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Jun. 26th, 2004 09:02 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jaalaOh, yes. I've bought tickets for three plays in the past week. First, The Producers, which I had hoped to see again during the school year... but the Mirvishes suddenly changed the closing date to July 4. That's what you get when there are four big Broadway musicals playing in Toronto at the same time. My seats aren't nearly so good this time: I really enjoyed the show, but it wasn't worth that much money to see again when there are so many other shows I want to be able to afford as well. For example: the next play for which I bought tickets: Through the Eyes in Gananoque, starring my one of my personal favourites (whom I've never seen live), Richard McMillan. And finally, The Music Man because it's a fun show and because I have a friend playing in the orchestra.
* * *
I forgot to mention the Welly dinner (named after the famous Duke, who recommended that the Fort be built). That was rather a better time than hanging around with a herd of vandalizing drunks at the Drums rookie party. It was a formal occasion and we had to dress the part. As one of the few girls without a prom dress or the like, I had to assemble a pseudo-gown by wearing my choir/band long skirt with a nice top. (I do have a photo that proves I wore this.) We ate a spiffy four-course meal (five including port toasts) at CFB Kingston's Officer's Mess. Cocktails were served beforehand and many went to the bar afterwards, but dinner and speeches from 8 o'clock to midnight was long enough for me.
Although several key points were ignored (e.g. privates basically played the role of ensigns and women were treated the same as men), we had to observe almost all of the etiquette for dining in an officer's mess in 1867. Table manners were to be followed to the letter, items were passed down the table, one could not eat or drink a course until all higher-ranking persons had started, and conversation topics were not to include women (i.e. relationships), religion, politics, or "shop talk". We could not sit down at the table until bid to do so by the President (Captain of the Guard) and once we had sat down could not leave until given permission after dessert.
Offenders were denounced to the head table by non-commissioned officers, had to stand and explain themselves, and had to buy an officer (or more than one officer, depending on the severity of their infraction) a drink as punishment. If one snuck out to use the bathroom, one had to buy drinks for the entire head table.
It was frankly a tad frightening having to be wary of every move I made, but fun as well to witness the mock outrage at such trivial charges. ("Private So-and-so appears to have lost both of her knives. I cannot describe how deeply offended I am at this complete lack of decorum.") I had a much more comfortable time of it than those who had been drinking for an hour beforehand! The pageantry was neat as well, seeing everyone dressed up, having the head table (and later the port) led in by a piper, toasting the Queen and so on.
* * *
I forgot to mention the Welly dinner (named after the famous Duke, who recommended that the Fort be built). That was rather a better time than hanging around with a herd of vandalizing drunks at the Drums rookie party. It was a formal occasion and we had to dress the part. As one of the few girls without a prom dress or the like, I had to assemble a pseudo-gown by wearing my choir/band long skirt with a nice top. (I do have a photo that proves I wore this.) We ate a spiffy four-course meal (five including port toasts) at CFB Kingston's Officer's Mess. Cocktails were served beforehand and many went to the bar afterwards, but dinner and speeches from 8 o'clock to midnight was long enough for me.
Although several key points were ignored (e.g. privates basically played the role of ensigns and women were treated the same as men), we had to observe almost all of the etiquette for dining in an officer's mess in 1867. Table manners were to be followed to the letter, items were passed down the table, one could not eat or drink a course until all higher-ranking persons had started, and conversation topics were not to include women (i.e. relationships), religion, politics, or "shop talk". We could not sit down at the table until bid to do so by the President (Captain of the Guard) and once we had sat down could not leave until given permission after dessert.
Offenders were denounced to the head table by non-commissioned officers, had to stand and explain themselves, and had to buy an officer (or more than one officer, depending on the severity of their infraction) a drink as punishment. If one snuck out to use the bathroom, one had to buy drinks for the entire head table.
It was frankly a tad frightening having to be wary of every move I made, but fun as well to witness the mock outrage at such trivial charges. ("Private So-and-so appears to have lost both of her knives. I cannot describe how deeply offended I am at this complete lack of decorum.") I had a much more comfortable time of it than those who had been drinking for an hour beforehand! The pageantry was neat as well, seeing everyone dressed up, having the head table (and later the port) led in by a piper, toasting the Queen and so on.
