30 BEFORE 30 #2

I have had a book published. Well, it's ready to be published. My aim was to have it in my hand by the end of 2010, but the timing of these things seems to be somewhat elastic. I'll DEFINITELY have it by the time I turn 30, and my work on it seems to be complete. So it can go on the list.

If you would like to buy a copy, email me! ;)

30 BEFORE 30 #1

I went on this rollercoaster! It's on Santa Monica pier.

Rollercoasters

I must confess I have always been petrified by the idea of rollercoasters. Ever since the afternoon - I don't even know how long ago - that I pestered my parents into letting me go on a Waltzer in Waterford (it's a Tea Cup ride without the narrative attached) I have been "motion sensitive".

Then, all of a sudden, I found myself studying theme park and experience design, and was curious as to why so many people love them and I block myself off entirely from them. I mean, how awful can they be?!

SO - in August I bit the bullet and went on the little mini-rollercoaster on Santa Monica Pier. This was mainly because "Go on a rollercoaster" is on my 30 Before 30 list. With the intrepid Ms. Lenbergs at my side (laughing happily at my terror) we lined up and got on the ride. It's a little yellow track that whooshes around with split-second views of Malibu, and I figured that since they were able to film an episode of Modern Family on it, how awful could it be?!

It was fun. I was petrified, and clung on for dear life, but I didn't die, and didn't hate it. Mission accomplished.

Then I found myself at Disneyland last week, with the Mexican, and he managed to coerce me into going on Splash Mountain (one of the first things we did at the park!) We got absolutely SOAKED. And a 50ft drop is not something I ever actively want to do. But it was such a thrill!

So, since then I've been on Big Thunder Mountain, Space Mountain and the Matterhorn. (What's with the mountains?) I think it helps knowing just how safe Disney makes everything, every day. It's gonna be a while before I brave Knott's Berry Farm or the like, but I am glad to know that I really enjoy such things now.

Next stop will probably have to be California Screamin'. Though I dread it...

Done and Disneyland

Dear Blog,

I know I have neglected you terribly since June. Ironically that's when I started working on Hamlet. The show ended yesterday, after six months of preparations, editing, dramaturgy, rehearsal and performances in three separate locations. To celebrate its conclusion, I'm going to Disneyland this afternoon. For the second time in a week. Hurrah!

And I promise to treat you better from now on. (A consummation devoutly to be wished.)

:)

One week from today...

I'm off to Greece. Can't wait. It's been way too long.

Just because

...!!

I saw this photo on my iPad. (Yes! I got one! Thank you H&R Block!!)

Shipwrecks and Wild Hope

I'm currently feeling shipwrecked/beached by a very tempestuous, challenging and exhausting school year.
Not to say that it wasn't enriching, engrossing and altogether beneficial, but it was TOUGH.
One more paper separates me from my summer holiday (in which I nonetheless have to write MORE papers - and, you know, a book...) and I'm thinking of writing it somehow on a production I saw in Paris, Les Naufrages du Fol Espoir, at Theatre du Soleil.

(If you're reading this and have an issue with the lack of accents, please visit www.gofuckyourself.com)

I'm assuming that the essay should be 4000 words long. Here goes ;)

Food Network

I just saw someone make ginger caviar on Iron Chef America.
That is all.

(Paula Deen would have made butter caviar. And that's why she always wins.)

Telephone

So, I'm only the 29millionth person to see it on YouTube (only now) but I finally just saw Gagace's "epic" video.

Didn't anyone else kinda think it looked a bit like if Chicago happened to be designed by Gaultier and then got spliced into a portion of that awful "Legion" movie? With Art Direction by David LaChappelle and occasional nods to Kill Bill and Thelma & Louise?

I'm sure I've missed a whole bunch of references in there too, mind you.

Fun, raunchy (I loved the hermaphrodite joke) and very reminscent of Chelsea Handler's description of HER time in prison for a DUI.

PS, dear Universe, I'm sure it would have looked much better on the iPad you're sending me.

Amer-I-Can!

Today is Erin Murray's birthday. (But she never reads this so won't get the loving tribute/reference in my title for this blog...)

I've been watching TV this week - perhaps unsurprisingly, since I recently bought a TV. Go figure.
Apart from the tv shows themselves (Lost, Glee, Idol, Chopped, V, RPDR, Robert Verdi and a whole bunch of crap on Bravo and the Food Network - including my first ever introduction to PAULA DEEN) I'm amazed at the advertising. Like, AMAZED.

It's bad enough that you can't watch things online without occasional little interruptions, but holy moly there are so many on tv!

So thanks to this evil little distraction box and its nefarious ways, clearly I'm now desperate for an iPad, a new Lexus (although I was tempted, too, by the Ford that can apparently park itself), a variety of Rachaeaeaeaeaeaeal Ray's crockery items, some Skechers shoes, an iPad, a trip to KFC to support Breast Cancer, dinner with any/all of the Real Housewives, and an iPad.

iPad.

It's ridiculous. I had to turn it off and go for a walk.

Can you watch TV on your iPad? I hope not.

Chrysalis

So, it's been a few months!
But kinda huge ones. I'm surprised at how long ago New Year feels already - so many sea-changes have occurred, in just about every part of my life. (Some visible, others not, some painful, others not...)

BUT it's Springtime, so that means that there are new things blossoming!

And, after all that psycho-babble bullshit, I should add that it's time to kick some ass. And maybe take names.

(Who DOES that?!)

And FYI, nerds, that image is of a MNEMOSYNE butterfly. Nice, huh?

A New Year

Happy New Year!

I hope this year is going to be a good one.

Without question 2009 was the most difficult year of my life. My mother died in January, I spent 3/4 of the year working harder in school than I ever have, and then in the summer, rather than resting, I went to Japan and had my ass kicked by a very rigorous, intensive programme in Noh Theatre!

I'm sure it's not accidental that the two major projects I worked on in 2009 were rather obsessed with death. The first, a production of three Modern Noh Plays by Yukio Mishima, was a labour of love, since I have wanted to work on these cruel, dark little jewels for a very long time. And then the second, a new play called Last Autumn, couldn't really have come along at a better moment.

However, Greek tragedy, Japan and dying characters aside, I feel that some cobwebs need to be swept out. So, very happily, I'm starting this new year with a comedy. A big one. (It's Much Ado About Nothing). I saw the sketches for the costumes yesterday, and they are little short of miraculous. This will be a wonderful project!

I'm pretty eager to make a number of rather big changes in my life this year.

And who knows, I might even keep this little blog a bit better up to date. But no promises ;)

Next stop...

I leave for Japan tomorrow.

I'm heading straight for the north of the country, to visit Matsushima, one of the country's most beautiful places (officially - the other two in the Three Famous Views of Japan are Itsukushima/Miyajima, near Hiroshima, and Amanohashidate, in the centre of the country... I plan to visit all three this year!) 

Wanna come with?

Agency

I want a literary agent.

Type that sentence. in Google and see what strange results you find! (Maybe I should have clicked 'I'm Feeling Lucky' - next time, for sure...)

Meanwhile, if you're from William Morris, Random House, or The Firm, and you're actually reading this, get in touch! I have lovely lovely things for you. 

You too, Oprah. My novel will DEFINITELY be one of your favourite things...

What's Going On

So, for those of you in far-flung places who couldn't make it to see the show at UCLA, here's some photos from it, on Picasa...

The show was a set of three Modern Noh Plays by Yukio Mishima, translated & directed by yours truly.

1. Yuya


2. Dojoji


3. Yoroboshi



And, in memory of the time when this blog was 'Conor's Loves'... here's my current playlist, bouncing out of my speakers just loud enough to madden my crazy roommate. God love him. (I don't.)

Michelle Williams - Break The Dawn
Kreesha Turner - Simple
Jully Black - Seven Day Fool
Kylie - Speakerphone
Katy Perry - Hot N Cold
Lady Blah-Blah - Poker Face
Beyonce - Single Ladies
The Killers - Human
Cyndi Lauper - Same Ol' Story
Kylie - Can't Get You Out of My Head (Greg Kurstin Remix)
Kylie - Giving You Up (Alter Ego Remix)
RuPaul - LadyBoy
Roisin Murphy & Marius DeVries - Yellow Moon (Song of the Year!!!)
Madonna - Nothing Really Matters (which sounds very similar to the previous track, but in a really good way...)
Madonna - Triggering Your Senses (Rare cut from the Confessions Sessions, silly but very good.)

Kyoto

I'm going to spend much of this summer in Kyoto.

Wanna come?!

Confession

In conversation with an audience member after the Modern Noh Plays closed last Saturday, I was asked what on earth gave me the idea to put corsets on the women in one of the plays. Of course I vamped with a series of ideas discussing the oppression of women (also reflected in the projections that formed part of the set design) and the notion of uprightness and forbidding virtue expected of a Japanese woman. Since we couldn't have them wear kimono, I felt it would be interesting to experiment with western equivalents that at once enhance and yet constrict the female form... Blah blah blah...

All of which is true, admittedly, but the OTHER inspiration for the corsets is rather more basic...

I hate Perez

Separated at Birth???

At what moment did Perez become the patron saint of Gay Rights? It was bad enough that he's gone from having a razor-sharp blog that skewered celebrity culture to one that is merely a tame version wherein he's too scared to mock his new 'friends' - or worse, incessantly PROMOTES them. But now his endless attacks of Carrie Prejean are becoming just plain tiresome.

Don't get me wrong - I'm delighted that he's gone on such a manic campaign to bring down St. Carrie of La Jolla (thank you Keith O), but doesn't it feel like he's more likely to do harm than good by being so obnoxious about it?

Perhaps Mario would be more acceptable as a warrior for gay marriage if there was even a remote sense that he was likely to GET married. Ellen, George Takei, Elton John - to name a teeny tiny few - all have made their case with dignity, with pride, and with their partners. But I find such rage and hatred from one catty blogger who made his name drawing penises and coke-trails - and who devotes such energy to lusting after Zac Efron and Robert Pattinson - more than a lot to take.

Love the message, shoot the messenger.

Phew

I can't believe this crazy year is nearly over. Only ten more days of 2008 already - goodness.

AND WHAT A YEAR IT HAS BEEN.

This time last year I was in Greece, hanging out and being extremely relaxed after the crazy year that was 2007 - the change between Athens-then and Athens-now is sobering and very sad. I kinda think of Athens as a second home, so it's obviously distressing to see what's going on there.

I remember I was extremely ill at the beginning of last year - I spent the first week of January sick in bed when I should have been at rehearsal for Macbeth! The tour took me through much of January and February, before I went to Tokyo in March for a little trip. I managed to see Celine Dion in concert (thank you Mark!) and we also had a fantastic day trip to Nikko (thank you Tomo and Robin!) in what was one of my nicest visits to Japan since I left. While there I got invited to come to UCLA and interview...

...and that's what I did in early April. In the meantime I had the privilege of being part of the first ever Project Brand New (which has since become a global phenomenon, thanks to the awesome ladies in charge of it). Los Angeles was quite lovely in April, not too hot, not too cold. The interviews went well, and I was accepted to the MFA programme! Alas my godfather died while I was here, so I cut short my US trip and cancelled my New York visit to go home for his funeral. RIP, Uncle Dan.

In May, I managed to re-do my US trip, and got to New York at last. I had so much fun! Thanks of course to S and the Scorpion Princess ;)

Thanks to my glorious unemployability, I couldn't get much work over the summer. Instead I spent the time writing a lot, and of course did my regular Greek stint in July. The performances were quite marvellous this year - Fiona Shaw in Happy Days, and Pina Bausch's Orpheus & Eurydice. Talk about spoiled...!

Much of August was spent in preparation for the big works of September; 'Caligula' was invited to be part of the Dublin Theatre Festival, and I moved to California. Somehow - probably with the blessings of a variety of angels and Saint Jude! - we managed to get both of these huge, stressful, wonderful things to happen without anyone getting hurt in the process. Everyone involved in the show - whether in New York, Winchester, or of course Dublin - was incredible. I am very lucky to have had such a posse!

And then I got to this place. They all SAID it was kinda like a guantlet, but I kinda couldn't quite figure what that meant. But I have had the fullest, craziest most rewarding three months here already. Three years here will be the making of me!

Of course this year has not been without its losses, its challenges and its sad news. Perhaps I've had more this year than any other year - but somehow, at the root of it all, it's all part of being alive, isn't it? That's how I'm trying to look at it all.

I can't quite figure out how to end this little post. So I'm going to hand it over to one of the loveliest discoveries I made this year - the poet Hafiz. He's an odd little case, rapturously in love with the idea of rapture. Definitely worth a look, for a different perspective. :)

IT FELT LOVE

How

Did the rose

Open its heart

And give to this world

All its

Beauty?

It felt the encouragement of light

Against its

Being.

Otherwise,

We all remain

Too 

Frightened.

Finally...

Alright. A post.

I'm sorry it's taken so long, but now that I'm in grad school (again) I have nooooo free time. Which is good, but also hard work.

I've been in the USA for exactly four weeks. It feels like several months already!

I have barely done any exploring just yet, since I arrived and went straight into class (and I now start my days at 7.30am at the latest...!)

However I did manage to get to see Tina Turner in concert, and I'm hopefully gonna see the glorious Margaret Cho next weekend. Celebs spotted so far: Magic Johnson, sitting beside me at California Pizza Kitchen; Kristen Chenoweth attending a do in UCLA, Mei Lanfang's son doing some Chinese opera on campus, Samuel L Jackson at Bristol Farms (a photo of which appeared on Perez Hilton! - not taken by me), and the cast and crew of 'Role Models', whose world premiere I walked past on my way home this evening.

It's all a whirl... 

More later. I promise, Leila ;)