So, come to find out, one thing that water likes to do is make waves (who knew we had so much in common???). During the fifth, maybe sixth, day I had my first true sea-sickness test. I must say I passed it with three pluses, thanks to my Dad, who, when I was a kid, used to fly my brother and I in the single engine Cessnas he used to pilot as a hobby. If you can keep your cookies in one of those making a sharp turn,
you can keep them anywhere.
A rocking ship is kinda fun if you go with it. Somewhat like a constant amusement park ride- it ups and downs, but when it's really rough, as it was that day, you find out there is the crash that accompanies the down. You literally hear a pow that is followed by a jarring shake. Quite enjoyable when you're in bed, which is where you end up quite a bit because the rocking innately brings about your baby instincts if it doesn't bring out your gag reflex. There were, indeed, a few times in which I went "whoooa", but in general I liked
the drama of it.
The most amusing surprise of rough seas is the choreographed dance that occurs when people are walking in the halls. We all try to walk in a straight line, but sea decides otherwise. I mean, you're ON it, after all, it's not like you have a choice. So, soon enough, everyone has moved from the left side of the hall to the right, then back to left- a few stay in the center after a bit of control. A harsh crash may cause you to stop, but if you flow with it a bit, you'll come out on top. Step, step, step and wobble, wobble, wobble, and stumble, stumble, stumble, then bobble, bobble, bobble, and if you make to the place you meant to go without a bruise, then HEY! You've done The Rough Sea Bop!
In case you're wondering, my ocean-staring obsession did not ebb while the ocean was in extreme flux. It was fascinating, as always. The water had given up its healthy blue and become a greyish-brown, showing just how much it, too, was affected by its own motion. Symmetry still reigns during crazy waters- the crests would literally happen in pretty succinct diagonals from each other, though some crests showed their individuality in the form of size. Smaller waves just flew off the side of the ship with relative ease. Their more mammoth brethren attempted to take part of the ship with them, extending their fingers up the side and onto the 3rd, sometimes 4th decks.
No wildlife to be seen obviously, just the tapestry of the seas, but I had to wonder what all that life down there was doing. Where did it hide exactly? I mean, waves go with current and current goes down pretty far, so I'm not sure the reefs can escape the wrath. Did the tuna all bunch up in a ball and wait it out somehow in homage to their less fortunate brethren? Did the octopi stick to the side of a whale that dove a few hundred feet deeper to a less bothersome depth? How did they make it?
And that was the thing- they made it. They made it however they knew how. Or maybe they didn't- I didn't check the latest fish census. But they did what they could, adapted, and made the best of a turbulent situation. And all done with instinct. Thank you, once again, nature, for showing in your own inimitable way that one only needs to do the same, and it will always equal doing one's best.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
The crossing, part three: ship's innards
So, a couple of updates before I get to the crux of this posting....
I just realized that some of you may not know what I mean by F1, M1, ML, FL, and the like. Well, they are the codes for our voice parts in the show. For example, you have the F1 and the FL- the 1st female and the female legit voice. The F1 is the voice more tuned for broadway and pop, though in Melodie's case, she could do some classical if she really put her mind to it. The female legit voice is the voice which is more classically oriented, though in Talia's case, she also takes on some pop and Broadway classics.
You know, I never understood the title for "legit" voices. It just implies that other voices are not "legit"- is that
really a fair estimate? I mean, just because a voice is not classically trained doesn't make it any less, or any more than another voice. My voice is nice, and it's classically trained, but I make no pretense that classical training makes my voice more important another. Just my two cents.
Back to the subject......
Turnover is a particularly stressful time for us performers- we are getting all of the shows set up for performance well enough that we can sustain ourselves, and the people from the office can go back to LA with big happy smiles on their faces. It requires three rehearsals a day in some instances- one tech rehearsal during the morning and a dress rehearsal in the afternoon of one show, and a midnight dress rehearsal of another show. Oftentimes during the crossing, we were made to throw in performances, of which there were two, one at 8pm and one at 10pm. Luckily for me, out of the six shows that are contracted for the ship, I am only part of four of them. So I did have some breaks which allowed me to become a bit more accustomed to ship life.
So, the ship- it's a biggun! For a long time, before the advent of the superliners, this ship was the biggest in the world (There is a sign, which is still displayed, in the subway station right outside of the terminal in Rotterdam stating that it still is the biggest). It's big enough for 1500 passengers, not including the workers. There's a huge Lido deck where you can get food in four different places, including an Italian restaurant and a pizza place in the back (or the Aft, in ship terms). A pool also exists for the guests in the mid of the Lido, but there is what I'll politely call a wading pool in the back that all can use, but no one uses, mostly because there is just not enough water in it, and a whole bunch of metal chairs in it- not necessarily the yen of one wanting to escape the heat. At least it has a hot tub.
The ship also has a cafe, a library, gym which overlooks the ocean (it looks like your running into
INFINITY), and a casino (off limits to employees, for our own good, I'm sure). There's the Crow's Nest, which is the really nice bar and dance floor at the very top level of the ship, the Showroom at Sea, the lovely golden and burgundy theater which is the performance home of most of the major performances onboard, the Pinnacle Grill- man oh MAN the food at the Pinnacle; Lobster, Filet Mignon, Baked Alaska, heaven by way of food coma- and the Officer's Bar- the place where all the employees get to kick it with some way cheap liquor. Of course, there is also shopping- and of course, I get a discount- all of it paid for by ship account
which is taken directly out of my check.
DANGER!! WATCH YA SELF!!
I have a feeling it's gonna be a bit more difficult than I thought to resist spending temptation........
I just realized that some of you may not know what I mean by F1, M1, ML, FL, and the like. Well, they are the codes for our voice parts in the show. For example, you have the F1 and the FL- the 1st female and the female legit voice. The F1 is the voice more tuned for broadway and pop, though in Melodie's case, she could do some classical if she really put her mind to it. The female legit voice is the voice which is more classically oriented, though in Talia's case, she also takes on some pop and Broadway classics.
You know, I never understood the title for "legit" voices. It just implies that other voices are not "legit"- is that
really a fair estimate? I mean, just because a voice is not classically trained doesn't make it any less, or any more than another voice. My voice is nice, and it's classically trained, but I make no pretense that classical training makes my voice more important another. Just my two cents.
Back to the subject......
Turnover is a particularly stressful time for us performers- we are getting all of the shows set up for performance well enough that we can sustain ourselves, and the people from the office can go back to LA with big happy smiles on their faces. It requires three rehearsals a day in some instances- one tech rehearsal during the morning and a dress rehearsal in the afternoon of one show, and a midnight dress rehearsal of another show. Oftentimes during the crossing, we were made to throw in performances, of which there were two, one at 8pm and one at 10pm. Luckily for me, out of the six shows that are contracted for the ship, I am only part of four of them. So I did have some breaks which allowed me to become a bit more accustomed to ship life.
So, the ship- it's a biggun! For a long time, before the advent of the superliners, this ship was the biggest in the world (There is a sign, which is still displayed, in the subway station right outside of the terminal in Rotterdam stating that it still is the biggest). It's big enough for 1500 passengers, not including the workers. There's a huge Lido deck where you can get food in four different places, including an Italian restaurant and a pizza place in the back (or the Aft, in ship terms). A pool also exists for the guests in the mid of the Lido, but there is what I'll politely call a wading pool in the back that all can use, but no one uses, mostly because there is just not enough water in it, and a whole bunch of metal chairs in it- not necessarily the yen of one wanting to escape the heat. At least it has a hot tub.
The ship also has a cafe, a library, gym which overlooks the ocean (it looks like your running into
INFINITY), and a casino (off limits to employees, for our own good, I'm sure). There's the Crow's Nest, which is the really nice bar and dance floor at the very top level of the ship, the Showroom at Sea, the lovely golden and burgundy theater which is the performance home of most of the major performances onboard, the Pinnacle Grill- man oh MAN the food at the Pinnacle; Lobster, Filet Mignon, Baked Alaska, heaven by way of food coma- and the Officer's Bar- the place where all the employees get to kick it with some way cheap liquor. Of course, there is also shopping- and of course, I get a discount- all of it paid for by ship account
which is taken directly out of my check.
DANGER!! WATCH YA SELF!!
I have a feeling it's gonna be a bit more difficult than I thought to resist spending temptation........
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