It was the summer of 2010. I had just graduated from high school and decided to join some of my friends who were rising juniors and seniors in a local, small production of Alices in Wonderland. Alices is Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland re-written by the artistic director for the Nevada County Performing Arts Guild - Mila Johansen. The show follows three young sisters who fall down a rabbithole where they encounter the Queen of Diamonds, the Queen of Clubs, and the Queen of Spades, as well as all of our favorite Wonderland characters.
     On the outside I was the Queen of Clubs and on the inside I was the Queen of Diamonds. What that means is, the Queen of Diamonds dress fit the actresses playing the Queen of Clubs better than the Queen of Clubs dress did so the actresses for the Queen of Clubs and the actresses for the Queen of Diamonds switched dresses. We didn't switch lines because we didn't try on costumes until well after learning our lines.
     As you probably gathered above, the Queen of Diamonds (Clubs) was double cast. I got to perform the entire first weekend, rather than alternating dates, because the other actress had to be out of town the first weekend. She came back and played the Queen the second weekend so that weekend, I had a bit part as a silly, quiet girl who followed the Queen of Hearts around like a lost puppy.
     I got pneumonia that weekend. :(
     I was glad that I didn't have lines as the handmaiden and was only in a couple scenes! I had an energy drink to try killing the fatigue from the illness and ended up "driving" a hula hoop while laying on the floor.
     It was very sad.
     No, I will not show you the picture.

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