Helen Fields is a member of the 2011 Christmas Revels adult chorus. Her posts will give you an insider’s view into this year’s show.
Cast Member’s Blog
Winter Concert at the Birchmere
by Helen Fields December 27, 2011 » Add the second comment.
Back in the early 90′s, Washington Revels did a few post-Christmas shows at the Birchmere with the local folk-rock band The New St. George. Now the New St. George’s leader, Jennifer Cutting, has a fabulous new band, and we’re reuniting with her to do a show tonight at the Birchmere! Read more »
Tarasque Spotted in Wild
by Helen Fields December 15, 2011 » Add the second comment.
Chorus member Terry Winslow e-mailed this photograph of a tarasque to the chorus this week: Here’s proof that the tarasque is a real live piece of Provence’s folk history: a carving on a column at the church of Saint-Trophime in Arles. If I understand the construction history correctly, the oldest Read more »
Goodbye to Andalusia
by Helen Fields December 13, 2011 » Add more comments.
Well, it’s over. Our beautiful Andalusian world has been dismantled. The final step in The Christmas Revels is taking down the set and moving all of our things out of the theater that we’d occupied for the last two weeks. The entire cast helps out with strike. The actual set Read more »
There’s a Wig Under There
by Helen Fields December 11, 2011 » Add more comments.
Most of us get to walk around on stage with our own hair showing, but if your hair is too short or too pink, you have to wear a wig. Yesterday Jane Bloodworth, alto section leader and all-around awesome person, was kind enough to let me take pictures of having Read more »
Eating, Singing, and Hydrating After the Show
by Helen Fields December 9, 2011 » Add more comments.
This year the evening performances of The Christmas Revels are over at about 10:15. After the show I hang around in the lobby to chat with any friends who were at that performance, then go upstairs to get out of costume, wash my face, and leave the theater. Then I Read more »
You Can’t Revel Without an Audience
by Helen Fields December 8, 2011 » Add more comments.
Last night I went to a play at the Shakespeare Theatre. After the performance, some of the actors came back out on stage to answer questions. Someone asked what part the audience plays in a performance. One of the actors said that audiences have different personalities; one night everything will Read more »
Wait, I Don’t Live in Andalusia?
by Helen Fields December 5, 2011 » Add more comments.
Sunday night I was waiting in line at the grocery store and felt on my fingers for my rings. Except I don’t wear rings. Those are part of my costume. After nine straight days of rehearsal and performance, it’s odd to return to the real world. When I left the Read more »
Opening Day
by Helen Fields December 3, 2011 » Add more comments.
It’s finally here! We auditioned in May, we started rehearsing in September, and we’ve been at Lisner Auditorium every night this week. Last night, we had a rehearsal with a practice audience. This afternoon is our opening night. (Yeah, I know. But “opening matinee” sounds silly.) In case you’re reading Read more »
A One-Hanger Year for Costumes
by Helen Fields December 2, 2011 » Add the first comment.
Let me quote for you an excerpt from a conversation between me and my dear friend Cheryl, who I met through Revels but hasn’t been in the Christmas show in a few years, due to an unnatural preoccupation with such things as “raising small children” and “not failing her classes.” Read more »
In the Makeup Room
by Helen Fields December 1, 2011 » Add more comments.
There are a lot of things I like about Revels. The community. The singing. The costumes. The ribbon sticks. Here’s something I don’t like: makeup. My goodness, stage makeup does not feel nice. And it doesn’t look so nice, either, up close. That’s ok, because stage makeup isn’t meant to Read more »