h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Inspired by another researcher's journal thread (U201818 David B. Singing Librarian Owl ) I have decided to reveal details of another part of my life. It has always been in my Personal Space that I enjoy "performing in amateur dramatics " but I have never admitted what I have done.

Earlier shows may get a mention later, but for now the vital import is that I will shortly be appearing in an amateur production of Scrooge the Musical (not the professional one in London with Tommy Steele ).

Every five years or so the Society I'm a member of gets the opportunity to stage the Christmas show at the Gaiety Theatre in Douglas. This is an original Victorian theatre, thoroughly renovated, seating about 900. Rather than do a pantomime (which would be cheaper and probably simpler) it was decided to do an even more ambitious production than we've done before.

Initially there were some doubts. Few people (myself included) had any clear idea what the show involved beyond the sparse facts that it was based on A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, was a film starring Albert Finney round about 1970, and included the song "Thank you very much".

Anyway the show was announced, with auditions in May, and having heard a bit more about the show I went for the part of Jacob Marley, as it would play to my strengths (that is it didn't involve too much singing or dancing ), and because it was one of the few roles that would have the opportunity of flying. Like David I waited with bated breath for the results of the auditions, but unlike him found out only a day after the auditions that I had got the part
I am so excited about going up on wires .

The show is on the week before and after Christmas starting 17th December, with a show (either matinee or evening performance) every day except Christmas Day. In three weeks I try out the flying

Wow!!!!!!!!!!!

The flying bit does sound fun. You'll have to change your nickname again. Pimms Starling. Or Pimms Ghost.

Have you seen the Muppet Christmas Carol? It's very good. The part of Marley is played by one of the old guys who sits in the theatre box criticising the show all the time. It's either Statler or Waldorf.

I've only seen the first few minutes, ages ago. It is a version of Scrooge the Musical, with some of the songs in, and Michael Caine as Scrooge I think.
I have now seen the Albert Finney version, and the stage show follows it fairly closely, though Alec Guinness (as Marley) doesn't sing all my song. Obviously some of the effects in the film are difficult if not impossible to achieve on the stage.

I really got into character once I started wearing a few chains in rehearsals. Fortunately once I get the costume the chains will be plastic, and consequently lighter than the half dozen metres of chain I drape around my chest and arms fastened with carabiners.

Sounds great. Flying sounds like particularly good fun. I shall have to find a role that involves flying some day. I hope all goes well with that.

It may be overrated. I already know that while wired my movements will be restricted to a window across the width of the stage about a metre wide. Move forward or back too far and I am a danger to the lights and all the other stuff hanging above the stage.

So traversing left and right is about as much as I can do myself, for the floating and flying I need the help of offstage assistants. That bit worries me - what happens if the rope slips when I'm up in the air? Mind you, to keep it in proportion, I am almost as worried about what and when to get my assistants gifts for their work.

Most of the rest of the cast will be receiving origami. I thought about it for a while and decided this was a practical solution. I already knew some people had been purchasing little teddy bears with scrooge t-shirts on, and in a previous show received a bottle of brandy. The trouble is to know when to stop, as gift giving can be quite divisive or costly. One show I was in (in a principal role) I gave framed photos of each individual to all the relatively small cast, and it cost over £70.

Scrooge has a cast of about 60 I guess - two sets of 15 children for alternate nights, and about 30 adults. I am making them all beetles, though I shall say they are 'humbugs'

What an excellent idea. I've done plenty of chorus stuff in the past and have always brought in home-baked biscuits for one or two performances, which has gone down well. I guess that now I'm in a principal role, I'll be expected to be more inventive.

Humbugs is a fantastic idea, though!

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Very clever.

How exciting Pimms I'd love to have a go with wires, although I don't know if my vertigo would kick in

"Thank you very much" - not the Scaffold song surely? I can't think of another one with that title Mind you, Margo Ledbetter does keep popping into my mind ... "Thank you VERY MUCH Jerray!"

What other songs do you sing? Singing and flying at the same time?

The schedule sounds exhausting... presumably you're not w*rking over xmas/NY?

"Thank you very much" in Scrooge, written by Leslie Bricusse, is not as far as I know 'The Scaffold Song' (which is from where exactly?) and works its way through various ways the person would like to celebrate his joy (such as blowing a bugle, banging a drum and firing a cannon) but since he can't do them he "simply has to say 'Thank you very very very much'" (etc. with much cheering and dancing)

I don't sing this song BTW

Mine (I only have to sing the one song ) has much more depressing lyrics. It seems upbeat with its title: "Make the most of this world", but goes on to say one should this because "the next world is worse." (etc. with phantoms dragging chains around and clutching at
Scrooge)
What you need to realise, I sing, is that Heaven isn't to be found in the next life but in the life you are living now.

I don't fly at the same time. The thread title refers to something I
*do* say while flying (as I leave, usually)

Yes I am at w**k over Xmas as well, but in my role, it is a less busy time, with so many other people away.

I don't remember your song, Pimms. But then it has been decades since I've seen Scrooge. I do remember the "Thank you very much" song.

I have disconnected my cable tv for good. I am going to miss it at Christmas since I won't have a gazillion channels showing old Christmas movies. I'll have to rent some. Most of the ones at the library have been damaged or pilfered. I suppose I could buy us some new ones.....then bring them home to check them out.

Which reminds me that I must buy an antenna for the roof.

Well in the film Marley (Alec Guinness) doesn't sing it, the flying corpses around Scrooge and Marley do, and also only part of the song is sung. It isn't a memorable number - not a big dancing number like 'Thank you very much' in Scrooge, or 'Consider Yourself' from Oliver!

Jacob 'Bob' Marley (plus Wailers)

The first time I received a gift from another cast member at the start of the run of a show I was embarrassed, as no-one had ever explained that this goes on and I had nothing to offer in return. I have tried to improve my gift giving, but I prefer to give my time than my money. Origami works since it isn't something most people are able to do for themselves, and clearly can show effort has been put into creating the gift.

I guess I like making things. I also made some of the props - Punch and Judy puppets. They will only be seen for about thirty seconds in each performance, but they took weeks to make. (involved wax modelling, papier mache, painting, sewing, glueing and varnishing)

That's the way to do it!

What was post 10 about

It had song lyrics in it, so I presume the mods thought there were copyright issues.

Ta, Cyzaki I was very confused about what could possibly have caused controversy.

I quoted one verse each of two songs to assist those trying to remember what songs I was talking about. I assumed partial quotation would be acceptable You can easily find the lyrivcs online > eg http://www.lyricattack.com/soundtracks/s/scroogelyrics/

Pimms

But you can find lyrics to nearly every pop song online, doesn't mean the BBC will let us post them here.

I still can't remember the song

Yes I knew there was a clause allowing partial quotation - "Insubstantial extracts" and "fair dealing" (in http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/brunel/HouseRules-Copyright) though I suppose I should have credited the lyricist (Leslie Bricusse).

Anyway it didn't help you anyway did it FB? If you go to the Amazon link (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000009QV5/002-5720548-5690458?v=glance&n=5174&s=music&v=glance&tagActionCode=consumerdownl-20) from the lyrics link you can listen to bits (insubstantial extracts ) of each song. If you listen to "make the most of this world" you unfortunately only get a Rex-Harrison like 'spoken to music' rendition. This song *does* have a tune!

Countdown to first flying rehearsal: 18 days