Aida

Gene and I saw the musical version of Aida on Saturday in Ames. It is the new tour and had a ton of young actors in the cast. It was actually kinda funny because an actress who went to Drake with me was in the ensemble. She was a senior when we were freshmen. Did anyone see The Dining Room or Agnes of God? Well it was the only African-American female in both. Her name is Kimberly Hamby; she was the psychistrist in Agnes of God and one of the actors in The Dining Room. I didn't get to talk with her, but I recognized her voice and face - it was pretty cool. It was also ironic because they had to pack up the show immediately after the curtain fell so they could travel to of all places Mason City the next day to perform as well! So Gene and I drove one and half hours to see a show that was coming to our own town the next day. At least we were staying in DSM with my family.

The show was amazing. The woman who played Aida had a miraculous voice. My only complaint about her was that she get bending over so she looked constipated all the time and couldn't stay in her damn light so we couldn't see her very well. All the other actors were equally wonderful - well most. The guy who played Zoser (a.k.a. the bad guy) was about 5 feet tall and could only sing one note, and could only sing that one note VERY LOUDLY. I think he was making up for his Napoleon complex. I'd post a full review except I'm exhausted. I was at school for 13 hrs straight yesterday due to class, rehearsal, and parent teacher conferences - joy. I had to be back at 7:30 this morning for "professional development." Greg - stay the hell away from anything ever labeled "professional development." Well for that matter - EVERYONE stay the hell away from it. Okay I think I'll end my rant now that I have gotten completely off topic.

sigh...

I miss my mature actors. They all graduated and now I'm left with Stebens children who think acting is playing. It is really making me start to rethink directing plays. It would be so much easier to just teach English - I could go home after school, see my husband, cook dinner, have a life. It seems like they don't listen or care most of the time. I have to shout to get them to do anything and heaven forbid I ask them to actually act. ...sigh... I guess I'm just in a bad mood because I'm tired, we'll see...

Surprisingly good forward from my Grandmother

Email forwards from your grandmother tend to be on the "immediately delete" side. Either they are cutesy/sickeningly sweet "I-love-you" ones or uber-religious "Why the hell aren't you going to church" ones. Thus, I shuddered when I received a forward from my dad's mother entitled "Support our troops." However, Grandma Ryun sure one-upped me in the surprise domain with this one. It was the picture you see below. It is composed of photos of troops killed in Iraq and entitled "How can he sleep at night?"

Nice one Grandma. :)