Costume Rant

Costumes.  Like actors, you can't live with them and without them there's no show.

Always be sure to put your body microphone on first, otherwise it is impossible to conceal the battery pack and wire beneath your costume.

Early in the proceedings yesterday, Director1 said just because you have costumes does not mean you can forget everything else.  I actually did pretty well.  Except for two missed entrances and a missed scene change I was in the zone.  It wasn't so much the costumes, as it was the addition of a dressing room.  That additional space gives me yet another venue in which to fail to be onstage at my appointed time.  You would think after years of doing shows that I would learn to be lurking backstage in case a scene in which I am supposed to participate should come up.
But no.

One of the top ten worst things in theater is to hear the shouted message - CHRIS!  You're needed onstage.  As the King's Valet.  Again.  And then Choreographer1 kindly asked if it were a costuming problem.  No, Choreographer1, costume's fine.  It was more of an idiocy problem.  A user error, if you will.  Once again, this time in the scene in which the prince is giving a Ball.  Hey look, I'm not supposed to be over here.  I'm supposed to be on that side of the stage over there.  Costume?  Well, I couldn't get out of my armor from the previous scene quickly enough.
Sounds like a personal problem.  Fail.

And did things seem like they fit better at the costume shop on Howard Street?  Did the trip to Dundalk cause shrinkage?  Seems to me I wore a T-shirt at the fitting, which may be why the armpit chafing problem was not as much of an issue until now.  And another thing about Howard Street.  Costumer George treated me with great patience and kindness, but he kept telling me Take your time!  Do you always get dressed this quickly?  What's your rush?  Answer:  This is a theatrical costume operation, yes?  More frequently than not there is a limited time window for changing from one costume to another.  I suggested to Cindy1 that singing the extended dance mix version of her first song would allow me addtional time to change, but I'm not holding my breath for that.
It must be said the costumes look fabulous, but did they really dress that way back then?  How did they have time for anything else besides dressing?

And there is one thing I do not wish to hear repeated after getting the last thing laced, buttoned, snapped, Velcroed and tied - Chris, is this your microphone over here?