Week two in canada, and I'm full!
After my crazy Ottawa Monday, I was done being productive for a while. I've settled in nicely! The rest of the week was full of cleaning, grocery shopping, and other mundane things.
Triana and I have been shopping together frequently, hitting up the wonderful huge Hartman's grocery, as well as our favorite 24-hour convenience store. Unfortunately in my first few days here, my friend Sarah and I discovered these tiny carrot cakes at the convenience store. They looked funny, and claimed to contain "real carrots", so I knew I had to get them. Unfortunately they also happen to be delicious, which sucks. Now I want to eat them all the time! Of course the store's open 24-hours, and it's right next to McDonald's, so the carrot cakes always look like the healthier decision. Reeeally healthy, right?
This is another problem with Ottawa. Too many late-night eating options. I never thought I'd complain about that, since usually I'm desperately hungry post-show. Here though, within one block of my hotel are a MickeyD's, Wendy's, Pizza Pizza, the convenience store, Mayflower Pub, and Dunn's (the 24-hour deli/diner). They are all open when I walk home at night! Luckily when i walk home with someone else I can usually resist, although you know that as soon as you've locked your door someone texts that they're hungry and you meet for food. In a normal city like DC, where things are closed at night, I do much better. I eat popcorn, or some fruit, or occasionally some grilled cheese or mac'n'cheese. Here, the options are endless, from bacon cheeseburgers to milkshakes to waffles to pizza. Damn! You can really feel it when your costumes get too tight!
They were also tight for a day or two also thanks to an amazing meal I had with my friend Michael. We went to The Ritz (the restaurant, not the hotel) on Elgin, a block or two from the hotel. In honor of this being my first production contract, he treated, and we went all out! I had an amazing spinach salad with goat cheese, figs, and pine nuts, and then a homemade pasta with prosciutto and mushrooms. For dessert I had a chocolate sabayon that was to die for! A lot of people on the road become addicted to good meals, and I can see how it can happen. Especially in Canada, where we try not to shop because of the horrible exchange rate and slew of taxes. There's not much to do daily except enjoy a stellar meal! This one was amahhhhzing.
On Wednesday night we had a company event, the pre-going-away party of cast member Sal. Sal's been in the show for a year and a half now, and he's ready to move on. He was a friend of my friend Matt's when I joined the show, and was super sweet to me from the get-go. We've become good friends in the few months I've known him and his boyfriend Adam, and they will be very much missed! So on Wednesday after the show a while bunch of us headed to Friday's to party. Friday's is not TGI Friday's (although I wouldn't have been too upset) but is actually a famous roast beef house in an adorable historic French house. The top floor is also an old fashioned piano bar! When we first arrived there were about ten reeeally old people (we're talking 70s and 80s) sitting around the piano while the funny Asian pianist sang quietly. We rolled our eyes and all swore we'd stay for "just one drink".
A few minutes later we were all chatting and having fun, and moving on to drink number two. Then Sarah took the lead and sang! After that it was an avalanche of us taking over the mic. Sal sang an unbelievable 'Unchained Melody' that even Simon Cowell would have loved. The accompanist actually stood up to shake his hand! I brought the house down in my own way with 'Bewitched, bothered and Bewildered", and everyone was sufficiently surprised by my voice. It's funny to think that most of the cast thought I could only sing like an opera singer - and it's very nice to surprise them with some mixing and belting! We all sang and eventually our assistant conductor David even took over the piano. A few hours later we were all sung out, but it was a fabulous time!
On Friday our head honcho Peter was coming out to check up on some new Phantom possibilities, so for the rest of the weekdays we were on our best behavior. Our regular Phantom, John, is going on vacation for the rest of Ottawa, so we've got a revolving door of guys filling in. Greg, who plays Raoul, is going on for the first time this weekend, so Peter's probably here to mainly see him. Tewks, another understudy, has done the role before and is Awesome, so that will be fun to see too. David G, yet another old understudy, has done the role on the B'way, so I am excited to see him too. Although our review was wary of our understudies, I think this company is always totally prepared. The understudies keep the show fresh, and it's great to see all the small choices that an actor can make to make a character different. I like it, and I know all these guys will rock this weekend!
Triana and I have been shopping together frequently, hitting up the wonderful huge Hartman's grocery, as well as our favorite 24-hour convenience store. Unfortunately in my first few days here, my friend Sarah and I discovered these tiny carrot cakes at the convenience store. They looked funny, and claimed to contain "real carrots", so I knew I had to get them. Unfortunately they also happen to be delicious, which sucks. Now I want to eat them all the time! Of course the store's open 24-hours, and it's right next to McDonald's, so the carrot cakes always look like the healthier decision. Reeeally healthy, right?
This is another problem with Ottawa. Too many late-night eating options. I never thought I'd complain about that, since usually I'm desperately hungry post-show. Here though, within one block of my hotel are a MickeyD's, Wendy's, Pizza Pizza, the convenience store, Mayflower Pub, and Dunn's (the 24-hour deli/diner). They are all open when I walk home at night! Luckily when i walk home with someone else I can usually resist, although you know that as soon as you've locked your door someone texts that they're hungry and you meet for food. In a normal city like DC, where things are closed at night, I do much better. I eat popcorn, or some fruit, or occasionally some grilled cheese or mac'n'cheese. Here, the options are endless, from bacon cheeseburgers to milkshakes to waffles to pizza. Damn! You can really feel it when your costumes get too tight!
They were also tight for a day or two also thanks to an amazing meal I had with my friend Michael. We went to The Ritz (the restaurant, not the hotel) on Elgin, a block or two from the hotel. In honor of this being my first production contract, he treated, and we went all out! I had an amazing spinach salad with goat cheese, figs, and pine nuts, and then a homemade pasta with prosciutto and mushrooms. For dessert I had a chocolate sabayon that was to die for! A lot of people on the road become addicted to good meals, and I can see how it can happen. Especially in Canada, where we try not to shop because of the horrible exchange rate and slew of taxes. There's not much to do daily except enjoy a stellar meal! This one was amahhhhzing.
On Wednesday night we had a company event, the pre-going-away party of cast member Sal. Sal's been in the show for a year and a half now, and he's ready to move on. He was a friend of my friend Matt's when I joined the show, and was super sweet to me from the get-go. We've become good friends in the few months I've known him and his boyfriend Adam, and they will be very much missed! So on Wednesday after the show a while bunch of us headed to Friday's to party. Friday's is not TGI Friday's (although I wouldn't have been too upset) but is actually a famous roast beef house in an adorable historic French house. The top floor is also an old fashioned piano bar! When we first arrived there were about ten reeeally old people (we're talking 70s and 80s) sitting around the piano while the funny Asian pianist sang quietly. We rolled our eyes and all swore we'd stay for "just one drink".
A few minutes later we were all chatting and having fun, and moving on to drink number two. Then Sarah took the lead and sang! After that it was an avalanche of us taking over the mic. Sal sang an unbelievable 'Unchained Melody' that even Simon Cowell would have loved. The accompanist actually stood up to shake his hand! I brought the house down in my own way with 'Bewitched, bothered and Bewildered", and everyone was sufficiently surprised by my voice. It's funny to think that most of the cast thought I could only sing like an opera singer - and it's very nice to surprise them with some mixing and belting! We all sang and eventually our assistant conductor David even took over the piano. A few hours later we were all sung out, but it was a fabulous time!
On Friday our head honcho Peter was coming out to check up on some new Phantom possibilities, so for the rest of the weekdays we were on our best behavior. Our regular Phantom, John, is going on vacation for the rest of Ottawa, so we've got a revolving door of guys filling in. Greg, who plays Raoul, is going on for the first time this weekend, so Peter's probably here to mainly see him. Tewks, another understudy, has done the role before and is Awesome, so that will be fun to see too. David G, yet another old understudy, has done the role on the B'way, so I am excited to see him too. Although our review was wary of our understudies, I think this company is always totally prepared. The understudies keep the show fresh, and it's great to see all the small choices that an actor can make to make a character different. I like it, and I know all these guys will rock this weekend!
posted by Beth at 3:47 PM
1 Comments:
I love this blog! My step mother in law ia 87 and she is not really old ..... I don't think...
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