The city (girl) that never sleeps

So many blog options have drifted through my head since my return from Australia; pithy headlines, observational witticisms, gratuitous New York City star spots. But the time to sit down and craft these to my liking has never materialised. Now, sitting in the admissions office, with an unexpected hour to myself, I feel the need to write something. Just to prove I'm not dead.

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME

First of all, Australia was, as it always is in January, hot and awesome. (Yes, I just used the word awesome.) Thanks for the fine wine. Thanks for the conversation. Thanks for living in apartments bigger than broom cupboards. In fact, I had such a good time that I've gone ahead (with a little help from my mum - Well, let's be honest, mum's gone ahead...) and cashed in a stack of frequent flyer points for next Christmas. Almost the same itinerary; I'll be in town from December 25th until January 16th. Yes, I know it's a long way away, but it's also the first time in more years than I care to count that the Handley Family in its ever increasing entirity will be on southern shores for Christmas. Put your duty-free vodka orders in now!

SAME OLD NEW SCHOOL

School is insane. Quite literally ('tis a method-based program after all). Second year really seems to be about stretching you to the limit of your capacity and seeing what shape you bounce back to. If you ever do. On the plus side (or I guess more accurately, the minus side) I've lost about 5 kilos, which has made up some time in missed gym sessions.

At this point I'm debating over whether to give you a comprehensive rundown of how I fit in nine (9!) subjects, rehearsals, readings, work and wine or just to cut to the two most exciting things....

Okay,

Number 1: I just got cast in a third year production. Very small part, but very flattering, and it means I'll be up on the mainstage for the rep season. Which is fun. The play is called 'Desire, Desire, Desire' by Christopher Durang. A comedy. Apparently. Rehearsals start Monday. Show goes up final weekend in March. Y'know... in case you're in town.

Number 2: (this one almost needs a drumroll). I have been cast in the lead of a full length production called Limonade Tous Les Jours by Charles Mee. (Actually, if you're super keen you can read it on-line at www.charlesmee.org - unless you're Zay, and promised not to read it before opening night!) In my opinion it's a super fabulous two-character play. But that's not the best bit. Nor is the best bit that I get to play a character called 'Ya-Ya', nor that she's french, nor that she's a cabaret singer. No, the best bit, is that due to a late recasting, I get to play opposite this guy! Actually his career as a broadway director/actor and recently writer is even more impressive that the film and tv stuff. He teaches one of the directing classes here at school, which is how we were able to approach him to do the show. Anyway, rehearsals are a dream. It's such a funny, sexy play and he is so generous and easeful as an actor, that all I have to do is turn up and ride the wave. So.... y'know.... if you're in town at the end of April...

I GOOGLE NY
or
THE YEAR OF YES - A CONFESSION

Those of you who have been following these ramblings regularly might remember this blog, about my new life philosophy based around a book I found 'while sufing the web recently'. I should have known that casual phrase would one day come back to bite me. So... here goes... a funny story for those of you with some time to kill.

The reason I was surfing the web that fateful day back in November was that a certain first year playwriting candidate here at the school had caught my eye, and I wondered in the age of myspace and cyber-everything, if some insight into his background, or hell, even relationship status might be revealed on line. Among reviews of plays he'd had produced in San Francisco, his own comprehensive theatre blog and professions of devotion from a bunch of teenagers he'd taught at the California State Summer School for the Arts, I found this.

Revealed on the promotional website for the book were the true identities for some of the featured characters in it. Including one Zak/Zay, the 'best friend/roommate' character during Maria's 'Year of Yes'. So enamoured was I by the concept of the book, that I was sent off on a bit of a tangent, and promptly neglected any thoughts I might have had of pursuing Zay outside the cyber realm.

Flash forward to just before school ended in December, and far more traditionally (for a third-grader) Zay asked a close friend if I was seeing anyone. Which of course that same faithful friend ran and told me. And so, aided by the many end-of-year performances/after parties, we got to spend a little time together, and when I got back we actually started to do what the Americans refer to as 'date'.

In the interests of time I'll save you the unabridged version of this story, except to say that due to one rather false step early on you were very nearly treated to a blog entitled 'All Men are Idiots'. And so, early on, I had 'hand'. Until of course Zay decided to google me. Now I'm not above admitting I've googled myself in the past, and know that this blog has been very carefully constructed not to appear under a google search of my name. However this guy (who once worked for Ask Jeeves for god's sake!) managed to find it through a combination of an old email address leading him to www.handley.cc and my brother, who without authorisation, had recently chosen to link my blog to that completely unauthorised and previously obscure website.

Alas... all was revealed. And in a very roundabout, slightly spooky way, The Year of Yes worked its magic a second time around.

We (we being Zay and I, as a couple - yes I said it!) actually had dinner with Maria (the author) when she was here in New York last week. She was here to attend a 'Self Help Book Awards' ceremony in which 'Yes' had been nominated under the 'relationship' category. We spoke at length over dinner about how the book was clearly a memoir, and had nothing to do with self help. Although... after hearing the above story, she promised to mention us in her speech if she won.

Whew! And finally...


I HEART NEW YORK

When the snow melts and suddenly the sun reappears in a golden wash over Greenwich Village, it's like waking up after a glorious sleep, stretching and finding you are still in the dream. It's lovely. And while I'm not sure that we're completely done with the cold weather, the hint of Spring is extremely encouraging.

My head will be mostly down until mid-may, but then I'll be very ready to re-stock my wardrobe with some open toe shoes with cork wedge heels (the look for Spring!).

XO