Monday, May 26, 2008

Ursula's Coat


As "The Oldest Profession" takes place in New York City, and several of the scenes are set in the Fall, we each need a coat, jacket, or wrap of some sort. And, as the director wants as much colour as possible on the stage, some of our coats are quite bright.

Finding one for Ursula, whose colours are black and dead animal, was a bit of a challenge. However, lurking in the back of a closet, I found this.

I bought it years ago, at a thrift shop, thinking it might pass for a 1920s raccoon coat, in a pinch. The cats got a hate on for it right away, but I hadn't really noticed that until I hauled it up to the theater. It reeked. It not only looks like road kill, it smelled like it, too.

So, after Sunday's matinee, I brought it home and washed it. I decided to take the lining out, as it was coming loose anyway. The lining is a lovely rust-coloured satin, and actually didn't smell nearly as bad as the fur part. So, I just sprayed it with a deodorizer and threw it in the dryer. The outside, I washed. I mean, it's fake fur. Old fake fur, from maybe the late 60s or early 70s.

It actually washed well, except that the seams all came unravelled, and it came out of the washer in segments. Of course, I can't feed something that thick through my sewing machine, so I had to put it back together by hand. I will probably have to go over the few seams that didn't come apart, but I'm leaving them for now. After sewing the lining back in, it's none the worse for the washing.

Ursula's coat still looks like road kill, but it smells like a rose! Or at least, like detergent and fabric softener.

Which, I can assure you, is a vast improvement.

13 comments:

  1. Well at least now you know for sure that its not really a dead animal! Lol!

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  2. I didn't want to hang it with the costumes backstage, for fear of contamination, so I just let it like in a heap on the floor. When I needed it, somebody would whistle for it...

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  3. Maybe a real raccoon coat would have been easier.. I know mine would have fit the bill. :)

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  4. Ah, but would it come when I called?

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  5. Racoons are scary. At least after puberty.

    I have never met an adult racoon that is suitible for petting (though they ARE cute)

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  6. Great job as usual, Ronni. Yes, I'm back and have been declared "NORMAL" which is great news.

    Busy as all heck, though. Later....

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  7. ...Are you sure you went to the right place?

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  8. I know! Imagine using a word like that when describing me? Normal? Oh, please!

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  9. You are much too much fun to be normal! LOL!

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  10. Ronni,

    I had a coat like Ursula's once. It wasn't really as nice as hers but I liked it.

    One Thanksgiving I went to my niece's house for dinner and everyone was told to put their coats on the bed.

    When it was time to go home my niece's cat was all snuggled up in my coat and hissed at anyone who came near her. She thought she had found her long lost Mother, and wasn't about to let anyone take her Mom away.

    We waited a while but that kitty wouldn't move. Finally, we had to pick her up and she howled and scratched but I got my coat back.

    When I got home I realized I would never wear that coat again so I took it back to the cat the next day....She was thrilled to see Mom again and snuggled right in....

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  11. Funny...your niece's cat loved yours, and my cats hate mine! Maybe they saw it as a very large rival? Do you live in Ontario? Was it warm enough for there? I spent a winter in Toronto once (a LO-O-O-O-NG time ago) and about froze my ass off.

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  12. Well, Lets see how many other fablous articles have you had to do similar things with? lol

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  13. Hi Ronni,

    No, I don't live in Toronto but I live where it is almost as cold.

    Remember George Washington freezing through the Winter at Valley Forge, PA while the British occupied Philadelphia? That's where I live. Ten miles from Valley Forge.....BRRRRRRRRR!!

    Yes, the coat was nice and warm but the kitty needed it more. It was her Mom....

    I love reading about your productions and seeing the pictures of your costumes. I think they are terrific..

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