This week, we are performing at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center in Birmingham, AL. I was in Montgomery, AL for five months last year acting at Alabama Shakespeare Festival, but never really got to come up and explore Birmingham. The downtown area where we are working and staying is typical of many American cities that fell victim to urban sprawl and the lure of Wal-Mart. Downtown Birmingham is essentially a place where people come to work. No one seems to live here, and most of the businesses and restaurants cater to the lunch crowds during the work week. At night the streets are virtually deserted. I am staying at the Hotel Redmont, a relic of the 1920's, still with many of its original period details. My room is spacious and very cozy, decorated with Southern style--chintz drapes, paintings of magnolia blossoms, traditional furniture. This is what I call an "eating out" week, as the hotel room has no kitchenette or even a fridge. So I have gotten to sample the local cuisine several times a day!
Birmingham is called "Magic City" because of the rapid increase in population during the early industrial boom here. Much of the official architecture and major buildings seem to be art deco in style, suggesting they were erected in the 20's and 30's. Birmingham also considers itself the cradle of the Civil Rights movement.
I had the pleasure of exploring the Birmingham Museum of Art, a fine and diverse collection in a very pleasant building. There are some lovely pieces of Italian Renaissance painting (my favorite), some wonderful Dutch masters, and pieces by luminaries like Monet, Sargent, and others. The museum has a lovely collection of decorative arts, including an extensive collection of Wedgwood and some priceless pieces of Meissen porcelain.
There is also a beautiful sculpture garden with pieces by Rodin as well as a wonderful voluptuous reclining woman by Botero, in his typical "plump" style. Near the museum, Linn Park, bordered by City Hall and other official buildings, is a charming place with a lovely fountain and some beautiful plants and trees, cherry blossoms and magnolias, and mockingbirds singing in the branches. Again, my friends, beauty is everywhere. We just have to look for it.
The other special characteristic of Birmingham I have noticed is the extraordinary friendliness of the people. I don't consider myself a typically reserved northeasterner, however, I have been completely disarmed by the free and friendly way I have been engaged by people here. From service workers to people on the street, I have struck up some sort of conversation with almost everyone I have encountered. While enjoying lunch in the museum cafe, a couple just leaned over and asked me where I was from and started recommending restaurants and places to see. The ladies who serve breakfast in my hotel are sassy and flirty and very funny. It is nice to get a sense of the character of a place and so far, Birmingham has been very pleasant indeed.
A few of you have asked about my shoulder injury and I am happy to say that it is steadily improving. I saw a doctor in Orlando who x-rayed it and told me it was a sprain. He injected it with cortisone, an unpleasant procedure, but it gave me a lot of relief. I have lightened up my gym workouts and in general it is feeling much better. I am fond of telling the younger performers in the show that I can do everything I have always done physically--it just hurts more now! Thanks to those of you who expressed concern about my injury.
On Thursday this week I went to the south side of town, known here as Five Points. It is what they refer to as the "bohemian" part of Birmingham, but to me it is the "cool" part of town. It's a fun area, with nice restaurants and music venues, a few funky shops, a health food store with vegetarian cafe. I bought myself a great straw fedora, "Rat Pack" style, in a very fun clothing store, and I love my new chapeau. It is very heartening to know there is a funky section in this rather odd, conservative town. Honestly, I have been enjoying my light schedule here in Birmingham, and the pleasure of being close to work and things to do that don't require carpooling, so I can explore on my own. This week I hosted 'shot night' and I made, appropriately, Alabama Slammers. Never had them before but they combine Southern Comfort, sloe gin, and Amaretto with orange juice. Sounds sweet, huh? Well they were a huge hit with the cast and crew! These drinks lead me to a funny story involving my dresser this week.
My dresser here is Sandy. Sandy is a truly remarkable person, superior dresser and an all around sweetheart. She is a breast cancer survivor who does volunteer work to raise breast cancer awareness. Additionally, she is working to create a local for this area with the wardrobe union, to improve opportunities and conditions for her fellow wardrobe workers. Sandy did me a personal favor this week, as there are no liquor stores in downtown Birmingham and I needed the ingredients for my shot night, by picking the booze up for me. Alabama has what they call 'ABC stores' (Alabama Beverage Commission) and the products sold are all regulated by the state. Turns out that one of the key ingredients for my shots, sloe gin, is no longer sold in ABC stores. Sandy sought out a privately owned liquor store that had two bottles left and grabbed one to complete my recipe. What amazes me is that Alabama liquor stores don't carry one of the essential ingredients for the most well known of Alabama drinks. Wha??!!
Casey Nicholaw, the original choreographer of "Spamalot," saw the show this weekend and gathered us together for his notes and insights. In general, he was very happy with our company. And he had nothing but great things to say about me and my performance. This is a big relief, because of course I want to please this original creator of the show! I feel very grateful and happy that I have his seal of approval. All in all this trip to Birmingham has been very satisfactory and I have enjoyed my time here. Next stop is Greenville, SC. Oh yes--and I made some changes and additions to my website so take a look! I added a biography page, and a photo of me as Sir Robin under the "Spamalot" menu option. Enjoy!
3 comments:
Hey, this is the girl from the stage door at the Saturday night performance in Birmingham- the giddy one you gave you the note. I also was the girl from Montgomery who e-mailed you a few months back, whom you told about working at the Shakespeare Festival. (It turns out I know someone there who worked with you, she said you were a lot of fun.) I just wanted to tell you again how amazing you were in the show, and how great everyone was in general. I also want to thank you for being so nice in person.
I love that you have this journal up to let people who may be interested in touring theatre what its like to preform on the road. I look forward to reading about the rest of the tour!
Thank again!
Laura B.
I just want to say I saw your final performance last night, and I loved it! I am a local actress myself, and I have seen touring shows where the actors often seemed to be just going through the motions, but you all were giving 100%, and you seemed to be having as much fun as the audience. I wished there was some way to thank the cast for such a fine and thoroughly professional and delightful performance, so I went to the web to find out what more I could, and I came across your blog. I love how you include pictures and descriptions of each city, and I would say your characterization of Birmingham is 100% accurate.
Anyway, thanks so much for your hard work and your talent, and for giving your all. From reading your blog, you seem to be such a positive and upbeat person, and I wish I had gotten the chance to meet you. :-)
The whole striking up random conversations thing? It's called southern hospitality. =) Down here in the south (MS for me), we like to make people feel better. Talking is usually how it ends up. And besides, it's always fun talking to random strangers.
You got to go to the art museum? Lucky. I was just in Birmingham for a day, so I didn't get to do that.
Good job on Spamalot by the way-nosebleed seats on Saturday. You were marvelous even from up there!
Hope you don't mind random comments. -Kates
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