A quick note on my last day in Paris...actually in Europe!!

Well, its been swell. I cant stay long on the computer because Stefan and Anne have made me a feast of Raclette.
Today Anne and I ventured out unto the HOT (believe it or not!!) sunny day in Paris, we picked up my 2nd suitcase from Olivers (Why oh why??!!) and then went for a Le Marais jaunt... meant not to go shopping but somehow... Anne is brilliant and awesome. A new BFF.
So back home for food
NYC tomorrow!! Cant wait!!!
Bisous!

Some more photos

Pina Coladas in Place du Capitole?? Oui! Oui! EDITED

For Heidi_below image


























I wont write much for two reasons. One Im feeling a little worse for wear.2, finally found a way to upload pics...Yayyy!!
Pina Coladas and wine with friends in Place du Capitole last night. Theyre are in random selection of photos.
They gushed at me about how I looked like Scarlett Johannsen. Compliments indeed. When I got up early after restless night hearing couple next door bonking all night, I went for Petit Dejeuner at a local cafe in the Pl du Cap. Sorry for those who read, my time at the internet cafe stopped!! Anyway I was sitting in this place for brekkie and there was agroup of hip people my age and this gorgeous man in the group kept staring at me, I was getting a little over whelmed, thinking A) hes noticed a giant glob of confiture on my face or B) he has realised the potential of my larger than life Scarlett Johannson like beauty and wants to take me out to see amazing and wonderous things for my last hours in Toulouse... To my horror and delight he started to get up and come over to me. Crap I thought to myself, he¨ll be French and I cant speak it, and he¨ll tell me of the glob of jam or how he thinks we are soulmates. Then just as he was about 2 metres from me, eyes locked, a young beggar woamn wearing (quite funky actually!) studded jeans came up to me and asked for money, I was confused at first, asking What! loudly in French when I finally comprehended what was going on and said Non! I looked up and his friends were starting to leave and he grabbed his bags, looked back at me, and crossed the square. I did nothing. I missed my chance and for those of you who want to know, I didnt have a glob of ajm on my face and shall never know why he was coming over... The Tragedy!!!!

Emotions

Theatre de l'Improviste and The hotel Im staying at on the right.

Last night Bruyére and Jean-Pierre toasted me at dinner. The thanked me for my help, my youth, my laughter and my talent. J-P went one step further to say he apologised for his bad English, which is ridiculous. I came to France without the language!! It was very special. Bru also said she considers me a good friend. It's not every day someone I've known for such short time says that. I'm very touched. After the meal, we went to see LOL at the tiny town theatre. GO AND SEE IT!! It is so charming! I completely understood what was going on without subtitles, thanks to very clear, understated but powerful acting.
Because I might not see a computer for a number of days, I'm sharing up till now. This morning I got up and cleaned my room, then J-P finally let me film him playing Kate from the Shrew. Despite his big, salty French manner his portrayal of her was quite moving. His voice was softer, his diction clearer. He got the desperation and the love of Petruchio in this 3 minute long speech.
I told him, I'm going to learn French-give me two years I said- and I will come back and he can direct me in it.
So, now I'm doing a spot of solo work, then off to stay at Hotel Capitole. Ahh, Vive le France!

Ooh Lavaur, I shall miss the farm

Last day working on the farm today and great success! I cleared 5 hedges - massive hedges... farm hedges. Cleared the property of wood, and branches and have made huge bonfires!
It was beautiful weather here as well, of all the days I've spent in Les Combelles Theatre de L'Improviste, only one day has been overcast. The warmth! I was flouncing around today in an oversized singlet, a 60s headband (essential for iPod usage) and trackies with me new and improved gloves. I looked a treat. The French men were a running! (Away...!)
This afternoon I did some solo writing outside, then interviewed Bruyére on Playback Theatre-which I knew nothing about. The talkhas really got me interested. I thought Playback had more of a psycho drama component which I'm not so wired into but the communities stories being brought alive before thier eyes-well, I think that's an incredible gift.
Bru told me a story about a Playback theatre she and her troupe were doing a few years ago in a town in France (not her town, I forget where) where they'd had a huge influx of refugees in recent times. The town was in a debacle of whether to accept these refugees or not.
The theatre was full and there was a group of said refugees in the dark in the orchestra pit. Bruyére was the Conductor and somehow, after some time performing, she managed to get an African woman to stand up on stage and tell her story in broken French. The result was mindblowing. The town reacted in such a way. A new generous way because now they had some insight, some understanding of why their town was needing to host these people. The performance was average said Bru, not the point, it was this woman sharing and the communion between the public and the refugees.
Amazing stuff. So you can change the world bit by bit with this art. Exciting.
I feel so pleased to have come here, it is certainly not what I expected but I have learned a great deal and think every day has been necessary in its own little way towards the progression of my skills as an actress.
Tonight we're off to a French film LOL in French. Very good for me. Must learn language. Am picking more and more up as days go on, I can understand really well, just replying and stringing words together myself Im not so crash-hot on.
I heard back from my friend's Julia and Jerémy, so I will meet them in Toulouse tomorrow night. I am going in with Jean-Pierre to help with a table then staying at a cheap hotel. Tomorrow morning I have insisted J-P perform Kate from the Shrew in French in the Theatre so I can film it so I can keep practising. He finds me very amusing. How can I do this without being fluent in French? he asks.
No idea. But I'm having fun trying.

3.366kgs

I post some of my stuff home today after dragging rose thorn bushes up the hill... think I shouldve bit the bullet and worn the gloves as suggested. It was such an ordeal getting the stuff into the box and sent home, I had to list what was in there and by that stage I had forgotten what it all was!!
I explored Lavaur today, it's an amazing little town, quite condensed. A big river and dam beside an extraordinary cathedral. Lots of patisseries and clothes shops, none of which were open for the time I was wombling through... for the best I have to say. I was shocked to see as I leapt on the scales yesterday that despite chocolat chauds and pain au chocolats being a key fixture of my diet in France (yes, Mum, Im talking of food again) Ive lost half a stone!!! What??!! Well really a lot of walking and extra exercise here means the metabolism must be in full swing. That's it. I'm moving to France.
I got to work up in the indoor theatre today on my solo, which was brilliant. I found some interesting little gems to bring to the party. There is a somewhat musical theatre or cabaret style thing emerging in the work, which is mildly hysterical because my singing is well, not of the highest calibre.
I was sleazy, sexy, dirty, fun, young and old and French for the most part.
I'm thinking Moulin Rouge meets a crap mime meets Woody Allen in a crusty hotel overlooking London.
But I filmed about 25 minutes of observed improvisation and then went over what worked and what didn't. This was great because I've so enjoyed the writing and it's helped me form my ideas for events clearly but they often don't work when I get them up on stage. So filming and deciphering what s damatically interesting and what to persue saves time, is much more fun and I'm chugging away at building my acting muscle.
I'm getting really excited about New York. I will have some really intense acting classes and NYU have accepted me into their lectures so I shall be a-buzz with drama and knowledge and skills and stuff. And it'll be in NEW YORK!!! Joy of joys.

sunsets and wet hands and feet

Oh one extreme to the next!! Out on the farm I have started to get cramps in the morning from lifting, bending, carrying, dropping, wheelbarrowing... And I love it. I'm listening to lots of music from Mozart (yes dad!) to Britney Spears to Van Morrison to Murder Inc to soulful Jazz.
Secretly, I am doing movement classes up the hill. Tom would be proud! I am finding the most economical way of doing my job, keeping in with the flow of the music (hilarious when BABY GOT BACK came on, I must've looked a picture) and opening myself up to the wide open space. Next I'll be toning at the mountains... what a drama geek.
Today, I was all windswept up on the hill by myself as I arranged rocks and leaves around the bonfire ground... This has to be the place where I shoot my film (as yet un-named) it is PERFECT, ideal, as really inspired a story in me.
Meals here consist on Bruyére (Heather) whipping up something AMAZING and she says "Really? But it's most average" It makes me laugh. You know one doesn't have French risotto followed by a rocket salad with fried chicken livers and a dessert of Mom blanc: chestnut puree with sort of yogurt cream cheese and cream. Not your everyday meal!!
I helped Bruyére today with the ideas around the solo show she is making with Char-it really helped me form some good ideas around events and how to portray without insult.
One of the ideas I have at the moment is a solo about the weight watchers meetings I attend. The women there are hilarious, but is not good to put on a show that could potenially mock them. Jean-Pierre said to us, whenever you have characters you think could go the way of shame, blame or laughing at - not with; find a way to make them a hero. I thought that was particularly genius. Simple, but so important.
I have decided I'll go back to Toulouse a night early. I'd like to hang out with some new friends, catch some jazz and get all my postings sent off from this end.
It's such a shame I can't upload photos here, because the sunsets are the most vibrant I've ever seen. It looks like the sky is on fire wth bright blue paint strokes beneath.
As I was up the hill, calmly taking in this idyllic world, two fighter jets flew past at rapid speed (there's an army base somewhere near here) reminding me that the world is not like this all over. So, I reminded myself how lucky I am today and to treasure all these extraordinary pictures, stories and memories building up.

My new acquaintance is...

a wheelbarrow. That's right friends and whanau, Kate McGill is spending the majority of her secondment on the farm, cutting branches off trees, carting them up the road to a bonfire site. Also bonded with the wheelbarrow raking leaves from the olive grove. I love it! Im so rural right now!
It's extremely beautiful here, though today I woke from bad dreams and with a headcold.Boo. So half the day, I've been writing interview questions and writing events towards my solo. I also have a rather well-formed idea for a film.
Heather is very inspiring, she is writing a piece about Rwanda, which we talked about in length over morning coffee. Made my writing juices flow.
I get to watch a rehearsal for this show on Thursday before I leave which should be great.
Last night we saw a local, amateur circus. In a charming chapiteau, we watched a truly horacious movement piece with a french couple, the man on a cello and the woman, mincing around the stage...just goes to show you can be a brilliant mover with NOTHING going on inside.25 minutes of me on the verge of laughter from pure ridiculous performance.
An interval where I bought Jean-Pierre and Heather Chai tea and Nutella crepes...marvellous
Then the real show-12 kids aged 11-18 performing a well concieved circus-one boy of about 12 was my star, his enjoyment sprung from the bottom of his feet up to the massive curly afro on his head. These kids have been working, travelling and living together for 5years and despite their lack of technique, their raw passion made the show truly worthwhile.

A little bit of this and that

"I have to admit that I prefer comedy to drama because making people laugh is a noble challenge. A comedian has to forget his own pain and turn himself into something for others." - Jean Reno

My night in Toulouse was hilarious - from the velo ride to the moments before I went to bed. Char works at a pub called the Frog and Robif, an English/French pub, where I met all her friends. A lively bunch, it was mildly awkward for the first 10 minutes because their lack of English and mine of French was the very 1st lost in translation time I'd really experienced. Soon we were getting on like a house on fire! Katya, Char's 1st AD on her film was a hoot, regaling me with stories about the hiphop dance festival she administers, I then showed her my krumping skills, which was a definite point of hilarity - we were throwng back fraise shots and ginger beer followed by quatre fromage pizza and more beer. Amelie and I talked about the hot boys in the pub and she gave me filthy French phrases to shout at them, and I did English with her. She had a boyfriend; but no harm we thought!
Everyone and I mean everyone does the double sided kiss in Toulouse. It's so funny, it's even more common than a handshake _ it literally goes with saying hello to someone.

Julia, an American- French girl turned up with her friend Jeremy (beautiful but very gay), yay, said I, English language! We three ended up getting along so well, I was going to go to a late night movie with them and stay with Julia instead of Soaziq (Swa_zeek, i kept calling her shos-stak _ very embarrssing. very shy girl) but Char had gone to so much trouble finding me somewhere to stay I decided to stick with the original plan.

(Soaziq had given me a behind the scenes tour of Musée Augustins in Toulouse earlier in the day _ WOW! What the dont put out to show is such an experience, such a waste sitting behind closed doors for years)

We left late and went on to another club briefly before going home to bed in a tiny little studio apartment, Soaziq was chattering away in broken English and eventually I fell asleep as she drunkenly slippedinto French

An 8am start and I started to explore Toulouse, all red bricks, the rose city. I got extremely lost, but it was no bother. I meandered around - sat for an hour and a half nursing one cup of coffee and a croissant writing masses of postcards. The eventually found a metro and went to town where sending a box of my clothes back to NZ is not nearly as expensive as I thought... I have truly learned my lesson about packing!

I was throughly enjoying myself until it hit me that I have so much to do! I got on the train to Lavaur where I met Heather and eventually Jean-Pierre, who is an incredible man - they are an incredible duo. It has really made me sad that my French is so weak, because I could learn a lot off him.

In turn, my secondment here is really self motivated. There is not a lot I can do to help them beyond administrative types of things and even that is difficult because Id have to use a translation program on the computer. So, I will be mainly writing and researching my solo, bouncing off ideas with Heather. Annnnddd.... today I leanred that Jean_Pierre and I have the love of Shakespeare in common, so I may be learning some Shakespeare in French off Jean-Pierre, as he is a master of text. Kate from the Shrew I thought appropriate as I know the English version well and can make sense of it.

I have been musing on my solo and whether I want to extend on the work did with John Bolton or work from Verbatim, which I also am very interested in. My main focus is enjoyment, I do not want to worry about what I would normally worry about-dramatic structure, instead letting my director guide me with that. I like John's concept of events, that is a much more solid place for me to work from.

I will also be working on my research project (see bottom of page) as Heather is a teacher and maker of Playback theatre and has been doing it since her days with Le Coq.

Today, I have been gathering wood, branches and leaves from all over the farm and ptting them into a bonfire pile. Strenuous work. Good for me.

Jean-Pierre and I went to the local market where I bought a dashing red beret and chatted to Heather and JPs friends-Heather is a phenonenally good cook and had some soup ready for us when we got back.

Tonight I see the local circus _ Ooh lala! I can't upload any pictures from here but will when back in Paris.

A bientot!

My researh assignment below-if anyone can shed any light on some of my topic matter?? Any sources most helpful!!

Working Question WHAT IS THE ROLE OF VERBATIM WITHIN PERFORMANCE?

Abstract What I intend to uncover in my research is uncovering the Pros and Cons of Verbatim and how it can be used to benefit many (including the performer/s)I wish to unearth faults and advantages in the editing process and the difference between noting speech patterns and body language as opposed to performing the idea of a person through using their words. (An example would be The Laramie Project by the Tectonic Theater Company vs. Anna Deavere Smith's major works: Fire in the Mirror, Twilight) It is my intention to explain how Verbatim, when done in the former, can potentially take away a certain amount of ego from the actor and encourages and challenges him/her to be more aware of habitual patterns within themselves, break these habits, and be more present and connected within their work.To understand and present this clearly, I intend to research the concept of Verbatim and how that word translates to productions, with specific emphasis on its use in socio-economic and political theatre and how this form can create awareness around a situation. I will explore the idea of 'character' through this work and the power of spoken word and I wish to touch on community and playback theatre as a source as there are deep rooted connections between the two forms.I intend to have 4 main sources of research: 1) Through taking classes at New York University: Verbal Art as Performance: The Performed Story in Culture and Intercultural Performance: Ways of Seeing, I shall have significant material to draw from and a link to (2) Anna Deavere Smith's works which I will research though reading her books and approaching her, again, through email. 3) Interviewing and looking at New Zealander Miranda Harcourt's verbatim work in prisons. 4) Assessing the functions of Playback theatre through interviewing Christian Penny and Heather (Bruyere) Robb.

Research Plan Now – April - Examining Anna Deavere Smith's written works1

9-27 February - Interviews: Heather Robb

1-15 March - Lectures at NYU- Approaching Anna Deavere Smith and/or her assistant. 25-31 March - Approaching Christian Penny and Miranda Harcourt for interview times.- Reading Miranda Harcourt's work 'Verbatim' and examining sources in the Libraries (Victoria, Nola Miller, Wellington Public)

Now - - Collating material as I find it, drawing on links within the works whilst mapping out and refining research to make it thorough and clearly presentable.

Pics from London and Paris

Three Days of Rain set
Me and James and the offending Hagrid chic coat which I want