Cricket

It's probably time I discussed this new interest of mine. It's rather bizarre really, because I never follow sports. However, I can't help but be rather fascinated by this strange British game. Cricket is apparently the most followed sport in the world, but only by Britain and its former colonies. Of course, India's made up of a billion people- and most of them are cricket fans.

Right now the cricket world cup is on. It's taking place in the West Indies, and we're now in the second stage, where the worst teams have been beaten and we're down to eight. Everyday at 2:30 the games start and whenever I'm at work, Greg and I take frequent breaks to check the scores on cricinfo.com. And of course, I've gotten a number of lectures on how the game is played, its history, and its general appeal. I've also gotten a promise of being taken to a game later this spring.

Cricket is... a little like baseball, but only a little. There are two batters up at a time, but the ball only gets thrown to one side. The two sides are marked by the wicket, which is a made up of three sticks of wood. To gain points, the batters must run from one wicket to the other, switching places, and if an odd number of runs happen, a different batter is up. The batters play until a wicket is "broken", which means the fielding team hits it with the ball. Then the current batter is out. But a batter can stay in play for a very long time if he's good. The wickets get hit ten times before the side gets out and each team bats twice.

However, this is in traditional cricket, which can go on for up to FIVE DAYS. For the world cup, they limit it to one day by using overs, which is six pitches (or bowls as they call them) So the fielding team throws 50 overs, meaning the bowlers throw 300 balls in an inning (though I'm not sure they call them innings), unless the other team is so bad that they get all ten wickets broken before the end.

Understand? No, I don't quite either. However, I'm having a good time trying to.

What is happiness?

Is it a feeling, a state of being, or an unattainable dream? Of course, if what I'm feeling lately isn't happiness, than I'm not sure anyone can feel it. I find myself overwhelmed with joy as I walk down a sidewalk, or sit on the couch in my flat. Unable for a moment to do anything but be filled with happiness.

I worked hard to get here. I worked well in school to get into college. Managing somehow to also fit in outside activities, friendships, family, and the occasional paying job. I spent my summers working at fairly low-paying jobs, sitting inside day after day to get enough money for the next stage of my life. I got to college and I worked to get all my classes done. I threw myself into theatre. But always, always it was with this feeling of... trudging forward.

This was where it was leading. All the stupid jobs, all the hours of stress. It led me here and now my life is folding out in front of me. This trip has made my career I think. Can all your dreams come true in one year? I mean, this fall I'm going to be working for the most exciting theatre company in Minneapolis. Then I graduate. And even if for some reason I don't come back to London to work (though Greg has promised to help me get a visa), I met a producer from New York on Monday, and Greg though I would be able to assist them on the American tour of Othello autumn 2008. Can you imagine, being 23 and already being a part of an equity tour? I'm so happy that I honestly don't know what to do with myself.

Plus! My friend Lisa is coming today to visit me!!!! Yay friends!

Wales

It was a long weekend, tiring, but wonderful. Wales is... a little bit like Northern Minnesota actually. Not a lot, but there were moments I fancied myself on Lake Superior. It's a strange place, not verdantly beautiful like Western Ireland, nor breathtaking like the Scottish Highlands, but it was lovely in its own way.

We (Kelsey, Keely, and I) walked a lot, along the sea coast, up to a waterfall in the hills, through a slate quarry, and tried, but failed to find a castle. My feet are rather sore and I've come to the sad conclusion that my shoes are worn down to the point of being more trouble than they're worth. I'll have to go buy another pair.

It was a fulfilling trip, and a nice counterpoint to all the cities I will be seeing on my trip this summer. That is, if I can convince myself to leave London. (Don't worry, I will)

Sizwe Banzi

So last night I saw the play in English that I saw in French when I went to Paris that first weekend. It was fabulous to finally understand what it was I had seen and I spent a lot of the show trying to connect the things I had seen with what I was seeing now. This version was also good, though not as well directed, of course.

The most amusing thing was that during the French version, there was a part of the show that I almost fell asleep during. I thought at the time that it was my own fault on account of the language issue. However, last night, I started yawning during the EXACT SAME PART! In the end, I can only believe that is a boring part of the play in any language.

Luck of the Irish

My St. Patrick's day was pretty low key. I got home fine from Stratford and recovered from travel. Or tried to, our flat is such a mess right now, it takes all my energy to keep myself from screaming at my filthy roommates and throwing all the clothes and papers laying about into a corner. And possibly torching them.

Anyway, I did not destroy anyone's property, instead I went with a less messy roommate to find an Irish night out. We ended up on the opposite side of town in this hole-in-the-wall pub where we got discounted guinness and watched Ireland trounce Pakistan in the Cricket World Cup. I'm quite fascinated by Cricket, I may have to find myself I ticket to a game sometime this spring.

Land of Shakespeare

So here I am in the Stratford-Upon-Avon Public Library. I got in yesterday after a four hour drive (which the website said was only 2 and a half, it's a good thing I took the early coach). The town is delightful, the word charm was created for places like these. I walked around a little last night before play number one, a puppet show depicted Shakespeare's poem "Venus and Adonis" which was read by an RSC actress.

Tonight is the main play however, "Coriolanus", one of the Roman plays, of which I know nothing. My lodging, the Croft Guest house, was perfectly plateable and served a very filling English Breakfast, complete with tomato. The breakfast was a good idea as I trekked out of town to visit Anne Hathaway's Cottage, where Shakespeare's wife lived before their marriage. The walk was beautiful, as English Spring is even more evident outside of the City. I bought a multiple pass, so after visiting the cottage I walked the mile back into town to visit 1) His birthplace and family home 2) The house of his son-in-law 3) The house of his grandson-in-law and finally 4) His grave in the Holy Trinity Church.

At the church I bought a postcard that has a picture of the inscription upon his tombstone, which reads: Good Friend for Jesus sake forbeare to digg the dust encloased heare. Blese be the man who spares thes stones and curst be he who moves my bones.

Apparently Shakespeare was foreseeing the tourism trade that began as early as the 18th century. Even John Adams visited the birthplace in the lates 1700's.

It is a lovely town, but completely based on the tourism trade. There is no real reason to come back once having seen the exhibits except perhaps for more theatre.

Producing

So Greg, my boss, says I would be a wonderful producer. He keeps teasing that I should just stay and work for him. I would be good at producing, it's the kind of job I'm made for, juggling projects, finding the right scripts, helping the writer polish them, finding the best talent, knowing what will sell, sweet-talking investors, making connections. I am not terribly good at friendships, but I am very good at small talk, at making people feel welcome and of interest. I know good work when I see it. True, I can be too blunt and I would need to learn better who I can be honest with and when I should just say the nice thing. I must learn not to discuss the show while still in the theatre.

I am so in love with this city and the work happening. Not all of it is brilliant, a lot of it is painfully old-fashioned, but that just makes me feel challenged. New York terrifies me and I think I would out-grow Minneapolis very quickly. That, or get too comfortable and never stretch myself. In London I could grow, the challenge is here, but not the terror. Of course, I love directing. It's what fills my soul, it's what I think about when my mind wanders... but I may not be good enough. If I am to be a director, I want to be brilliant. If I can't be brilliant, there's no point. I think I could be brilliant at producing, but I have to try for directing brilliance first, or I will regret it my whole life.

Greg is coming to Minneapolis next winter. His friend is acting at the Guthrie. He says that if I have a project going at the time he'll come see it, check out if I'm any good as a director. I can't help but think Talent Scout, which is a little silly. Still, we'll see.

Return

It was a lovely trip. I got to Inishmore, but unfortunately not Inishmaan- so I may have to go back this summer when it's not so insanely windy. Dublin was a bit disappointing, but Galway was lovely. It rained the last day in Ireland, which was a pity, but our two days in Scotland were almost perfect. Sam and I took a highlands tour and that was a lot of fun. Our guide was a lot of fun and the view was incredible, the highlands are definately not over-rated.

However, I'm quite happy to be back, travel is very exhausting, especially traveling with others, because you have to be careful not to push your agenda too far or on the other hand, not offer enough suggestions. Still, we parted on the best of terms and we grew very close over the trip. Though to be honest, I'm very glad that I'm traveling alone this summer.

Guinness!

There are of course other reasons to visit Dublin. The cold drizzle for instance. Or the ugly squat buildings. The food is, to be fair, wonderful, but pricey. Dublin is certainly showing the signs of increased prosperity, which doesn't help my trip budget. We did manage to book a second night in the hostel we stayed in last night, though we're going to have to swallow the deposit on the hotel- but only the deposit since we said, very truly, that it was much farther than the website had led us to expect and they waved the 50% cancellation price. The place we're staying tonight is half a block away from the bus station that will take us to the West Coast.

The true delight of our day and a half here however, has been the Guinness Storehouse. We were unable to see the brewery, since they guard their secrets quite jealously, but the museum was interesting (I now know more about beer than I will ever find useful, but knowledge is always good) and it finished with a free pint at the top of the seventh floor, possibly the tallest point in Dublin, which a 360 degrees window. Incredible. The city was not breath-taking, but it was attractive seen from that height. The colors are nice, but it's hardly London.

We also took a short tour through the Christ Church Cathedrel, but honestly, this is possibly my sixth cathedrel and I'm sort of getting bored with old religious buildings. The most impressive thing about this one however, was the beautifully tiled floor. Anyway, tomorrow I'll be in the Aran Islands. Finally!

Ireland

I'm off to Ireland and Scotland for a week. I'll do my best to update, but I'm not sure where I'll find internet connections. I'm finally going to see the island of Inishmaan, after spending many months there in my mind while directing my play. I'm so excited!