Well, I have a hang of a lot happening right now. Some of it good. Some of it excellent. Some of it hurts. A lot. But such is life. *sigh* I always miss blogging. Just blogging. And music.
So what’s going on right now? Well, first and foremost at the moment (at least in my current train of thought) is ESTRADO! (That’s Spanish for ‘the stage’ and no, I’m not making a statement. Read on.)
Estrado is a brand new theatre company based in Partick (actually, it’s a co-operative, but let’s not split hairs) of which I am a part. The part, actually. I got lead female in Estrado’s very first show. 
Which also means I did my first – EVER – successful audition. I did said successful audition two days after I received knockbacks from two companies within a 24-hour period. As I realise that sentence was a little confusing, that means I got two knockback emails early on Sunday, and I did my Estrado audition on Tuesday night. That was some week. I had been totally panicked – very raw from knockbacks I was unhappy to get and having a seriously bad attack of the “what-if-I’m-actually-crap-and-then-I’ll-never-perform-again” fears. But my audition was very successful – and I got to play on Ida McCracken again, which is always lovely. Well, lovely’s probably the entirely wrong word but I do adore Ida. Ahhh, if only!
Anyway, that’s off-point. David Leddy’s genius can go on hold right now. Estrado. Our first show (Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd January, Partick Burgh Hall, just to mention) is “TetherEnd”, a gritty modern-day drama about Don Bradley, an alcohol-addicted writer and a study of how his addiction affects the people around him. It has some quite dark moments, but will stir thought in the audience and, as it is well and tastefully written, hopefully will raise awareness of the dangers of alcohol dependency. Show how much it can eat a person up. (And, who am I kidding?! I prefer dark, gritty stuff to nice drama. Not that I don’t enjoy a good giggle – but scare me and keep your show in my head. “Gothic, I think you’ll find, is the ‘genre’.” Well, it’s not technically gothic as it’s modern-day but you get the idea.) Oh, I should probably mention it’s a stage adaptation of the film “The Lost Weekend”.
Estrado is my happy thought right now. I’m really enjoying it. It’s a challenging part for me as an actor, and Martin (lead male) is really good, so I need to keep my game high. It’s so good to stretch my acting muscles, and to use what I can. Everyone’s really lovely, which helps. I feel like I’m doing not bad with the character (though I will be doing a lot better once I start being able, in any way, to master her bloody, bloody, BLOODY Edinburgh accent!!!) so that’s always good. The cast have been hanging out too, having a drink or two (most of us anyway…Martin *cough*) and just getting to know each other. Everyone’s fast becoming firm friends (or so it appears) and the atmosphere’s great. Many hugs, much banter and even some foosball envy.
But enough of Estrado before I talk consistently about only that. What else is going on right now?
I did an awesome interview at Lush (where they pampered us by demonstrating the products on us and teaching us massage, and gave us free products) but they didn’t want to employ me. I don’t know why. 
I’m kind of avoiding calling them for feedback, ‘cos, frankly, if they just couldn’t stand me, I can’t take it right now.
My work – as well as my lack of work – is a cause of much stress in my life right now though. Youth work is…draining sometimes. You question yourself constantly. Reflecting, evaluating – it can all become a cycle sometimes. I’m having a wee rough patch. I’ll pull through it eventually. All that needs said really.
So glad I’ve now got my JSA. I’m in the moneyyyy. Well, not really, but I’m not CONSTANTLY stressed about my painful lack of dough (and there might even be enough for a wee round or two of vodka cola with my buddies!)
Also…I’m supremely having fun with MMPi. What do you mean, you don’t know what that is?!?! Get yourself over to www.mondaymorningpost.co.uk and check out my weekly writings! (And those of the lovely Jennie and wonderful Simbobalino, of course!!)
