First Day.

I was presented with a gift of oranges and apples to welcome me.

 Because:

  “We want you to come back again tomorrow.”   ~  Sue

            “We’re just glad you’re here.”  ~  Sarah

(I did point out that having only just arrived, I had no intention of leaving yet but all the same,) Aw!

Besides those satsumas looked way fresher than any which Kroger had to offer the day prior.

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"Costumes give clues about when & where a story takes place, 

& about the characters who wear them."  

: Theatre IV

Cute!

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So. First Day. I took a trip out to the ‘Tavern, riding with Lynn & in convoy with Sarah. We had costumes to strike & shift as “Young Thomas Jefferson” moves from the Tavern, back into town for its run at Willow Lawn. (“The Hound Of The) Baskervilles” is still playing at the Tavern at present. I’m hoping to see that on Sunday. Yay, Sherlock!

  The Hanover Tavern’s about a forty minute drive from W.Broad Street, out into the neighbouring countryside. Richmond is so bursting with history, especially from the Civil War period, than one doesn’t even need to try & learn History. It’s right there, all about you.

   - Like on Monument. Monument Avenue is the road which connects the theatre to Willow Lawn, graced with several figures from the Civil War era & the South’s Confederate past. Arthur Ashe is also present, a controversial later addition - not least for the stance in which he is portrayed. I’ve waved “hello” to Stonewall Jackson about ten times over in the last two days. (I’m still trying to work out his noble steed's name.) -

   The Tavern you can read about here, if you want. It’s a very pretty setting, the old courthouse sitting just opposite. My visit also taught me the phrase, Give me liberty or give me death, courtesy of Patrick Henry. Theatre-wise, it’s an interesting space inside. They’ve tried to retain the original feel of the tavern & upstairs is painted with a mural of way back then. We were delayed in gaining entry so sat sheltering from the rain whilst I got the real inside story of what went on the Artsies & the low-down on the upcoming productions. (Madeleine’s Christmas sounds magical. I'll talk more on that once the show's gone up, I think.)

Costumes collected from there, onwards to Willow Lawn. Now Willow Lawn’s actually the name for the shopping centre as a whole. WillowLawn – the theatre - was only established by Barksdale Theatre when the Tavern was renovated in 1996 & the players told to look elsewhere for a space. The rebranding exercise due to the merger of Theatre IV & Barksdale as "Virginia Rep. Theatre" will see Willow Lawn become The Children’s Theatre of Virginia. A dedicated playing space for children's theatre. That makes me happy.

That was my morning. In the afternoon I commenced upon the silver brocade Vest. Thankfully I was told we were “keeping it simple” – no shawl collar (so tricky), no welt pockets (equally so) & even the facing was reduced down to just a strip of interfacing.

Two things have happened since then. Three actually, with writing this at the end of Day II.

1)      I’ve had my tailor’s chalk confiscated. I don’t need it, apparently. No lines, just 5/8 SA from the sewing foot to the edge of the cut fabric.

2)     I’m now pinning sideways rather than head to tail pinning along the (non-existent) lines. Absolute genius! Because if you pin sideways, you can just run the stitch right over the pins.

3)     The Vest is now finished. Ta-dah! Ready for its fitting.
It’s going to be playing a part in this number. SHINY.