The Shakespeare Competition! 2011
So... here I am... back at home. The journey? Well, while it was a success, it was also another experience to learn from. Not necessarily new, but still, one to understand and glean from.
Ready for some pictures? Several thousands of words?
-October 5th-
This was when we first crossed the border into Utah... though it was fairly freezing the whole entire way. Let me tell you, coming from 110 degree summers to... well, look at the next few pictures;) It's a humongous switch.
Yep. It's a huge difference. And guess what else? 'Twas snowing when we got there! ^_^ *glee*
Lovely, is it not?
Here we are- flipping out, we're so excited^_^ Can you tell?;)
-October 6th-
The next morning (since we got in around 7pm), we went to the auditorium to check in, and then to walk around the campus figuring out which rooms we were in for the compeition that afternoon. Those of us in the "Essex!" division were Alexandrea and Isabel (Alexandrea-Viola; Isabel-Clown: Twelfth Night scene), Powers (Cassisus monologue from Julius Caesar), Hunter (Brutus monologue from Julius Caesar, whom he played this last summer in our performance), and moi (Tamora cutting from Titus Andronicus)... those in Mrs. Ward's school were part of the "Westminster!" division.
Can you see how tickled pink Isabel, Me, and Alexandrea are in the elevator? ;)
^^We came across a group practicing their ensemble scene from Titus Andronicus. Oh goodness they were good... and... bloody...;)
Here we are~ getting into character.
I love these people=)
Ah, and look! *dramatic voice with an English accent*
The Old Globe Theatre!
A group practicing their ensemble scene on campus at SUU
Grace-Hope in front of the camera=) Isn't she darling?
We found a lovely ensemble scene being practiced... not sure what it was, but they were excellent actors.
See? They look so sweet and pretty=)
Macbeth in kilts? But of course!
Let me tell you, you never know what you're going to see here... Then, back we went to the hotel rooms to practice and relax before we had to go compete in our three seperate rounds at 3:30.
When 3:30 came, off we were to our rounds. Actually, off we were to watch Alexandrea and Isabel do their amazing, hilarious, spectacular scene~! And they did beautifully. After that, Hunter, Powers, and I headed off to our rooms which were (thankfully!) in the same building... at least in the first round.
Would you believe that I got no pictures whatsoever?!?! The "friend with a camera," the "photographer" failed in her task;) BUT, we got videos of everything, and once I figure out my YouTube password again for the umpteenth time, they shall be posted... and you shall see everything=)
My Marmee, being the wonderful one she is, got this pictures of me before my first round=)
And after that was over... at around 8:30-ish at night, we went to watch several ensemble scenes, from A Midsummer Night's Dream, to Macbeth. Home we came... to "crash"... or not. Instead we ran into Angela's group, who were practicing their scenes/monologes for the following morning. We had a blast watching, sticking our toes into the jacuzzi, and chatting with everyone=)
Then did we go crash? Nope;) I stayed up 'till around 12:30-ish journaling. Did I mention I am an avid journaler of Shakespeare and anything I love?;)
-October 7th-
Next Morning~
I think I scared everyone... myself included. When we were parking, I screamed, "There's Lark!!!!!" This sweet girl Zekie and I met at Monticello College retreat in Monticello this past summer. We'd tried to figure out a day when we could get together, but we were unable to contact each other till we were e in Cedar. This- was totally a G-d thing. Apparently, she'd left for work ten minutes early, and the only parking place we were able to find just happenewd to be the one that she was coming up the sidewalk on. I jumped out of the car and ran to give her a gigantic hug. While she still had to get to work, she promised to come and join us all later. Thank You, Jesus!
After that, we went to watch Zekie (Marc Antony monologue, Julius Caesar, the same character he played this summer in our performance) do his monologue, complete with suit, white shades, and a New Jersey accent;) Everyone loved it! Video coming soon;)
Here we are:
Powers, Zekie, Hunter, Isabel, Alexandrea, Moi
Angela going over Zekie's scene with Hunter=)
Well aren't we hilarious?
Top Row- Raven (Lady Macbeth Monologue, Macbeth) Helen (Twelfth Night scene with Gizelle; playing Viola), Hunter (Brutus Monologue, Julius Caesar), Zekie (Mark Antony Monologue, Julius Caesar), Ndungi (Othello scene with Christina and Sophia; playing Othello), Powers (Cassius Monologue, Julius Caesar).
Second Row- Christina (Desdemona from Othello), Gizelle (Viola from Twelfth Night), Sophia (Emilia from Othello), Moi (Tamora Monologue from Titus Andronicus), and Henry.
Then we went to see the Othello scene, performed by Christina (Desdemona), Sophia (Emilia), and Ndungi (Othello). It was incredible!
Western Christian Highschool~Helen, Christina, Henry, Zekie, Gizelle, Ndungi, Sophia, and Raven.
That night found most of us in the auditorium for the awards' ceremony... which was, as usual, amazing.
According to the boys', we "won..."
"nothing."
Poor girls who stayed at the hotel and were totally tricked by this;)
But you know, who were we to feel down about this? Sure we felt discouraged, but it was the joy and excitement of being there all together that mattered! Sarah and I decided to go to PartyCity and buy a bunch of trophies and write on there how we all won=) Lark was there, and Zekie and I enjoyed catching up with her (and doing our monologues for her;).
And so... we went to dinner.
Ohhhh, yes. Celebration!
Aren't we a beautiful group? ;)
Me, Lark, Helen, and Sarah
You'll never know how random this picture is... nor how hilarious the outcome;)
The girls decided that we were totally going to pull an all-nighter... it being the last night and all;)
'Twas such fun... chatting, laughing, having a lovely time in general. How I wish it could have lasted longer...
-October 8th-
We awoke the following morning in time to say goodbye to our new friends (of Western Christian), and (believe it or not!) watch the sun rise from behind the snow-capped mountains.
This, my friends, was the result of our staying up so late and getting up so early;)
We don't know when we'll see each other again... but we're tied together by the bonds of Christ.
As we drew into sight of home... this is what met our eyes.
Utah... is beautiful... it's snowy... it's cool weather...
But California... as wacky as it may be;)... is home to me... for now.
And I love it.
The Shakespeare Competition is over... for now. You don't know just how much I wanted to scream and literally "freak" like so many of the other groups that won... but more days are ahead. It may not be for always... but Shakespeare is a part of me... I'm Shakespeare "through and through," in the words of Zekie;)
And again... I can't wait until next year.
in Him,
sierra