Back from Moscow + Laura Visits

St. Basil's Cathedral in the Red Square, Moscow, July 2016 (📸 Ingrid Werner)

St. Basil's Cathedral in the Red Square, Moscow, July 2016 (📸 Ingrid Werner)

July 25th I landed back in Oslo to be greeted by my lovely parents and my wonderful fellow ART alumn and dearest friend Laura Kruegel. After a little over a month of teaching in Xi-ian in China, she decided to take the detour on her way home to visit me - which made me very happy!

At the same time I was processing Moscow, and the brief 2 1/2 weeks I spent there. It all seemed unreal, like a whirlwind - had I been there, who were the people, and WHAT was going on with my stomach (more on that later)?

Moscow (as my friend Robert Duffley and I decided) is like a crazy girl friend (or boyfriend, I guess the analogy may work) who 8 out of 10 times treats you horribly, will try to kick and scream, behaves irrationally, is downright mean, but only to turn around those other 2 times and shows you a shiny glass bouquet of flowers, or throws glitter at you and tells you you're wonderful. She is an enigma, but one worth figuring out. I am glad I went back.

Needless to say, Konstantin Raikin is a genius actor, director, and instructor. We worked on Oliver Twist, as this book in particular (as any Dickens fan will know) is filled to the brim with colourful characters  and is excellent for working on them. I decided to jump straight into Fagin ("the merry old gentleman", "the jew" etc) - any excuse to become someone vastly different and paint my face and change my walk, posture etc. I won't go into long details about all this, but acting class consisted of ETUDES ETUDES ETUDES, and I will say it is the greatest training for an actor to work on characters and to think on their feet. 

Other classes consisted of ballet (with my dear Renat!) fencing (with Andrey and Grisha) - oh yeah - stage combat, and voice. 

It was SO fantastic to be back in an "acting gym" of this caliber, and it was tougher than anything I've done in a while, but really what sits with me the MOST is the people.

Not only old friends that I've kept in my heart, but the new ones. When you meet Russians there is a quality they have of becoming your friend for life. They feel deeply, they think deeply, and they build deep relationships. I met my old dear friends, and some wonderful, new, beautiful people - and I am the richer for it! I will miss them, but I will also be back!

NORWAY:

This game is seven-card stud. W Laura Kruegel

This game is seven-card stud. W Laura Kruegel

Laura (one of my best friends, and who was also in the class above me at ART) visited me on her way home. It was possibly the most relaxing week - seeing nature, talking over wine, exploring my hometown etc. It was just a joy to have her visit, and I hope she will return - but I'll also see her so so soon I promise :)

Other than that, I am back in the swing of things working at PERCH'S THEHANDEL (tea shop in Oslo) and auditioning. Had an exciting audition while in Moscow - and thank you to the ladies who helped me ;) and waiting to hear on another project. Good things to come! 

Oh and yes I picked up (my whole class did) some stomach bug - which I am currently battling like the orchs in LOTR - but hopefully winning. TMI? Naaaah

See photos below!

xo