2010 Old Sacramento Performer Missives Page
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2010 Historic Old Sacramento (HOS)
~ Red Barn Players Missive #11 ~
Finale' Weekend! August 28 & 29
Join us for our final weekend for 2010 in Old Sacramento. On Saturday, Kimbell is cooking an extra special lunch and on Sunday, we will be having a cast party at 5:00 with cake and bubbly. If you are not joining us this weekend, we will be mailing you a thank-you package next week.
It has been a wildly successful program! Thank you for the part you played in our historical (and occasionally hysterical) accomplishment.
Please join us for our last themed weekend of the season:
Ballroom Dance & the Era of Romance
In this HOS Missive:
Virtual Tour filming Saturday ONLY
Old Sacramento is going virtual! They have a company that is volunteering to create a piece for their website, and want us to play a significant part in making it interesting. Look for Kevin and other directors with the film crew and feel free to ham it up.
The Final Theme & Weekend... before Gold Rush Days
This weekend is titled 'Ballroom Dance & the Era of Romance'. The little lecture hall space by the crafts area will be turned into a dance hall for the weekend. Instructors will teach visitors and Red Barn Players alike some of the classic ballroom dances. If the hall gets crowded, we'll take the dancing into the shady sidewalk in front of the Depot. We will take frequent breaks to hear beauty tips from the fabulous Lola Montez, to learn the secret messages you can send with flowers, to see how the simple lady's fan can signal complex intentions across a crowded dance floor, to master the art of proper fainting for proper ladies, and even a short course in genteel handkerchief waving! For those who want more frivolity, parlor games will punctuate the afternoon festivities. If you are familiar with ballroom dance, please come by and share your talents; we could certainly use a few ringers. But everyone, please do come and dance away the end of a great summer of living history in Old Sacramento.
The Fainting Couch of Victorian Lore - a note on historical myth
That romantic piece of furniture that allowed tightly corseted ladies to drop out of consciousness publicly in a lady-like fashion may just be a fanciful image from the 50s-70s; the 1950s -70s. Recent searches for earliest citations of the term "fainting couch" go all the way back to 1950. Turn-of-the-century catalogs generally use names like "Grecian couch," "Grecian lounge," "Single couch," "Single lounge," or even "Chaise lounge." It appears that the terms "fainting couch" and "fainting lounge" were popularized in Victorian historic houses in the 1970s. It seems to be an offshoot of the bicentennial frenzy of 1976. It's something we in the museum business like to call "museum folklore," though some prefer the less kind "docent drivel."
Squatters' Riot Again in Old Sac
The speculators are at it again, and the settler/squatters have had enough. They are taking their grievances and their guns into the street; followed close behind by the mayor and a hastily assembled but heavily armed posse. Gunmen assemble at 1:20 in the Eagle Lobby to load for the shoot and go over blocking, No Smoking Please! We will step off at 1:45, start the shooting at 1:55-8 at Waterfront Park, pose for pictures at 2:05, and start heading the crowd toward the Eagle for the New Golden Melodeon Revue.
Labor Day Weekend: Gold Rush Days 2010
YOU are invited to come help and PLAY! RSVP to Janessa West, <jwest@cityofsacramento.org>
Details: Each Labor Day weekend, Old Sacramento comes alive with a bustling tent city and dirt-covered streets. Located on the 1849 Scene, living history dominates the area with canvas tents and a variety of gold rush venues. The Museum and State Parks would love for one and all to come, participate and join in the fun on September 3rd, 4th, 5th & 6th. Come for one day or all weekend! Here are the venues:
- Stinking Tent Saloon
- Eagle Theatre Saloon
- The Doctors and Dentists Tent
- Mrs. May's Gold Needle Dress and Millinery Shop
- Mrs. Booz Bath House
- Mrs. Frinks Boarding House
- Justice of the Peace/Sutter's Riffles
- Clowes & Co. Mercantile
- Californio
- Sacramento Ballroom Dance Stage
- Tinsmith
- Blacksmith
You will want to check in with whichever venue inspires you to participate. Lunch will be provided for volunteers who are there all day and who are on our list, so everyone will need to RSVP with Janessa (e-mail above). Hours are 10-4 Friday-Monday. All of the setup is done on the 1st and 2nd from 7am-12 noon, or so. Anyone is welcome to help put up tents!
Note from the Greenroom:
Greetings to my well-traveled Greenroom kin!
We have also spanned the globe with our luncheon menus these past weekends. Everything was made with love and my sincere pleasure in serving you.
No chance of starving this weekend - indeed, a veritable Lucullan feast awaits in celebration. If you have not already done so, please assist by sending an RSVP to <robert@redbarnproductions.org>.
Many thanks in advance for those who have a propensity to dispense hospitality during our coming weekend.
Very truly yours,
COOKIE
Costumes - borrowed costumes must return this weekend
All borrowed costumes must be returned on THIS weekend, August 28 and 29. Liz will be around all weekend, so be sure to see her to handle the check-in process as early as possible. Thanks!!
A note from Liz
Greetings from the Costume Department: It is hard to believe that the summer is over and our run in Old Sacramento is coming to an end. It seems as if we have just gotten started! I want to thank all of you for putting in the time and effort to look so darned good!
Things would not have run so smoothly if not for Leza and Lesley. Thank you for standing in for me on the days I could not be in Sacramento. Also, many thanks to Val, Kathy, Paula, Sarah, Kimbell, Nancy, Pam, and the rest of the occasional helpers, for all your support and assistance.
As a reminder, we will need to clear all of our personal items out of the dressing rooms this weekend.
For those of you who have rented or borrowed costumes, they MUST be returned by Sunday, August 29 at close of show unless you have made a prior arrangement with me. As discussed when you rented the items, we will be assessing a small fee for cleaning. Please bring your checkbook with you so we can settle up the accounts.
It has been a pleasure meeting each of you and working with you on your costume needs. I can't wait to do this again next year.
If you have any costuming questions, feel free to contact me at <liz@pinkdepford.com> or (925) 788-4080.
Previous Missives - and signing up for the missive
Please review previous missives to answer many questions. Here's how to find them:
http://redbarnproductions.org/missives.htm
You can also subscribe to the missive list at this link. Send anyone here who asks about the missive.
Contact - The RBP directors and how to find them:
Jeffrey Weissman <jeffreyweissman@sbcglobal.net> -- Characters, Medicine Shows
Chase Williams <daywilliams@earthlink.net> -- Melodeon, Melodrama, Musicians
Robert Young <robert@redbarnproductions.org> -- Street Theater & Missive Maven
Wells & Kathleen Twombly <wkbtwombly@att.net> -- Research, Themes, Activities
Kimbell Jackson <kimbell.jackson@sbcglobal.net> -- Greenroom
Liz Martin <pinkdepforddoll@gmail.com> -- Costumes
Robert Young
Missive Maven
Historic Old Sacramento
robert@redbarnproductions.org |
