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

Good for you Pimms

gurning?

Pulling faces: a strangely English tradition

http://www.thecumbriadirectory.com/Cumbria_Traditions/Gurning/Gurning.php

Oh my. I've heard of ugly face contests at fairs but didn't know it had a name. It's normal for cast members to make ugly faces at the audience after a performance? Different strokes for different folks.

Oh dear. Separated by a common language indeed... Definitely not usual. I was referring to the tendency of some actors to make such extreme facial expressions on stage that they appear to be gurning. It's quite disturbing to watch such a performer, as I'm sure you can imagine. You do need to exaggerate a bit for stage, but not *that* much!

Sorry for confusion.

Good diversion though David

Now, Pimms... how's it going, or are you exhausted in a corner somewhere?

The show is going well, but to make things more interesting I have also had an involuntary office move this week. I've found all sorts of paperwork that I had overlooked, and am somewhat snowed under. I've moved from a large office I shared with three others to a smaller room (by myself) formerly used to house filing cabinets. This meant it lacked necessary trunking to connect computer and phone, and still lacks any form of heating. At least it has a nice view of the park. The last time I was movwed to a single office you couldn't see out of the high level window, and the shadow of barbed wire from a flat roof outside played along the wall when the morning sun shone in.

No other negative comments on facial expressions. In fact the feedback has been almost entirely superlatives . The exception early in the week was that the sound level in the dress circle was too loud. This was corrected by turning off the house speakers in the circle, which couldn't be adjusted by the sound engineer from his board.

Last night we were watched by our NODA representative (National Operatic and Dramatic Association - an umbrella organisation which most amateur UK musical societies belong to) and he said he'd seen the set before (you'll remember it is the pro touring set) and our production knocked the previous one he'd seen into a cocked hat. Almost every year he expresses how impressed he is by our shows, "most enjoyable thing I've seen in ages". I have also seen him when he has come backstage after G&S productions, and although complimentary isn't quite so effusive.

Thursday night just over half full. Last two nights promise to be close to packed

Superlatives indeed How wonderful.

As for a room that previously housed filing cabinets having a window with a view - good grief!!

Space is so tight in the place I work that half the offices have no windows at all 4 of us share a space with a small window overlooking the carpark and the airconditioning generator, which fires up intermittently and reminds us of being in the bowels of a ship

Days spent in my Home Office are therefore becoming more frequent Views of trees, bush, kangaroos ... and blessed peace and quiet.

Back to DJ&MH - 2 nights left. I hope the house is packed for both and that the party is a cracker


Fb

Thanks FB

Friday night had audience in the stalls spontaneously giving a standing ovation at the end It was a ragged standing up in the curtain calls from when Jekyl appeared. One of our members who wasn't in this show came backstage afterward and he said how impressed he was with the show. He is no slouch, having played Judas in JCS with us to great acclaim, and many other starring roles, so his praise was worth something. He was at the standing ovation - it hasn't happened for him.

After some thought I've decided not to provide gifts for other cast members this year. I've provided sweets for the dressing room (wolfed down in two nights), assisted two of the cast with costume changes every night, sewed on buttons for one of cast in our room who had pulled both off leaving nothing for his braces to attach to, lent a white bow tie to MB, whose costume tie has not turned up, and succumbed to the hard sell for the asst dir'r in preordering a CD of songs produced by her husband (who is an outstanding rehearsal pianist, plays keyboards in the orchestra, and has in the past been Musical Director) and sung by the alternative Lucy, a budding pop singer. Enough is enough.

Lost my crucifix in the murder scene on Firday night - ripped off when beign throttled by Hyde. The props mistress was able to repair it before the curtain call using her glue gun Almost got to the curtain calls late as I was busy trying to repair my shoe with the loose tongue again before it fell apart.

"Enough is enough"

Another standing ovation for Pimms

Can you teach me how to say 'enough is enough' please?

*strikes up a chorus of 'I'm just a girl/boy/owl who cain't say no...' from Oklahoma! for everyone apart from Pimms to join in with*

That was my father's favourite song

Saying no isn't without its cost Slight hiatus since last post. Since then I've been busy or tired with the last night, get-out, work carried over from last week and so on.

The last night was another standing ovation and further comments on 'best thing seen for years'

Of the five in the dressing room two provided gifts for others in the dressing room. I received an apt bottle of Bishops Finger (a premium ) [from Lord Savage], and postcard-sized Pub sign for the "Jekyll & Hyde" showing Jekyll with glass in hand looking at grotesque reflection of Hyde in a mirror [from Proops QC].

I also received from Nelly the prostitute (the last character to see me before my character's murder) a Penguin Classics paperback of "The Strange Casse of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and Other Tales of Terror" by RL Stevenson
I was tempted to provide her with the Bishops Finger in return, but she declined the offer

After the assistance of the props mistress I felt a bit bad not providing her with a gift either. Also received a J&H bookmark and J&H key fob (both from Lady Beaconsfield I believe). As mementoes I was allowed to retain the facsimile £5 note I pay Nelly with, and the newspaper I gesture with in Murder Murder. I received the DVD of the Friday dress rehearsal I'd paid for and everyone got a free programme. So lots of stuff to take home.

MB returned my bow tie (laundered ) with thanks.

Immediately after the show and getting changed back into usual attire I assisted with preliminary get-out - mostly packing up glassware in bubblewrap. There were a multitude of bottles on Jekyll's lab, and many were loose. Then when it was clear not much more was to be done that night I went on to the local hotel where many of the cast were having a last night drink. After a long wait at the bar I got a j2o (non-alcoholic fruit juice drink as I was driving) - purchased by top man who played Bob Cratchit in Scrooge last year, but was relegated to ensemble and cameo solos in this show, and also has initials MB, but isn't the chap I lent the bow tie to

Back home at midnight. Saw part of the lunar eclipse The whole moon was visible, though duskier than normal, with a brilliant crescent starting to appear on the top/left hand side.

Sunday was the get-out proper. I arrived late (about 11am), as family commitment to go for a walk together with the dog came first. There were about twenty of cast there, so a reasonable turn out. Soon after I arrived it started to rain, which continued for most of the day, and made carrying the set out to the lorry less than enjoyable. The set all came apart without difficulty, and was stacked in lorry much more neatly than it had arrived. Hauling the false floor panels up the stairs soon left me weak, and required three rather than two to lift them. Once the heavy lifting done I departed (the lights were still to be done, but I reckoned they could do without me), and went on to do the shopping, before eventually collapsing at home.

Well done Pimms Another successful show

Do you still feel elated? Or is it back to earth with a bump? What's the next project?


Fb

The major feeling is tiredness. A little unsettled by the praise for the show and the feeling that I am unworthy to take any credit for it, as my role was so secondary to the towering performances of the three major principals I was happier accepting praise as Marley in Scrooge, but as the Bishop I ask myself whether the praise directed at me is simply courtesy to acknowledge I was among those present, rather than heartfelt appreciation of the characterisation I conveyed.

I don't want to pretend to myself that I am truly talented on the basis of kind words, and so prove my own worst critic. Don't worry my self-doubt only goes so far - I still think I'm *pretty* good at performing

Next project: uncertain. I may be asked to consider taking part in Ruddigore with G&S October 07 (as they will likely be short of males again). However I am not going to put myself forward out of consideration for my wife's forbearance with all the productions I undertook last year.
Then there is the toss up between Romeo and Juliet ballet February 08, and Disco Inferno March 08.
Who knows there may be parts in plays offered to me too, but I am not going to seek them out.

Going to funeral of my Great Uncle the actor on Friday, who died last week in the middle of our run of J&H (he was in Cornwall at the time, not at the theatre in case there is any confusion ) Frenchbean's elephant can be started now

Wallow in the praise, Pimms Don't think too hard (now, where have I heard that before?!!) and simply enjoy it

Sorry to hear you are off to a funeral Did he have a good life?

Delighted to hear that the elephant can now commence

Fb

Good stuff on all the superlatives - I wouldn't say wallow in the praise, but maybe bask in it a little bit.