Reading Calling...

Aye aye.

Apologies that I'm writing this now. Very annoyingly, I got back last week and managed to coincide my arrival with a spectacular failure of our computer to produce any useful internet-related services.

So, hopefully with a bit of festive sympathy, you'll allow me to wish you all the best for 2009 and say that I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and you can read on without feeling too begrudged. That and the satisfaction that this is the last post.

Yes last week I waved goodbye to glorious dawns on the Rhine, misty riverbanks, decent television, sausage bread and of course those weird hash brown things that they eat with apple sauce. I was sad to leave Germany, it had treated me so well and given me so many fantastic memories over the three months, that it was with a slightly heavy heart that I left the theatre for the last time, walked along the Rhine, packed, said goodbyes and left the house one final time. Luckily I was not given time to dwell on it, and I certainly wasn't sad to see all my family and friends again.

In the last couple of weeks I did so much so quickly that it's hard to pick specifics out. There are so many brilliant theatrical memories that I have from Germany. I met a world-renowned mime artist - Nemo, who gave me a fascinating workshop in mime, which showed me really how really really everyday things can be made absolutely hilarious with the right form of expression. We also saw a clown show, which although it was far too short, showed me some lovely examples of this. I watched 'Emil und die Detektive' one last time. It put such a smile on my face every time I saw it, that I just had to see it on one final occasion. I went to see a play called 'Don Karlos' as a normal audience member. It's about the so named Prince of Spain back in the 16th century when Spain was one of the most powerful nations on Earth. Some of it was spectacularly acted, although it was quite a heavy play, so for me sometimes it was difficult to concentrate in German. The emotional balance between the Prince and his mentor and friend the Marquis was played off brilliant between the two corresponding actors. It was a romantic tragedy with a frightening amount of incest involved. BASICALLY, the Prince loves the Queen who unsecurely loves him back, the Princess unrequitedly loves the Prince and the King, while hating the Prince, lusts after the Princess.

I also attended the Christening of a new addition to the extended family of my host family, and actually did a short reading in the Church as part of the ceremony. I have to say, quite honestly, that having to do that in German was just as nerve-wracking as any piece of acting I've ever had to produce. However, it was a wonderful experience and it was brilliant to meet so many members of the family.

I had a wonderful time in Germany and having worked with lovely people at the theatre and been supported a lovely host family, I really believe I got everything out of this trip that I could have hoped for. I saw first and foremost exactly how a professional theatre works and did (hopefully) genuinely improve my German a lot.

Thank you to Jenni for allowing me to do this. I've found this has really helped to organise my thoughts about what I've seen and done, as however interesting something is, when it becomes just a routine, sometimes memories get lost in the regularity of it. It's been quite an experience for me. So all that's left for me to do is to wish you all the very best in your future theatrical adventures and hopefully I'll see some of you in the bright-eyed and bushy-tailed new year. As always feel free to ask any questions.

As always, all the pictures are up on photobucket.

All the best, break many, many legs and all importantly,
Keep Smiling
Felix

Over and out.