Ask Al: A Life in the Theatre

Hi Al,

Secondly, if you hadn’t have become an actress would you have still tried to forge a career in any other side of the theatre, such as backstage or casting director etc?

Many Thanks,

Laura

* * *

The short answer is Yes. I say this all the time but I shall repeat it here because it is a perfect example of how I feel. I love the theatre, and acting is my contribution to the theatre.

If I had no talent for acting or singing, I would utilize my organizational side and delve in to the world of stage management. Or, I would try my visually artistic hand at design. I still intend, when I am brave and experienced enough, to direct. I have, and will continue to, teach.

I am often asked about pursuing an acting career in film and television, and though I would love to experience the thrill of a completely different medium, I explain that it is not acting that I love, but specifically, the theatre.

25 Things

Apparently this is the biggest case of narcissism in Internet history. 5 million notes have appeared on facebook in the past week. 5 MILLION facts.

* * *

1. I am addicted to badcrimedrama. The worse it is, the better.

2. This addiction to badcrimedrama has, in many ways, made me particularly suspicious and careful. Definitely paranoid. I sometimes think about things like "my finger prints are all OVER that..." or, "why would anyone throw their napkin in the bin when it is in plain sight? That NEEDS to be incinerated...." It's probably not healthy.

3. I have flat feet.

4. What About Bob? is my undisputed favourite film of all time. In a top ten list of favourite films, Bob would take up the top three slots. I could watch it on repeat, I could probably quote the entire thing from beginning to end (with intonations and pauses, inflections, music cues and everything). The last time I watched it? Yesterday in my dressing room between shows. Oh! And when I was young, I put a microphone up to the television and recorded it on audiotape so I could listen to it at summer camp and in the car. THAT my friends, is love. Every single time I watch (or, uh, hear) this film I get something new from it. Bob is not only humourous, Bob is strangely moving and enlightened. And well! I could probably write an entire post about Bob and indeed, just might...

5. I love owls. (Also, a friend of mine has a child who thought my name was "Owl" instead of "Al" and it stuck.)

6. I love Halloween. And Autumn. Both of these things combine two of my favourite things: a sort of dark and sinister aesthetic, and the melancholy nature of the fall season. I have a dark side I guess, and it revels in that time of year.

7. My favourite food in all the world is watermelon. But it HAS to be good. There is just no point in eating it if it is mushy or sour or mealy. But good watermelon? I could eat it all day every day. For every meal. Forever.

8. I'm fascinated by redheads. And redheaded culture. I like that redheaded-ness is a genetic mutation. I love how weird it is that redheads need more anesthesia than everyone else. My first proper boyfriend was a redhead ("with hair the color of a ripe orange peel"). I know three left handed redheads (one of whom was that first boyfriend). Redheaded-ness is not only a hair colour, it is a STATE OF MIND...

9. I have a very mysterious connection to the letter "J." Excluding a few key people, the majority of the major players in my life along the way have had J names, or had some connection to the letter J themselves. Examples...
Childhood best friend: Jessica.
Childhood boyfriend: James.
First proper boyfriend: Jeremey.
Brother: Jordan.
Love of my youth: Justin.
Kindred Spirit: Josh
Other major friends: another Jeremy, another Justin and another Jessica.
The one that got away: Jim.
I had a pre-teen crush on another Josh, taken over (in various ways) from a Jill a Jyoti and a Justine. I've been taught very important things by two Jeans, two Judys and a Julia, sung for Jeff, and of course, played Julie Jordan opposite Jeremiah James.

When pointing this phenomenon out to childhood friend Justin Boday, he nodded his head suspiciouly and then pointed to my parents quizzically. What about your Parents Mike and Cathy? Their names don't start with J, his expression read. I thought for a moment and replied: "Jom" and "Jad." Aaaand it stuck.

There are over 20 other Js which shall remain nameless, but they are OUT THERE (and I am certain they know who they are)...

10. I am really.... REALLY good at pinball. Don't challenge me to duel....REALLY GOOD...

11. I know that in admitting this next piece of trivia I will, without question, move down a few pegs in people's estimation: I know it is absolute garbage, but I secretly love Ghost Whisperer and cry at every.single.episode. It is bad. It is bad bad television and I love it. I. love. it. Iloveit. And I am NOT ASHAMED. Yes I am. I am ashamed. But now it is out there and that is that. Am I embarrassed that when we first tech-ed the final scene of Carousel that my reply was "Oh my god that light is so magical and JUST like the one in Ghost Whisperer!" ? --Yes. Yes I am. Am I discomfited that sometimes when (prepare yourself) "G-dub" is on, I turn off my PHONE? Absolutely. Do I care? Not really.

12. I famously get song lyrics mixed up. And allow the confusion to perpetuate within me for decades at a time. Famous (totally sincere) misunderstandings:

Hard Day's Night
"...and I've been working like a log...."

"I Say a Little Prayer For You"
"forever and ever you'll stay in my heart and I will hug you..."

and my favourite lyrical mix-up of all time:

I Will Survive:
"I just walked in to find you here with the fat whore upon your face...."

13. I love red. Anything red. It has always been my colour. I love to wear it, to look at it, if I could, I would bathe in it.

14. I don't think I have ever loved a city more than I loved, and continue to love, Venice.

"Perhaps I am afraid of losing Venice all at once, if I speak of it. Or perhaps, speaking of other cities, I have already lost it, little by little." -- Italo Calvino

15. One time, my friend Kit took me to Bastille Day at the French Embassy in London. Perks included, among other things, a security check at the front gate, shaking hands with the ambassador (his hand was incredibly soft), an Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triumph both made of baguette, and accidentally walking in on the Ambassador's wife in the toilet. Somehow, a hearty "pardon" just didn't cut it. Fantastic.

16. Sometimes, when I don't feel like getting hassled, I pretend to be English just so I can get on with my day without talking about Friends or politics. Sue me.

17. I am really good at making salads. And naming them. If I were to put out a personal ad, I would list salad making as one of my virtues because I am really very talented. Savoury, sweet, pasta, bean, Greek, Italian, Michigan, you NAME it, I can make it and you will love it. I promise. I once made a salad in Sheffield for our New Year celebrations with pomegranate seeds and called it "Persephone's Delight." Good, huh? Or what about "The Traverse City Surprise"?-- my Michigan theme salad made with apple and pear slices, (what I call) "yuppie greens" and dried Michigan cherries?

18. There was a period of my life when I thought I was going to be a meteorologist. I really love everything to do with weather, especially clouds.

19. I mix up words ALL the time. It is an Al-ism. Not important grammatical things like their there and they're, but words with a slightly more complex make-up, insinuating that the psychological blundering is something that lingers deep within my psyche. (I welcome and encourage theories.) One would think that a fairly intelligent girl such as myself would never mix up the words "antidote" and "anecdote," would one? But I do, and many others. And perhaps, if I am honest, I sooooometimes lean in to this little character flaw, and push it a bit, making mistakes I am already aware of, to spread amusement and joy to those around me!

20. My dad invented light beer. Seriously. It's true. Ask my mom. You can call her. I always do when people don't believe me. (And no, we're not filthy stinking rich. Dad sold the patent long before light beer became huge. But it is okay, he was too busy saving people's lives to bother with brewery and such...)

21. I once strolled through Borough Market during The Great Depression of '06, saw a giant rat eating a bit of what I hope was sausage, and thought to myself, “My life is over.” It wasn’t. (Obviously).

22. I love a good footnote.*

23. I am obsessed with All. Things. Russian.

24. For reasons unknown, I pretty much exclusively wear solid colours and simple patterns (if patterns are present at all). By simple I mean, clean, not-at-all-busy polka dots or stripes... and that is pretty much it. Any adventures I take in to the world of pattern are always precarious, and if I really think about it, I believe only one dress I own contains a pattern I would classify as "busy." I have no idea where this comes from. I wonder if branching out is necessary... or if I should just accept that I like what I like..?

25. My parents and I never discussed the fact that Santa Claus was not real. Mom and I still talk about Santa as if he is coming to dinner like Elijah. (Or, say, an actual house guest). It is just a sort of blasee thing, you know, Santa will be coming, naturally. We sort of knowingly talked around the subject during my teens, but still have never really discussed it. I like that. We are a magical family.

* who doesn't?

A Murderous Hiatus

Are there any words sadder than these:

"Jessica Fletcher will be taking a break from crime solving for now, but she will be back in a few weeks."

This seemingly innocuous phrase graced it's way in to my living room this afternoon after I had settled down post-workout with a salad and found myself perusing the TV guide, selecting "Murder, She Wrote" with glee (I even said the word "jackpot!" OUT LOUD), watching it with tremendous delight and amusement as per usual.

And then-- THEN! To hear these shattering words dispassionately articulated by the soporific voice within the television. To have my heart so unceremoniously cracked without so much as a warning! I didn't see the signs! I had not planned ahead...

Oh! BBC 2!! How can you do this to me?! It is not that you do it, it is that you did it with such callous. With such a heedless, devil-may-care attitude of terrible coldness. Diagnosis Murder has already been eliminated from the BBC1 afternoon lineup... and what. am. I. to do?

May you find greener pastures this summer, Jessica. Perhaps you are dining in Barbados with Mark Sloane.

Ah, how I always longed for a crossover. There they would be, Jessica and Mark, sipping Pina Coladas, remembering their golden days (with a gentle nudge nudge wink wink to both of their involvement in musicals and Disney films), on a jolly holiday to portobello road... How grand it would be until, of course, someone kicked the bucket! And then they would solve the crime together, side by side. With an animated penguin bobbing along beside them...

Well, wherever you are, I hope all remain alive and well... though naturally, this is just too much to hope for...

Ask Al: Musical Theatre or Acting?

Hey Alexandra,

As a wannabe actress/whatever-the-hell-job-i-can-find-related-to-theatre I just wanted to say how much I enjoying reading your blog. I always find your posts insightful as to life in the theatre and if nothing else they can always give me a good giggle and I for one share your love of incredibly bad crime drama!

I just wondered if you would be so kind if I could pick your brain...

Correct me if I'm wrong but the course you trained on at Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama was straight acting? Obviously the majority of your professional jobs have been in musical theatre and I wondered how ‘prepared’ your found yourself despite the course not being centered on this. Or if in any ways you felt that this benefited you more, the pros and cons etc. I am still undecided as to whether to audition for acting or musical theatre courses, I would prefer to apply for MT but while my voice and acting are strong, my dance is definitely the weakest area! So I’m unsure how far I would get.

Many thanks,
Laura

* * *

Hi Laura,

Any lover of badcrimedrama is already a friend of mine! How are you dealing with the depart of Grissom? I am, sadly, not coping well...(I have even taken to singing the theme tune "Who Are You?" with a note of derision specifically aimed at Lawrence Fishburn, which I intend to keep up for at least 2 more episodes until I am sufficiently readjusted). Grissom was the quintessence of CSI: Regular. I am lost, NO! THE CITY OF LAS VEGAS is lost, without our bug loving leader...

Now! To the topics at hand.

1. Ah, the classic question, what to study? I cannot tell you how often I get asked this question, so this is a perfect forum for me to extol the virtues of training. I want to start by stating that naturally, you are asking my personal opinion, and that is all that I represent here. I speak for no one but myself, and articulate only my own views and personal experiences.

My thoughts...

a. I believe, with every single fibre of me, that Musical Theatre is a genre of story telling. One. Single. Genre. As important and as legitimate as any other genre. (And believe me, I love it very, very much.) BUT. This being said. It is ONE genre of a very wide and expansive art form indeed, and I have never really understood fully why anyone would study a single genre for 3 or 4 years.

b. I suppose the theory is that you are technically studying three genres at once. That you are working three times as hard. And while I understand that Musical Theatre is a very technically demanding discipline, I deny that a person with a Musical Theatre degree is necessarily better armed for the world of Musical Theatre, let along a varied professional acting career. I would even go so far as to say that in some (certainly not all) instances, a mediocre (or poor) MT program actual does very little justice to truly honing one's abilities further than "polishing", it merely makes you competent, not excellent in three areas. There are, obviously, always exceptions to this, but I personally believe aiming to do one thing with true excellence, rather than many things with mediocrity. True excellence should always be your goal, not only in this highly competitive industry, but in life if you ask me.... and you are... (That is a snippet of a thought for an entirely different essay altogether, but you catch my drift).

c. My next point is this: I want you to think about all of the performing arts. Have you ever seen a dancer perform a technical feat of 20 pirouettes? It's impressive, it is like watching a contortionist or a high jumper at their best. But at The Ballet, you are meant to be telling a story, and I wager you, as an audience member, wouldn't care if the dancer performed only 5 pirouettes if their entire body and soul was laid bare for you to see whilst they danced for you?

Similarly, there is nothing like hearing an opera singer hit the high, big notes at the end of an aria. But if the aria is not sing with intelligence and passion, you are merely observing a technical feat, not an artistic one. A feat that can be measured with numbers, not measured with the heart.

Do you see where I am going with this? I studied straight acting for three years (plus two years multi-faceted training at Interlochen) because I knew that (get your pen ready) ACTING DRIVES EVERYTHING. One more time.... ACTING DRIVES EVERYTHING. If the story isn't being told, and told well, the odd voice crack here and there or 5 pirouettes instead of 20 will simply not matter. Believe me. This is not me giving licence to mediocrity, it is, in fact, the opposite argument. I believe that at the end of one's training, they should be very aware of the strengths they possess that can professionally deliver (on a scale of 1 to 10) between a 8 and 10, not the knowledge that they are "well rounded" and can deliver each discipline in the strong 4 to 7 range. Some people possess natural ability which accounts for a majority of their "delivery," but we're talking about training.

d. Take all three daughters cast in Fiddler on the Roof in London last year-- all of us classically trained (RSAMD and Bristol Old Vic). Lindsay chose us because he wanted to work with "actors," that is from the horse's mouth... not that Lindsay is a horse... he is really very nice and un-horse like.

Or, take my very good friend (since we were 16!) Santino Fontana. An incredible actor who trained classically at The Guthrie Theatre's BFA program in Minneapolis. He is an incredibly gifted musician as well, and he was not only in the original Revival Cast of The Fantasticks, but also in the Roundabout Theatre Company's production of Sunday in the Park with George and is now starring in Billy Elliot. Oh, and I should probably mention that he...you know....whatever... played the title role in Hamlet at The Guthrie Theatre in a highly acclaimed performance, and is the youngest actor is EVER play Hamlet in a professional production... so... that is fine... he is sort of talented....This is what he had to say about his training at The University of Minnesota/Guthrie Theater BFA Actor Training Program:

"I'm proud to say I have a visceral knowledge of the classics, specifically Shakespeare, and my passion for making those stories engaging, creative and dynamic was nurtured here over the last four years. My training has prepared me for a life as not just an actor, but an artist—aware of the world around me and informing how I choose to communicate a story to an audience. Moreover, my training has prepared me for life as a person—fully aware, curious, passionate, articulate, open and, above all, present."

And finally, look at the incredible performance of the beautiful late Natasha Richardson as Sally Bowles. A woman with no Musical Theatre training, using her natural singing voice and dancing in her underwear; giving a soul baring performance of a lifetime, and the woman won and deserved that TONY. I know. I saw it. Her performance was one of the reasons I decided to study acting. (May she rest in peace, she was an inspiration to so many...)

e. Your voice isn't going anywhere. As a friend once said (actually I think it was Santino, oddly enough in response to this very question) "it's not going to fly away like a bird!" If you work on it (and I trained myself all the time in between classes at RSAMD), it will grow and improve like any technical skill. Take extra curricular dance classes if you like. Push yourself outside of school, take it at your own pace. If you are an accomplished singer than you take private singing lessons or work on your own. If your dancing sucks get a private teacher or sign up for beginner tap. Challenge yourself and move at your own pace in those "technical skill" areas. The art is in the expression. That is what I think.

f. When I was offered The Woman in White, I was told that without question the reason I was playing the role was because I was such a strong actress. My voice was "very good", but I was told there were "so many people with good voices." I was informed that I was to play Laura because my acting had "won it." And that cannot be due to natural ability alone. I owe a great deal to RSAMD, thank you thank you.

g. Finally, the technical discipline and thorough understanding of all genres, not simply musical theatre, is integral to a complete understanding of the theatre and it's scope. I spent my entire first year working on Naturalism alone! It took that long for me to fully understand it and I am still constantly reworking my skills.

There you go. That is my advice. If you are serious about being a professional, if pursuing a career is not merely a whim, but a very serious goal, than that is the best advice I can offer you. Study Acting. Study acting and do it at the highest level you can. It is the beating epicentre of it all.

*I just want to add as a footnote, that I have met, worked with, and tremendously respect a great many performers who have trained in Musical Theatre (D being one of many who have thoroughly enjoyed not only their training but a varied and colourful career. There is always room for second opinions! I highly recommend asking for them!)

I really hope you find that helpful and I wish you the best of luck! Let me know how you get on.

All the best,
Al x

"Plate-forme de Train"

This is what happens when you leave a group of actors alone on a train platform...

Un court-métrage.

For your enjoyment.

Appréciez!

"follow follow follow follow..."

Forgive the absence.

Reasons:

1. I have a broken RIB. I blame Jeremiah James. And The Cooper. And myself. Mostly myself. No, actually, mostly Jeremiah. I completed my amazing workshop with The Cooper, and having the weakest lower back in Christendom, and having overworked it with backbends and flippy-Cooper-majigs last Friday, I decided that removing my corset for one show would aid in temporarily relieving the discomfort. I didn't count on the brute force of Mr. James' giant hands, and whilst lifting me in the prologue, a rib (#9 to be precise) was busted (and twisted! according to the Osteopath). Had I been wearing the corset, it never would've happened. It goes to show ya. So. Yes. Back to the blame: Cooper, James... and mostly me.... Anyway it has left me rather distracted. Perhaps I should ask Adam for a spare...[wink wink].

2. I am writing. And writing. Up until 5:30am kind of writing. And I cannot share it with all of you. At least not yet. This may be the case for quite a while and I apologise! But, it is gonna be worth it, my friends. My followers. And speaking of followers, this brings me to my next point....

So. I have been CHALLENGED. [play 'Rocky' theme]

Now I am not a betting woman, but what they heck?! Someone (who shall remain nameless though I would love to name and shame them because they are the same person who insinuated "Dickens of a" was a fiction) has challenged me to a followers DUEL! And this person deserves to go down in flames. [Cruella DeVil voice] FLAMES I TELL YOU!!

Would you be so kind as to become an official "follower" of my blog (scroll down the page and you will see a bar on the right hand side located below my "Labels") so that I may win this silly little bargain?

And just because I understand that in this life one can't get something for nothing, every new follower gets a SUPER DUPER TOP SECRET VERY SPECIAL GIFT from me. To you. With love. I will just need your email address.

LET'S WIN THIS PEOPLE....

"West End Girl"

An lovely pre-show dressing room interview with Ryan Roark. Not only does this lady have one of the best names I've ever come across, but she is a thoughtful and impassioned writer and theatre-goer.

Enjoy.

Apologies!

I apologise for my temporary hiatus from bloggage. I have had a jam packed two weeks; and I can't go in to a tremendous amount of detail because it is "classified" and all that...

.... Buuuuuut it may or may not have involved a workshop of a new piece (that was actually very good--- which is exceptional, because workshops are often pretty atrocious) that included me dancing, yes dancing (!!) with... WITH... the great Mr. Cooper. There was singing and acting and dancing and the stage smooching of two lovely men and well, it was just thoroughly marvelous. I worked hard doing double duty, rehearsing during the day and performing in Carousel at night, but it was worth it to feel creative and challenged again. It was exhausting in the best possible way and utterly exhilarating.

The other exciting thing-a-majig is something I am not ready to share with all of you yet... but it has something to do with writing. I promise to share more when the time is right.

But I will say this... this has been one of the best fortnights of my recent life.

My return to bloggage begins again this weekend. Thank you for your patience. We will be on the move shortly. Please stand clear of the closing doors.

A Midnight Mitzvah*

There is a disabled man who lives around the corner from me. I really like him. I consider him my friend. But I have never spoken with him, we've never exchanged two words. But I respect and admire him more than I could ever hope to articulate.

Occasionally, I will see him on the tube, I will glance over and smile, and he will respectfully nod back to me, recognising both me and our silent neighbourly connection, with an expression both sincere and circumspect. He always wears a beautifully tailored suit, and he always smells aromatically and decadently of the Mid East. He wears simple wire-rimmed glasses and a perfectly folded handkerchief in his breast pocket. He is very proud and very strong and very, very wonderful. He is a hero. I adore him.

One of the many frustrating things about London is how taxing and difficult it is to get around. Although the public transportation system is vast and relatively dependable, the city itself is a sprawling creature with thousands of intricate tentacles. Or perhaps these strings of transportation are more like veins, all pumping life force throughout the circulatory system of the city, moving some in, and some out, resting at night. Our hero's disability affects his legs and feet, and his speed though steady and dignified and deliberate, is often compromised by the impatient, the careless, the heartless, or simply, the late.

Tonight I saw him outside the Underground station, walking steadfastly to the Bus stop, when suddenly a 67 appeared, and people started running to catch the Bus probably 60 yards away. Not much of a run for the likes of me. But for this man, everything about it was agony. The pain of not making it, especially at this hour of night, far exceeded any physical discomfort. I saw him struggle, and deliberately slowed my pace, and tried to allow all the other passengers to board the bus as slowly as possible, then took my good sweet time boarding the bus in my own right. I dove into my bag searching for my pesky oyster card, attempting to let my friend catch up. He was just a few paces behind! And when my efforts failed and the driver started to take off without him, I stopped him and said "Wait! Please!" and my friend triumphantly boarded the bus.

I sat down on the bottom deck by the window and didn't look back. He took the seat beside me, shifting into the seat out of breath but happy. Relieved.

"Made it," he said to me, smiling, breathless, looking me in the eye.
And then a moment.
He looked down into his lap, fists clenched around his knees. "Thank you."
"No problem," I said.

We smile at one another.
And that was that.

* Mitzvah (Hebrew: מצווה, IPA: [ˈmɪtsvə], "commandment"; plural, mitzvos or mitzvot; from צוה, tzavah, "command") is a word used in Judaism to refer to the 613 commandments given in the Torah and the seven rabbinic commandments instituted later for a total of 620. The term can also refer to the fulfillment of a mitzvah.

The term mitzvah has also come to express any act of human kindness, such as the burial of the body of an unknown person. According to the teachings of Judaism, all moral laws are, or are derived from, divine commandments.

"What the dickens!!"

So. I have this friend who is in the orchestra of Oliver! at Drury Lane. And a friend of mine and I wanted to go along and see him, especially as he makes a *very special* onstage appearance in the Oom Pah Pah scene.

When I sent him a message expressing my general excitement at what I was certain was a DICKENS of a performance, he at first expressed confusion, and then, DENIED the existence of such a phrase, accused me of fictions, and challenged me to prove it was real.

[Norma Desmond glare] HOW DARE HE...

This is what the first message contained:

RH & myself INtend to ATtend what we hear is a fine performance indeed of Oliver[Exclamation Point], not excluding our excitement for your personal rolicking portrayal as the Oom Pah Pah accordionist (I hear it's a DICKENS of a performance... doooo... you understand why that is funny?...[NOTE: that is me poking fun at D])

Shall we meet after at roughly 5:15?

This was his reply:

MB wrote on January 31, 2009 at 15:51

RH and AS, I'm very excited you're planning to come. Be warned tho, I don't do much, I just stand there in my ARTFUL Artful Dodger hat.

Oh, and strictly speaking, I am the Oom Pah Pah CONCERTINA player. Just so that is clear. I don't want any disappointment.

Al, I don't understand why DICKENS of a performance is funny, I may need a Humbley-style explanation.

Looking forward! xxx

Then RH got involved and replied:

RH wrote on January 31, 2009 at 17: 08

-Let it be noted that he is, indeed, the Oom Pah Pah CONCERTINA player.

-"Dickens of a performance" is funny because it doubles a common turn of phrase with a reference to Charles Dickens......who wrote Oliver Twist.... hence.......oh where's Damian when you need him?

Faithfully,

RH

THEN....it turned in to THIS....

MB wrote on 3 February, 2009 at 05:16

Dear comrades:

Hold on, hold ON... "Dickens of a performance" is a common turn of phrase?? Are you losing your minds???!!! Please tell me you've never heard this before or are totally having me on or making this up...

The following exchange continued. It began on 3 February, 2009 at 18:00

AL: MB. I will get to the bottom of this dickens of a mystery....
MB: You're wasting your time I tell you! it doesn't exist!
MB: You made it up i tell you!
MB: If you google "dickens of a" it comes up with nothing. Nothing at all!
AL: That is just so infuriatingly false. NOT true. It comes up with dickens of a show, dickens of crime, dickens of a meal, dickens of a blah de blah!
AL: Oh my GOD it is EVERYWHERE. Your Oliver! reviews are LADEN with this phrase I am serious. Please get with the etymological program!!

Finally, others intervened:

SF said at 6:00pm February 3
"Dickens" used to be a euphemism for the devil I believe, so probably means "a hell of a time" Hope it helps!

MH said at 6:58pm February 3
I've heard it most in "Where the Dickens is ... ?" cf. My Fair Lady. I think the minced oath for Devil is correct. It's like Christopher Columbus for Christ. Or Jiminy for Jesus. Or Golly for God.

MH spoke up again at 11:21am February 4
My curiosity piqued, I've been Googling for the last 10 minutes (thank goodness(!) I've nothing better to do) and Shakespeare uses Dickens in this way in the Merry Wives of Windsor Act III sc ii. In THE UNQUIET DEAD episode of Doctor Who David Tennant says "What the Shakespeare?!" to Charles Dickens (played by Simon Callow) which gives a nice nod to the pop etymology that it is derived from Charles Dickens.

and again at 8:39am February 5
Um, correction: it was Christopher Eccleston's Doctor not David Tennant’s.

And finally, I reserached what I always knew to be true, and replied with the following:

The origin of the phrase "dickens" is 1590–1600; apparently a fanciful use of Dicken, form of Dick, a proper name. It had nothing whatsoever to do with Charles Dickens, but rose in popularity in Victorian times with the notoriety of the famous author. It appears in Shakespeare's Merry Wives of Windsor Act 3.2: "I can not tell what the dickens his name is."

1. - devil: a word used in exclamations of confusion; "what the devil"; "the deuce with it"; "the dickens you say"

2. A severe reprimand or expression of anger: gave me the dickens for being late.

3. Used as an intensive: "What in the dickens is that?", or, "That was a Dickens of a night!"
[Alteration of devil.]

3. Dick"ens\, n. or interj. [Perh. a contr. of the dim. devilkins.] The devil. [A vulgar euphemism.]

4. –noun
devil; deuce (usually prec. by the and often used in exclamations and as a mild imprecation): The dickens you say! What the dickens does he want?

I'M NOT CRAZY!!!!

And thus, I was vindicated, and I simply had to share this fascinating journey of Etymology and Semantics with all of you. It was a dickens of a journey.

But this brings up such an interesting point: I personally never knew that the word "dickens" did not refer directly to Charles Dickens, nor did I know it was a replacement for "devil." I learned so much from being challenged by my (diviiiiinely incorrect) comrade. Any other stories out there of Etymological fascinations?


MB: I'm paying homage to you. You are a dickens of a gal Al Silber.

... Why thank you.



* * *

*NOTE: names have been spared to protect the incorrect...
** Blatant prodding of poor D is done with absolute love and is the friendliest of banter.

Domestic Happenings, Episode 7: Beep Beep

A Winter Special.

Sometimes Domestic Happenings are just... you know....random...

Hot Cocoa, Here I Come...

Snow Day.
The capital has come to a standstill.
Show canceled.
Time to snuggle in.
Hunker down.
Bundle up.

Snowmen made.
Hot chocolate prepared.
...With marshmallows.

And though the city is frozen, the people within it are oddly warmer than usual. Smiling, building snow people and waving at one another.

Snow days are magical for so many reasons.