Quite Possibly, the Best Time of My Life
Wowza.... talk about settling in quickly. These people. These PEOPLE. I find myself connecting to them so very well (some on a more intimate level...). There's Rachel here who plays one of the three Female Leads, Rosie. I would describe this across-the-pond-er as a bold, lighthearted, thrill seeker type. She says that she's from the 'Less Posh' UK area and she told me that I was her spirit animal! LOVE IT! I have a tendency to gravitate towards people who remind me most of my sister, Mary, and Rachel shares many similarities.
This first picture of us on the left, we took while waiting to see Hereditary with Toni Collette. The movie (across-the-pond-ers say 'Picture' and 'Movie Theater' is actually 'The Cinema') was billed to be 'this generation's Exorcist' and has a 96% on Rotten Tomatoes. The premise, without giving anything away, is, Toni Collette's character is ridden with family heartbreak and plague, and has just lost her Mother. To say the least, things get CRAZY! So much gore, I actually got sick to my stomach by the end of the movie, which was an all time first for me! Yay Adulthood!
Unfortunately, the Opening night, Miami crowd was the most rude and disrespectful bunch ever! Someone brought their dog in at one point, a baby too, someone even answered a phone call during the dang movie. These across-the-pond-ers we saw the show with, were not ready for it. To say the least, it ruined the whole experience for them and they couldn't enjoy the movie because of it: I would give the movie a solid B rating regardless.
So Friday night was movie night, and Saturday we went out on the town. Hit up a Gay Bar with the under 25's of the cast. It was called Manor. Appropriately spelled, because it was a 'Mansion-of-a-place' with absolutely no mistaking for 'Manners.' I danced my heart out baby! Nothing let's me loose like a dance floor and a cute shirt on! We finished the night with some grilled cheese waffles, and a $35 Uber home. I truly had the time of my life! I think the cast was surprised to see how wild I was. It runs in the Family!
Sunday we went to a Marlins game... You know when you're working so damn hard, that when you finally get a day off, you party so damn hard too? Well that was us this weekend. Before one adventure ended, another one began! The game was the true "American Experience" these ATP's (Across-The-Pond-ers will now be this) were looking for! Beer, pizza, and an American game of baseball--and even though they lost, who cares! We walked a mile to downtown Havana with about 8 of us afterwards. We hopped between bars and danced, dAnCeD, DANCED! The last bar took us to an outdoor venue called "Ball and Chain." There was a band their, and an amazing one at that, only I noticed they were missing a lead singer. I approached them and complimented their set on the break, and let them know I sang and would love to improvise something with them. They said that the venue frowns upon that, so I let it go. Kilke, another one of the three female leads, decided to work her magic and convince them that I was a "Star Singer" on this ship and that they should let me sing.... well..... THEY DID! I was up there for 10 minutes riffing and scatting, throwing in a few lyrics, and eventually the beat lead into Superstitious by Stevie Wonder. My bestie Rachel joins me to cap off the set. Holy Lord. It was one of those cease-the-moment 24 hours that I'll not soon forget.
We finished learning the music and choreography to Act I, as well as the staging. The director decided that we should to a read/sing through of the whole show, just to keep us all on the same page. So on Wednesday we sat in a big circle and read through the material. The group we have here is far superior than I could have hoped. They are so gifted, and so rooted in truth, which is a lot to say about a reading of Mamma Mia! There's a song at the end called "The Winner Takes it All," and the lead character Donna sings it to her ex-lover. Sometimes lyrics and songs hit the scars you thought were healed. Who would have thought that I would have been crying during this reading. I kept it as subtle and non distracting as possible but girl... I was a mess.
"I don't want to talk About the things we've gone through Though it's hurting me Now it's history I've played all my cards And that's what you've done too Nothing more to say
No more ace to play
The winner takes it all The loser standing small Beside the victory That's her destiny
I was in your arms Thinking I belonged there I figured it made sense Building me a fence Building me a home Thinking I'd be strong there But I was a fool Playing by the rules
The gods may throw a dice Their minds as cold as ice And someone way down here Loses someone dear The winner takes it all The loser has to fall It's simple and it's plain Why should I complain
But tell me does she kiss Like I used to kiss you? Does it feel the same When she calls your name? Somewhere deep inside You must know I miss you But what can I say Rules must be obeyed
The judges will decide The likes of me abide Spectators of the show Always staying low The game is on again A lover or a friend A big thing or a small The winner takes it all"
I recently left the Man I considered to be "The One." And by left, I mean he broke it off with me. Oh Wade, how special our relationship was, and how sad that you couldn't try a little harder. You quit on me before I even got here. He really is the winner and he took it all. More to come on next week's blog.