedding shindig, which Kyle has beautifully described here. It's a lovely, casual affair, although there will be CAKE! But it's really truly an excuse to get together with everyone and socialize. We'll have light food and drink there and, as Kyle says, if anyone leaves hungry, there's a plethora of fine eating establishments in the neighborhood, so no need to be sad ;)

I look forward to seeing you there!

I've been meaning to coerce Kyle into a photo shoot of this stunning Kambriel dress I wore during Worldcon in August... but we've both been incredibly busy and time escaped us.

However, last night, with the fire roaring, we thought of those lovely Ziegfeld photos in "Jazz Age Beauties" and took a number of shots. I really like this one, although as a vehicle for the dress, it may fall short... and I didn't have a leopard skin rug on hand....





We'll be sending an update about our party in the next day or so as well, regarding venue and just exactly what to expect.

... Kyle cheers me up on a rainy day!

http://twitpic.com/lnqi8

Check out Curio Theatre's updated page, with the new dates for "The Weir" and the awesome publicity photo kylecassidy took!

CREEPY!!!!!

If people are interested in seeing a dress rehearsal... particularly those people who had bought tickets to our original opening weekend... let me know. It will be 10/24/09 at 7pm.

Thanks, all!

My show, "The Weir," has been postponed a week, so the new opening is Friday, October 30th, with a preview the previous evening, October 29th. For those of you who bought tickets to our original opening, come to one of our dress rehearsals anyway! We'll make it our own private opening, with cheap beer and chips, and then continue the celebration on October 25th with our wedding party/Kyle's birthday celebration. It will rock.

As I was walking down Market Street yesterday, Kyle called and said "I found a great outfit for you!"

It was on sale, since it's a rather summery little number and, as last night's cold wind attested, it is now Autumn. Between the wind, the silvery moon and my tangled tresses, I felt rather witchy last night.



Afterwards, we had to watch "Ginger Snaps", which I had never seen before and stars someon who is NOT Anthony Perkins' beguiling... granddaughter... Emily Perkins. It was fantastic and now, as Kyle says, since I've seen both it and "Citizen Kane", my film education is complete!

I have a website to recommend! Not only because she says such sweet things about us, but because I really love her writing... and she's one of those beautiful and utterly down to earth rockers I never quite expect. I always think she'll come sweeping in like a diva; I find her musical persona so fierce and compelling. However, she's the most humble and approachable rock star I've ever met, as is her husband, Steven Archer (the other half of Ego Likeness.) So read and enjoy Donna Lynch's blog!

Thank you to everyone who wished me a happy birthday! It made it all that much nicer to have your birthday wishes!

Yesterday being the one day we had off this week, we met our families for brunch at the Gold Standard, which was really lovely... both the food and the company. I love that we all get along so well, we with our parents and they with each other. It makes family gathering stress completely non-existent.

My father said that ever since I found Kyle it's been hard to find gifts for me, because I have everything I want or need. Very true -- but I'm also extraordinarily easy when it comes to gifts, because I'm a big ol' romantic and love shiny things. My parents found this lovely Russian box with a scene from the Fire Bird on it and said it could be Kyle and me flying across Russia on the back of the wolf. They're big ol' romantics too ;)

I wore my grandmother's dress from the late '30's/early '40's, which fits perfectly and is beautifully preserved. It swirls when I walk and I feel just like Rosalind Russell in it.










Today I had a fantastic rehearsal -- we made a great breakthrough and it was one of those glorious theatrical moments that I wish an audience could see. And now, kylecassidy is cooking me a birthday dinner and my mouth is watering and the battery is about to die on my laptap, but I've not the energy to go find the charger, so farewell for now!

And thank you all again!!!

Dean Martin makes me smile.

Rehearsals are going really well -- I love this play and the characters in it. I came home and watched an Irish movie, "Bitter Harvest", last night as I knit a few rows of this gift I've been working on (which will hopefully be ready by Thanksgiving.) It (the movie) was quintessentially Irish... just as Russian movies can be so quintessentially Russian; funny, mystical, sad, hopeless and yet optimistic.

Speaking of which (OK, not really, but I wanted to give the illusion of a graceful seque,) if you were a "Maybe" and are now a "Definitely", could you update your status on our Evite for October 25th? Thank you, everyone! I can't wait to see you all.
RSVP here!

While Kyle was in Toronto last weekend, I was in NY giving vent to my inner fangirl! Having long admired Marian Seldes, to meet her and have her complete and extraordinarily flattering focus for an afternoon was like a dream come true.

This photo doesn't even begin to do her justice, I'm afraid.... It's easy to imagine this graceful and poised actress in Martha Graham's dance class, learning to plumb the depths of emotion.





Also, I recently did this interview about reading and books. You might be interested in taking a look; it's always fascinating to read about people's individual journeys through literature.

http://jkneilson.wordpress.com

Thank you, charyvna, for recommending me for the project! You can read her wonderful interview as well, which is two spots before mine.

These days, it's feeling like autumn in West Philadelphia, but the colors are still the lush ones of summer's salad days.





... shot on Kyle's new and glorious iphone.

We've been staying up late listening to Frank McCourt read "Angela's Ashes"; cats curled up on our laps, circular knitting needls going clickety clack. Family time is the best time, in my book.

I'm now in the full swing of rehearsals for "The Weir". It's such a unique show, and since we have a brilliant scenic designer, the production itself will be a unique experience for all involved. I look forward to feeling the electricity radiate from the audience.

Happiness is....

We've pinned down a date for our celebratory WE GOT MARRIED party! After concluding that there would probably never be an ideal time, with Kyle's globe trotting ways and the Curio Theatre season, we hit on a weekend that has a nice ring to it and chose Sunday, October 25th! More details will follow... but it's guaranteed to be fun, relaxed and very festive and full of love!

Please RSVP on the evite so we know how many people to count on!

RSVP Here!

My show, "The Weir", will be in performance at the time, so if you want to celebrate all weekend with us, come to the show Saturday night -- just make sure to reserve tickets because the staging is going to be unique for this one and only 50 tickets per performance will be sold! If you love Ireland, if you love pubs, if you love a good, chilling ghost story, you'll love "The Weir"!