& That’s The Ending…

I’m alive (low harmony). My blog is alive (higher harmony).

Photo by Karen Jack

I have returned from the war (epic procrastination). I’m like 2 years behind with the rest of my blogging. I do apologise for being a wayward girl (said in Reece’s booming stage voice). I promise I’ll catch up one day.

Photo by Karen Jack

For now, & Juliet family, I have some words I want to say at you. TALKING.

Photo by Karen Jack

I’ve broken this blog down into events, people and experiences that made up my time doing PMCC’s & Juliet.

Karaoke

After our first rehearsal there was a giant break, so Jess Z invited us all around for a karaoke/pool party.

If you’re reading this blog you probably know both Jess Z and I, even if you weren’t involved in & Juliet. Jess Z has the abilities to perform incredibly onstage, and also to know many of the same people I know.

Trivia

Jess Z also had the ability to know answers to questions, as we were part of the winning trivia team.

Other team members were Ron, Jamie, Nina, Lauren, Amy, Eric and our secret members Henry and Daisy.

Harvest Festival

Some of the & Juliet cast performed at the Leura Harvest Festival.

The train trip in included me telling Jamie the story of accidentally dropping one of Amy’s prize wines early the previous morning. You might say he listened like an emotional suppport stick. Jamie, you were always in the right spot in - the cast of the show. Thanks for letting me lean on you (literally) at the end of the show.

Back to the festival.

In the front of this next photo we have the charismatic #ZionOnBlog.

Thank you to Ron and Nina for being friendly faces in another show together and supporting me in my efforts to eat cake at the festival.

That day I had the disappointment of missing the cake parade, contrasted with the joy of catching the judging,

and the delight of eating a slice.

Sitzprobe

Here’s one of the terrible selfies I took on the day.

If you’d like a clearer photo of us all…

I don’t have one.

But here is a photo where you can see me and the delightful Evie in the back left.

Photo by Karen Jack

I think Philomena Cunk would also agree she’s rather stylish. Evie may, however, run away with your top layer of clothes in the dark, leaving you to perform the remainder of Roar in a little gold number.

In the middle of that photo you can also see the super talented Doug, who obviously loves hats.

We even have a group cHAT with Paige.

This photo was also taken not long before Euno (far right) and I would become spies in the wings.

Back to sitzprobe…

Here we have the mainstays of ensemble 3 - me, Naomi and Lauren.

Lauren supported me physically (thanks for carrying me) and emotionally (thanks for the onion) during the show run.

So glad we finally got to do a show together after kind of knowing each other all these years.

Naomi was the insanely talented set designer and scenic artist for the show. It was such an amazing set that really transported us to the Globe and Paris.

Naomi was also my stage angel receiver. I had an exceptionally fun time deceiving her.

What is a stage angel, you might ask. I might answer something like this… everyone is assigned a person they give secret gifts to throughout the show run, until you finally reveal yourself.

My final gift for Naomi was photos of us from our show experience. I wanted to get a photo of us together on opening night. I thought I’d have to make up an elaborate ruse, instead we both coincidently wore green. So did the lovely Jorja.

Party Girls

Katie, Ash and I were all cast as party guests. From left to right we have Phillip, Celia and Madeline.

Photo by Karen Jack

We became known as the party girls and had a blast.

Photo by Karen Jack

I loved our little bubble of fun,

friendship,

and poses.

Sometimes Frankie De Boy was part of our bubble.

Poor, sweet Callum.

Here we are with Rob. You may recognise him from his previous blog aliases Dirt Hall and Roddirt.

Katie was also known as the corset queen. Thank you for assisting me countless times.

And she was known to me as stage angel.

The heart and care that went into those gifts and notes will be forever cherished.

Even the description on the back of the cards was very fitting.

Over 30s Dressing Room

At some point during the show I realised all the people I shared a dressing room with were over 30 - Shelby, Tash, Katie and I were the regulars.

I loved our little room of Shelby keeping us positive, Tash helping with lashes and barricading bosoms. And Katie tossing stage angels gifts over when nobody was watching. And me helping people 7 times.

Sometimes Tash would even read us terrible poetry.

Tash also gave the party girls personally created graphics. They’re the best - Tash and the graphics!

We were also sometimes visited by the always gorgeous and sometimes photobombing Julie.

We also had some underage visitors who weren’t on the guest leest.

Alana K was devastated she wasn’t over 30.

Sylvie was allowed in only after lolly bribery.

It was important to keep the shower goblin happy.

We were also visited by the 32 year old, all knowing jellybean. Whoever it was closest to was the coolest.

Jess L couldn’t leave their dressing room corner for fear of losing it, so here are some of us in the all ages portion of the dressing room.

Family Members

First we have my awkward sister, Amy.

She might be an awkward sister, but she is an exceptional choreographer and amazing friend.

I received my participation award and some incredibly kind words from her at our cast dinner.

Ron became my secret onstage mum.

Photo by Karen Jack

We both wore the same style of brown corset in the show, so of course we decided I was their long lost daughter in Paris.

Thank you for being an incredible friend through the tantrums and the triumphs.

And of course, through our night photoshoots.

Thank you for letting me hang out with your real life family too.

I especially enjoyed hearing Hazel’s poem which featured a fart, a frog and a flute. I also enjoyed hearing her theories about the composition of the universe.

Elissa is my show twin.

People seem to get us confused,

so naturally we decided we’re twins.

Paige, Brooklyn and I wed just over a year ago at Panthers. Sadly, only Paige and I were in & Juliet together.

Paige and I didn’t get many photos together.

I guess that’s what happens when you get caught up in married life and are too busy chatting in car parks. And sending each other the same reels and TikToks.

After Rehearsal/Show Hangs

Paige and I are the OGs who don’t know when to quit a car park, but sometimes other people also don’t know when to quit. Like Annabelle, when we’re discussing the Statue of Liberty. Or Alana W when we’re doing “67” backwards outside Bistro 76.

Sometimes we also went inside to pubs.

In this photo I’m sitting next to the fabulous & Juliet director, John. One time he called me the Queen of Comedy and the Queen of Poses. I will never forget it. Get that phrase ready for my tombstone.

And sometimes we found ourselves at Macca’s renaming group chats and umbrellas.

Following our indoor chats Paige and I would usually chat more in the car park.

Macbeth

The joke in the show was so hilarious to the audience, it felt like it needed its own section.

I think Liz and I are discussing it here.

Photo by Karen Jack

Then we’re probably asking Flik when she’s got availability for a massage.

Final Show Day

The wickedly talented Mel Dazeem led us in vocal warm ups before each show.

The rest of the cast did theatre kid things.

The final day also included a few selfies.

And I did my own photoshoot.

Thank you to the amazing costume coordinator, Kelly for my awesome costumes.

After our double show day we had bump out. You can see 8 Fingers holding up 2 fingers.

Here’s me and the OG Skye from the ensemble because we’re cool.

After bump out most of us went to Panthers. I had a little boogie on the dance floor with some of the fabulous featured dancers, like Jane and Anjelica, and I also got lifted up by Dimi and Emma.

Here are the last people standing, including Karen (middle of right column) who took all of the incredible dress rehearsal photos.