It is strange that we updated this blog more regularly when we didn't have time as opposed to now when we do.

The show has been running for 8 days now with a spectacular spectacular response. The media night standing ovation was the first of many. The response is overwhelming, more so for the young cast because their energy and tempo seduces the audience into loving the play. So Kudos.

The stress and running around for us has reduced to a bare minimum where we go before the show starts and check if everything is hunky-dory, watch the play or help backstage and then attend the curtain call.

Thus far we have one broken lamp and a suspicious crack from the settee which seems to have some invisible damage so phew (it costs A LOT!).

Moulin Rouge Day 7,8 & 9

Finally we get some time to blog, breathe and sleep in a horizontal position rather than a vertical one. Today was the first show for the audience but I will get back to that in a while, first we have the last 2 days to vent.

Day 7 & 8 were crucial days and extremely stressful once because on the 9th day the show must go on! And so we geared up with abundant sternness and a handful of bitchiness took things in our hands – literally – and dialed friends to come over and help. We were even willing to call extra labour force if required but thank God things didn’t get THAT out of hand. Spray cans in hand and scissors as ammo we got to work. We learnt that day, never to trust anyone who says ‘we have understood what you want’, always stand on their heads and constantly stay on their case, otherwise. If someone says they are coming in 5 mins that translates into, “I’m not coming before 5 calls of harassment”, likewise “I’m across from the street”, means “I’m no where around that area even” and there are plenty more of such shenanigans without exaggeration. In fact I can see us write a book about it, ‘100000001 and more predictable excuses that will make you wish you were a racoon instead’.

So this is how two day passed:

Spray

Spray

Spray

Scream

Call

Call

Spray

Cut

Drape

Wrap

Call

Call

Scream

Scream

Paint

Call

Shop

Back

Decorate

Wrap

Screeeeam…

You get the drift.

Finally 9th day (read media night freak, freak) we went for final touches did everything on schedule and went off to look decently human for the night. Everything was done, and we couldn’t believe it. But the mind won’t rest until the show is over and we know everything went great.

We come back and alas! Someone had white washed the steps! Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek! So much for yay-it’s-done! A lot of stress calls, panic, solution options (read no options) and consolations later we finally drank the bitter medicine called Nothing Can Be Done. It was half an hour to the show and anything would take more than that time to dry up. With this nagging us we gave a lot of interviews to this channel and that. So, when one’s in front of a camera the dictionary seems like a myth. Your vocabulary seems limited and on a loop. But then there are those whose confidence makes you stutter even more.

The show starts after a backstage prayer and we take our seats in the audience. 20 mins into the play and we see smoke rise from the windmill. Motherfather, what the hell! A Flash movement and we’re backstage where two people are already taking care of it. WHEW! Close call. Turns out some actor and kicked the light too close to the panels and hence.

What next?

Apparently nothing issue wise. The show ran smoothly and earned us a standing ovation from the media representatives. Wow. It felt glorious! All the actors, majority acting for the first time, were beside themselves with glee.

But it wasn't really over yet...

Moulin Rouge Day 6

The director finally arrived yesterday after 3 days and handed over the dough and ergo today the progress is a trillion times better for THREE things are done today! Yes, I said three, you read three, as in three bags full one for my master one for my dame and one for... never mind.

It is amazing this language of money. Everyone understands it not matter what race, cast, creed, or nationality they are. It's a magnet for all everything you want, no matter how absurd. Money does not know the word impossible and we want to own that dictionary. What? Misprints in dictionaries are rare, okaaay.

In accordance to that theory I was told to take a backseat (the other us was at Marriott sorting the reception decor) and just watch the show called Making Of The Pain In The Arse Set. And so I did. Of course I intervened quite much but ever so flutteringly.

Chased the wallpaper guy, light guy, this guy, that guy everywhere guy guy, old McMe had a set eeya eeya o! (Oh puhleez, we haven't slept properly for days, we're allowed corny.)

Come 5pm the format is as follows:
he says
he says
he says
he says
Bark, bark
woof, woof
AaaOooooo
whimper, whimper...

Rehearsals begin and I run to Marriott for final touches and pictures. The place looked beautiful!
There is something mystical about weddings before they start. It gifts an inner smile that seeps from the face.

Back then at the theater, exhausted tired and no t-eaten-since-morning. More lists. More discussions.

Watching rehearsals is so much fun! The director is hilarious with his criticism and we can't stop laughing. although poor victims but to tell you the truth none of them look embarrassed or flustered, In fact one of them guys told me, "his cussing is as if there is wind, part of the environment sort."

No matter what, this is an experience we will never forget. For its goods and bads.
Anyway, I'm nodding off so see ya tomorrow.

Yawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwn......

Moulin Rouge Day 5

Arrive us-
And since morning is a wait and a half outside then a few calls before the door, we patiently follow the ritual.

Enter us –
We dump our bags and whatnots on the chairs and without a second thought start sorting our night’s hard work and pasting it. One glues, the other pastes and that is how the chapter on specialization taught in our economics class comes in handy (or was it cartoons? With our powers combined…).

That done we sit on a very expensively rented settee and make a checklist for follow-ups. We reek of stress that wrinkles our faces and sucks oxygen out of our brains. Let us tell you something, if your hand is not the one that holds the purse then no matter what you say or how you say it you may as well be mute.
Here is what the real stress is all about, remember that client we met on the first day amidst chaos? Well, their wedding reception is tomorrow and we need to sort that out too. Eeeek!

Moulin Rouge Day 4

So, day 3 was a bit too chill for our liking. We went home with the this funny feeling inside... no not love... redundancy.

Turns out letting someone else take control is even more tiring and agitating, hence we planned to channel our energy on things we 'could do to enhance the still-not-done-even-though-the-deadline-has-arrived set. So we decided to embellish, woo hoo! (we're serious with the woo hoo, pliss).

After a meeting with another client we made a trip to Gizri to find lifesavers, turns out the world is all about outer beauty that costs you and arm and a leg from a pocket pincher point of view, which sadly we have become. Starting up businesses can make one sleep hungry at times (yes, I exaggerate). Qucik thinking and were off to Shaheen for golden paper sheets.

Finally material in hand, the spark was back! We were doing the set of Moulin Rouge and it will be kick-donkey!


Comes day 4 and we arrive with hands full of material and lame humour that throws us in a paroxysm of giggles. Eyes watering we enter to exercise control.

And begins drawing, cutting, pasting, and stenciling. Ahhh, it feels wonderful. Even the workers seem to be enthused by it. why the hell didn't we think of this before. Monkey does, as monkey sees, d'oh!

So this is what is done so far:
- Windmill's up, wallpapered, lighted and semi embellished with sparkle cutouts (darn, the cuting takes time)

- The heart actually looks like a heart now. We cut out a proper shape and stuck it from behind. Sigh.

- The pillars stand erect after 3 days of procrastination. We swear, they were lying outside, orphaned despite regular bantering of, "bring it in!".

- The jafris are complete, standing elegantly with paneling that seemed would NEVER happen.

-The arches are done, howza!

And although all of this seems like nothing (and it is, we know so zip it), it feels like.. like.. ah, like we have understood the plot of Lost -pffft, like that is possible. What is up with Jacob anyway and the absurd parallel timeline?! But I deviate...

Aaaannd back.

Now, after several leg pulling of how the set was supposed to be and how it is now(its not funny, kids. Really.), we sit sorting the lettering out and then it's a wrap. Well, for here anyway. Then we go home and do some more cutting and stenciling, an all nighter in an eggshell.

More people, more comments.... still not funny, kids.

Moulin Rouge Day 3

Exhausted we left last night after a 2 hour discussion about timelines and material.

Decided- a deadline promised by the project director directly to the director.

Result- We are chill-in on the 3rd day!

There is tea, coffee, a pedestal fan that makes us feel like we're in a Millat fan ad.

Moulin Rouge Day 2

Or as it seems day 1 act 2. Can we can, can, can?

900-

One of us is on the set only to find the doors locked and no sign of any human form within miles. Begin the ceremonious calls.

Around 1100 the work coaxes to begin and the same lazy attitude and mannerism drives us insane yet again. And not to bore you much it is much a repeat telecast.

One thing about the transition from paper to execution is that things change and you have to make on the spot decisions, a high of its own. The set to horror looks less and less of what we had inked but now we were trying to beatify a monster like say... ah, we're making Shrek look like, mmm... Marilyn Monroe. HA! we know.

Okay cutting letters time, gee tee gee. See you on day 3.