Life is Healthy

So another week of Masters on a program! How did it go, I hear you ask...... ......well of course ;)

It took the group a long to warm up I thought, and they all seemed to come with their business heads on which was good I guess.
As for the theatre, they seemed to really enjoy it, but didn't relish the idea of performing in it and again I spent my free time putting together sketches and scripts - (Rowan Atkinson is a genius, and has some wonderful material) for their amusement.

As for quiz night it simply never happened - all too tired!!??!?! Oh well once in a while an earlier night is a good thing, although I was very surprised considering this was the second VT for some and as the presentations didn't need to be prepared.

The weather this week has been awful - great for Spain as it is REALLY needed, but it did mean we were stuck in the hotel for the whole week, pity, its nice to get out once in a while, I felt cabin fever starting to set in!

I have a feeling some may have taken this week more as a holiday; Anglos and Spaniards!
The group dynamics always interest and amaze me, no two weeks are ever the same or have the same feel; maybe this is a reason I enjoy this type of work!?
Movie night was a quiet affair as predicted with a handful of people watching.

Ron did an EXCELLENT job at his improv part (helping hands) a guaranteed crowd pleaser!!!
As for the rest it went over OK. Luckily as time evaded us I didn't do my dance! Phew!
The excursion became the quiz as the weather was so unpredictable and bad; and we hadn't done it already ;)

Moving onto the party - well again all I can say is; strange very strange. I waited for 30 minutes to get ALL the group together for the photo - however some thought football was a priority and others the bar?!?! I think this highlighted the fragmented group (at least for me).
Then at anyone one time about half the group were missing, when they finally came together was at 12:30, when I'm getting ready to wind down the party.
But as a gesture - I know we have all been cooped up in the hotel for the week, I gave them more time.

When the party really did have to finish - tempers frayed (alcohol induced?): its a factor for sure! After speaking to the group and stating the rules as were clearly laid out in Sundays Orientation, I spoke to several people individually about their issues - it was mainly the fact that they felt this week didn't give them the best week they hoped for! (sad but true)

No matter how much I or Carmen tried the group simply wouldn't bond, and as a result frustrations were vented after the party.
Sad way to end the week on a bad memory - however, I will say, this was the strangest group I have had in ALL my weeks at Vaughan Town.

Anyone wishing to do VT for future reference - give 100% you WILL get 100%!

But guys we did share some great moments and to prove it click the folder below ;)

Vaughan Town - Monfrague - Program 108

No the program wasn't really that bad!!!! But with Halloween just around the corner and we were in a HAUNTED monastery or were we? Its just a lot of strange things occurred, whilst playing cards the number 666 kept appearing and there was a murder and a suicide on the program! Okay both were faked but still! and of course the Quiemada ritual!

I must say though, a very good and highly enjoyable time was had. We had a lot of very talented individuals, from flute playing, operatic singing (in the church was amazing), murder mysteries, Shakespearean recitals (sadly we ran out of time to hear these), and proper actors - whether amateur dramatics or not, which all led to a much better week, so well done for offering so much of yourselves.

Everyone behaved themselves this week too - no late-comers, Dylan made his on stage debut (and sadly killed himself later; NO, he didn't die on stage!), only problem was he was SOOOoooo HUNGRY!!! Carmen and I were parodied and we found out Carmen has a hidden side!! ;)

Photos of the week are of course available for your viewing and downloading pleasure HERE

Well yet another week comes to an end, and yet again what a week. Full of highs and very little lows (if any). It was a real pleasure to work along side Rob and Carmen, who's experience shines through what they do. I only hope to be half as good.

I got some excellent feedback from Spaniards and Anglos alike which really helped boost my confidence. I'm really looking forward to putting together programs and having MY programs spoke highly of.

As for Rob I finally got my revenge, by writing him a poem and reading it aloud to the group on party night (and there were a few of them, lol). It was reat to see that yet again the magic of Vaughan town working away, and I kid you not if you haven't experienced it you really are missing out!

Well I wont say too much as it will spoil the fun when you see it all for yourself. However I will of course post photos - they can be found HERE

Started too early for me, not only that but it had been snowing!

Breakfast was an easy conversation to break you into the first session, then more 1 to 1’s and another conference call.
We went for a walk around the village, a nice quaint place with little life but nice surroundings, a chance for a few photo opportunities.

We spent the afternoon preparing for the main show that night. I was surprised to see from 45 minutes of nothingness, everything coming together in the last 15 minutes - a whole scenario was formulated. The scene had been set – A MURDER MYSTERY!

We parted for lunch and siesta and upon our return the Spaniards had thrown themselves into their respective roles and surprised us with characters and alibis!!
We then put the pieces of the puzzle together to produce (in my opinion) the best performance of the week.

I played one of the organisers Greg and did my best to imitate his accent and mannerisms, he was the victim (so I was dead for a lot of the performance; but when I was alive boy did you know it). We had 3 Spaniards who each plotted to kill Greg in various different ways and two Anglo police one a bumbling copper the other smarter, and a narrator to set the scene and give up to the minute reports. I must say it was quite a performance and lasted around 25 minutes in the end, with ad libs – and my dead corpse chuckling away as I listened to all that was happening around me.

Greg (the real one) was in tears of laughter at the end – as they all tried to work out the motive as to why anyone would want to harm him, my corpse arose once more to criticise the whole performance at which point the whole cast ‘killed’ me (as Greg).

We broke apart for dinner and everyone was busy chatting, the wine was flowing and for the first time English swear words were brought up!? Of all the things to want to learn, sure we all do it but I felt kinda strange ‘teaching’ the meaning of swear words.
We chatted about them for some time and then changed topics.

The pudding arrived... ...another BLOODY FLAN! There I swore!

I decided there and then to make it my goal to get an apple pie (tarte manzana) by the end of the week.