Sense and Sensibility

A dramatic recording of "Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen is now ready to download! Unfortunately, this project was started before I signed up for Librivox. I don't have a part, but many other wonderful readers do! Sense and Sensibility was Austen's first published novel. It tells the story of the Dashwood family: a mother and three daughters who are suddenly impoverished by the death of their father. Their beloved country estate is entailed and they are forced to move into a small cottage far away from anything they have ever known. Practical Elinor makes the best of the situation, while her romantic sister Marianne pines for adventure. In true Austen fashion, there is a host of delightful and funny characters. If you've never read an Austen novel before, I've always thought Sense and Sensibility would a good place to start. To listen, click on the link below. You can listen to individual chapters online, download a file of the whole book, or subscribe to it as a podcast on iTunes. If you do listen to it and enjoy it, Librivox has dramatic recordings of "Mansfield Park" and "Pride and Prejudice" as well. And of course I have a part in the upcoming "Emma", so keep an eye out for that too!

Sense and Sensibility

Original Practice Shakespeare

Because this is my first full summer living downtown (last year I was in Thailand) I am making an effort to find fun, free/cheap things to do to keep myself busy. With this in mind,  I decided to check out an acting company called Original Practice Shakespeare. It was the most unusual and surprising experience I've had seeing a Shakespeare play. The actors learn 2-3 parts in the play, but don't know which one they will perform until the morning of the show. They carry small scrolls with only their lines and prompts in an attempt to replicate the experience of actors in Shakespeare's time, when lax copyright laws made it dangerous to give out full scripts. The actors were somewhat memorized, but would sometimes call out for  line from the "referee" sitting to the side. Now this could have been excruciatingly awkward and slow, but they pulled it off! These small interruptions were brisk, and enhanced the humor. The show I saw ("As You Like It" in Washington Park) was zany and engaging. It was easy to tell the actors were having a blast. The plays are held in various public parks around Portland, and sets and costumes are simple. Best of all...it's free! This year they will perform "As You Like It", "A Midsummer Night's Dream", "Much Ado About Nothing", "Romeo and Juliet" and "Twelfth Night". Click here for a schedule. Bring a blanket or chair to sit on, perhaps a picnic, and enjoy the show!

The Rose Garden

What I'm Recording: I just signed up to play Rosencrantz in Hamlet! I have always been very inspired by Hamlet since I first saw it in Ashland when I was 15. I'm so happy to have a part in it!

Now that we've finally had some decent weather here in Portland Oregon, my parents and I went on a picnic to the lovely rose gardens in Washington Park!

Alaska

What I'm Recording: I got a role in a murder mystery called "The Film of Fear"! I haven't read it, but I'm playing a Hollywood actress that is threatened by a mysterious stalker I believe. More news to follow. 

Meanwhile...

My mother and I went to Alaska a few weekends ago for a job (long boring story...). While I found it very beautiful, there wasn't much to do. In our free time, we explored the area around Anchorage.

Mom and Smokey

Moose Caution Sign

An artsy dead tree with a glacier in the background.

I kissed a moose

See that?? It's a moose! And a baby!