All Dressed Up

Last night, I had the pleasure of going to see Dr. Faustus, which is playing at Arts Court. I was a little tired after supper, but I was jazzed to be going out because it gave me an excuse to dress up.

I really like dressing up. I don't mean dressing up in the way you do for Halloween; I mean I like taking the extra time to make sure my appearance is just right. It's funny how I feel like I need an excuse to look nice, but that's just the way I am. And going to the Theatre (with a capital T) has always seemed to me like it should be a classy affair.

So I put on a cute top and a nice pair of slacks, I slip my feet into those boots (you know the ones, they go all the way up to your knees), and I do my makeup just right. I know lots of women who hate wearing makeup, but I love it! It's like painting a canvas to me. The only time I ever get sick of it is when I'm doing a show, since I typically have to wear so much of it every night (I guess it's like forcing someone to smoke an entire carton of cigarettes in one sitting). Then, when I think I'm ready, I take out my suede jacket that I only wear for special occasions (and only if it's not raining). Even my accessories, from my gloves to my little hat, all seem to match.

Perfect! I look like a million bucks and I am now ready to... go walk through Vanier. Um, ok, so that part wasn't that great. Especially since it's dark out so early now. But whatever, I'm going to the theatre and, if I have to go solo, so be it!


I was thoroughly pleased with the show. I don't think I've enjoyed myself so much as an audience member in a long time. Mr. Natalie Quesnel has a little chat with the audience at one point and he mentioned that he didn't think anyone was paying attention. I have to say that there were times when I thought I was the only one paying attention. I was chuckling gleefully from the beginning. However, at first I was chuckling rather quietly since I seemed to be the only one doing so. Why is it that the audience never feels like they are as much a part of the show as the actors. Like they can never let loose and just enjoy themselves at a show? Has film and television numbed us so much that we have forgotten that there isn't a screen separating us from the action? Bah!

I don't want to spoil anything for anyone, but I will say that Charles McFarland has always had flair when it comes to staging a show. There are two more nights left in the run. You should all take the time to go out and see it.


So the show was over and I was excited by what I saw.

I felt good and I looked good and and...

I had no place to go

That's the thing that really sucks about going to the theatre alone (which I tend to do a lot, be it stage or film), once it's over and I want to go out for drinks to talk about what I saw, I actually have no one to join me.

Even at the show, I realized that there was no one there I knew. It reminded me of the night I went to see the Wrong Son with Kris. He was pointing out all these people to me and I hadn't a clue as to who they were. I'm definitely out of the loop when it comes to the Ottawa theatre scene and, since the acting business is as much about who you know as how talented you are, I need to figure out some way to get back in.

But instead, I came home, put my clothes away, and carefully scrubbed my face. I knew there was a reason I didn't get dressed up all that often. It's because I don't usually have anywhere to go.