The scene I was in..

With some of the other actors in the scene.

The character Alice Beech, far right of photo, sings a wonderful mezzo soprano piece about inheriting Molly Leighs cottage, that the villagers and vicar are all gossiping about the two woman’s relationship. And laments the loss of Molly.

Part of her getting the cottage obliged her to make 46 penny loaves every week to look after the “poor, the widows” basically the needy of the parish. Three townsfolk visit her as she sings. One is Winifred who is very nosy and wants to know whether Alice has “seen anything, anything strange?” since she moved in. She is ignored and just handed the loaves. Then Lily, a widow, visits and is given a few extra loaves. Finally a young woman visits for just one penny loaf. She tells Alice she doesn’t have to pretend, she understands. And that she is a friend.

The singing by Alice is lovely and written using the “Devils interval” a discordant chord which is a Tritone (six semitones) it causes an unsettled feeling in the music.

Short, older middle aged, tired

How would you describe yourself to someone?

Oh and an artist, a singer, enthusiastic about caring for people. Thoughtful, enjoys  science, and thrillers, and fantasy, and sci-fi. Cat lover, cat mother. Not too well, but surviving. I don’t know when to relent and let myself rest. I’m stubborn, if I have a strong opinion and I will try and get my point across.

Physically I don’t think I’m as well as I could be but I do try and look after myself. It’s sometimes difficult to cope but I manage.

Not a real loaf

Dough used by the soprano, Rosie (playing Alice) who was in the Alice Beech scene in Who is Molly Leigh? On the scene she pretends to make penny loaves for the widows and orphans of Burslem. When she passes away she bequeaths her cottage to Alice. The scene shows Alice baking and donating penny loaves to the poor.

One of the props every performance was some dough so she had something to represent the work at baking she did while she was singing her part. This was left over at the end of the Opera so I decided to make it into a Cottage loaf shape! No yeast involved and not cooked.

Random photo

A brass cat

By the cutlery and sugar, sits a brass cat. I liked the look of it so took a random photo. I cropped it a bit but I should have got rid of the cream coloured shelf above the cat. I just didn’t notice until I added it here. I could change it now, but is it worth it? The cat is in the cafe area of BArts in Stoke upon Trent. That’s where we’ve almost finished performing Molly Leigh. You’ll be glad because I won’t be able bore you any more!

First Night

Paddy, one of my set paintings

Tonight was the first performance of the opera, Who is Molly Leigh?

I enjoyed singing in the choir and got to watch a couple of scenes. We sing in the final scene and question who Molly Leigh was? Was she real, was she a myth? It’s amazing how it’s all come together. I’m pleased to say the audience enjoyed it.

I’m absolutely shattered now! I went to the fish and chip shop to get tea because I’m to tired to microwave something, but it’s going cold in the kitchen because I sat down and I’m too achy to get back up! Might have a nap.

Cottage scene

A bread oven, table, stool, Welsh dresser, herbs and a lamp. If you come to the Molly Leigh opera you will see five stage sets.

Each scene is repeated twice, but you only have time to see three of the scenes. The opera is asking more questions than answers. The woman who was Molly Leigh might have been gossiped about, the story calling her a witch might be lies. She could have been a wise woman, a healer. The tales told about her may have been caused by jealousy. Or on the other hand she might have been evil, spiteful, possessed? That is the question.