#intermission from our current story situation<3

[gunthermunch]

future

#intermission from our current story situation<3 #trying to see what max would look like by the end of munch ahaa #not pictured: glasses #ts4 #max villareal #tumblr user llama-head's max wears glasses and i simply cant unwrap my head from that concept

[brella-boi]

The Saga of Chili and Mint

As promised earlier here is the COMPLETE guide on following the story of our two favourite blorbos.

Starting off, for anyone new coming in, here is a link to Chili's and Mint's toyhouses if you need their ref or any other informational snippets. This guide focuses on how to follow the story of these two as it has been written over the past 4 years and it has never been compiled including the comics or a timeline of events.

Open the cut to read the guide! And good luck!

(If there are any errors or mistakes in links please let me know if you find any!)

The Timeline

The official timeline of main events. Majority of it happens during Splatoon 2, and while the new game is out already, we're still not through the current story. We are sat currently about 2 years before Splatoon 3 happens, and 3 years since Splatoon 2 launched.

There is a short story archive here for anything I've written ever, and it is constantly being updated with new links once something new comes out. The first few stories were written when my writing ability was not as good at it is currently, so some of the first few may seem rough around the edges.

But for the sake of this guide I will relink everything in order.

(Splatoon 1)

1- Debt / Where we meet Agent 3 for the first time.

(Splatoon 2)

2- Petrified / The beginning of Octo Expansion and meeting Mint. 3- Tests and Tested / The adventure of OE 4- Homely / Hours after returning from OE 5- Parasitic / Aftermath of OE 6- Journal Marked with a Mint Leaf / Different POV from Parasitic 7- Julie / Meeting Chili's sister 8- Happy Hunting / Realising some parents never change from abuse

Lost Memories (Comic) - Where Mint ventures down back to the metro in search of their lost memories.

9- Saw it off / Immediate consequence for doing so (Content Warning) 10- Check up / Continuing the consequences 11- Phantom Limbs / Chili tries to help Mint through their new disability

Confessions (Comic) Part 1 / Part 2 - In which Chili learns his crush was swept away.

Search of the Wind (Comic) - An introduction to a new character, Tai, who is Mint's twin brother.

12- Eye to Eye / Trying to make peace with the fact the twins are reunited 13- Aftermath / Losing a dear friend 14- Vibes of the Sea / Mint and Chili forgive each other for their recent aggressiveness 15- Yearn 2: Slapparoo / Where Chili is going just a little bit insane 16- Doctor's Home / Tai tries to understand Chili's motives and finds his answers

Secrets Funfair (Comic) Tai is having a very difficult time making peace with this new world, and his constant chase after answers is driving him mad. Mint suffers from it and Chili tries to step in. Act 1 Act 2 17- [Intermission] It's Quiet After a Storm / Chili handles Mint after the events of Act 2.

---

You made it to the current spot in the story!!! Congrats! If you made it this far I'm very proud of you and also I am so very sorry. This isn't the end. There is also plenty of one shots unfortunately.

BUT IF YOU'RE STILL INTERESTED (which wow I must salute you!) Then here is a SECOND timeline showing where each little one shot is situated along with a tiny summary of what each is about!

Garden Trip - Trip to a botanical garden with Chili and Mint.

Stressor - The anxiety that comes with taking Julie under custody.

Terrors - Handling psychosis with a little sister around (not very well).

Egg Hunt - Giving Julie a proper Easter holiday.

Ohana - Accidental meeting with Julie's parents that ends in a fight.

Candy Parade - Helping Mint feel better after the events of OE.

Yearning - Chili monolouging after the events of Confessions.

Change - Mint's monolouging about how much their friend has changed.

Carlson - Meeting a hallucination.

Overthinking - Chili helps a friend out in need and overthinks everything as always.

Chestnuts - Chili teaching Julie and Mint a little family tradition.

---

There are some stray comics here and there hidden around the #comic tag on my blog. Not all of them are canon anymore, but most still should hold up :) If you want some extra dventure.

---

WOW look at you!! You made it all the way to the end. You're something else entirely!

If you enjoyed this and would like for the stories to continue then your every like, reblog, ask and comment are what drives this forward. Leave a little thought or opinion if you'd like, it will take this a long way forward.

Thank you to everyone who have stuck with me through the journey of this massive storytelling experience as well. Those who are still here and those who are lingering, those who may not be. I appreciate you all so much <3

#archive #here it is!!! like i promised!!!! #enjoy this <3 #mint #chili #ocs #splatoon

[kathryninjapan]

May 27th - Kabuki Performance

Posters advertising the current shows at Kabukiza theater 

     Today we spent the majority of the day at a kabuki performance. Traditionally, these events take all day, but we went to a shortened version that ran from 11-3:30. The theater was located in Ginza and was the largest kabuki theater in Japan. We walked in and got portable translators, which added live subtitles to the show. Because these plays have multiple acts and scenes, they can take hours to complete. Usually, one or two scenes from several shows are performed together, showing the best from each show.

      The first performance was The Revenge of the Soga Brothers, and this was my least favorite of the three. The story, though funny in retelling, took very long to go anywhere. This was partially because the actors spoke incredibly slow and in very superfluous language. The second one, though, was my favorite. It is one of the “18 favorite Kabuki plays,” a title which is well deserved. The jokes hit really well, and the pace was perfect. I really liked the actor who played Benkei, because his quips were perfect and kept the scene interesting. 

     The final play was slightly different because 4 scenes were shown. I actually felt the most at home watching this one, as it was the most modern and the closest to a western play in style. There was an introduction to the issue between the wrestlers and the firemen, an intense home drama scene, and a dynamic fight scene that I loved watching. If anything, I didn’t like that we were on the balcony level, as the stage-fighting was meant to be seen from the 1st floor. So there were some funny moments where things very clearly didn't touch but the actors would still roll on the floor after the ‘impact.’ 

     After this, we headed home. We passed James, another UF student not on the program, randomly on a crosswalk right outside our apartment! It was such a crazy coincidence, but we couldn’t talk for long because his program had something to do. Then we had early dinner of (more) udon, because any time Tristan has a say in where we go that's what happens.

Academic Reflection

     Reading the kabuki play last night, it was interesting to see all of the similarities between western theater tropes and kabuki, even though they were developed without any connection to one another. Both were used to make fun of higher classes, and both also used the comedy of 3s, where a joke is repeated 3 times for maximum effect. Additionally, although the staging of much of the scenes had minimal movement, the stage pictures created used the same tactics as western theater. In the first one, the lord was situated in the middle and upstage, suggesting power. Additionally, the two female characters were slightly offset from one another, which created visual interest.

      Another interesting thing was that the females were all played by male actors. This is the same as Shakespearian theater, however, in other areas of the world women have been allowed back into the theater sphere. This hasn't translated yet in Japan, so the female characters were fun to watch. Their voices were strangely high and very nasally, but it was impressive how well the men mimicked the movement of a female body. Traditionally, these men set fashion trends for actual women, which I can definitely understand. The outfits worn on stage were extravagant to a fault, and I loved watching the flashy jewelry and vivid colors on stage.

The reason I stayed alert during the first act

Automatic subtitle machine at the theater

Outside of the Kabukiza theater

Backdrop between shows in the intermission between shows 

#japan #japanese #study abroad #kabuki #culture #ginza #tokyo #coffee #travel

[caughtinkorea]

Made Me Notice Where the Ocean was Holding the Sky (4)

After moving to Seoul my life with guys here never knew peace lol. At least Incheon guys had a bit of personality and were fun to be around. My ex and I crashed and burned and it took me several months to get back into the dating game. That summer I went on the worst date I’d ever been on, thus that story time video I made. It took me a minute to recuperate from that one lol. Then later that fall I ended up meeting the guy who looks like that one actor. He was an older gentleman (not old, but older than I tended to go for). The first date went pretty well. I met him by a station close to where I live. We decided to meet at the station and find a restaurant to eat at, but he ended up showing up with his car which I told him not to do -_-. I guess he wanted to show off his Benz. It was a really really nice car but I was a bit annoyed. Then he wound down his window to reveal himself and bruh bruh bruh! This man was gorgeous!

I’m ashamed to say some of my annoyance dissipated at that moment lol. 

I mean he was relatively handsome in his pictures, but I wasn’t expecting him to be even better looking in person. He was cleaned up nicely. We find a restaurant around the station and have a nice meal with a decent conversation. He was a gentleman all throughout the date. At the end he dropped me off around my place. Of course I wasn’t telling him where I lived so I just made him drop me off in the vicinity. Then he called a little bit later to make sure I got home safe. We ended up meeting again. This time we just went to hangout at the Han. It was a bit cold so we mainly stayed in the car to chat. He told me he traveled to Thailand a lot cuz he was in the oils business and liked to go there to get special Thai oils. He had some in the car and wanted me to try it out. He asked for my hand and when I put it out, he made a remark. “Wow, your hands are big”. Here we go -_- .... yes, I’m a tall girl. That’s what tends to happen.

So, after the short date he drives me home to drop me off. He was so secretive about everything. Till this day clues lead me to believe he was that actor’s (Jung Woo Sung) younger brother. 

He knows he looks like him. Everyone tells him. Even MUA couldn’t believe it when he saw his picture. I did some digging and from what I gathered, he used to live where that actor did as a child, he currently lives around where that actor does now, he’s around the age his younger brother would be, he’s the spitting image of that actor in his younger years, etc. And other factors are still leading me to that conclusion. So on the way of him dropping me off he’s asking me so many questions. This is when he started to turn weird. He asks me what my job was? I tell him. In return I ask what he does. “I work at a studio. I’m co-owner(I believe he mentioned it was an acting studio).” I thought before you said you worked at a gym you own or something like that? He kinda skirts around the issue. He asks “How much do you make?” -_- After a pause, I tell him. “Oh, you make a lot of money.” Ummm no. Not really, but okay. I ask how much he makes. He replies in a shocked manner, “Why are you asking that?” Huh??! You just... He doesn’t disclose it -_-. Okayyyyy. I ask him how old he is, because he honestly doesn’t look the age his profile stated. His profile said 32. He tells me he’s actually 36. That’s older than I tend to go for, but I shrug it off. He asks “How old are you?”. I tell him. I’m in my late 20s. He remarks in a slightly lowered voice “shhhh, too old.” Wait!!! Whatt!?!! Hold up, hold up, hold up! The actual nerve! We get to my area and we’re saying our closing remarks. He kinda just rambles and tries to slip in why we basically won’t work. He tells me I’m so beautiful and he had a good time and blah blah blah, but...... wait for it...... my hands are too big.......

Y’ALL!!! Y’ALL!!!!!

How are you not too embarrassed to even let those words come out your mouth!??! Like HOW?!? 

He tries to play and laugh it off. I’m like WTF just happened? Ok, definitely time to call it a night. Insecurity in dudes here is so wild! I head home and was still stupefied how he casually tried to work that in there and play it off. He tried video chatting me sometime after that and I was just off it. I ended up telling him off later on through text about his insecurity stemming from his obviously small penis, not to put that on me, and how he needs to take all that somewhere else. I am not the one!

Of course as time goes by, more nonsense with dudes persist. I tried talking to a Russian dude who wanted to keep everything about himself a secret like he was some kinda spy. He literally didn’t want to tell me anything. Not even a name. I was off it. Started talking to a super cute Pakistani guy who after a week of talking, me making myself extra clear with my expectations, him agreeing to it and us finally deciding to meet up, throws in at the last moment “So after our date tonight, we smashing right?”...... Haven’t I been telling this foo all throughout I ain’t doing all that? What’s wrong with you? Why do guys insist on wasting your time?!!! 

So I just took a hiatus for a few more months. Dudes are exhausting!

***Intermission***

So, in uni I had a Korean guy friend who was an international student. We became pretty close and we would hang out from time to time. A decent amount actually. We’d hangout at his house, play games, share dishes, go to special events together with other friends, watch movies together, and other times just chill and hangout a lot. He became my closest Korean friend. He was the one that even introduced me to one of my closest friends here. The uni friend I always talk about. Anyway, let’s call him Moon. Moon had come back to Korea maybe a year before I got here. So when I first got to Korea he called me to check in on me and see how I was settling in. We had planned to meet up, but he canceled and that never ended up happening. He basically dropped off the face of the earth after that one and only call. Another friend that had returned back to Korea as well tried to set up for us 3 to meet up. Again, that never ended up happening. Years go by all the way to a week ago. This boy sends me a message out of the blue asking how I’ve been, and saying he’s been thinking about me and he misses me..................Excuse you? The audacity.

I ignore the message for some time and blow off steam with my uni friend. She’s basically like “Oh hell naw he ain’t tryna weasel his way back in.” After sometime I decide to message him back cuz I’m wondering what made him think to message me coincidentally when I’m about to leave back home for good. It’s been over half a DECADE (literally) since I’ve seen him. I pretend like he’s my other friend of the same name and ask how Europe was. Saying I was surprised he’d been back so quickly. He says he returned back from Europe and it had been a good trip.... Well, that backfired lol. -_-

He asked me where I’m at and I told him I left Korea already and am living in Japan. I tell him I’ll be back in Korea to meet up with my cousin the next week though. He insisted on picking me up from the airport. I tell him it’s not necessary as I’m well acclimated to living and getting around here by myself already. He was insistent on making time to meet me. He leaves his schedule open for me to choose a day. He insists I can choose any day and he’ll make time for me. I’m just so annoyed by the whole situation. I was planning on not even making time in any of my days to give him even a second, but I want to see what he has to say and I honestly have my own reasons for wanting to meet up. He knows he’d have no right to complain if it’s for selfish motives. 

So, now he’ll be meeting me in my area, and insists on picking me up and taking me out for a meal to some restaurant he booked. I’ve just been declining the offered pick up and told him I’ll just meet him there. We’ll be meeting in a few hours.

~to be continued once more~ 

[lucyoort3p18]

Week 1

This first week introduced me to a few different ways we all act as audience members on a daily basis, and how vast these possibilities can be. We discussed in lecture the definition of an audience, despite what a tricky thing this concept can be to pin down. A specific part of the definition struck me as quite interesting; that an audience is a “reading, viewing, or listening public”. Professor Good asked us have audiences changed in our lifetime and in our parents’/grandparents’ lifetimes. I believe that it constantly changes. She posed some other questions in her slideshow that I used to think critically about my position as an audience member. Here are a few of my answers:

1. How has technology changed audiences? I feel as if people think of audiences and immediately think of a group of people, gathered together, watching something—a movie, or a performance. Even though we live in these times where audiences can be made up of people all over the world, it is not always what first comes to mind. One of the biggest ways I see myself as a part of a reading or listening public is on Twitter. I find I use this app for most of my news and current events. The discover page is great because it always showcases breaking news at the very top—within seconds of it breaking. Twitter is a good place to always be receiving the most up to date information on news. Aside from this, it shows me what events all over the world are trending based on my interests and location. Everything I need to know is in one spot, and I am a part of this reading public. When breaking news happens, people do not gather around the televisions situated in store windows anymore like we see in the movies. We all turn to an app on our phone. Just because I am not standing next to someone, watching a tragedy go down or a historical tennis match happening at the US Open, does not mean I am not part of one large audience watching things unwind from their own devices.

2. In what ways are audience members affected by their various audience roles? To answer this, I first thought about my position as a prosumer. We used to see the world as producers and consumers, but there is this new idea of prosumers who produce and consume content. Audience members are not so much in one single position anymore, there is a more reciprocal relationship between the producer and the audience. Social media is a huge example of this. When I post photos or stories to Instagram, I am producing content for others, but I also consume other peoples’ content and act as an audience to those that I follow. I think this affects the relationship between producers and consumers. There is no longer a fine line between the audience and the performer, like there traditionally is at concerts or at the theatre. Now, with the internet and social media, we share the spotlight with other people, and audience members are just as much producers and performers.

3. In what ways are people empowered agents in their roles as audience members? I think through being able to choose what we tune into and how we tune into things is a somewhat recent and new concept we all are adjusting to. When people would attend a play at the theatre, they sit for a few hours and watch. There is usually no entering and exiting as you please, and you do not get to choose when the intermission is. This is an audience experience that is structured and extremely limited, giving the audience no agency. On top of that, there is no socializing during a performance. You are not permitted to be on your phone, and talking to those next to you is looked down upon as extremely rude.

New technology has really empowered people to take control of their own audience experiences. For example, we have the ability to record TV shows with a DVR. My guilty pleasure is the Bachelor, which usually airs Mondays. If I am busy one Monday and cannot watch the episode live, I will tape it and return to it whenever I am free. This is something we never used to be able to do with television—the networks no longer create our watching schedules, we have the agency to do this now. With recording television programs comes the luxury of being able to fast forward through bits we do not care to see; most often the commercials. At the cinema, we are forced to sit through previews for other films and various ads. At home with a recorded program, we have the power to see only what we want to see. After having considered brief examples of my life to answer these questions, I am excited to see the way I’ll be able to answer these few questions again at the end of this course, after having studied these ideas very closely. I look forward to revisiting and reconsidering my answers in the next 10 weeks.

#week1

[nicolekidmanwigfactory]

Do EVERY musical theatre ask

I hate you because I answer in paragraphs but I love you because this will take me forever and I have all night

1. What was the first musical you saw?

I’m having trouble remembering. Not counting animated Disney movies, I guess the Sound of Music for movie musicals and my grade school’s production of Godspell when I was in kindergarten. I had no idea what the show was about I was obsessed with “Bless the Lord.”

2. What musical got you really  into theatre?

In high school, I was an editor of my senior class’ student-written musical parody of the school. At the end of junior year, we’d sketched out the plot and over the summer about 6-7 groups of ten people each wrote their assigned scenes, song parodies, etc. At the start of August, I was chosen, along with one other student, by our director (one of the English teachers) to basically take these collections of scenes and songs and make them into a cohesive, workable show, which included rewriting lines, deleting jokes, etc. We’d meet weekly at the teacher’s house and go over the drafts, consider his input, but the creative control was ultimately ours. 

One of the teachers, who’d been there for more than 25 years and seen every senior production in her time, said the entire show was the second best she’d seen. During awards night, the director told us this show was one of his favorites he’d directed. But working on this show left me obsessed with theatre in general, something I never had much interest in before. I was attracted to musical theatre in particular because I thought the songs selected to be parodied for the show were the weakest part of the show, so I guess I started listening to cast albums to search for songs in an effort to subconsciously fix what I thought to be errors. I did that for prolly the first year after the show.

I told you I answer in paragraphs.

3. Who was your first Broadway crush?

I don’t really get crushes, so I don’t have a first one. When I fall, but I fall hard; it’s not crush area. But I’m a horny person and who I’m attracted to seems to come in phases and right now and I’m very attracted to Brandon Uranowitz and (which came as a total shock to me) Andrew Rannells.

4. Name three of your current Broadway crushes.

Brandon Uranowitz, Andrew Rannells, Jeanine Tesori (she’s a woman but she is GLAM)

5. Name four of your dream roles.

I’ve never had a real desire to perform but I guess Madame Armfeldt, Amy, Phyllis Stone (if I get to sing Ah, But Underneath), Joanne. What can I say, Sondheim’s women are more fun to sing than any role meant for a man.

6. Favourite off-broadway show:

i don’t distinguish between between on and off-Broadway

7. Favourite cast recording.

1970 Company Original Cast Recording. The gold standard for cast recordings in general.

8. 2013 Tony opening number or 2016 Tony opening number?

I honestly don’t remember either and don’t care enough to look them up.

9. Favourite show currently on Broadway.

none of them really speak to me right now, so...Hello Dolly! because I like the score most?

10. A musical that closed and you’re still bitter about. Rant a bit.

Fun Home. 

11. Best stage to screen adaptation?

West Side Story. Steve is wrong when he kvetches about the movie’s switching the places of “Cool” and “Gee, Officer Krupke.” THEIR LEADER JUST GOT KILLED WHY ARE THEY JOKING IT MAKES MORE SENSE TO PLAY COOL THAN TO JOKE AROUND. i’d prefer if the songs were also in that order on stage as well. They already get their moment of post-intermission levity with “I Feel Pretty.” “Gee, Officer Krupke” in Act 2 is excessive. The movie fixes this mistake.

12. Worst  stage to screen adaptation?

I haven’t really seen all that many movie musicals. I don’t know if I would call it the worst but I absolutely hated the Les Mis movie but I don’t know if it’s because i find the show itself over the top or if it was the movie itself

13. Favourite #ham4ham?

never seen them

14. A musical you would love to see produced by Deaf West?

Fun Home. I think having actors who are Deaf parallel the lesbian themes in the show would be a unique take on the show’s portrayal closetedness and parental/child relationships...if that makes sense. it does in my head

15. If you could revive any musical, which one would it be and who would you cast in it?

Assuming it meets all my other requirements, Candide. I don’t have any ideas for who to play whom, but casting must be colorblind, age appropriate, and match the vocal requirements.

16. If you could go to a concert at the 54 below, who’s would it be?

Barbara Cook

17. Do you watch broadway.com vlogs? Which one is your favourite?

Nope.

18. Make a broadway related confession.

I don’t let others know just how much I enjoy the theatre because I don’t want to come off as one of the theatre kids you hated in high school (but secretly admired for their confidence).

19. What do musicals mean to you?

This question is so corny I refuse to answer it.

20. Express some love for understudies and swings!

Danny I just want to be done with this. You do good work understudies and swings. you’re not appreciated enough and when you do go on it’s to the disappointment of the audience who was expecting someone else so good job dealing with that already tough situation to begin with.

21. Best Disney musical:

I’m going based off of the movies and to this I answer Lion King. I liked the stage version when I saw the tour but the movie as a musical is so satisfying and impossible to improve upon (though Shadowland and He Lives in You are great additions)

22. Which Disney movie should be made into a musical?

none. keep them as movies. broadway’s already getting pandering enough

23. Which musical fandom has the funniest memes?

PASSION

24. Name a character from a musical you would sort into your Hogwarts house.

I’m a Ravenclaw according to Pottermore so give me Madame Armfeldt.

25. Name a Broadway star you would sort into your Hogwarts house.

Stephen Sondheim

26. Best on stage chemistry?

Patti LuPone and the scenery

27. A Broadway duo you love.

@jasonrobertclown and @kayleefabulous

28. What book, tv show, movie, biography, video game, etc. should be turned into a musical?

HOWARDS END HOWARDS END HOWARDS END HOWARDS END

29. If you could make a jukebox musical, what artist or genre would you pick?

no

30. Favourite role played by _________________?

Angela Lansbury. Mrs. Iselin in The Manchurian Candidate. It’s not a stage role but she’s a stage legend and it’s my favorite role of hers.

31. What musical has made you cry the most?

I don’t cry at movies or books or anything, so none.

32. What musical has made you laugh the most?

It’s not Steve’s best score by any means, but A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum is a fucking laugh riot but thankfully, the strength of the show is its book. 

33. Current showtune stuck in you head:

I’ve been mourning the death of Barbara Cook and her “Will I Ever Tell You” from The Music Man is one I’ve been listening to a lot the past two days. It’s lovely and keeps popping back into my head.

34. A musical that has left you thinking about life for a long time or deeply inspired you.

Bridge of Madison County was a show that affected me more than I expected and I think it was because I had just put in my notice for my teaching job so I could return to grad school. The show was entirely about choice and consequence and that was what I was taking from it.

35. If you could perform any ensemble number , which one would you pick?

I wouldn’t. I am a star. 

36. Name a musical you didn’t like at first but ended up loving.

A Little Night Music.

37. What are some customes you’d love to try on?

I don’t really have any.

38. Favourite dance break.

this dance break from “The Story of Lucy and Jessie” in the original production of Follies. It’s Bennett’s best work and even better than the sublime work he did on “Who’s that Woman”

39. Favourite Starkid musical:

don’t have one

40. What’s a musical more people should know about?

Nine

41. What are some lines from musicals you really like?

Basically everything Regina Resnik’s Madame Armfeldt says

42. Name a Tony performance you rewatch and rewatch.

Ring of Keys

[braincoins]

Title: Beacon - Trust; Growth Fandom: “Voltron: Legendary Defender” Summary: Allura’s been captured and is being held with prisoners from a work camp. They’re on their way to their deaths. Allura has to rally the prisoners to free themselves, keep them alive, and get them out… and that’d all be easier if she’d stop being distracted by thoughts of her Black Paladin. Ships: Shallura Warnings: Some blood & mentions of violence; we’re starting to get some of that now. Author’s Notes: @shalluraweek 2017 is here and I had to be ambitious with it. Rather than 7 disconnected one-shots, I’m doing 7 “chapters” of an overarching story. Each chapter fulfills (or tries to fulfill) both prompts for a given day. Some of them succeed better than others. For that matter, some chapters are more Shallura-y than others, but I was trying to set forth an overall narrative that leads to some sweet Shallura action, okay? This is part 3 (1404 Words - Also on AO3)

           Allura chatted with her new “friends.” They shared what they could with her about their current situation, as well as how they’d each come to be a prisoner of the Empire. She couldn’t help comparing what they said with what Shiro’d relayed of his own capture. Many of them had similar stories.

           Like Shiro, most of them were interrogated. Most of them had been deemed unfit for one-on-one arena battles and sent off to the work camps; some had been sent directly there as punishment for some crime. Stealing was the common admission, usually in order to get something denied them by the Empire.

           It was eye-opening for her. Most of them admitted that their day-to-day lives weren’t terrible. They spoke of having food and credits enough to live reasonably normal lives: to go to commerce hubs (or, as Lance would no doubt have put it, “space malls”), to buy gifts for friends and loved ones, etc. Some of them had even lived well.

           But the Empire seemed to only value the lives of those who worked. Anyone who had an accident or illness, anyone afflicted by a chronic condition, anyone deemed “useless” by the Galra bureaucrats – they were cast aside like so much rubbish. Many of those around her now spoke of trying to beg, borrow, or steal the resources needed for loved ones in order to help them – extra credits for medical treatment, medicine denied by the bureaucracy, or even outright rescuing loved ones from “hospitals” that the elderly and infirm were sent to but never seemed to come out of.

           Most of her fellow prisoners hadn’t sought open rebellion or revolution. They hadn’t had much reason to. Their lives were good under the Empire. Sure, there were some whose people had been enslaved like the Balmerans. But the vast majority surrounding her had never wanted anything but the best for the people they cared about.

           People slept when they were done telling their stories, and those remaining awake spoke quieter out of consideration for them. Allura’s eyes could still only make out the barest details of people, but she could determine outlines for most of those in her immediate vicinity, at least. And she noticed one outline – Gerenda – was quieter than the others.

           As the stories fell away and people fell asleep, she scooted towards them. “You don’t have to share if it’s too painful,” she reassured Gerenda.

           “Gracious of you,” came the clipped response. But it didn’t sound rude; it was more… abrupt, like someone whose train of thought had suddenly crashed.

           “I’m sorry.”

           “No, don’t be. I was just thinking, that’s all.” But there was a hesitation there that spoke what their voice was unwilling to say.

           “Is there something you do want to talk about?” Allura pressed gently.

           “Ye-…No. No, no, it’s nothing. I… I’m a loyal subject of the Empire.” They sounded like they were trying to convince themselves.

           “Then why are you here?”

           “Because I have to be.”

           Allura frowned. “You didn’t deserve whatever happened to you.”

           “No, it’s not that. It’s…” Gerenda’s head – or what Allura took to be their head – turned to “look” at the shapes surrounding them. “…I’d never heard these peoples’ stories before. I’d never even thought to ask.” The head returned to its original position, and Allura felt like she had Gerenda’s gaze upon her. “You’re dangerous to the Empire, princess. I should be doing something about that, but I… I don’t know if I can.”

           Her blood ran cold. “What do you mean?” she asked carefully.

           Gerenda shifted; it looked like they’d pulled their legs up towards their chest, maybe rested their head upon their knees (assuming they were a typical bipedal race). “I believed in the Empire. I believe in the Empire. I do. But I’ve never… All these people. Bedi’s grandmother, Miope’s best friend, Seron’s child. They didn’t deserve what happened to them, and neither did Bedi, Miope, or Seron. I mean, they broke laws, sure, but they didn’t deserve this. And now they’re going to be taken to the Arena…” There was a heavy sigh. “Princess, do you even know what awaits you?”

           “I know about the arena,” she said, thinking back to Shiro’s fragments of stories, what memories he could pull up and had been willing to share with them. It made her heart ache. Because he was her friend, right? Just a friend. She pushed that away.

           “These people aren’t fighters, or they wouldn’t have been in the work camp. Before the fights start, sometimes during intermissions, they just bring a bunch of prisoners out into the ring all at once. They sic various creatures upon them, and the audience cheers and laughs as the creatures tear them apart.”

           It made Allura sick to hear, but she stayed quiet.

           “That’s what awaits them all. That’s what they’re being taken to. They won’t even have the honor to die gloriously. They just wanted to help the ones they cared about and their dying screams won’t even be heard over the laughter.”

           Allura was quiet a moment, then something pinged in her. “You… keep saying ‘they’.”

           Gerenda nodded and looked around again briefly. “I won’t share that fate. I…” They sucked in a breath. “I’m a spy. The Empire put me in here to keep an eye on everyone. To make sure they don’t try anything. To find out if anyone is a true danger to the Empire.” Allura felt like the focus of Gerenda’s vision suddenly. “And you are, princess. You are rallying these people. You’re… you’re exactly what Bedi said you are: a hero. And you’re trouble. But…”

           “But?” Allura wanted to encourage the ‘but’ in Gerenda’s voice. She’d figure out a way to silence the spy if she had to, but she didn’t want to. And she wasn’t sure it’d be necessary.

           “…I never knew. I never asked. I didn’t want to know them. I didn’t have to know them. It was easier not to know them. But now I do. And they don’t deserve this. None of them deserve this.”

           “So what will you do about it?”

           “I don’t know that there’s anything to be done. You’re very brave, but you’re one person. You can’t save them all.”

           “You said it yourself: I’m rallying them. Together, we can do what one person cannot.”

           Gerenda shook their head. “We’re all bound hand and foot. We’re all weaponless.”

           “We’ll think of something. And your knowledge of the Empire would be a great help.”

           “I feel so conflicted. I’ll end up in the arena if I’m caught.”

           “Then we won’t get caught,” Allura told them, as if it were as simple as that.

           Gerenda was quiet. “You’re willing to trust me? Just like that?”

           Allura shrugged. “What choice do I have? You might reveal me when we arrive, but then that was the plan, wasn’t it? The only difference now is that I know about it.”

           “And that I’m thinking of not doing it,” they tacked on. “I must be insane. It’s THE Empire. The Galra Empire is the most expansive, far-reaching empire in the universe. It practically is the universe!”

           “But you won’t be alone. Just as I’m not alone.” She smiled. “After all, I was captured when the paladins of Voltron and I came to liberate the work camp. Surely you’ve heard of Voltron?”

           “Fairy tales. You’re saying it’s real?”

           “It is. I know the paladins. They are good – if strange – people. They will destroy the Empire.”

           “You think they’ll save us?”

           I hope not. Do I? The thought of Shiro striding in, calling for her, holding her close in relief… but that was derailed by the thought of Shiro recaptured, sent back to the ring or to the druids for more experiments… No. No, stay away and stay safe. “I don’t know,” she replied truthfully. “But I know that they will bring down the Galra Empire. Perhaps we’ll die, but our deaths will be avenged.”

           “Oh, that’s comforting,” Gerenda retorted. “But… I can’t just pretend I don’t know what I know now. If you’ll trust me, princess – if you can, anyway – I will do what I can.”

           “Thank you, Gerenda.”

           “I’ll start by…” There was a pair of clicks and a slight clinking sound. “I can’t unlock all the cuffs, just mine. At least you’ll have one pair of free hands. And feet.”

           “Every person freed is a good start,” Allura reassured them.

#shallura week #Shallura #Voltron #Socks writes Voltron fanfic

[chemicalperfume]

Ruriiro no Toki (Moon Troupe 2017)

I saw the play on 5/6 in Umeda Theater Drama City, and it happened to be a very memorable show full of firsts: first solo lead for Miyaruri, first solo heroine for Umi, first show as a member of Tsukigumi for Reiko, and first live zuka small theater show for me. :’D It was also my first time seeing a live show by a troupe other than yuki or hoshi (i have my favourites and also the luck for my trips to coincide specifically with my favourites, apparently). I wasn’t planning on seeing it at first, but I am very glad I managed to. Plot summary for Act 1 (to not spoil it completely since the show is getting a dvd release) and my thoughts under the cut:

Plot:

Peniless actors, Simon and Jacques sneak into Chateau de Chambord -rumored former residence of the now long-missing Count de St. Germain- with the intention of searching for valuables to steal and ease their poverty situation. By chance, they find a hidden door leading to a secret room filled with treasures and a little box that contains a mysterious sphere of lapis lazuli -the Philosopher’s Stone. Over the room also hangs a portrait of the Count, which to their astonishment, looks exactly like Simon. In on them walks Theodore, the Count’s now elderly valet who was loyally waiting for his disappeared master’s return for over 60 years. He greets Simon as the Count de St.Germain, and Simon plays along to save the both of them from getting arrested for thieves. The two young men see this unexpected situation as an opportunity to rise up in society and live the good life among the aristocracy they’ve always dreamed of. Simon puts his acting skills to work and assumes the identity of the immortal and wondrous alchemist, the Count de St. Germain, making a triumphant return to the court of Versailles, enchanting everyone with his stories and his predictions with the Philosopher’s Stone. Jacques poses as his valet, Theodore, at his side. Marie Antoinette consults St. Germain about an ominous, recurring dream she’s been having, but he comforts her about its possible meaning. In Versailles, corruption and opulence reign, while the country’s finances are in a terrible state. The King and Queen are way too influenced by their close courtiers to pay attention to Minister of Finance Necker’s warnings about growing dissatisfaction and miserable living conditions among the populace. Maximilien Robespierre and his comrades are riling up the people to revolt. One day, Simon and Jacques’ old travelling troupe is brought to the Petit Trianon to perform in front of the Queen and her entourage. The two of them are stunned to see their old pals in Versailles, and quickly excuse themselves for the day to avoid being recognized. Marie Antoinette is impressed by the star performer of the troupe, Ademar, and offers her a position in the Royal Dance Troupe*. Ademar is a young woman of humble background who resents the aristocracy and Marie Antoinette as its symbol, because of the state they have brought France into which led to her parents’ death. However, she gives in to the peer pressure and half-heartedly accepts the Queen’s proposal. The clash between the aristocracy and Necker’s prudent warnings lead to his dismissal. In a corner of the palace, Count Province urges the King to send the military in Paris to suppress the brewing unrest that has spread all over following this dismissal. The King is ultimately convinced. Jacques and Ademar happen to overhear this conversation. Ademar’s hatred for the aristocracy only grows. She spots Jacques listening in too and finally finds out what happend to him and Simon. Jacques, disgusted that the aristocracy is willing to do such a thing to their own people, people like him and his friends, decides to adandon the court and tips off Robespierre about the imminent military action. Jacques tells Simon about the plan and urges him to leave this life behind, but Simon is too absorbed into the identity of the Count de St. Germain and refuses. The two friends part for the first time, as times are changing and France is moving closer to the brink of the French Revolution.

Overall: This show exceeded any expectations I had going in, which made me very happy since they happened to gather 99% of all my favourite Tsuki people (including brand new, shiny, fresh off the transfer oven, Reiko). It is not to say it was flawless. Harada-sensei could have given it a more concrete, less vague/open ending imo, and some characterisation fell short (see below for more on that), but it is an extrmely solid show, with stunning and at the same time somehow simple visuals, and AMAZING music, oh my god, can this soundtrack be on iTunes right now. I found myself immediately absorbed in the world of this play, was completely floored by the intermission, and even the aforementioned issues withstanding, left the theatre quite fascinated. One of Harada’s best originals, I dare say. When the show was announced I assumed the director would go for a fictionalised Count of St.Germain, going for an excuse to make Miyaruri a libertine in 18th century France. Which, lbr, would also make a great premise for a show, but I’m glad I was wrong, because the “we have no idea who/what the Count was, Simon just happens to look like him and runs with it” device was clever, and added extra mystery to the premise. Miya and Reiko, although acting together for the first time, make a fine brotp, and there are many layers to both of their characters, but mostly in the relationship between them. The whole play was very much about identity and relationships between people, and how relationships between people change in different contexts. I do wish the whole thing between the main 3 leads, in particular, actually went somewhere, but as i saw it, there is a lot of food for thought behind every layer in this play, every decision, and lots of room for the audience to deduce and fill in the blanks for themselves (occasionally *too* much room...), which is something that often counts as a plus in my book. On the technical side, the costumes were very elaborate and the set included a huge spiralling and rotating staircase which stood for more than just being a convenient, impressive-looking set piece. I also especially loved the secret door/panel set with the huge lizard on it. The (remotely controlled!) light sphere that served as the Philospher’s Stone was another very contextually important, plot-relevant prop, in a show where light usage was very cleverly handled.

Miya Rurika as Simon It feels almost unreal that this woman is getting her first solo lead show only now, at ken-15 (!), never having experienced a Bow lead, but Miyaruri somehow was not as firmly tracked as, and in the way of other, younger, way more pushed people her entire career, so here we are. 2 years ago, I plain couldn’t imagine her leading a troupe. She’d proved me wrong recently in Manon and King Arthur, now she got to directly melt my face off. Simon was a great role for her. She pulled off the long, curly wig like she was born with it, and performed her character and all his stages of growth and change with incredible heart and skill. She made the process of positive travelling actor Simon taking on the identity of the Count and almost losing himself completely in this newfound position of luxury, power, but above all being needed, flow inevitably, magnetically, beautifully. At one point, after he and Jacques disappear, Ademar laments the new lead actor’s terrible line delivery and points out Simon would have done it better. Later in the play Simon recites that same line, and I felt the difference to my very core. Her acting was solid, her dancing was fluid and expressive, her singing envelopped the hall, her chemistry with other characters was palpable. This woman has earned her top feathers. Hopefully she’ll get them some day.

Tsukishiro Kanato as Jacques For those who have spend less than 5″ on my blog, I am currently a Yukigumi girl over anything else in this life, and I am not even going to lie here, this being our precious Royal Dimples’ first show in her new home, is at least 50% of why I wanted to see it in the first place. I was happy to see she was fine. Reiko was a very good combi with Miya and blended in with tsukigumi very well. I felt she’d substantially leveled up compared to Maximilian or Aoshi, which is exactly what she needs and a big part behind this transfer as well, I am guessing. Jacques starts out joined at the hip with Simon, his loyal BFF4E, his trusted sidekick in life, but where Simon becomes the Count, rather than impersonate him, Jacques never loses his pragmatic view on things, never losing sight of his commoner roots, and in the long run choosing what he always knew, instead of the facade he came to know. Their fallout is both inevitable and bitter, and Jacques goes through several stages of character development, which Reiko handled great. While I adore her, I believe there is still tons of room for her to grow, especially in the acting department, and in this show she convinced me she is currently undergoing this process, taking steps to get there. The carefree Jacques of Act 1 who provided (unexpectedly!) many a comedic moment with his pal, is miles away from Jacques the Jacobin of Act 2, and there is even more after that. Unexpectedly #2, for someone this impossibly pretty, she has quite the stout, manly otokoyaku aura on stage, which personally took me by extremely pleasant surprise. In the finale she got to lead the musumeyaku, being lethal and illegal with her winks while doing so. Take care of this one for us, Tsukigumi!

Umino Mitsuki as Ademar Little-known fact about me, probably: Umichan is one of my most favourite people in the entire company right now, and I was THRILLED when the news she landed this role dropped. She makes a breathtaking team with Miya and Reiko, and she is an angel on stage. I could hardly breathe during her ballet scene, she was every bit a flower fairy. Her singing has noticeably leveled up, and she acted out Ademar’s strife and strong character with passion. The only issue lies not with her, but with Harada-sensei, who admittedly gave her little to work with. Harada is known for being kinda hit or miss and mostly miss with how he writes musumeyaku parts (especially lead musumeyaku parts), and I am very sad to say, that looking back at it, I can’t help feeling he kind of dropped the ball with Ademar too. On the one hand, I found it refreshing to be reminded that a lead musumeyaku doesn’t need to be romantically linked to someone to exist as the main female character in the story. Nor does she need to be nice and forgiving and inhumanly sweet. Ademar is largely driven by negative feelings: revenge for her parents, disgust for the pampered aristocracy who lives in a fishbowl and drives most of the country to live in misery. I also can’t say she was shafted for stage time, and she had without a doubt her standout singing and dancing numbers. Her duedan with Miya in the finale was heart-stoppingly beautiful, they complement each other visually to the nth degree. On the other hand though, the more I sit on it, the more I realise she is not very plot-relevant after all, especially in Act 2, most of all at the very end. We know little about her besides the very basics, and we also see much less of her than the other 2 main guys to figure her out more, and by the end this lack of depth becomes noticeable. “Okay chem, but this is just a 2h-long show, with a finale, there’s time limits and stuff” you’ll tell me, but I really don’t see how they couldn’t have spent 2 minutes of exposition/reminiscing or a short flashback scene to flesh out Ademar’s bond to the other two guys a little more. It is what it is though, and I am still happy for Umi getting this lead. Fingers crossed she gets many many more in the future!

Shirayuki Sachika as Marie Antoinette ALL OF THE ABOVE SAID, this show gets full marks for non-tracked senior onnayaku usage, for this very role. We’ve seen 50 Marie Antoinettes in recent years, but Sachika made the part not seem overdone to death and back, what kind of brilliant, award-worthy achievement. Her Antoinette was poised, majestic, adult, and somehow very human, very realistic. Closer to a real-life queen of the time, rather than a fictionalised image of one, she absolutely murdered the part, and made me once again realise how valuable and at the same time criminally underused seasoned onnayaku are. To be perfectly honest, Sachika’s Antoinette felt more like the main female character of the play than Ademar. She had probably an almost equal amount of stage time,  influences every single character, and very clearly affects Simon, who develops feelings for her (romantic? respect? affection? protectiveness? it’s up to interpretation, but they’re definitely there). She is a symbol in the play and at the same time very much a human being, and Sachika brought out both aspects as if she was born into this position, living it her entire life. I immediately saw why (Sakihi) Miyu respects and looks up to her so much, I saw a lot of her influence in Miyu’s acting here. We need more substantial roles like this one for senior onnayaku, learn y’all.

Uzuki Hayate as Robespierre Toshi seems to be getting good treatment lately, and that is awesome, because she is so talented, and has a very commanding aura on stage, she only deserves the best treatment. Robespierre was technically the sanbante otokoyaku role, which doesn’t say all that much in this play since everyone under the 4 roles i just talked about, didn’t get *too* much to do, but it was still a very decent role, and she still did an excellent job of it, leading the ensemble numbers and the revolution and stuff. She also got to lead the otokoyaku number in the finale, and wear a sparkly jacket, GET IT, Toshi. Special mention to the her hidden second role: she opens the play as Theodore, the -original- Count’s now elderly valet, and she was so good at it, I did not even recognize her.

Kizuki Yuuma as Necker Mayupon gets her own paragraph, because this is me and my blog, and I am never subtle with my bias okay. She rocked her ‘stache, was probably the one person not here for St.Germain’s fancy nonsense, and she also had!! a SOLO!! on the staircase!! Not Roi Arthur levels of yay, but still good in my book. Her stage presence remains double that of her experience years, and it’s stunning to behold. ♡

Other people: Kouzuki Ruu was Louis XVI, and considering she was Necker in 1789, it must have been an interesting experience for her to play both sides. She was elegant and also funny in her “inspecting” St.Germain up close bit. Takasumi Hayato was quite slimy as Count Province, the King’s brother. Her voice tone and body language oozed “I wouldn’t spit on a peasant if they were on fire” at all times. Kagetsu Miyako was a very spunky Countess Polignac, and she delivered perfectly to my very high expectations of her (she’s a delight to watch and i low-key love her). Hibiki Reona was ...there as the head of the travelling troupe, but honestly the part was tiny anyway. Harune Aki was unfortunately completely wasted in the general court ladies group, even if she had most of the lines that didn’t go to Nacchan. Yumena Rune was adorable as Philippo, the kinda useless troupe guy that had to replace Simon as the main lead. Kanoha Toki had barely 3 lines, in the troupe members ensemble. Hayaki Yuuto, Tsukasa Ren, and Kashiro Aoi (♡) were Robespierre’s 3 bros, mostly following him around, discussing revolution stuff with him and almost had the same stage time as him. They did a fine job for their part, altho I felt Tsucchii was overacting. Extra shoutout to all the babies who were St.Germain’s “shadows” and brought on the kurotenshi realness, down to the silver wigs.

Very much looking forward to the dvd release so I can revisit this beautiful play!

#takarazuka #tsukigumi #miya rurika #tsukishiro kanato #umino mitsuki #ruriiro no toki #azure moment #chem reviews #this ended up quite long #but i am proud of myself for finally getting my brain in one place to finish it #seriously tho songs on itunes WHEN

[josephkitchen0]

How to Get Rid of Rats

By Cynthia Smith (Veterinarian in Washington) – I hate rats. I hate the way they dig dirty holes in my nice clean barns. I hate the squishy way the floor feels when there’s a rat tunnel underneath it. I hate the sick feeling I get when I see a rat whisk past my feet as I open the barns in the morning. I hate their furry little brown disease-carrying bodies that make me feel like my backyard chickens are a menace to all the neighborhood and like, any minute, the next Black Death will descend upon the world and all because I just had to raise poultry. My hatred of rats and their presence on my property lead me to search for solutions on how to get rid of rats.

Act 1: The Discovery

I feel like rodents are the dirty little secret of the poultry world. The one thing we hate to discuss or admit to (like having fleas on your dog or cockroaches in your house); acknowledging that you have seen a rat in your barn is like saying you are a bad person — one with really crummy hygiene. My son, Rob, has been well-trained never to say the word in public. (The last thing I want the neighbors to know is that the cute little backyard farm next door might be less than perfect, let alone a potential reservoir of disease.)

Our best chicken secrets revealed with this FREE guide!

Even old pros say they got dozens of tips for their flocks by reading this guide. YES! I want this Free Guide »

Indeed, when I told Rob I was going to write this article, his first words were: “I hope it’s going to be anonymous!” I didn’t always hate rats. I had the pet white variety as a child and saw them occasionally in my practice as a veterinarian. It was only after I acquired chickens (about eight years ago at the age of 43) that the loathing began.

Our first order of chickens on my son’s birthday arrived in a cheeping little cardboard box from the Murray McMurray hatchery. While they grew inside of a puppy pen in the house, my husband and 8-year-old son labored to build a raccoon-proof coop in the backyard. Feed was stored in the next-door shed (which had an elevated floor).

All went well, as far as we knew, until the following summer when my husband reached to the upper shelves of the shed and pulled down last year’s nylon swimming pool. The blue plastic came down in a heap, along with the rats that had been nesting in it. As furry bodies rained over my husband’s head and shoulders, an impossibly high-pitched shriek emerged from his masculine throat and my son was witness to a burst of profanity the likes of which he had never heard his Christian father utter. “Mommy, Daddy swore!”

After the gnawed plastic and gruesome tale were revealed to me on my arrival home, I began my first foray into the business of extermination and researching how to get rid of rats; not something a veterinarian is particularly well-trained in. My husband proudly brought home electric traps, a tip he’s received when researching how to get rid of rats. They were supposed to give a quick painless death to the rat when it stepped on the plate. Either they didn’t work, or the rats never touched them. Nary a body did we ever see from those expensive devices. Then there were the glue traps. Guess what, the glue isn’t sticky anymore if it gets anything on it, like dust or shavings. Strangely, my coops were not dust-free. Then there were the good old-fashioned oversized mouse traps designed for their rattish cousins. These at least got some action. We found them exploded six to 10 feet from where they were set, but again, both bait and rat-free. I need not even mention the “humane live catch” trap (it was sized for mice anyway, who seem to be a lot dumber than rats). The plan was that mice could get in but not out again, so one was supposed to check the trap daily and humanely release Mickey and Minnie back into the wild. My husband only tried this once. He forgot to check the trap for two weeks, after which there were multiple cannibalized mouse corpses in the trap; the aftermath of a rodent-style Hunger Games and clearly not a humane way to die.

At this point, I felt there was no option except to try poison as a means of how to get rid of rats. All my efforts to employ natural ways to kill mice and rats were unsuccessful. I never wanted to use rat poison. Goodness knows, we see enough dogs and cats poisoned either by the poison itself or by consuming the poisoned animal. Years before we ever had poultry or had thought of using poison, we lost a pet cat to DeCon poisoning.

An excellent mouser, she would bring back just the tails and line them up at night for our admiration. Twice, she must have eaten a poisoned animal. The first time, we pulled her through. The second time, we were too late. So I know the risk of poison to the animals nearby. Unfortunately, I also understand the risk of a rat incursion in a populated area, both to property and to health. Something had to be done.

Intermission: Safe Rat Control Options

A word here must be inserted about what is certainly the most natural and safe of rat-control options: the domestic or farm cat or, perhaps, a rat terrier. People swear by this option for how to get rid of mice. The terrier was right out as, in my experience, dogs that kill rats also really enjoy killing chickens. But what about a cat? I counted. We have had 12 cats in the past 29 years. Of those, three were excellent mousers. Two of three died before they attained late middle age (about eight years), presumably because of their outdoor lifestyle. We are responsible citizens and have our pets spayed and neutered, so frequent replacement was not an option. The two cats who currently reside on my bed would not dream of soiling their precious paws with a filthy rodent. If you have a healthy supply of competent barn cats and are reading this article thinking what a dangerous poison-wielding idiot I am, my hat is off to you.

Act 2: Back to the Rat Story

Let us return to the saga. I contacted our Washington State Poultry Vet at the lab that does necropsies on poultry. If you do not have the access to a brilliant poultry resource like Dr. Roccio Crespo in your state, you have my pity.

Dr. Crespo informed me that I needed to buy little locking plastic boxes that hold the poison tightly confined on stakes. In this way, the rat must eat the poison in the box and cannot carry a chunk away to possibly poison another animal. I bought Tomcat boxes and bait at the local feed store. They were easy to use. The poison disappeared, dead rat bodies appeared and were immediately disposed of. There was no collateral damage in birds or other animals. Whew!

Fast forward to our move from our little house on a small lot to our littler house on a large (1.3-acre lot) a few years later. In the classic reverse market savvy that runs in my unhappy family, the real estate market crashed mere weeks after the papers were signed. Our new house was immediately worth much less than we paid, the mortgage was underwater and our old house unsalable unless at a very great loss. Doggedly, we muscled on as have many ethical Americans in the same situation. Refusing to renege on our word because circumstances had changed, we paid for our now overpriced home and prepared to become landlords as our old house was now vacant. Another rat crisis worsened our situation. When we abruptly removed every bird to our new barn on the new property, the current invisible rats grew and hungered. They went looking for food. They found it in grass seed stored in the garage, in camping food locked away in the attic, in water and food stores stored in plastic 24-hour kits. Before we knew it, we had rats that had moved uptown: highfalutin rodents living high in the attic and sporting top hats and monocles. The traps were again a failure. Once again, we were forced to resort to the poison. It worked, but with a small side effect. These rats did not do us the courtesy of quietly dying in their holes underground.

Noooo, they went to the far reaches of the attic and vents to die. It was summer. Chanel Number Fur permeated the house in several unexpected areas: the master bedroom, the hall closet, and the pantry — open these doors and prepare to run. All searches for their desiccating bodies proved futile. The house was, most certainly, not fit to go on the market. Eight months later, in the depths of winter, eau de rodent being but an unpleasant memory, we could finally begin to make preparations to lease out our money pit.

Act 3: The Return to Chickens

We had by now narrowed our focus to breeding only show varieties of bantam Polish and Araucanas. Some of our old flock remained as pets, along with turkeys, geese, and ducks acquired variously as lawn candy. Most birds were free range on our 1.3 acres, with the show birds confined to covered pens. A locked poison box was kept in each pen and rarely needed emptying. All was well. There are several other people in our neighborhood who keep a few birds, including a lovely next-door family who acquired nice birds and joined our 4-H club.

Suddenly, the rat population swelled. Poison boxes were still full but the Tomcat poison seemed barely nibbled. An experienced friend recommended, “Just One Bite,” a tasty looking poison with embedded grains. The rats loved it. The poison disappeared again and so did the rats. I diplomatically (I hoped) donated poison to my chicken-keeping neighbor. Whew. Back on track.

In 2013, the situation changed yet again. My neighbor went back to school and I offered to place her birds for her. Once the birds were homed, hungry rat hordes moved to the nearest source of food: us. This was the worst ever! On one night I saw six — count ’em, six — rats running around like they owned the place. (And I was taught that, if you see one, there are 10 more you didn’t see.) Neighbors down the street also discovered rat damage under their houses. Exterminators were called. I felt like Typhoid Mary.

The poison boxes were once again loaded and distributed. Chicken feed and water disappeared, but the bait stayed pristine. My friend was again consulted. Take out the feed so they have to eat the poison, she advised. Laboriously, every night we lugged feed out of all six pens, refilled the bait boxes, and lugged feed back out in the early morning before work. Chicken chores were becoming less fun and my teenage son was far less enthralled with his feathered friends. It worked (sort of), as the bait disappeared.

Indeed, we went through 24 pounds of bait, both the Tomcat and the Just One Bite, in the following three months.

However, while the bait was gone, the rats seemed totally unaffected. Fat rats, baby rats, all cavorting with seeming impunity in and among our birds. Then it hit me. Every morning I had to refill, not only the feed, but all the water! Full waterers at night were empty in the morning. My two remaining tired neurons finally made the connection: what did I put in my water? Apple cider vinegar. What does the vinegar contain, among other things? Vitamin K. How does rat poison work? By destroying the body’s vitamin K stores, thus causing them to slowly bleed to death.

Excellent, I’d spent three months administering the antidote along with the toxin. Fine work indeed. The darn poison itself was getting a lot harder to acquire too. The FDA had decided to ban sales of most of the really effective products to regular consumers. My local Del’s feed store and local hardware store no longer carried them. I was forced to pick up the Just One Bite in 8-pound cases from a feed store 120 miles away. I had to sign for it too. This would be OK except that it still wasn’t working well. Now I was carrying birds’ water and feed out every night and every morning, a feat which required I give up an extra 45 minutes of sleep before the work day and stumble around in the dark loaded with water that poured all over my shoes. Oh, I was loving raising chickens, you betcha.

An example of a safety trap, that keeps the rats from dragging poison into places also shared by pets and poultry.

We found a few dead rats, to be sure, and the Just One Bite was disappearing nightly by the pound, but the influx of baby rats playing fearlessly in my show cages convinced me I was still fighting a losing battle. To make matters worse, I had a deadline approaching. Soon I would have abdominal surgery, which would necessitate me turning over all the care of the birds to my son Rob for a while. No way was he going to be able to spend that kind of time lugging feed and water before his 6 a.m. Bible Study and 7:30 a.m. school. What to do?

Several things came to light in my frenzied research on how to get rid of rats that did not involve going back to a life without birds.

1. Visits to the affected neighbors informed me that their exterminators had tracked their rats to a neighborhood sewage drain source. (I was so worried they’d target me!) These people paid premium prices for professional exterminators who did exactly what I’d been doing: Put bait boxes all around the areas and when finished, advise their clients to buy their own boxes and keep them full as further sewage incursions were a certainty. (Whew! I wasn’t going crazy: there were indeed plenty of rats coming in faster than I could kill them.)

2. I discovered that the United Kingdom is experiencing a serious outbreak of poison-resistant rats in their sewage system. While I found no such reference in the U.S., it does not seem a far reach to assume that we, too, have rats that have evolved to be able to eat the stuff with minimal damage.

3. I decided I was quite unwilling to try the newer poisons that do not antagonize vitamin K. These poisons have no antidote whereas, with a $9 bottle of vitamin K given daily for a month, a pet that one presumes may have been poisoned can be saved. (I found my own cat eating a single rat this summer, and considering her incompetence, felt that there was no way she would have caught it unless it was already dying. A pill a day for a month and she lives to purr on my pillow for years to come.

4. There are many variations on the vitamin K antagonizing poisons. The trick, I decided, was to find a poison these rats had never seen before and that was tasty enough to compete with the feed. (We continue to put away the vinegar-enriched water at night, though.)

I found that product in First Strike Soft Bait. These soft packets must be stuck tightly on the stakes so the rats cannot carry them away, but they must taste delicious and we’re finally seeing corpses everywhere, even though we’re leaving the feed in at night. I am confident that, for a while at least, the vermin are in retreat. First Strike uses an ingredient called Difethialone at a concentration of 0.0025 percent.

As I mentioned, a product that I have really liked in the past is Just One Bite, which has the active ingredient, Bromadilone.

The bait stations (locking boxes) that I use are made by Tomcat, the Tomcat poison sold with the trap contains bromethalin and has the added advantage of being waterproof if you need to keep bait stations outside. It does seem to be considerably less palatable than the other two, so rats with a choice of goodies may not go for it.

And that’s it. As you may understand, I have written this article with great trepidation, not wanting to be branded as the chicken breeder with the rat problem. Please be constantly aware that, if you do have to treat with poison boxes, animals may still be at risk if they eat poisoned rats. Keep a sharp watch and immediately dispose of dead or dying rodents. Consult your veterinarian immediately if you suspect your pet has been poisoned, and bring a copy of the package so the doctor may ascertain proper treatment.

A recent visit to two admired breeder’s facilities convinced me that I am not alone in having trials dealing with these pests. I hope that my information may prove helpful, or may at least make you feel smug that you don’t have that disgusting problem or that your cats are competent. (If so, you have my envy.) I have written this article in good faith, hoping to save others some of the trials we have been through. I would prefer not to receive a ton of hate mail from PETA members who adore their little rat friends or from naturalist believers who are sure Diatomaceous Earth and probiotics can cure rats, rickets, rabies and a rainy day.

My wish for you: May the words, “Oh, Rats!” come out of your mouth only when you drop the feed bag on your toe.

What other ideas for how to get rid of rats would you add to this list?

 Originally published in Backyard Poultry June/July 2014 and regularly vetted for accuracy.

How to Get Rid of Rats was originally posted by All About Chickens

[2700fstreet]

OPERA / 2017-2018

CANDIDE

MAY 3 OPEN REHEARSAL

Washington National Opera

Music by Leonard Bernstein Book Adapted from Voltaire by Hugh Wheeler in a New Version by John Caird Lyrics by Richard Wilbur with Additional Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, John Latouche, Lillian Hellman, Dorothy Parker, and Leonard Bernstein

Who’s Who

Candide: an innocent young man, nephew of Baron Thunder-ten-Tronckh (tenor—the highest male voice) Cunegonde: Candide’s love and the baron’s daughter (soprano—the highest female voice) Dr. Pangloss: a teacher and philosopher (baritone—a middle-range male voice) The Old Lady: an old lady (mezzo soprano—a middle-range female voice) Maximilian: Cunegonde’s brother and the baron’s son (baritone) Paquette: Cunegonde’s maid and Pangloss’s girlfriend (soprano)

PHOTO (Top) Caption: Candide (pronounced kahn-DEED) and Cunegonde (coo-neh-GOHN-duh) defy custom and get engaged.

Take a listen…

Before we even get started, let’s take a minute to listen to the overture. Though the story of Candide can be dark at times, the electric energy and pulsating rhythms of this opening music remind us that Candide has all the makings of a fun and frisky satire. (Even composer—and conductor!—Leonard Bernstein can’t help dancing.) Pay attention to some of these melodies; you’ll hear many of them again and again as Candide crosses the globe.

So, What’s Going On?

Westphalia, a German kingdom, the eighteenth century.

You are here…for now at least. But keep your passport handy.

Meet Candide. He’s a pretty optimistic guy. And why shouldn’t he be? As the illegitimate nephew of Baron Thunder-ten-Tronckh, he gets to live in a beautiful castle. He also gets to sit in on daily lessons with a philosopher named Dr. Pangloss whose personal motto is that all things happen for the best, and this world is, in fact, the best of all possible worlds.

But most importantly, Candide gets to spend his days with the baron’s daughter, Cunegonde, on whom he has a walloping crush.

Take a listen…

Candide’s tastes are a lot simpler than Cunegonde’s, but these two crazy kids are still in love (awww…). Even though Candide and Cunegonde have very different ideas about their future together, they actually sing the same tunes and keep insisting they “agree” on everything. Listen for some irony in the lyrics and in the music here.

Candide’s sunny outlook is put to the test, however, when he and Cunegonde announce their plans to marry, and Cunegonde’s brother, Maximilian, kicks Candide out of the palace. (Tough break, Candide.)

Wandering aimlessly through the Westphalian countryside, Candide stumbles upon a foreign army. No sooner is he forced to enlist than the army attacks Westphalia and Candide finds himself at war with his former homeland. Candide witnesses a terrible battle fought in the name of nationalism and glory (on both sides). Horrified, confused, and not knowing what’s become of Cunegonde and the rest of the Baron’s family, Candide flees amidst the chaos.

Heartbroken, Candide searches for Cunegonde across the war-torn landscape and eventually meets a beggar with a tin nose. Surprise! It’s Dr. Pangloss, who likewise escaped from the Baron’s castle, only to find his body ravaged by a “special” disease transmitted to him by Cunegonde’s maid, Paquette.

Take a listen…

Dr. Pangloss explains his debilitating disease is worth all the trouble it’s caused in this, the first of two (count them: two) songs about syphilis in the show. Listen for the occasional march-like rhythms in the song, which suggest Pangloss is entirely serious about his conviction that everything is for the best. (Note: The “Croix de Guerre” Pangloss refers to is a French military award for bravery. It translates as “Cross of War.”)

Reunited, Candide and Pangloss team up with a generous Anabaptist (basically, a guy who doesn’t believe in baptizing infants…a heretic in the eyes of European Protestants and Catholics but, to Candide’s surprise, a decent sort of fellow) and decide to set sail for…

Lisbon, Portugal

But along the way, a storm hits, and the Anabaptist is drowned (again…genuinely sad). Even more terrible? Almost exactly as Candide and Pangloss arrive on the Portuguese shore, a volcano erupts, and the resulting earthquake all but destroys the city of Lisbon, killing tens of thousands of people (once again, extremely sad and also immensely disturbing, especially seeing as it actually happened on November 1, 1755).

Candide and Pangloss are promptly arrested by the Lisbon branch of the Spanish Inquisition, which is looking for scapegoats to blame for the catastrophe. The two men are brought to an auto-da-fé (aw-toh-duh-FEY), a public execution ceremony in which heretics are tried and executed. Pangloss is hanged, but Candide manages to get by with only a beating. (Ain’t he the lucky one?)

Take a listen…

The citizens of Lisbon are perhaps a little too excited to take part in the torture and mayhem of the auto-da-fé . Check out the break-neck speed of the wind instruments and the breathless chants from the chorus, perhaps meant to represent the crowd’s unhealthy thirst for blood. Be on the lookout for some clever puns as well (“Shall we hang them or forget them?”/ “Get them!”), as well as for some references to the Latin masses that would have been observed in Lisbon churches (examples include: “Miserere,” a type of lament; “Pax Vobiscum,” meaning “peace be with you;” and “Dies Irae,” a requiem hymn).

Shockingly, though, it’s not all bad news for Candide.

Thanks to a happy twist of fate, Cunegonde has survived the Westphalian war! And now her beauty and charm have landed her in…

Paris, France

Here she splits her time (and affection) between a wealthy Jewish gentleman and the Cardinal Archbishop of Paris. She’s a bit upset she’s had to sacrifice her “virtue” for a few trinkets and a nice place to live, but not upset enough to say goodbye to her current living situation.

Take a listen…

Of all the many solos (or “arias”) in Candide, Cunegonde’s “Glitter and Be Gay” is probably the most recognizable (you may even have heard one or two sopranos try it out in your music class). Though the song is a mini-parody of a showy type of nineteenth-century singing known as coloratura, and though much of the tune sounds bright and bouncy, the aria is also a scathing satire of humanity’s obsession with material things. Try listening to the song here and then revisiting it when it turns up in the show. Does it have a different feel when you hear it in context?

So…Cunegonde seems set for life in Paris. That is until, by an insane coincidence, Candide arrives.

Overjoyed to discover neither one of them has actually died, the two decide to pick up where they left off, but are interrupted by Cunegonde’s two suitors (yikes). A violent confrontation ensues, and Candide stabs both men to death (double yikes).

With the police now on their tail, Candide and Cunegonde escape with the help of a friendly old lady, known simply as “the Old Lady.” The three make their way to…

Cádiz, Spain

But their stay doesn’t last long.

All of their possessions are stolen, the French police begin to close in, and Candide needs to make yet another escape.

Take a listen…

If you can believe it, the Old Lady’s had an even rougher life than Candide and Cunegonde put together (highlights include having one of her buttocks chopped off …we’re not kidding.) Still, like Pangloss, she’s determined to make the best of things. Hoping to sing her way out of a bad situation, the Old Lady tries to “assimilate” into the Spanish culture by offering her own rendition of a habanera (hah-buh-NAIR-uh, a dance with rhythms similar to a tango…you may have heard something like it in Bizet’s Carmen).

(Note: The “Rovno Gubernia” the Old Lady refers to is actually a reference to a region in the Ukraine where Leonard Bernstein’s father was born. The Spanish words used to rhyme with “Gubernia” also have personal significance for the composer: They were given to him by his wife, whose family was from Chile, and they translate as “I’m dying; I’m growing a hernia.”) You can’t make this stuff up!

Caption: The Old Lady takes a crash course in Spanish.

Miraculously, Candide is suddenly offered a position fighting for Jesuits (missionary Catholics) in South America. He jumps at the chance and, along with Cunegonde and the Old Lady, embarks for the New World.

Phew.

Let’s take a breather for intermission. Go get a snack. We’ll be here when you get back.

Okay. The theater lights are flashing.

Ready to return to the death-defying (and sometimes absurdly ridiculous) adventures of Candide? Sounds good. When we last left our hero, he was headed for…

Montevideo, Uruguay

Candide, Cunegonde, and the Old Lady reach Montevideo. But hold onto your hats, kids, because guess who’s there, too? Maximilian and Paquette (yup, they survived the Westphalian war as well).

Maximilian and Paquette end up at a Jesuit camp deep in the jungle, while Cunegonde gets a marriage proposal from the Governor of Montevideo, and poor Candide is forced to flee once again, as he’s managed to annoy the Spanish/Uruguayan police, too.

Candide employs a local named Cacambo as his companion, and the two venture through the wilderness until they uncover a Jesuit camp. (You guessed it; it’s the same camp where Maximilian and Paquette have been hiding out.) Instantly recognizing one another, Candide and Maximilian quickly fall back on old habits. Candide explains he still wishes to marry Cunegonde, and Maximilian still refuses to give his blessing. The two begin to fight, and, somewhat predictably, Candide ends up stabbing Maximilian and needing to flee. (If you’re thinking the body count is getting a little out of control, you’re right.)

Tired? Confused? Need yet another break? Here: Have an INEXPLICABLE time-jump!

Years pass and Candide and Cacambo are still lost in the South American jungle while Cunegonde and the Old Lady remain at the governor’s house. Soon Candide and Cacambo’s travels bring them to…

Caption: Candide and Cacambo take in Eldorado.

Eldorado

(If you’ve never heard of it, don’t worry. It’s completely made up.)

Yet despite the fact that Eldorado is a near-perfect paradise with gold and jewels to spare, Candide can’t get his mind off Cunegonde. Taking a gift of several golden sheep (yes, they have those in Eldorado), Candide heads for the coast, suggesting Cacambo bring one of the sheep to Montevideo and trade it for Cunegonde’s freedom. The men split up and Candide arrives in…

Surinam, a Dutch colony

Candide comes up with a plan to meet Cunegonde in Venice (because…why not?) and purchases a ship to cross the Atlantic. Only problem? The ship merchant is a total villain—she sells Candide a vessel that can barely float.

Will Candide ever make it to Venice? Will he and Cunegonde ever be reunited for good? And will our hero be able to maintain his positive attitude after all that’s happened to him?

Could be. Anything is possible in this “best of all possible worlds.”

Good to Know

Does the title Candide sound familiar at all?

That’s because you’ve probably encountered it in the classroom or on a summer reading list. It was originally a novel by French poet, playwright, and philosopher François-Marie Arouet, better known as “Voltaire” (1694-1778). An unapologetic spoof, the book version of Candide was a product of the French Enlightenment, a time of great scientific progress and new emphasis on logic and reasoning. Yet despite this shift in social thought, Voltaire saw much to criticize in his contemporary environment.

Not-so-subtly buried within the novel was a witty argument against certain optimistic thinkers of the day—particularly Alexander Pope and Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz—who essentially believed that everything happened for a divine reason. Struggling to reconcile immense tragedies such as the Lisbon earthquake and the impending Seven Year’s War with the idea that every single event is both right and good, Voltaire penned a story about a young man whose naïve positivity gets him into a ton of trouble.

Caption: In a nod to Pope and Leibniz, Dr. Pangloss educates his pupils in the beauty of optimistic reasoning.

Centuries later in 1950s America, playwright and author Lillian Hellman approached a young-yet-already-famous conductor/composer named Leonard Bernstein about collaborating on an operetta (a light, comic opera) of Candide that would be in the satirical spirit of Voltaire.

And this wasn’t just because Hellman was a fan of French literature. No: Hellman felt the overblown optimism, cruel abuses of power, and tremendous hypocrisy displayed in Candide would serve as an ideal metaphor for the American Red Scare (the fear of communist beliefs and practices) and its unjust sanctions and interrogations spearheaded by Senator Joseph McCarthy. Both Hellman and Bernstein had suffered personal and professional consequences at the hands of “McCarthyism,” so the two were naturally drawn to the project. In notes for a 1989 concert version of Candide, Bernstein even described the connection between his own experiences and those of Voltaire:

“That was the time of the Hollywood Blacklist…television censorship, lost jobs, suicides, expatriation and the denial of passports to anyone even suspected of having once known a suspected communist. I can vouch for this; I was denied a passport by my own government. By the way, so was Voltaire… His answer was satire, ridicule and, through laughter, to provoke in his reader self-recognition and, of course, self-justification: ‘Who, me? Not me.’ Which produces discussion, makes debate—and debate is, after all, the cornerstone of democracy. So Lillian and I were naturally magnetized by Voltaire’s…wit and wisdom, and quickly set about our work…”

Check This Out…

How the musical styles and choice of instruments change with each new location. Would you be able to tell when Candide has traveled to a new country without being told? How so? (Hint: Think slow and steady hymn-like songs for Westphalia or castanets and syncopated rhythms for Portugal.)

How the lighting, sets, and costumes give you clues about the characters’ fates. For example: Do Candide’s clothes give you any hints about when he’s run into some good fortune versus when he’s had a bad day? Do the scenery and lighting changes provide a sense of Cunegonde’s social status in Paris and in Montevideo?

In this production, the singer playing the role of Dr. Pangloss will also play the role of Voltaire, the ever-present narrator. Do you think this example of “double casting” is effective? What do you think Pangloss and Voltaire have in common? Throughout the show, does one of these characters come across as more sincere or more believable than the other? In what ways?

Think About This…

Both Candide the novel and Candide the operetta were artistic reactions to turbulent times. Do you think Candide still holds up as social commentary in today’s world? Does the satire make sense in our post-Red Scare era of social media, “fake news,” and international revolution?

The land of Eldorado has no courts or prisons and no concept of fear or revenge. Given Voltaire was somewhat frustrated with the society that surrounded him and that he was a known pacifist, what do you think Eldorado represented in the original story? Do you think it symbolizes something similar in the operetta? Can you think of a modern-day equivalent of Eldorado in literature, TV, or film?

Though the Candide novel ends rather abruptly, the musical adaptation has a long finale with a definite message. What do you feel the operetta’s creators wanted to say in this final scene? Does the show ultimately leave you in an optimistic or a pessimistic mood…or somewhere in between?

Take Action: Make Your Garden Grow

One of the key takeaways from Candide (in both its novel and musical forms) is to “make your garden grow,” or to take the time to cultivate something meaningful for yourself and for those around you. We think it’s a pretty good life lesson.

Why not be more like Candide? Okay, silly question (he makes a lot of destructive choices). But why not adopt his character’s thoughts on making your own personal garden? Don’t worry: We’re not talking literal gardens (unless you like that sort of thing!). Instead, we encourage you to take on an extended project you think will be worthwhile for you and your community.

It could be anything. If you and a few of your friends always wanted to start a band, you can book a local venue a few months in advance and get practicing. If you’ve been thinking about running a marathon, you can look up runs for charities in your area over the next year and start training. Or—if you want to be more exact about it—you can plant an actual vegetable garden and donate your produce to a soup kitchen or family shelter. The only rule here is that it has to be something that takes a lot of care and a lot of commitment.

Social media savvy? Track your progress and show the world the results of all your hard work using the hashtag #makeyourgardengrow.

Explore More

Go even deeper with the Candide Extras.

-

All photos by Karli Cadel

-

Major support for WNO is provided by Jacqueline Badger Mars.

David M. Rubenstein is the Presenting Underwriter of WNO.

WNO acknowledges the longstanding generosity of Life Chairman Mrs. Eugene B. Casey.

WNO's Presenting Sponsor

Additional support for Candide is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.

© 2018 The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

#opera #candideat2700F

[londontheatre]

Following their triumphant sold-out gala fundraising concert of The Color Purple last Sunday featuring major stars from shows including Dreamgirls (★★★★★ The Stage, ★★★★★ Britishtheatre.com, ★★★★★ LondonTheatre1.com) the British Theatre Academy today announces a double bill of musicals this summer at London’s Ambassadors Theatre.

The Adventures of Pinocchio, with Music and Lyrics by Neil Bartram, Book by Brian Hill, directed by Bronagh Langan (Promises Promises, Southwark Playhouse) will run from Friday July 28 – Thursday 31 August.

13 The Musical, with Music and Lyrics by Tony Award-winning Jason Robert Brown, (Parade, The Last Five Years, Bridges of Madison County) and Book by Dan Elish and Robert Horn, directed and choreographed by Ewan Jones, will play Wednesday 16 August – Wednesday 23 August. 13 The Musical is a youth production presented by arrangement with Music Theatre International (Europe).

This season follows the success of previous BTA summer shows, The Secret Garden at the Ambassadors Theatre in 2016 and Annie Jr, which smashed box office records at the Arts Theatre in 2015. Those shows gave over 500 youngsters the chance to act for the first time in the West End.

Producer Matthew Chandler of the BTA said: “The Color Purple in Concert at Cadogan Hall on Sunday was an unforgettable night for the audience and for our youngsters getting to perform alongside stars from the West End and Broadway. It is has been an incredible year for the BTA and to date all our productions and concerts have given 1,500 children the chance to perform on the West End stage. For our summer season, more than 2,000 young people auditioned for The Adventures of Pinocchio and over 1,000 teenagers for 13 The Musical. In total we have 17 teams of actors performing The Adventures of Pinocchio and 3 teams performing 13 The Musical.This is a fantastic opportunity for all the youngsters involved.”

The Adventures of Pinocchio Written by the Broadway and Disney writing duo Neil Bartram and Brian Hill (The Story of My Life, Bedknobs and Broomsticks), this family musical is based on Carlo Collodi’s classic tale of a wooden puppet longing to be a real boy. Carved out of wood by the lonely toymaker Geppetto, Pinocchio tumbles from one disastrous situation to another in search of adventure—only to discover that, in the end, all he really needs is an unselfish heart and the love of his father. Based on Carlo Collodi’s classic tale, this family musical illuminates the bond between parents and children in a magical performance that is sure to enchant audiences of all ages!

Creative team: Director Bronagh Langan For tick, tick… BOOM! (currently at the Park Theatre) and Promises Promises (Southwark Playhouse), Bronagh was nominated Best Director in the Off West End Awards. Her other credits include The Rise and Fall of Little Voice (Chipping Norton Theatre and Greenwich Theatre), Madness Of Sweeney (Belfast Lyric), James And The Giant Peach (International Tour), Marina Carr’s Portia Coughlan (Old Red Lion Theatre), Howard Goodall’s Girlfriends (Union Theatre) Rags In Concert (Lyric Theatre) and the British premiere of The Stationmaster (From Page To Stage).

Musical Supervisor James Taylor His recent shows include DISASTER! The Musical – UK premiere (Charing Cross Theatre), Jest End (Waterloo East) and Assistant MD on Sweeney Todd (“Harringtons Pie Shop” and Shaftesbury Avenue)).

13 The Musical An original musical with music and lyrics by Tony Award-winning composer, Jason Robert Brown, (Parade, The Last Five Years, Bridges of Madison County) and book by Dan Elish and Robert Horn, it premiered on Broadway in 2008 and is the only Broadway musical ever with a cast and band entirely made of teenagers.

13 The Musical is an hilarious, coming-of-age musical about discovering that “cool” is sometimes where we least expect it. Geek. Poser. Jock. Beauty Queen. Wannabe. These are the labels that can last a lifetime. With an unforgettable rock score, 13 The Musical is a musical about fitting in – and standing out! Evan Goldman is plucked from his fast-paced, preteen New York City life and plopped into a sleepy Indiana town following his parents divorce. Surrounded by an array of simpleminded middle school students, he needs to establish his place in the popularity pecking order. Can he situate himself on a comfortable link of the food chain… or will he dangle at the end with the outcasts?!

Composed of a precocious cast, no character in 13 is older than the show’s title.The cast is comprised entirely of teenagers, but the stories that come to life here are ageless, the emotions they explore timeless, the laughter and the memories they provide priceless.

The British Theatre Academy is a unique performing arts programme that has inspired and nurtured the talent of thousands of young performers over the past 30 years! We believe that children should be trained as professionals by professionals. Our team maintains an established link with casting directors, music producers, and talent agents across the world. We are passionate about releasing the individual skill and flair of each student in all aspects of their chosen field. Our experienced creative team provide exceptional training and are dedicated in preparing and inspiring our students at the highest level. Last Summer the BTA brought The Secret Garden and Godspell into the West End where over 500 outstanding cast members wowed the audiences all summer long and performed alongside musical theatre stars Kerry Ellis, Ramin Karimlooo and George Maguire.

Creative team: Director and Choreographer Ewan Jones

LISTINGS INFO THE ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO Ambassadors Theatre West Street LONDON WC2H 9ND http://ift.tt/1nX2oDP Wednesday 28 July – Wednesday 30 August Running time: 1 hour 15 mins (no intermission) Presented by arrangement with R & H Theatricals Europe

LISTINGS INFO 13 THE MUSICAL Ambassadors Theatre West Street LONDON WC2H 9ND

Box Office: 020 7395 5405 http://ift.tt/1nX2oDP Wednesday 16 August Wednesday – 23 August Running time: 1 hour 45 mins (no intermission)

http://ift.tt/2rYgex1 LondonTheatre1.com

#IFTTT #LondonTheatre1.com

[josephkitchen0]

How to Get Rid of Rats

By Cynthia Smith (Veterinarian in Washington) – I hate rats. I hate the way they dig dirty holes in my nice clean barns. I hate the squishy way the floor feels when there’s a rat tunnel underneath it. I hate the sick feeling I get when I see a rat whisk past my feet as I open the barns in the morning. I hate their furry little brown disease-carrying bodies that make me feel like my backyard chickens are a menace to all the neighborhood and like, any minute, the next Black Death will descend upon the world and all because I just had to raise poultry. My hatred of rats and their presence on my property lead me to search for solutions on how to get rid of rats.

Act 1: The Discovery

I feel like rodents are the dirty little secret of the poultry world. The one thing we hate to discuss or admit to (like having fleas on your dog or cockroaches in your house); acknowledging that you have seen a rat in your barn is like saying you are a bad person — one with really crummy hygiene. My son, Rob, has been well-trained never to say the word in public. (The last thing I want the neighbors to know is that the cute little backyard farm next door might be less than perfect, let alone a potential reservoir of disease.)

Ice Storms, Power Outages, Blizzards... Are you ready?

Let our experts help you prepare for the worst. Start your emergency preparation by downloading this FREE Guide. YES! I want this Free Report »

Indeed, when I told Rob I was going to write this article, his first words were: “I hope it’s going to be anonymous!” I didn’t always hate rats. I had the pet white variety as a child and saw them occasionally in my practice as a veterinarian. It was only after I acquired chickens (about eight years ago at the age of 43) that the loathing began.

Our first order of chickens on my son’s birthday arrived in a cheeping little cardboard box from the Murray McMurray hatchery. While they grew inside of a puppy pen in the house, my husband and 8-year-old son labored to build a raccoon-proof coop in the backyard. Feed was stored in the next-door shed (which had an elevated floor).

All went well, as far as we knew, until the following summer when my husband reached to the upper shelves of the shed and pulled down last year’s nylon swimming pool. The blue plastic came down in a heap, along with the rats that had been nesting in it. As furry bodies rained over my husband’s head and shoulders, an impossibly high-pitched shriek emerged from his masculine throat and my son was witness to a burst of profanity the likes of which he had never heard his Christian father utter. “Mommy, Daddy swore!”

After the gnawed plastic and gruesome tale were revealed to me on my arrival home, I began my first foray into the business of extermination and researching how to get rid of rats; not something a veterinarian is particularly well-trained in. My husband proudly brought home electric traps, a tip he’s received when researching how to get rid of rats. They were supposed to give a quick painless death to the rat when it stepped on the plate. Either they didn’t work, or the rats never touched them. Nary a body did we ever see from those expensive devices. Then there were the glue traps. Guess what, the glue isn’t sticky anymore if it gets anything on it, like dust or shavings. Strangely, my coops were not dust-free. Then there were the good old-fashioned oversized mouse traps designed for their rattish cousins. These at least got some action. We found them exploded six to 10 feet from where they were set, but again, both bait and rat-free. I need not even mention the “humane live catch” trap (it was sized for mice anyway, who seem to be a lot dumber than rats). The plan was that mice could get in but not out again, so one was supposed to check the trap daily and humanely release Mickey and Minnie back into the wild. My husband only tried this once. He forgot to check the trap for two weeks, after which there were multiple cannibalized mouse corpses in the trap; the aftermath of a rodent-style Hunger Games and clearly not a humane way to die.

At this point, I felt there was no option except to try poison as a means of how to get rid of rats. All my efforts to employ natural ways to kill mice and rats were unsuccessful. I never wanted to use rat poison. Goodness knows, we see enough dogs and cats poisoned either by the poison itself or by consuming the poisoned animal. Years before we ever had poultry or had thought of using poison, we lost a pet cat to DeCon poisoning.

An excellent mouser, she would bring back just the tails and line them up at night for our admiration. Twice, she must have eaten a poisoned animal. The first time, we pulled her through. The second time, we were too late. So I know the risk of poison to the animals nearby. Unfortunately, I also understand the risk of a rat incursion in a populated area, both to property and to health. Something had to be done.

Intermission: Safe Rat Control Options

A word here must be inserted about what is certainly the most natural and safe of rat-control options: the domestic or farm cat or, perhaps, a rat terrier. People swear by this option for how to get rid of mice. The terrier was right out as, in my experience, dogs that kill rats also really enjoy killing chickens. But what about a cat? I counted. We have had 12 cats in the past 29 years. Of those, three were excellent mousers. Two of three died before they attained late middle age (about eight years), presumably because of their outdoor lifestyle. We are responsible citizens and have our pets spayed and neutered, so frequent replacement was not an option. The two cats who currently reside on my bed would not dream of soiling their precious paws with a filthy rodent. If you have a healthy supply of competent barn cats and are reading this article thinking what a dangerous poison-wielding idiot I am, my hat is off to you.

Act 2: Back to the Rat Story

Let us return to the saga. I contacted our Washington State Poultry Vet at the lab that does necropsies on poultry. If you do not have the access to a brilliant poultry resource like Dr. Roccio Crespo in your state, you have my pity.

Dr. Crespo informed me that I needed to buy little locking plastic boxes that hold the poison tightly confined on stakes. In this way, the rat must eat the poison in the box and cannot carry a chunk away to possibly poison another animal. I bought Tomcat boxes and bait at the local feed store. They were easy to use. The poison disappeared, dead rat bodies appeared and were immediately disposed of. There was no collateral damage in birds or other animals. Whew!

Fast forward to our move from our little house on a small lot to our littler house on a large (1.3-acre lot) a few years later. In the classic reverse market savvy that runs in my unhappy family, the real estate market crashed mere weeks after the papers were signed. Our new house was immediately worth much less than we paid, the mortgage was underwater and our old house unsalable unless at a very great loss. Doggedly, we muscled on as have many ethical Americans in the same situation. Refusing to renege on our word because circumstances had changed, we paid for our now overpriced home and prepared to become landlords as our old house was now vacant. Another rat crisis worsened our situation. When we abruptly removed every bird to our new barn on the new property, the current invisible rats grew and hungered. They went looking for food. They found it in grass seed stored in the garage, in camping food locked away in the attic, in water and food stores stored in plastic 24-hour kits. Before we knew it, we had rats that had moved uptown: highfalutin rodents living high in the attic and sporting top hats and monocles. The traps were again a failure. Once again, we were forced to resort to the poison. It worked, but with a small side effect. These rats did not do us the courtesy of quietly dying in their holes underground.

Noooo, they went to the far reaches of the attic and vents to die. It was summer. Chanel Number Fur permeated the house in several unexpected areas: the master bedroom, the hall closet, and the pantry — open these doors and prepare to run. All searches for their desiccating bodies proved futile. The house was, most certainly, not fit to go on the market. Eight months later, in the depths of winter, eau de rodent being but an unpleasant memory, we could finally begin to make preparations to lease out our money pit.

Act 3: The Return to Chickens

We had by now narrowed our focus to breeding only show varieties of bantam Polish and Araucanas. Some of our old flock remained as pets, along with turkeys, geese, and ducks acquired variously as lawn candy. Most birds were free range on our 1.3 acres, with the show birds confined to covered pens. A locked poison box was kept in each pen and rarely needed emptying. All was well. There are several other people in our neighborhood who keep a few birds, including a lovely next-door family who acquired nice birds and joined our 4-H club.

Suddenly, the rat population swelled. Poison boxes were still full but the Tomcat poison seemed barely nibbled. An experienced friend recommended, “Just One Bite,” a tasty looking poison with embedded grains. The rats loved it. The poison disappeared again and so did the rats. I diplomatically (I hoped) donated poison to my chicken-keeping neighbor. Whew. Back on track.

In 2013, the situation changed yet again. My neighbor went back to school and I offered to place her birds for her. Once the birds were homed, hungry rat hordes moved to the nearest source of food: us. This was the worst ever! On one night I saw six — count ’em, six — rats running around like they owned the place. (And I was taught that, if you see one, there are 10 more you didn’t see.) Neighbors down the street also discovered rat damage under their houses. Exterminators were called. I felt like Typhoid Mary.

The poison boxes were once again loaded and distributed. Chicken feed and water disappeared, but the bait stayed pristine. My friend was again consulted. Take out the feed so they have to eat the poison, she advised. Laboriously, every night we lugged feed out of all six pens, refilled the bait boxes, and lugged feed back out in the early morning before work. Chicken chores were becoming less fun and my teenage son was far less enthralled with his feathered friends. It worked (sort of), as the bait disappeared.

Indeed, we went through 24 pounds of bait, both the Tomcat and the Just One Bite, in the following three months.

However, while the bait was gone, the rats seemed totally unaffected. Fat rats, baby rats, all cavorting with seeming impunity in and among our birds. Then it hit me. Every morning I had to refill, not only the feed, but all the water! Full waterers at night were empty in the morning. My two remaining tired neurons finally made the connection: what did I put in my water? Apple cider vinegar. What does the vinegar contain, among other things? Vitamin K. How does rat poison work? By destroying the body’s vitamin K stores, thus causing them to slowly bleed to death.

Excellent, I’d spent three months administering the antidote along with the toxin. Fine work indeed. The darn poison itself was getting a lot harder to acquire too. The FDA had decided to ban sales of most of the really effective products to regular consumers. My local Del’s feed store and local hardware store no longer carried them. I was forced to pick up the Just One Bite in 8-pound cases from a feed store 120 miles away. I had to sign for it too. This would be OK except that it still wasn’t working well. Now I was carrying birds’ water and feed out every night and every morning, a feat which required I give up an extra 45 minutes of sleep before the work day and stumble around in the dark loaded with water that poured all over my shoes. Oh, I was loving raising chickens, you betcha.

An example of a safety trap, that keeps the rats from dragging poison into places also shared by pets and poultry.

We found a few dead rats, to be sure, and the Just One Bite was disappearing nightly by the pound, but the influx of baby rats playing fearlessly in my show cages convinced me I was still fighting a losing battle. To make matters worse, I had a deadline approaching. Soon I would have abdominal surgery, which would necessitate me turning over all the care of the birds to my son Rob for a while. No way was he going to be able to spend that kind of time lugging feed and water before his 6 a.m. Bible Study and 7:30 a.m. school. What to do?

Several things came to light in my frenzied research on how to get rid of rats that did not involve going back to a life without birds.

1. Visits to the affected neighbors informed me that their exterminators had tracked their rats to a neighborhood sewage drain source. (I was so worried they’d target me!) These people paid premium prices for professional exterminators who did exactly what I’d been doing: Put bait boxes all around the areas and when finished, advise their clients to buy their own boxes and keep them full as further sewage incursions were a certainty. (Whew! I wasn’t going crazy: there were indeed plenty of rats coming in faster than I could kill them.)

2. I discovered that the United Kingdom is experiencing a serious outbreak of poison-resistant rats in their sewage system. While I found no such reference in the U.S., it does not seem a far reach to assume that we, too, have rats that have evolved to be able to eat the stuff with minimal damage.

3. I decided I was quite unwilling to try the newer poisons that do not antagonize vitamin K. These poisons have no antidote whereas, with a $9 bottle of vitamin K given daily for a month, a pet that one presumes may have been poisoned can be saved. (I found my own cat eating a single rat this summer, and considering her incompetence, felt that there was no way she would have caught it unless it was already dying. A pill a day for a month and she lives to purr on my pillow for years to come.

4. There are many variations on the vitamin K antagonizing poisons. The trick, I decided, was to find a poison these rats had never seen before and that was tasty enough to compete with the feed. (We continue to put away the vinegar-enriched water at night, though.)

I found that product in First Strike Soft Bait. These soft packets must be stuck tightly on the stakes so the rats cannot carry them away, but they must taste delicious and we’re finally seeing corpses everywhere, even though we’re leaving the feed in at night. I am confident that, for a while at least, the vermin are in retreat. First Strike uses an ingredient called Difethialone at a concentration of 0.0025 percent.

As I mentioned, a product that I have really liked in the past is Just One Bite, which has the active ingredient, Bromadilone.

The bait stations (locking boxes) that I use are made by Tomcat, the Tomcat poison sold with the trap contains bromethalin and has the added advantage of being waterproof if you need to keep bait stations outside. It does seem to be considerably less palatable than the other two, so rats with a choice of goodies may not go for it.

And that’s it. As you may understand, I have written this article with great trepidation, not wanting to be branded as the chicken breeder with the rat problem. Please be constantly aware that, if you do have to treat with poison boxes, animals may still be at risk if they eat poisoned rats. Keep a sharp watch and immediately dispose of dead or dying rodents. Consult your veterinarian immediately if you suspect your pet has been poisoned, and bring a copy of the package so the doctor may ascertain proper treatment.

A recent visit to two admired breeder’s facilities convinced me that I am not alone in having trials dealing with these pests. I hope that my information may prove helpful, or may at least make you feel smug that you don’t have that disgusting problem or that your cats are competent. (If so, you have my envy.) I have written this article in good faith, hoping to save others some of the trials we have been through. I would prefer not to receive a ton of hate mail from PETA members who adore their little rat friends or from naturalist believers who are sure Diatomaceous Earth and probiotics can cure rats, rickets, rabies and a rainy day.

My wish for you: May the words, “Oh, Rats!” come out of your mouth only when you drop the feed bag on your toe.

What other ideas for how to get rid of rats would you add to this list?

 Originally published in Backyard Poultry June/July 2014 and regularly vetted for accuracy.

How to Get Rid of Rats was originally posted by All About Chickens