I have just written a "fan letter". It feels a bit strange. I was going to say that it was the first one I have ever written but I know that isn't true on at least one count. I can quite confidently say that it is the first one I have written for over 15 years, however.
My previous fan letter was to Sylvester McCoy, and I'm pretty sure it was to the actor Sylvester McCoy rather than the fictional Doctor Who- but I can't be certain. I also remember being quite surprised when a reply came back because I thought I had thrown the letter away and not sent it. I think it must have been rescued by the parents and sent. I'm glad they did because the signed photo I got in return has been treasured ever since, indeed I admired it only this afternoon, as it was pinned up on my kitchen notice board.
I have my parents to thank for so many things, and most of the autographs I have are down to their persuasive skills that I could approach Sam Torrance (Dunhill Cup 1987) or Johnathon Watson (St Andrews 1990) or Terence Stamp (Filmhouse 1987 - he even bought me some posters!) or Peter Davison (Aberdeen 1995) or Neil Innes (Aberdeen 1999 with stinking cold) and ask them for their name on a bit of paper and tell them I enjoyed whatever it was they did. It was this influence that means I now have a copy of Goodbye Yellow Brick Road signed by Richard "sleazy" Whiteley or Elvis Costello's Armed Forces signed by Jimmy Nail (both good stories, but not to concern us here).
Today's fan letter was to Chip Taylor. Who? I hear you ask. Well, put simply Chip Taylor is the man who wrote Wild Thing and Angel of the Morning. I first became aware of his particular brand of Americana (ok, country music) when my Dad bought a CD called "Chip Taylor's Last Chance" and played it one Sunday morning. It turned out this was one of the great long-lost albums, which he had encountered at University, but lost track of thereafter. We went to see Chip in Aberdeen in 2001, and after that he became one of the things that got me through the hell that was the pre-Apollo days with a certain large semi-public distribution company. In the years since I've seen him again in Edinburgh at the height of the Apollo deluge in 2002 and, remarkably and coincidentally, in Texas in 2004. And now Chip is coming to Edinburgh, to within five minutes of my front door, and the tickets are booked and the fan letter was written to let him know how much I'm looking forward to it, and how much I've enjoyed his music.
The truth is, though, that Chip is only one of many, many of my favourite musicians who I have been introduced to by my Dad, his list is the hipper end of my taste (The Beatles, The Band, early Rod Stewart, Dylan etc.) but he's never been too disparaging of the artists I like that her thinks are massively over-rated (Bryan Ferry, Steely Dan and, of course, Lord Paul of McCartney - First Duke of the Alofted-Thumb) and he's never berated me too much for buying music and enjoying it. I think in his own cynical and grumpy way he still enjoys music with the same wonder he did when he was younger, the same way I do.
So, thanks Chip, but most of all, thanks Dad.
16 October 2006
25 September 2006
Oggi! Oggi! Oggi!
We won the cup !!
(as Golf Monthly once put it)
..and now the recriminations will inevitably begin in the USA. How could the team that once so dominated this event (holding the cup from 1959 to 1985 with only 1 draw in 1969) now seem so unlikely to hold it again?
Looking round the US media commentators they seem rather lost for an answer. Tom Lehman seemed to do a good job as captain, certainly the team on the course seemed more bonded than I can ever remember, even Tiger seems to have forgiven his caddy for dropping his nine iron in the water.
The truth is in the scorelines; results ground out on the 18th green, half points fought for and won by Europe when they could just have easily gone as a full point to the USA. In 2002 Europe were passionate, determined (all credit to Sam) and incredibly lucky, in 2004 the US imploded, in 2006 two teams met and to a large extent matched each other stroke for stroke, putt for putt, with Europe just edging it through dint of still wanting it more. The scars of Brookline have healed but are still irritating at the sight of the cup with the little man on it, like the dull ache of arthritis on a cloudy day.
Why can't the Tiger perform in the Ryder Cup? It's the same reason his dominance is so disheartening to the club golfer. He doesn't play any one hole, he doesn't even play one round, he plays 72 holes. His game is geared towards that. Look at the way he wins tournaments, 4 under on Thursday, 8 on Friday, 12 on Saturday, 16 on Sunday. He doesn't have good rounds and bad rounds, the round he plays on Thursday will more than likely be the round he plays on Sunday. In between his nearest rivals will have started well, or had a cracker on Saturday, and probably a stinker on Sunday. Consistency is the key to Tiger's dominance, and in Matchplay the last round has no bearing on this round, the last hole has no bearing on the next, and in Foursomes the last stroke wasn't even yours. How can the embodiment of "total golf" play as well under these conditions? (the fact that there's no money involved seems spurious given his poor showing at the World Matchplay)
Unfortunately he is so good a player that successive captains have been unable to drop him from the first two days play, and you can understand why, he kept the pressure on, even when he didn't make the points, and what if he had caught fire, especially in Fourballs?
That the scoreline was the same as at Oakland Hills is the amazing part, given the quality of golf the Americans played. It was a victory but it wasn't the drubbing/whitewash/thumping of 2004. It was a hard fought contest between two teams of equals, the Americans may have had the top 3 based on world rankings, but between them and the next US players were Garcia, Donald, Stenson and even dear old Monty. The scoreline flattered to deceive, this was a tough match and the Europeans were as likely to lose as to win in almost every match.
Turning to the future there have been calls for a tougher US captain, to fire up the 2008 team, and having Paul Azinger in the frame would seem to support this. I wouldn't have thought he would have too much of a job to do, in reality, with the reputation of upcoming Euro captain Nick Faldo being of someone who even Tiger might call "a bit stand-offish". In order to reignite the spark of the Ryder Cup in America there needs to be a US victory in Valhalla, and, truth be told, I don't really want Nick to stand in the way of that. Too many memories of the most boring, robotic golfer the UK has ever produced; the heartbreaking demolition of Greg Norman at the Masters in 1996, the typed message of encouragement to the boys at Brookline and, most unforgiveably of all to someone who was there, claiming not to be able to see the pin on the 18th green at St Andrews, one of the most famous holes in golf? even I know where to aim off the tee on the 18th! and the fact every other person could see it. Let's hope Monty doesn't make the team, that Nick's boys are slaughtered as the Americans have been in the past two cups and that the American zeal for this competition returns for another classic in 2010.
But as a final thought on this weekend, I think Tiger did get it right when he said "... they just outplayed us." And the truth is the Americans played as well as they should have. Our boys should be immensely proud.
Ole, ole, ole, ole, ole, ole
(as Golf Monthly once put it)
..and now the recriminations will inevitably begin in the USA. How could the team that once so dominated this event (holding the cup from 1959 to 1985 with only 1 draw in 1969) now seem so unlikely to hold it again?
Looking round the US media commentators they seem rather lost for an answer. Tom Lehman seemed to do a good job as captain, certainly the team on the course seemed more bonded than I can ever remember, even Tiger seems to have forgiven his caddy for dropping his nine iron in the water.
The truth is in the scorelines; results ground out on the 18th green, half points fought for and won by Europe when they could just have easily gone as a full point to the USA. In 2002 Europe were passionate, determined (all credit to Sam) and incredibly lucky, in 2004 the US imploded, in 2006 two teams met and to a large extent matched each other stroke for stroke, putt for putt, with Europe just edging it through dint of still wanting it more. The scars of Brookline have healed but are still irritating at the sight of the cup with the little man on it, like the dull ache of arthritis on a cloudy day.
Why can't the Tiger perform in the Ryder Cup? It's the same reason his dominance is so disheartening to the club golfer. He doesn't play any one hole, he doesn't even play one round, he plays 72 holes. His game is geared towards that. Look at the way he wins tournaments, 4 under on Thursday, 8 on Friday, 12 on Saturday, 16 on Sunday. He doesn't have good rounds and bad rounds, the round he plays on Thursday will more than likely be the round he plays on Sunday. In between his nearest rivals will have started well, or had a cracker on Saturday, and probably a stinker on Sunday. Consistency is the key to Tiger's dominance, and in Matchplay the last round has no bearing on this round, the last hole has no bearing on the next, and in Foursomes the last stroke wasn't even yours. How can the embodiment of "total golf" play as well under these conditions? (the fact that there's no money involved seems spurious given his poor showing at the World Matchplay)
Unfortunately he is so good a player that successive captains have been unable to drop him from the first two days play, and you can understand why, he kept the pressure on, even when he didn't make the points, and what if he had caught fire, especially in Fourballs?
That the scoreline was the same as at Oakland Hills is the amazing part, given the quality of golf the Americans played. It was a victory but it wasn't the drubbing/whitewash/thumping of 2004. It was a hard fought contest between two teams of equals, the Americans may have had the top 3 based on world rankings, but between them and the next US players were Garcia, Donald, Stenson and even dear old Monty. The scoreline flattered to deceive, this was a tough match and the Europeans were as likely to lose as to win in almost every match.
Turning to the future there have been calls for a tougher US captain, to fire up the 2008 team, and having Paul Azinger in the frame would seem to support this. I wouldn't have thought he would have too much of a job to do, in reality, with the reputation of upcoming Euro captain Nick Faldo being of someone who even Tiger might call "a bit stand-offish". In order to reignite the spark of the Ryder Cup in America there needs to be a US victory in Valhalla, and, truth be told, I don't really want Nick to stand in the way of that. Too many memories of the most boring, robotic golfer the UK has ever produced; the heartbreaking demolition of Greg Norman at the Masters in 1996, the typed message of encouragement to the boys at Brookline and, most unforgiveably of all to someone who was there, claiming not to be able to see the pin on the 18th green at St Andrews, one of the most famous holes in golf? even I know where to aim off the tee on the 18th! and the fact every other person could see it. Let's hope Monty doesn't make the team, that Nick's boys are slaughtered as the Americans have been in the past two cups and that the American zeal for this competition returns for another classic in 2010.
But as a final thought on this weekend, I think Tiger did get it right when he said "... they just outplayed us." And the truth is the Americans played as well as they should have. Our boys should be immensely proud.
Ole, ole, ole, ole, ole, ole
04 September 2006
Nursery Cryme
So, with the festival over (and weren't those fireworks loud!) it's time to return the Valves, as literally no-one is calling the blog, to the usual meandering trivia.
Meandering trivia number one is the analysis of nursery rhymes. As I was reading a book I've been trying to get on with for about a week now I came across a passage dealing with a child who had an imaginary friend called Jack. This led to his father wondering where he had chosen the name Jack from and suggesting Jack Frost, Jack Horner or Jack - brother of Jill.
This struck me as odd because I had never thought that Jack and Jill were brother and sister, only that they were friends. I began to ask people what they thought, and it turns out I am currently in a minority of one. Every other person I have asked has said they thought they were brother and sister.
My first caveat to this is that I have yet to ask anyone else who is an only child, as I think at the early age one is introduced to Jack and Jill one still sees the world entirely in terms of one's own situation. Therefore, I had no brothers or sisters so my first instinct would be that anyone I heard about would be the same.
Secondly I have analysed the rhyme in more depth and concluded that there is one statement in the verse that supports either side. In the "brother and sister" category is the fact that they went to fetch a pail of water, there seems to be consensus that they were sent to do this (although there is no evidence of this in the poem) and this would suggest siblings. However Jill's attempts to nurse Jack I think sway the opposite as I believe a sister would simply have run back home to tell their parents.
Why not have your own analysis of this and other nursery rhymes, and see where the thinking leads you. If you get to the point where you are discussing what the relationships are between the Wombles you'll be well on track!
Meandering trivia number one is the analysis of nursery rhymes. As I was reading a book I've been trying to get on with for about a week now I came across a passage dealing with a child who had an imaginary friend called Jack. This led to his father wondering where he had chosen the name Jack from and suggesting Jack Frost, Jack Horner or Jack - brother of Jill.
This struck me as odd because I had never thought that Jack and Jill were brother and sister, only that they were friends. I began to ask people what they thought, and it turns out I am currently in a minority of one. Every other person I have asked has said they thought they were brother and sister.
My first caveat to this is that I have yet to ask anyone else who is an only child, as I think at the early age one is introduced to Jack and Jill one still sees the world entirely in terms of one's own situation. Therefore, I had no brothers or sisters so my first instinct would be that anyone I heard about would be the same.
Secondly I have analysed the rhyme in more depth and concluded that there is one statement in the verse that supports either side. In the "brother and sister" category is the fact that they went to fetch a pail of water, there seems to be consensus that they were sent to do this (although there is no evidence of this in the poem) and this would suggest siblings. However Jill's attempts to nurse Jack I think sway the opposite as I believe a sister would simply have run back home to tell their parents.
Why not have your own analysis of this and other nursery rhymes, and see where the thinking leads you. If you get to the point where you are discussing what the relationships are between the Wombles you'll be well on track!
28 August 2006
It's All Over Now, Baby Blue
So farewell then, Fringe 2006.
A definite improvement on the 2005 vintage, but there are some issues that need to be faced by the organisers. Chief amongst these is how much more can the Fringe expand? This is especially prescient given the fact that as the number of shows has expanded the area within which the majority of venues is situated has contracted. The so-called big 5 definitely dominate the scene like massive corporate behemoths, with every nook and cranny seemingly an outpost of one or more of them. Ticket sales are up, attendance is up, I have never seen Edinburgh as busy as the first full Saturday this year, yet still they complain the fringe needs more promotion. And, it's so obvious it hardly need be said anymore, it's still far too expensive.
More importantly, the Pleasance Courtyard in particular has become the worst managed venue on the fringe for waiting time for box office (half an hour when the queue is barely out the door) and more importantly, staff attitude. It was not uncommon this year for staff to ask customers to wait a moment whilst they went to get themselves a cup of coffee (I saw it three times) and their knowledge of what shows were about or even whether they were comedic or dance or whatever was useless. A legacy of employing people who "want to work on the fringe, daahling" rather than proper customer-focussed operatives. Running out of booze twice on the opening weekend was signal enough of the dismally poor planning involved.
Luckily, the quality of the shows this year seems to have been very high. Certainly I have experienced a few shows that were, quite frankly, superb. Special mention must go to Black Watch and Tom Crean - Antarctic Explorer here, and old hands like Will Smith, Andy Zaltzman, Justin Edwards and Phil Nichol came up with the goods too.
If there has been a "theme" to the fringe I experienced this year it must be either (a) accordians, (b) self-conscious "opening songs" or (c) close shaves with the smoking ban.
My final sobering thought is the fact that even in a year when I cut down my fringe going (and therefore, spending) I still managed to see more shows than the arts editor of The Scotsman.
Slacker kids rule! You shoulda been here, man!
Back to ranting for another year, then.
A definite improvement on the 2005 vintage, but there are some issues that need to be faced by the organisers. Chief amongst these is how much more can the Fringe expand? This is especially prescient given the fact that as the number of shows has expanded the area within which the majority of venues is situated has contracted. The so-called big 5 definitely dominate the scene like massive corporate behemoths, with every nook and cranny seemingly an outpost of one or more of them. Ticket sales are up, attendance is up, I have never seen Edinburgh as busy as the first full Saturday this year, yet still they complain the fringe needs more promotion. And, it's so obvious it hardly need be said anymore, it's still far too expensive.
More importantly, the Pleasance Courtyard in particular has become the worst managed venue on the fringe for waiting time for box office (half an hour when the queue is barely out the door) and more importantly, staff attitude. It was not uncommon this year for staff to ask customers to wait a moment whilst they went to get themselves a cup of coffee (I saw it three times) and their knowledge of what shows were about or even whether they were comedic or dance or whatever was useless. A legacy of employing people who "want to work on the fringe, daahling" rather than proper customer-focussed operatives. Running out of booze twice on the opening weekend was signal enough of the dismally poor planning involved.
Luckily, the quality of the shows this year seems to have been very high. Certainly I have experienced a few shows that were, quite frankly, superb. Special mention must go to Black Watch and Tom Crean - Antarctic Explorer here, and old hands like Will Smith, Andy Zaltzman, Justin Edwards and Phil Nichol came up with the goods too.
If there has been a "theme" to the fringe I experienced this year it must be either (a) accordians, (b) self-conscious "opening songs" or (c) close shaves with the smoking ban.
My final sobering thought is the fact that even in a year when I cut down my fringe going (and therefore, spending) I still managed to see more shows than the arts editor of The Scotsman.
Slacker kids rule! You shoulda been here, man!
Back to ranting for another year, then.
Let Them All Talk
Talk Radio, Udderbelly
Inside the giant inflatable cow, which I must confess I was sceptical about in my reactionary way, lurks an excellent and comfortable venue. And before me (eventually) were the cast of Talk Radio.
The ubiquitous Phil Nichol stars as night time talk jock Barry Champlain as we are privy to an evening of his show. Eric Bogdosian's play gives us a slice of 80s American life, darkness and all, and the cast throw themselves fully into it. The performances carry the play through the passages where the dialogue is a little too stuck in it's time and Nichol remains as watchable as ever.
A minor classic.
NTW : The not-quite-lighting-a-cigarette moment seemingly de rigeur in every show this year.
JTD : The cast as an ensemble and Nichol in particular
Inside the giant inflatable cow, which I must confess I was sceptical about in my reactionary way, lurks an excellent and comfortable venue. And before me (eventually) were the cast of Talk Radio.
The ubiquitous Phil Nichol stars as night time talk jock Barry Champlain as we are privy to an evening of his show. Eric Bogdosian's play gives us a slice of 80s American life, darkness and all, and the cast throw themselves fully into it. The performances carry the play through the passages where the dialogue is a little too stuck in it's time and Nichol remains as watchable as ever.
A minor classic.
NTW : The not-quite-lighting-a-cigarette moment seemingly de rigeur in every show this year.
JTD : The cast as an ensemble and Nichol in particular
Coming back for more
David Benson - Why Pay More?, Pleasance Courtyard
Fringe institution (and no one is more bitter about that than the man himself) David Benson returns. Having confessedly run out of ideas he turns to the fringe itself for the inspiration for his new fringe show. Swapping the comfort of the Assembly Rooms for a portacabin round the back of Pleasance (as he himself says "Why pay more?") Benson leads his audience on a trip down his own memory lane, punctuated, as always, by bursts of popular song.
The show is a step up from the rather dreary "Conspiracy Cabaret" of 2005, and probably on a par with 2004's "The Haunted Stage", but it's "work in progress" nature means it never reaches the heights of "Star Struck" let alone the majestic wonder of "Think No Evil of Us". An hour in Benson's company is never really dull (although Conspiracy... came close) and his stories were well told and his songs well sung. If you're looking for a show that goes somewhere, this isn't it. If you want a diversion from the everyday world with a charming host, rush rush !
NTW : Please tell me the lovely old ladies haven't been dumped in a fit of pique! And one must wonder if he isn't going the way of old KW himself, feeding off his own anecdotes to diminishing returns.
JTD : The sparkly jacket... and after the disappointment of 2005 he has earnt himself a reprieve, especially if he brings back Mourning Glory next year.
Fringe institution (and no one is more bitter about that than the man himself) David Benson returns. Having confessedly run out of ideas he turns to the fringe itself for the inspiration for his new fringe show. Swapping the comfort of the Assembly Rooms for a portacabin round the back of Pleasance (as he himself says "Why pay more?") Benson leads his audience on a trip down his own memory lane, punctuated, as always, by bursts of popular song.
The show is a step up from the rather dreary "Conspiracy Cabaret" of 2005, and probably on a par with 2004's "The Haunted Stage", but it's "work in progress" nature means it never reaches the heights of "Star Struck" let alone the majestic wonder of "Think No Evil of Us". An hour in Benson's company is never really dull (although Conspiracy... came close) and his stories were well told and his songs well sung. If you're looking for a show that goes somewhere, this isn't it. If you want a diversion from the everyday world with a charming host, rush rush !
NTW : Please tell me the lovely old ladies haven't been dumped in a fit of pique! And one must wonder if he isn't going the way of old KW himself, feeding off his own anecdotes to diminishing returns.
JTD : The sparkly jacket... and after the disappointment of 2005 he has earnt himself a reprieve, especially if he brings back Mourning Glory next year.
25 August 2006
Mmm-haw-he-haw-he-haw
Marcus Brigstocke, Pleasance Courtyard
Thank goodness Marcus Brigstocke's stand up shows aren't in the Fringe brochure, it means I don't have to review it and tell you that at least 75% of the material will be familiar to those who saw "Planet Corduroy" in 2004 or listened to The Now Show. However, at least Brigstocke's comedy rants - which, lest we forget, he absolutely believes in - bear repeat listening, so roll up for your old favourites : Consolidated loans, "He blocked my extension", EuroDisney fight and, of course, The Mrs Brigstocke Story!
There was some new bits, notably slagging of Anne Robinson and Ron Atkinson, but still no formal apology for "The Savages".
Nonetheless, Marcus Brigstocke is great and I laughed like a drain.
Only three more shows to go. I am sad.
Thank goodness Marcus Brigstocke's stand up shows aren't in the Fringe brochure, it means I don't have to review it and tell you that at least 75% of the material will be familiar to those who saw "Planet Corduroy" in 2004 or listened to The Now Show. However, at least Brigstocke's comedy rants - which, lest we forget, he absolutely believes in - bear repeat listening, so roll up for your old favourites : Consolidated loans, "He blocked my extension", EuroDisney fight and, of course, The Mrs Brigstocke Story!
There was some new bits, notably slagging of Anne Robinson and Ron Atkinson, but still no formal apology for "The Savages".
Nonetheless, Marcus Brigstocke is great and I laughed like a drain.
Only three more shows to go. I am sad.
23 August 2006
Having trouble with the word "applause"?
An Evening With Michael McIntyre, Potterow
Away with your "Pleasance Dome"!
Michael McIntyre was a very pleasant surprise, firstly he was 2-for-1 which is always good, secondly he was very funny. Imagine if Pierce Brosnan was squashed and permanently smiling and you have some idea of the toothy-grinned, floppy-haired midget's physicality. Add to this a quick wit and strong material and you have a recipe for a brilliant hour.
Unfortunately a couple of his gags were a bit long in the tooth (visual representation of the green walking man, anyone?) but he made up for this with sparky interaction with the crowd, including a couple who left after 20 minutes but not before trying to recruit McIntyre for their charity gig and an idiot who let his mobile phone go off during the show (reader, it was I, forshame!). Well worth his ecstatic reviews.
NTW : Closing the show on a gag first seen on Absolutely 16 years ago.
JTD : Natural charm and rapport in spades
Away with your "Pleasance Dome"!
Michael McIntyre was a very pleasant surprise, firstly he was 2-for-1 which is always good, secondly he was very funny. Imagine if Pierce Brosnan was squashed and permanently smiling and you have some idea of the toothy-grinned, floppy-haired midget's physicality. Add to this a quick wit and strong material and you have a recipe for a brilliant hour.
Unfortunately a couple of his gags were a bit long in the tooth (visual representation of the green walking man, anyone?) but he made up for this with sparky interaction with the crowd, including a couple who left after 20 minutes but not before trying to recruit McIntyre for their charity gig and an idiot who let his mobile phone go off during the show (reader, it was I, forshame!). Well worth his ecstatic reviews.
NTW : Closing the show on a gag first seen on Absolutely 16 years ago.
JTD : Natural charm and rapport in spades
21 August 2006
Don't you think your voice is a bit high?
Lawrence and Gus - Next In Line, Pleasance
Lawrence and Gus are likeable and amusing, and at times this show is firmly in the hilarious category. What creates a slightly uneasy feeling is the question of where this sort of comedy can go? Is a Radio 4 slot the best that well-observed character comedy can aspire to at the moment, and if so, isn't that a shame?
In providing a show where each sketch features a character from the preceding one, L & G maintain audience interest until, just at the point where fatigue may be setting in, they break out into a mock argument between "themselves". This has been cleverly sewn into the fabric of the preceding sketches and is the highlight of an enjoyable hour.
NTW : The "Starship Enterprise under fire" staggering and swaying between sketches.
JTD : The move from characters to "themselves"
Lawrence and Gus are likeable and amusing, and at times this show is firmly in the hilarious category. What creates a slightly uneasy feeling is the question of where this sort of comedy can go? Is a Radio 4 slot the best that well-observed character comedy can aspire to at the moment, and if so, isn't that a shame?
In providing a show where each sketch features a character from the preceding one, L & G maintain audience interest until, just at the point where fatigue may be setting in, they break out into a mock argument between "themselves". This has been cleverly sewn into the fabric of the preceding sketches and is the highlight of an enjoyable hour.
NTW : The "Starship Enterprise under fire" staggering and swaying between sketches.
JTD : The move from characters to "themselves"
Diamond Dogs
La Clique, Speigeltent, George Square Gardens
My dislike of Dance and Physical Theatre is well documented, so how come I enjoyed this so much? Well, firstly it's done well and secondly no particular act outstays their welcome.
From rubber men to acrobats and rollerskaters, La Clique provides a solid show of spectacular cabaret and if you're not too keen on this, there'll be something else along in a minute. Deserving of it's excellent reviews elsewhere.
Which brings me to another spot of righteous indignation which, I am pleased to say, does not stem from perceived wrongs against myself. The audience for La Clique pay around £17 per ticket with no caveats or warnings. I would be very unhappy, therefore, to discover that there are not, in fact, enough seats for all the ticket holders. Equally I was unimpressed by the amount of "reserved" signs on many of the best seats, a signifier of the dangerous creeping inequality of the famously egalitarian fringe. As I say, this did not effect me (only because I jumped the queue) but it did effect a middle-aged woman who was not allowed to sit on a "reserved" seat which was subsequently not filled. A bitter aftertaste to an amazing spectacle.
NTW : Some of the singing and miming went on a little too long and the emmcee was particularly smug and dislikeable.
JTD : The truly amazing Skating Rollers, the very flexible Miss Gyulnara.
My dislike of Dance and Physical Theatre is well documented, so how come I enjoyed this so much? Well, firstly it's done well and secondly no particular act outstays their welcome.
From rubber men to acrobats and rollerskaters, La Clique provides a solid show of spectacular cabaret and if you're not too keen on this, there'll be something else along in a minute. Deserving of it's excellent reviews elsewhere.
Which brings me to another spot of righteous indignation which, I am pleased to say, does not stem from perceived wrongs against myself. The audience for La Clique pay around £17 per ticket with no caveats or warnings. I would be very unhappy, therefore, to discover that there are not, in fact, enough seats for all the ticket holders. Equally I was unimpressed by the amount of "reserved" signs on many of the best seats, a signifier of the dangerous creeping inequality of the famously egalitarian fringe. As I say, this did not effect me (only because I jumped the queue) but it did effect a middle-aged woman who was not allowed to sit on a "reserved" seat which was subsequently not filled. A bitter aftertaste to an amazing spectacle.
NTW : Some of the singing and miming went on a little too long and the emmcee was particularly smug and dislikeable.
JTD : The truly amazing Skating Rollers, the very flexible Miss Gyulnara.
4th Time Around
Natalie Haynes - Watching The Detectives, Pleasance
Some shows are a gamble, some are a confident punt on an hour or so of entertainment, some are like a warm reunion with old friends, only one is a pilgrimage.
The annual trip to see Natalie Haynes holds nothing but good memories for me, and this is an easy bargain to keep on my side, I just need to turn up. Natalie's side of the bargain is harder to keep - come up with and perform new material to the same standard as previously. After 4 years she hasn't let me down yet!
Taking US detective shows as her starting point, Natalie hangs all her usual subject matter on a quest to find the man or woman to solve all the world's problems. On the way we visit such familiar territory as Natalie's hatred of children or stupid people and the annual update on the hate-mail she has received from pro-lifers. It's obvious from the start that the winner will be Dick Van Dyke, but watching Natalie get there is, as always, a treat.
Same time next year.
NTW : No Jim Rockford?
JTD : A dissection of Jessica Fletcher's conveneient ability to solve so many murders...
Some shows are a gamble, some are a confident punt on an hour or so of entertainment, some are like a warm reunion with old friends, only one is a pilgrimage.
The annual trip to see Natalie Haynes holds nothing but good memories for me, and this is an easy bargain to keep on my side, I just need to turn up. Natalie's side of the bargain is harder to keep - come up with and perform new material to the same standard as previously. After 4 years she hasn't let me down yet!
Taking US detective shows as her starting point, Natalie hangs all her usual subject matter on a quest to find the man or woman to solve all the world's problems. On the way we visit such familiar territory as Natalie's hatred of children or stupid people and the annual update on the hate-mail she has received from pro-lifers. It's obvious from the start that the winner will be Dick Van Dyke, but watching Natalie get there is, as always, a treat.
Same time next year.
NTW : No Jim Rockford?
JTD : A dissection of Jessica Fletcher's conveneient ability to solve so many murders...
Telly's for sellouts!
Andy Zaltzman Detonates 70 Minutes of Unbridled Afternoon, The Stand
Structure, structure, structure, material, material, material. It seems so easy written down, but the truth is that very few acts I've seen at Edinburgh this year have managed to put that magic formula into practice. Andy Zaltzman has, and how !
All the more remarkable is this achievement, considering this show was conceived, written and rehearsed as a duo with John Oliver. In truth it was Oliver who led me to Zaltzman, but with the former seduced by the bright lights of New York City it has been left to the latter to wow the Edinburgh crowds.
And wow them he does with pin-sharp yet playful political satire. A big laugh roughly once a minute and above all images and ideas to set the imagination racing. As a taste, Zaltzman suggests such brilliant concepts as a Subbuteo Home Office, the retrospective purchasing of sporting victories and John Reid's nightwear, as well as comparing bad voting judgement to a hangover and casting aspertions on the Rolling Stones' social beliefs.
Andy Zaltzman may bemoan the state of the world but, thanks to him, for 70 minutes every day until 28 August things will be just dandy.
NTW : Alas, the show ended!
JTD :So many to choose from; the Zaltzman Encyclopaedia of Explanatory Bullshit, the Interval quiz, the inspired ending...the list goes on.
Structure, structure, structure, material, material, material. It seems so easy written down, but the truth is that very few acts I've seen at Edinburgh this year have managed to put that magic formula into practice. Andy Zaltzman has, and how !
All the more remarkable is this achievement, considering this show was conceived, written and rehearsed as a duo with John Oliver. In truth it was Oliver who led me to Zaltzman, but with the former seduced by the bright lights of New York City it has been left to the latter to wow the Edinburgh crowds.
And wow them he does with pin-sharp yet playful political satire. A big laugh roughly once a minute and above all images and ideas to set the imagination racing. As a taste, Zaltzman suggests such brilliant concepts as a Subbuteo Home Office, the retrospective purchasing of sporting victories and John Reid's nightwear, as well as comparing bad voting judgement to a hangover and casting aspertions on the Rolling Stones' social beliefs.
Andy Zaltzman may bemoan the state of the world but, thanks to him, for 70 minutes every day until 28 August things will be just dandy.
NTW : Alas, the show ended!
JTD :So many to choose from; the Zaltzman Encyclopaedia of Explanatory Bullshit, the Interval quiz, the inspired ending...the list goes on.
The Lion Sleeps Tonight
Sarah Kendall stepped offstage in the Pleasance 2 years ago and steppeed back on stage this year seemingly wearing exactly the same jeans and checked shirt. Thankfully, her material has changed in the interim and, after a shaky start, she kept the large audience entertained.
Loosely based around Kendall's search for the perfect comeback, the show ranges from dealing with mouthy kids to expressive ribbon twirling to the peculiar punishments meted out in schools. Throughout, Kendall and her extraoridanry mane of hair kept a friendly demeanour, even when her material was not being ecstatically received.
In common with a few performers this year, Kendall got a bit paranoid after about half an hour and her structure stuttered a little as a result. She's a solid performer but perhpas the room was too big for her chatty, laid-back style.
NTW : Allowing wide-faced arsecocker Jimmy Carr into the room.
JTD : Kendall's first attempt at audience interaction.
Loosely based around Kendall's search for the perfect comeback, the show ranges from dealing with mouthy kids to expressive ribbon twirling to the peculiar punishments meted out in schools. Throughout, Kendall and her extraoridanry mane of hair kept a friendly demeanour, even when her material was not being ecstatically received.
In common with a few performers this year, Kendall got a bit paranoid after about half an hour and her structure stuttered a little as a result. She's a solid performer but perhpas the room was too big for her chatty, laid-back style.
NTW : Allowing wide-faced arsecocker Jimmy Carr into the room.
JTD : Kendall's first attempt at audience interaction.
Adam Hills can kiss my ass!
Rich Hall, Assembly Rooms
Now a well kent face from appearances on UK TV, Hall nonetheless would seem more comfortable in a smaller venue than the expansive Music Hall of the Assembly Rooms.
His prepared material seems to peter out after about 40 minutes, but this is 40 minutes too late as it is the interaction with the audience and off the wall extemporising on random subjects where Hall shines.
Attempts to turn the show into some kind of "event" are half-hearted at best but reveal a delicious envy of the more populist performers, even if this is entirely fictional.
After a long day out and about in Edinburgh, Hall's weary cynicism is a perfect finish.
Now a well kent face from appearances on UK TV, Hall nonetheless would seem more comfortable in a smaller venue than the expansive Music Hall of the Assembly Rooms.
His prepared material seems to peter out after about 40 minutes, but this is 40 minutes too late as it is the interaction with the audience and off the wall extemporising on random subjects where Hall shines.
Attempts to turn the show into some kind of "event" are half-hearted at best but reveal a delicious envy of the more populist performers, even if this is entirely fictional.
After a long day out and about in Edinburgh, Hall's weary cynicism is a perfect finish.
One Word Art Reviews
Van Gogh and Britain, Dean Gallery
Nutter
Robert Mapplethorpe, Modern Art Gallery
Bender
Harry Benson - Being There, Portrait Gallery
Ligger
Anne Redpath & The Edinburgh School, City Arts Centre
Dauber
Albert Watson - Frozen, City Arts Centre
Voyeur
Toulouse Lautrec & The Art Deco Poster, City Arts Centre
Poster
Nutter
Robert Mapplethorpe, Modern Art Gallery
Bender
Harry Benson - Being There, Portrait Gallery
Ligger
Anne Redpath & The Edinburgh School, City Arts Centre
Dauber
Albert Watson - Frozen, City Arts Centre
Voyeur
Toulouse Lautrec & The Art Deco Poster, City Arts Centre
Poster
Rub The Stump!
Phil Nicol - The Naked Racist, The Stand
The most entertaining stand-ups also stand out, and Nicol certainly stands out. His manic energy is in evidence from the first as he welcomes his audience and builds your trust of him, a trust that will become very important as the hour wears on.
Basing his routine around the aftermath of a split from his girlfriend and subsequent mini-break in Amsterdam, Nicol riffs on Irish pubs, amputee sex, fetish clubs and death metal - accompanied by full band.
All this leads up to the explanation of the title of the show, be warned, however, in this depratment Nicol leaves nothing to the imagination.
NTW : The death metal interlude goes on about a verse too long.
JTD : The intimate venue suits Nicol and his material well.
The most entertaining stand-ups also stand out, and Nicol certainly stands out. His manic energy is in evidence from the first as he welcomes his audience and builds your trust of him, a trust that will become very important as the hour wears on.
Basing his routine around the aftermath of a split from his girlfriend and subsequent mini-break in Amsterdam, Nicol riffs on Irish pubs, amputee sex, fetish clubs and death metal - accompanied by full band.
All this leads up to the explanation of the title of the show, be warned, however, in this depratment Nicol leaves nothing to the imagination.
NTW : The death metal interlude goes on about a verse too long.
JTD : The intimate venue suits Nicol and his material well.
20 August 2006
"Not to scale"
Corinne Grant - Nice Lady Hour, Gilded Balloon Teviot
Corinne Grant doesn't give anything away easily. By the end of the hour you understand why this little-promoted act has sold out one of the Gilded Balloon's smallest rooms with Aussies.
Grant is a confident performer and this carried her through a rocky opening five minutes while the audience unfamiliar with her cottoned on to her style.
The material itself was good, though some of it was chucklesome rather than hilarious. It was in her interaction with the audience that Grant really scored the big laughs.
Her county-comes-t0-town, girl making her way in the ccrazy world schtick served her well and her ability not to take herself seriously ensured the hour passed quickly and she won over another small slice of the non-Australian public.
NTW : Opening with a boisterous song and dance routine meant the more reticent in the audience took a little longer to warm to her.
JTD : Working off the cuff is Corrine's greatest strength, she should exploit it a little more.
Corinne Grant doesn't give anything away easily. By the end of the hour you understand why this little-promoted act has sold out one of the Gilded Balloon's smallest rooms with Aussies.
Grant is a confident performer and this carried her through a rocky opening five minutes while the audience unfamiliar with her cottoned on to her style.
The material itself was good, though some of it was chucklesome rather than hilarious. It was in her interaction with the audience that Grant really scored the big laughs.
Her county-comes-t0-town, girl making her way in the ccrazy world schtick served her well and her ability not to take herself seriously ensured the hour passed quickly and she won over another small slice of the non-Australian public.
NTW : Opening with a boisterous song and dance routine meant the more reticent in the audience took a little longer to warm to her.
JTD : Working off the cuff is Corrine's greatest strength, she should exploit it a little more.
Here they come, walking down the street...
Three Mo' Tenors, St George's West
Three spirited performances lie at the heart of this enjoyable show as the titular tenors work their way from opera to jazz, broadway to rhythm and blues.
There is fun to be had here, sometime unintentional as the performers are often more than a little camp. The music was good and the boys can sing but I would imagine a wide musical taste is a pre-requisite to enjoy the full show.
NTW : Some fo the non-vocal performances go a little OTT
JTD : Good to see a group with their own theme song, allowing the Three Mo' Tenors to stand proud among the likes of the Monkees and S-Express
Three spirited performances lie at the heart of this enjoyable show as the titular tenors work their way from opera to jazz, broadway to rhythm and blues.
There is fun to be had here, sometime unintentional as the performers are often more than a little camp. The music was good and the boys can sing but I would imagine a wide musical taste is a pre-requisite to enjoy the full show.
NTW : Some fo the non-vocal performances go a little OTT
JTD : Good to see a group with their own theme song, allowing the Three Mo' Tenors to stand proud among the likes of the Monkees and S-Express
"That didn't happen to you, that happened to Jed Clampitt"
Levelland, Assembly Rooms
Rich Hall has taken a tentative first step into the world of serious theatre with this play presenting a vision of an America where oil prices have risne about 2000%. Hall himself plays a provocative talk radio host whose assured, confident world view is shaken by the arrival of a young hitch-hiker to his studio, followed by two of the young man's "business partners".
Hall's script soars in places, and the idea is an intriguing one. Unfortunately it is let down by a poor structure in places; meaning some of the piece is very wordy, espeically before the arrival of the 3rd and 4th characters. Once the situation escalates and the tension is ratcheted up a few notches the piece starts to bubble and Hall's nightmare vision of a world where no one can be fully trusted reaches what must be one of many similar conclusions.
NTW : Sound effects of doors opening and closing.
JTD : Little "stumps" of door frames to indicate doors.
Rich Hall has taken a tentative first step into the world of serious theatre with this play presenting a vision of an America where oil prices have risne about 2000%. Hall himself plays a provocative talk radio host whose assured, confident world view is shaken by the arrival of a young hitch-hiker to his studio, followed by two of the young man's "business partners".
Hall's script soars in places, and the idea is an intriguing one. Unfortunately it is let down by a poor structure in places; meaning some of the piece is very wordy, espeically before the arrival of the 3rd and 4th characters. Once the situation escalates and the tension is ratcheted up a few notches the piece starts to bubble and Hall's nightmare vision of a world where no one can be fully trusted reaches what must be one of many similar conclusions.
NTW : Sound effects of doors opening and closing.
JTD : Little "stumps" of door frames to indicate doors.
Alas poor Yorick, I knew his puncture repair kit
Bouncy Castle Hamlet, Roxy Art House
One of the glories of the fringe is the opportunity it gives to brag about bizarre theatrical sights. In this case I know I will forever more be able to halt all discussions about Hamlet by saying "Of course, you've never really seen it until you've seen it on a Bouncy Castle." And indeed, this is what you get, a straight version of Hamlet performed on a Bouncy Castle.
The young cast tackle their casue with enthusiasm, although the performance I saw was marred by Hamlet sustaining an injury, deciding the audience had taken a dislike to him, losing hi slines and eventually quitting the stage in high dudgeon, leaving his fellows to make as fair a fist of it as they could. That the rest of the cast managed to do this is testament to their skill and application.
The Bouncy Castle was distracting at times, but at others it did actually add to the drama, during Ophelia's madness, for example.
A couple left after 30 minutes and it was only Hamlet's injury that made the rest of the performance worth sitting through. Ultimately the concept is what you come for and being able to see you've seen Hamlet on a bouncy castle is worht £7 of anyone's money.
NTW : The player king's lying back each time she changed characters in the play-within-a-play.
JTD : Staging the play-within-a-play on a mini Bouncy Castle
One of the glories of the fringe is the opportunity it gives to brag about bizarre theatrical sights. In this case I know I will forever more be able to halt all discussions about Hamlet by saying "Of course, you've never really seen it until you've seen it on a Bouncy Castle." And indeed, this is what you get, a straight version of Hamlet performed on a Bouncy Castle.
The young cast tackle their casue with enthusiasm, although the performance I saw was marred by Hamlet sustaining an injury, deciding the audience had taken a dislike to him, losing hi slines and eventually quitting the stage in high dudgeon, leaving his fellows to make as fair a fist of it as they could. That the rest of the cast managed to do this is testament to their skill and application.
The Bouncy Castle was distracting at times, but at others it did actually add to the drama, during Ophelia's madness, for example.
A couple left after 30 minutes and it was only Hamlet's injury that made the rest of the performance worth sitting through. Ultimately the concept is what you come for and being able to see you've seen Hamlet on a bouncy castle is worht £7 of anyone's money.
NTW : The player king's lying back each time she changed characters in the play-within-a-play.
JTD : Staging the play-within-a-play on a mini Bouncy Castle
Fresh Prince of Bel-size Park
Will Smith - How To Be Cool, Assembly Rooms
Why isn't Will Smith a household name? (I know that there is a Will Smith who is a household name - but why isn't this Will Smith a household name?)
He kept an audience from 16 to 65 (and that was just the front row) near hysterical fo 60 minutes with his dissection of what is and isn't cool and his own difficulties in understanding the dividing line.
Utilising his display screen less than in previous years, it was still integral, but his show was stronger for its use. When he isn't beholden to slides and video clips, Smith's self-dissection soars to well-crafted heights of absurdity and hilarity.
If Smith's skill and likeability were not proven in his material, then his wonderfully polite dealing with a drunken audient demonstrated it admirably.
As well as making you laugh, Smith really does make you wonder why Pete Docherty is cool but Dire Straits are not.
NTW : None at all
JTD : The ever-expanding "conversations with girls" diagram.
Why isn't Will Smith a household name? (I know that there is a Will Smith who is a household name - but why isn't this Will Smith a household name?)
He kept an audience from 16 to 65 (and that was just the front row) near hysterical fo 60 minutes with his dissection of what is and isn't cool and his own difficulties in understanding the dividing line.
Utilising his display screen less than in previous years, it was still integral, but his show was stronger for its use. When he isn't beholden to slides and video clips, Smith's self-dissection soars to well-crafted heights of absurdity and hilarity.
If Smith's skill and likeability were not proven in his material, then his wonderfully polite dealing with a drunken audient demonstrated it admirably.
As well as making you laugh, Smith really does make you wonder why Pete Docherty is cool but Dire Straits are not.
NTW : None at all
JTD : The ever-expanding "conversations with girls" diagram.
Put Big Light On !
Black Comedy, Greenside
The beauty of the fringe is seeing the legendary "concept" plays that don't get performed in the mainstream theatre anymore. Peter Shaffer's lights on/lights off piece is exactly in this mould, and this year has been tackled by a talented group from the University of Liverpool.
Special mention should go to Mark Rawle as the crusty Colonel, James Percy as the camp Harold (though his is probably the easiest part to play), and especially James Dale as struggling artist and Harry H Corbett dress-a-like Brindsley. The performers raise laughs and throw themselves into the slapstick with gusto and the set is well laid out to comic, if not aesthetic, effect.
Alas these efforts are let down by slack lighting cues and the atrocious acting of Elizabeth Ford, the one weak link in the cast. Despite the fact it ran 30 minutes longer than promised, Black Comedy represents a solid production of an oddly austere swinging 60s classic.
NTW : Nothing obvious, but the whisky was oddly clear.
JTD : A little character touch...Carol collecting a large soft toy along with her belongings when leaving.
The beauty of the fringe is seeing the legendary "concept" plays that don't get performed in the mainstream theatre anymore. Peter Shaffer's lights on/lights off piece is exactly in this mould, and this year has been tackled by a talented group from the University of Liverpool.
Special mention should go to Mark Rawle as the crusty Colonel, James Percy as the camp Harold (though his is probably the easiest part to play), and especially James Dale as struggling artist and Harry H Corbett dress-a-like Brindsley. The performers raise laughs and throw themselves into the slapstick with gusto and the set is well laid out to comic, if not aesthetic, effect.
Alas these efforts are let down by slack lighting cues and the atrocious acting of Elizabeth Ford, the one weak link in the cast. Despite the fact it ran 30 minutes longer than promised, Black Comedy represents a solid production of an oddly austere swinging 60s classic.
NTW : Nothing obvious, but the whisky was oddly clear.
JTD : A little character touch...Carol collecting a large soft toy along with her belongings when leaving.
He may be some time
Tom Crean - Antarctic Explorer, Assembly Rooms
The story of humanity has always been the story of exploration. In the early 20th century the frontier of exploration was the Antarctic; the so-called "last place on earth." As is pointed out at the start of this show, the leaders of these polar expeditions have become household names, Scott, Amundsen, Shackleton, but the men who supported them have been somewhat forgotten.
Adrian Dooley redress the balance in this one-man show in which he plays Tom Crean, the only man to go on three polar expeditions.
Crean's stories are gold anyway, and Dooley weighs them superbly to excite, entertain and on accaion move his audience deeply. His solo walk to base camp under Scott and Shackleton's last night off the coast of South Georgia are told so vividly there were times I forgot that the man on stage had not actually experienced those things.
Filled with character, insight and incident, this an hour and a quarter of pure quality. Tom Crean deserves to be celebrated for his exploits, so does Adrian Dooley.
NTW : None whatsoever
JTD : Dealing with audience distractions in character.
The story of humanity has always been the story of exploration. In the early 20th century the frontier of exploration was the Antarctic; the so-called "last place on earth." As is pointed out at the start of this show, the leaders of these polar expeditions have become household names, Scott, Amundsen, Shackleton, but the men who supported them have been somewhat forgotten.
Adrian Dooley redress the balance in this one-man show in which he plays Tom Crean, the only man to go on three polar expeditions.
Crean's stories are gold anyway, and Dooley weighs them superbly to excite, entertain and on accaion move his audience deeply. His solo walk to base camp under Scott and Shackleton's last night off the coast of South Georgia are told so vividly there were times I forgot that the man on stage had not actually experienced those things.
Filled with character, insight and incident, this an hour and a quarter of pure quality. Tom Crean deserves to be celebrated for his exploits, so does Adrian Dooley.
NTW : None whatsoever
JTD : Dealing with audience distractions in character.
Litmus
Robin Ince Isn't Waving, Assembly Rooms
I've sat to start this review a few times now and have struggled as I have very little, good or bad, to say about the show. Perhaps that says everything it needs to. I laughers, so did others. It made it's mark at the time but has faded since. See it as a fringe benchmark.
I've sat to start this review a few times now and have struggled as I have very little, good or bad, to say about the show. Perhaps that says everything it needs to. I laughers, so did others. It made it's mark at the time but has faded since. See it as a fringe benchmark.
17 August 2006
Mid fringe week madness
Panic not, gentle readers ! I have not been lynched by angry mobs of performers, fellow audients or ticket vendors, but have simply been watching too many shows (and writing reviews thereof) to post them on the site.
Stand by at the start of next week for :
Antarctic Exploration, Moonraker, My mum getting picked on by a comedian, actorly strops, one word reviews of art exhibitions, koalas, koalas, koalas, stuff and, let's not be coy about this, nonsense, and more ranting than you can shake a stick at!
*Edit : just noticed that actually I didn't mention Will Smith's obsession with Moonraker, Corinne Grant's banter with my mum or the fact we went to the Zoo and saw Koalas, sorry*
Stand by at the start of next week for :
Antarctic Exploration, Moonraker, My mum getting picked on by a comedian, actorly strops, one word reviews of art exhibitions, koalas, koalas, koalas, stuff and, let's not be coy about this, nonsense, and more ranting than you can shake a stick at!
*Edit : just noticed that actually I didn't mention Will Smith's obsession with Moonraker, Corinne Grant's banter with my mum or the fact we went to the Zoo and saw Koalas, sorry*
11 August 2006
Syb - ill!!
In Pursuit of Cardenio, Underbelly
The legendary Ken Campbell tackles the legendary William Shakespeare, what can possibly go wrong? Read on, if you dare!
I had misgivings from the start but the show began strongly, with Ken outlining the differences between "soft" improvisation of the "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" variety and the "hard" improvisation we were going to see tonight. This would be improvisation without the gimmicks and flighty-ness as he and his troupe attempted to improvise the "lost" Shakespeare play Cardenio. Each of the improvisers was given an object from the audience and began to improvise around it in iambic pentameter while the audience went among them to observe. This was fascinating and I began to put my previous dislike of improvisation aside and braced myself for a rigorously stimulating evening.
Unfortunately we were then treated to 50 minutes of "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" with a Shakespearean twist. No attempt to move on from (apparently) 7 previous "episodes" of Cardenio, no attempt to even make a coherent narrative, just - as always with comedic improvisation - arsing about for the delight of their fellow performers and friends in the audience.
A show with potential, and some of it was amusing, but being promised a different kind of improvisation and getting basically, the same old schtick was very disappointing. As the sainted TOM once said "..but what's it FOR?" If performing in general is basically showing off, then comedic improvisation is the two-year-old proudly showing you a freshly produced turd.
JTD : A couple of excellent performers really hitting their stride (Kelly and Adam)....
NTW : ....being overshadowed by a typically "look at me" old hand (Josh)
And now, an unbecoming, unpleasant, probably hypocritical and unjustified rant.
The sinking feeling in my stomach came while waiting to go into the venue when I spotted a contingent of middle-aged suburban bohemians also going in. These are the people who make the fringe unbearable at times for me. You know the type, all M&S cardigans, various bits of fabric tying their hair into a constructed bird's nest and applying make up more and more liberally with each passing year to end up resembling a cross between Una Stubbs as Aunt Sally and Bette Davis in Whatever Happened To Baby Jane. As Scotland The What once put it "Talk about mutton dressed as mock chop."
They sit in shows and bray at their friends about what they've seen and the last time they were in a venue this dark and dingy (indicating how few fringe shows they have actually seen) and delight at their digs being in "Spittal Street".
Made worse, of course, by their having friends among the cast (the most smug and self-satisfied members of the cast, of course) who then proceed to perform for them and elicit hilarious shreiks of laughter at every semi-funny gag.
If I had the oft-mentioned extra horn in my car I would be sounding it now.
The legendary Ken Campbell tackles the legendary William Shakespeare, what can possibly go wrong? Read on, if you dare!
I had misgivings from the start but the show began strongly, with Ken outlining the differences between "soft" improvisation of the "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" variety and the "hard" improvisation we were going to see tonight. This would be improvisation without the gimmicks and flighty-ness as he and his troupe attempted to improvise the "lost" Shakespeare play Cardenio. Each of the improvisers was given an object from the audience and began to improvise around it in iambic pentameter while the audience went among them to observe. This was fascinating and I began to put my previous dislike of improvisation aside and braced myself for a rigorously stimulating evening.
Unfortunately we were then treated to 50 minutes of "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" with a Shakespearean twist. No attempt to move on from (apparently) 7 previous "episodes" of Cardenio, no attempt to even make a coherent narrative, just - as always with comedic improvisation - arsing about for the delight of their fellow performers and friends in the audience.
A show with potential, and some of it was amusing, but being promised a different kind of improvisation and getting basically, the same old schtick was very disappointing. As the sainted TOM once said "..but what's it FOR?" If performing in general is basically showing off, then comedic improvisation is the two-year-old proudly showing you a freshly produced turd.
JTD : A couple of excellent performers really hitting their stride (Kelly and Adam)....
NTW : ....being overshadowed by a typically "look at me" old hand (Josh)
And now, an unbecoming, unpleasant, probably hypocritical and unjustified rant.
The sinking feeling in my stomach came while waiting to go into the venue when I spotted a contingent of middle-aged suburban bohemians also going in. These are the people who make the fringe unbearable at times for me. You know the type, all M&S cardigans, various bits of fabric tying their hair into a constructed bird's nest and applying make up more and more liberally with each passing year to end up resembling a cross between Una Stubbs as Aunt Sally and Bette Davis in Whatever Happened To Baby Jane. As Scotland The What once put it "Talk about mutton dressed as mock chop."
They sit in shows and bray at their friends about what they've seen and the last time they were in a venue this dark and dingy (indicating how few fringe shows they have actually seen) and delight at their digs being in "Spittal Street".
Made worse, of course, by their having friends among the cast (the most smug and self-satisfied members of the cast, of course) who then proceed to perform for them and elicit hilarious shreiks of laughter at every semi-funny gag.
If I had the oft-mentioned extra horn in my car I would be sounding it now.
10 August 2006
What's in a name...
A question has been raised about the title of the blog.
To which I can only answer : "Hells bells, Ann! If you're looking at the blog you must be using the internet, a huge information resource. I haven't got time to explain everything in the minutest detail. I am trying to type up the minutes of the Resident's meeting, plan the car treasure hunt and work out the fixtures list for the Cricket Club. The Close doesn't run itself you know."
To which I can only answer : "Hells bells, Ann! If you're looking at the blog you must be using the internet, a huge information resource. I haven't got time to explain everything in the minutest detail. I am trying to type up the minutes of the Resident's meeting, plan the car treasure hunt and work out the fixtures list for the Cricket Club. The Close doesn't run itself you know."
Magically Delicious
Andrew Maxwell- 'Round Twilight, Pleasance
Charming Irish fellow Andrew Maxwell has made a bit of a splash on the Fringe for the past two years, and this year he has brought two shows to Edinburgh for the balmy August nights.
'Round Twilight is his basic, stand up show, centred around his love of the night time and the adventures you can get up to there. In reality this is a hook around which to hang a couple of lengthly anecdotes and the theme doesn't really reach much of a conclusion in any way.
Maxwell's material is more prominently hard-edged than the routines I recall most fondly from last year, and the show suffered a little as a result. Maxwell is an accomplished story teller, however, and there was only one point when my mind wandered a little from his tales.
Added to this Maxwell has bags of charm, which meant the Americans next to me continued to laugh heartily through a venomous dissection of the problems with their country and its power.
Perhaps if Maxwell had done more "slipping in" and less "forcing in" of politics I would have enjoyed his show more, but a chance to see a master at work nonetheless.
NTW : Difficult, but running through old material for the purposes of explanation didn't require such a long run up and milking the laughter for the gag a second time.
JTD : Either his Leith schemie accent or out-weirding the Cape Town muggers.
Charming Irish fellow Andrew Maxwell has made a bit of a splash on the Fringe for the past two years, and this year he has brought two shows to Edinburgh for the balmy August nights.
'Round Twilight is his basic, stand up show, centred around his love of the night time and the adventures you can get up to there. In reality this is a hook around which to hang a couple of lengthly anecdotes and the theme doesn't really reach much of a conclusion in any way.
Maxwell's material is more prominently hard-edged than the routines I recall most fondly from last year, and the show suffered a little as a result. Maxwell is an accomplished story teller, however, and there was only one point when my mind wandered a little from his tales.
Added to this Maxwell has bags of charm, which meant the Americans next to me continued to laugh heartily through a venomous dissection of the problems with their country and its power.
Perhaps if Maxwell had done more "slipping in" and less "forcing in" of politics I would have enjoyed his show more, but a chance to see a master at work nonetheless.
NTW : Difficult, but running through old material for the purposes of explanation didn't require such a long run up and milking the laughter for the gag a second time.
JTD : Either his Leith schemie accent or out-weirding the Cape Town muggers.
07 August 2006
Thar She Blows!
Moby Dick - Rehearsed, C3
American Students tackle Orson Welles' script of a play of a book thought to be unperformable and step into the shoes Gordon Jackson, Kenneth Williams, Patrick McGoohan, Christopher Lee and Joan Plowright with a bravery and gusto that can surely only be shown by those who have no idea who their predecessors were.
Thank God for their Yankee energy though, because my word it was long! The actors carry their audience through the more sedate and contemplative sections of the script to lead up to a rip-roaring climax of whale hunting as Ahab and his crew go down with the beast their captain has so single-mindedly hunted.
Kudos for casting Chad Jones as Father Mapple, possibly America's tallest man, ensuring there is no need for a pulpit as he is already several feet taller than the reat of the cast! Excellent work by Zac Hoogendyk (just for having that name!) as Ahab, Katherine Miles McPherson as Pip (never has a small black boy been so convincingly played by a blonde, white actress with a tambourine) and Brooks Asher as Starbuck (hats off to the inheritor of Noddy Holder's sideboards). Special praise, however, for Micah B. Hardt as the exasperated, slightly manic Stage Manager and third Mate Flask, keeping ship and theatre together with determination.
Be warned, however, there is a fair amount of singing goes on in this production, some of which could easily have been cut to reduce the running time (what is it about August that means one's attention span is reduced to 60 minutes?). Worse, some of it seems entirely bizarre, especially a song about women when half the crew are women! Suspension of disbelief becomes very difficult with a cast of radiantly beautiful students.
If you like whales, Welles or just ogling college girls (or boys! I'm assured) this is a show you'll very much enjoy.
NTW : The student's origins mean there's no chance of a sly Williams impersonation slipping in (sit Ryan MacKenzie down in front of Carry On Doctor and let's have the carpenter declaiming "ooh, cap'n Ahab, look at your thing, it's gone all limp, let me run my hands over it and I'll have it stiff in a jiffy! Nah, stop messin' about") Also don't put all your mates in the best seats. They'll laugh and clap anyway, and some of them are spectacularly ugly in a way only Americans seem to be able to be. Having a "Dramaturg" listed in the programme. (Can I just put NTW : They're American, take your pick! ?)
JTD : So that's what a lightning sheet looks like!
American Students tackle Orson Welles' script of a play of a book thought to be unperformable and step into the shoes Gordon Jackson, Kenneth Williams, Patrick McGoohan, Christopher Lee and Joan Plowright with a bravery and gusto that can surely only be shown by those who have no idea who their predecessors were.
Thank God for their Yankee energy though, because my word it was long! The actors carry their audience through the more sedate and contemplative sections of the script to lead up to a rip-roaring climax of whale hunting as Ahab and his crew go down with the beast their captain has so single-mindedly hunted.
Kudos for casting Chad Jones as Father Mapple, possibly America's tallest man, ensuring there is no need for a pulpit as he is already several feet taller than the reat of the cast! Excellent work by Zac Hoogendyk (just for having that name!) as Ahab, Katherine Miles McPherson as Pip (never has a small black boy been so convincingly played by a blonde, white actress with a tambourine) and Brooks Asher as Starbuck (hats off to the inheritor of Noddy Holder's sideboards). Special praise, however, for Micah B. Hardt as the exasperated, slightly manic Stage Manager and third Mate Flask, keeping ship and theatre together with determination.
Be warned, however, there is a fair amount of singing goes on in this production, some of which could easily have been cut to reduce the running time (what is it about August that means one's attention span is reduced to 60 minutes?). Worse, some of it seems entirely bizarre, especially a song about women when half the crew are women! Suspension of disbelief becomes very difficult with a cast of radiantly beautiful students.
If you like whales, Welles or just ogling college girls (or boys! I'm assured) this is a show you'll very much enjoy.
NTW : The student's origins mean there's no chance of a sly Williams impersonation slipping in (sit Ryan MacKenzie down in front of Carry On Doctor and let's have the carpenter declaiming "ooh, cap'n Ahab, look at your thing, it's gone all limp, let me run my hands over it and I'll have it stiff in a jiffy! Nah, stop messin' about") Also don't put all your mates in the best seats. They'll laugh and clap anyway, and some of them are spectacularly ugly in a way only Americans seem to be able to be. Having a "Dramaturg" listed in the programme. (Can I just put NTW : They're American, take your pick! ?)
JTD : So that's what a lightning sheet looks like!
Cheggers Can't Be Boozers !
Justin Edwards - Unaccompanied As I Am, Pleasance Courtyard
Justin Edwards, as part of The Consultants and children's "entertainer" Jeremy Lion, has always employed music as a mainstay of his comedy, and this year's show concentrates solely on this side of his talent. Alas, this has the effect of reducing his mid-show alcohol consumption considerably - but perhaps that's the point?
Presenting an old favourite - A suit of blue, of powder blue - at the top of the hour means starting on a laugh, and it's a standard largely maintained throughout the 60 minutes. Keeping an audience from 16 to 65 enchanted with, basically, smutty gags is testament to Edwards' way with a clever rhyme and unusual subject matter.
The hit-rate is so high that neither technical hitch nor early-run hesitancy can mar the enjoyment of Edwards' show. Songs about "man walks into a bar" gags, Edwards' guardian angel and, most brilliantly, the career of Paul Shane are of a high musical and lyrical standard and his many versions of Dean Martin's "That's Amore" are equally stunning and groan-inducing.
A solid, hilarious and good value hour.
NTW : A disappointing critique of "You Rang M'Lord" (surely the pinnacle of the Perry/Croft oeuvre) during the Paul Shane number, saved by the....
JTD : ...appearance of the Chuckle Brothers, theme from Chucklevision and the "To Me, To You" catchphrase.
Justin Edwards, as part of The Consultants and children's "entertainer" Jeremy Lion, has always employed music as a mainstay of his comedy, and this year's show concentrates solely on this side of his talent. Alas, this has the effect of reducing his mid-show alcohol consumption considerably - but perhaps that's the point?
Presenting an old favourite - A suit of blue, of powder blue - at the top of the hour means starting on a laugh, and it's a standard largely maintained throughout the 60 minutes. Keeping an audience from 16 to 65 enchanted with, basically, smutty gags is testament to Edwards' way with a clever rhyme and unusual subject matter.
The hit-rate is so high that neither technical hitch nor early-run hesitancy can mar the enjoyment of Edwards' show. Songs about "man walks into a bar" gags, Edwards' guardian angel and, most brilliantly, the career of Paul Shane are of a high musical and lyrical standard and his many versions of Dean Martin's "That's Amore" are equally stunning and groan-inducing.
A solid, hilarious and good value hour.
NTW : A disappointing critique of "You Rang M'Lord" (surely the pinnacle of the Perry/Croft oeuvre) during the Paul Shane number, saved by the....
JTD : ...appearance of the Chuckle Brothers, theme from Chucklevision and the "To Me, To You" catchphrase.
You Were Right, Lovejoy !
Dudley Sutton - Pandora's Lunchbox, Pleasance Courtyard
Like a slightly down-on-his-luck Tom Baker, Dudley Sutton can recount improbable tales of his life with charm and great humour. Structuring his show around the addictions his "inner Pandora" steers him towards, Sutton fits in anecdotes, poems and songs. None of which are brilliant but all of which are better than you expected.
Benefitting artistically, if not financially, from a small performance space and audience, the hour passed swiftly as if in the company of a much loved Uncle, or given his bare feet and aged baby face, an overgrown Hobbit. With his talking blues and poems nicely spaced out and relevant to the subject matter Sutton is never less than engaging. A long, blank verse tirade against modern life through the frame of Chelsea manages to amuse, outrage and inspire all at the same time but a closing punt at Tony Blair seems rather less focussed, although the central message (if "1984" is banned I don't want to live in such a state) is sound enough.
NTW : A rather too graphic description of the birth of his grand-daughter
JTD : Writing your cues on little stickers on the floor.
Like a slightly down-on-his-luck Tom Baker, Dudley Sutton can recount improbable tales of his life with charm and great humour. Structuring his show around the addictions his "inner Pandora" steers him towards, Sutton fits in anecdotes, poems and songs. None of which are brilliant but all of which are better than you expected.
Benefitting artistically, if not financially, from a small performance space and audience, the hour passed swiftly as if in the company of a much loved Uncle, or given his bare feet and aged baby face, an overgrown Hobbit. With his talking blues and poems nicely spaced out and relevant to the subject matter Sutton is never less than engaging. A long, blank verse tirade against modern life through the frame of Chelsea manages to amuse, outrage and inspire all at the same time but a closing punt at Tony Blair seems rather less focussed, although the central message (if "1984" is banned I don't want to live in such a state) is sound enough.
NTW : A rather too graphic description of the birth of his grand-daughter
JTD : Writing your cues on little stickers on the floor.
Carry On Oop La Scala
Cooking With Puccini, St George's West
What if TV had been around in Puccini's day? What if the great Italian composer had appeared on a "Light Lunch" style cookery and chat programme? What if, on the show, he was candid not guarded?
I think that's probably at least one "what if" too far, and that's just the first of three major problems with Cooking With Puccini.
The second is the breakneck pace necessary to make what feels like a 1hr 30min show fit into a 1hr 15min slot. This means the crucial connection between actors and audience is difficult to establish and never really gels. As a result, what could have been a climactic communal performance of the Humming Chorus from Madame Butterfly is more than a little awkward.
The final problem is the difficulty in writing and acting supposedly spontaneous dialogue. This difficulty is not helped by a leading lady obviously case for skills other than acting. (Singing ! Settle down at the back!)
When Puccini does hit his stride the show works well, including the clever conceit that allows Puccini from Lucca (up north in Italy) to sound like he's from Leeds (oop north in England). That doesn't explain the widely varying accent of the "presenter" of the show, however. Overall it's an interesting idea, but it just falls flat.
NTW : The Whore's Dance - with dialogue whizzing past at 100 miles an hour you resent such a slow interlude.
JTD : Employing a stagehand with harmonising capabilities - highlight of the show.
What if TV had been around in Puccini's day? What if the great Italian composer had appeared on a "Light Lunch" style cookery and chat programme? What if, on the show, he was candid not guarded?
I think that's probably at least one "what if" too far, and that's just the first of three major problems with Cooking With Puccini.
The second is the breakneck pace necessary to make what feels like a 1hr 30min show fit into a 1hr 15min slot. This means the crucial connection between actors and audience is difficult to establish and never really gels. As a result, what could have been a climactic communal performance of the Humming Chorus from Madame Butterfly is more than a little awkward.
The final problem is the difficulty in writing and acting supposedly spontaneous dialogue. This difficulty is not helped by a leading lady obviously case for skills other than acting. (Singing ! Settle down at the back!)
When Puccini does hit his stride the show works well, including the clever conceit that allows Puccini from Lucca (up north in Italy) to sound like he's from Leeds (oop north in England). That doesn't explain the widely varying accent of the "presenter" of the show, however. Overall it's an interesting idea, but it just falls flat.
NTW : The Whore's Dance - with dialogue whizzing past at 100 miles an hour you resent such a slow interlude.
JTD : Employing a stagehand with harmonising capabilities - highlight of the show.
Bussman (not Quantick) KINGSIZE!!
...although in fact she is quite petite.
Bussman's Holiday, St George's West
About 10 years ago I listened to a radio sketch show called Bussman & Quantick Kingsize about which I can remember very little other than "Rabbis In Love", a preoccupation with wolves and that it was very funny. In the intervening years, the exploits of David Quantick have been quite obvious to me, as a music journalist and comedy writer his work has dovetailed nicely with my own interests, but what of Jane Bussman?
Turns out I've probably seen quite a bit of her stuff too, UK and US TV comedy scripting and celebrity journalism. Jane's show tells us of her disillusionment with this life and her attempt to escape from it into the world of more serious journalism. This takes the form of a self-funded (beacuse no one will sponsor her story) trip to war-torn Uganda to report on the bizarre, entrenched and tragic social situation there.
Making comedy out of politics and tragedy is a tightrope and not one Bussman walks with complete dexterity (perhaps it's the glamourous but impractical shoes?), she never needs the safety net but her balancing cane is pressed into service regularly.
Technical problems plagued the performance I saw, most often - unfortunately - when the reveal of her slide show was the punchline of a gag. However, even with technology issues, Bussman relates an intriguing and incident packed narrative with great humour. Best of all, she doesn't hit you on the head with what you can do to help. (although if she wielded the riding crop she uses as a pointer for the purposes of discipline I wouldn't be complaining !)
NTW : The "National Geographic" filmed inserts
JTD : Turning her celebrity technique on Colonal Otema generating the response "I love Marks and Spencer...but they always try to make me get a storecard."
Bussman's Holiday, St George's West
About 10 years ago I listened to a radio sketch show called Bussman & Quantick Kingsize about which I can remember very little other than "Rabbis In Love", a preoccupation with wolves and that it was very funny. In the intervening years, the exploits of David Quantick have been quite obvious to me, as a music journalist and comedy writer his work has dovetailed nicely with my own interests, but what of Jane Bussman?
Turns out I've probably seen quite a bit of her stuff too, UK and US TV comedy scripting and celebrity journalism. Jane's show tells us of her disillusionment with this life and her attempt to escape from it into the world of more serious journalism. This takes the form of a self-funded (beacuse no one will sponsor her story) trip to war-torn Uganda to report on the bizarre, entrenched and tragic social situation there.
Making comedy out of politics and tragedy is a tightrope and not one Bussman walks with complete dexterity (perhaps it's the glamourous but impractical shoes?), she never needs the safety net but her balancing cane is pressed into service regularly.
Technical problems plagued the performance I saw, most often - unfortunately - when the reveal of her slide show was the punchline of a gag. However, even with technology issues, Bussman relates an intriguing and incident packed narrative with great humour. Best of all, she doesn't hit you on the head with what you can do to help. (although if she wielded the riding crop she uses as a pointer for the purposes of discipline I wouldn't be complaining !)
NTW : The "National Geographic" filmed inserts
JTD : Turning her celebrity technique on Colonal Otema generating the response "I love Marks and Spencer...but they always try to make me get a storecard."
02 August 2006
"It's like the Perth Road on a Saturday night...only with mortars"
So, day 1, show 1, National Theatre of Scotland's BlackWatch. And another excellent start to the Fringe. The staging was ambitious but well managed, the performances were of a uniformly (no pun intended!) high standard, and the writing was right on the button. A challenging and thought-provoking analysis of the modern Scottish squaddie, that repeatedly demolishes and confirms your beliefs, prejudices and hopes.
The "passing show" strucutre usually worked to the show's credit and lightened what could have been a very sombre evening but I felt the contruction at times needed a bit of re-arrangement to more effectively highlight the extremes of desert (or, indeed, any) warfare. Perhaps the most striking parallel was the clear link made between the modern army regular and the mineworker or shipbuilder of 40 years ago. It remains a dirty job, but someone has to do it and that someone tends to be sons from the more deprived end of society.
My only criticism would be that at times the "Dance and Physical Theatre" aspects went on a bit too long. I would particularly single out the closing "tattoo", although part of me suspects this was intended to signify the seemingly endless pointlessness of some aspects of the military life. The show's greatest strength, however, is its merciless skewering of all the attempts at political point-scoring (veiled or otherwise) using the lives of young men who consider themselves to be "just doing their job."
NTW (Needless Theatrical Wank) : Most of the choreographed fight scenes lacked the bite and impact of the more "casual" violence in the pub.
JTD (Justified Theatrical Device) : Either "letters from home" or the initial emergence of the fatigue-clad soldiers (they'll get through a lot of baize - the good people of Shrewsbury must be rubbing their hands in glee)
In other observations of Edinburgh in August 2006; I'm not happy with the large cow being constructed in Bristo Square or the seemingly regulation fly-postering that has taken place in the past few days - which seems to me to have too much of a hint of corporate muscle about it. I'm loving the massive banners draped on the Kirk Assembly though. That's probably rather contradictory I know. (I like the inside decor of Nazi rallies but not the publicity?).
Strangest feeling is one of being overwhelmed by the Fringe in a way I never have before, but this is probably due to having the new flat etc. to deal with.
The "passing show" strucutre usually worked to the show's credit and lightened what could have been a very sombre evening but I felt the contruction at times needed a bit of re-arrangement to more effectively highlight the extremes of desert (or, indeed, any) warfare. Perhaps the most striking parallel was the clear link made between the modern army regular and the mineworker or shipbuilder of 40 years ago. It remains a dirty job, but someone has to do it and that someone tends to be sons from the more deprived end of society.
My only criticism would be that at times the "Dance and Physical Theatre" aspects went on a bit too long. I would particularly single out the closing "tattoo", although part of me suspects this was intended to signify the seemingly endless pointlessness of some aspects of the military life. The show's greatest strength, however, is its merciless skewering of all the attempts at political point-scoring (veiled or otherwise) using the lives of young men who consider themselves to be "just doing their job."
NTW (Needless Theatrical Wank) : Most of the choreographed fight scenes lacked the bite and impact of the more "casual" violence in the pub.
JTD (Justified Theatrical Device) : Either "letters from home" or the initial emergence of the fatigue-clad soldiers (they'll get through a lot of baize - the good people of Shrewsbury must be rubbing their hands in glee)
In other observations of Edinburgh in August 2006; I'm not happy with the large cow being constructed in Bristo Square or the seemingly regulation fly-postering that has taken place in the past few days - which seems to me to have too much of a hint of corporate muscle about it. I'm loving the massive banners draped on the Kirk Assembly though. That's probably rather contradictory I know. (I like the inside decor of Nazi rallies but not the publicity?).
Strangest feeling is one of being overwhelmed by the Fringe in a way I never have before, but this is probably due to having the new flat etc. to deal with.
01 August 2006
We are on the brink of a new era, if only...
So, August is finally here, the signs are up, the flags are flying. It is festeeval time in Edinburgh once more.
One of the points of Mole Valley Valves was to post my festeeval diary. So here we go.
Currently I have booked a few shows, but intend to see many more. The heights of 2004 (44 shows) or even 2005 (34 shows) will not be reached, but at least 20 will be seen.
First show is going to be BlackWatch tonight... watch this space...
One of the points of Mole Valley Valves was to post my festeeval diary. So here we go.
Currently I have booked a few shows, but intend to see many more. The heights of 2004 (44 shows) or even 2005 (34 shows) will not be reached, but at least 20 will be seen.
First show is going to be BlackWatch tonight... watch this space...
27 July 2006
The Thrill of the New
Just a quickie today (ooh, matron, no!)
Have moved into my new flat and I love it. That "Englishman's home is his castle" is so true, and I'm not English!
This means I have been coming from the opposite side of town to get to work, and I think the combination of the less familiar, the beautiful weather and the joy of my flat and my things has meant I have a new appreciation for the beauty of Edinburgh. The view from North Bridge over Waverley Station to the Scott Monument to the New Town and the Castle is one of my favourites anyway, but it has sparkled over the past few days with a new luminescence. Everybody should come to Edinburgh, it is the greatest city in the world!
I think late July is my favourite time of year in Edinburgh. The city is gearing up for the festival (box office in place at the Assembly Rooms, Pleasance Courtyard being converted etc.) but the deluge of performers, fringers and other associated hangers-on has not yet descended. It is a city on the edge of it's moment in the sun and has an anticipatory buzz.
It begins again....
Have moved into my new flat and I love it. That "Englishman's home is his castle" is so true, and I'm not English!
This means I have been coming from the opposite side of town to get to work, and I think the combination of the less familiar, the beautiful weather and the joy of my flat and my things has meant I have a new appreciation for the beauty of Edinburgh. The view from North Bridge over Waverley Station to the Scott Monument to the New Town and the Castle is one of my favourites anyway, but it has sparkled over the past few days with a new luminescence. Everybody should come to Edinburgh, it is the greatest city in the world!
I think late July is my favourite time of year in Edinburgh. The city is gearing up for the festival (box office in place at the Assembly Rooms, Pleasance Courtyard being converted etc.) but the deluge of performers, fringers and other associated hangers-on has not yet descended. It is a city on the edge of it's moment in the sun and has an anticipatory buzz.
It begins again....
20 July 2006
Some ideas you might like to try at home
Been a while, but moving into the new flat is taking up most of my time, and work most of the rest of it.
Anyway, I thought I'd list some potentially revolutionary ideas I have had in the past and the reasons why I never carried them out, for your entertainment....
1. Starting in October 1992 only listening to Beatles songs that had been released by thirty years previously. Meaning, for example, that I could not listen to Rubber Soul until November 1995. This may have given me a better appreciation for the progression in the group's work. It was never done because it would have been too much hard work and probably impossible given that you hear the Beatles everywhere.
2. Writing down every thought you have in a day. It was never done because it would have been impossible and discussion with friends suggested you would probably go insane. I still think it's an interesting idea, however I think you would need a dictaphone type deal to do it, perhaps a modified MP3 player would have sufficient capacity. There would also be that scientific thing about the very act of monitoring something causing it to change.
3. The interesting list of "words that are not part of a mobile phone's basic text predicting dictionary". Every time I get a new phone I think about this one, because there are some basic words that are not there, and some interesting ones that already are. I have found that "nike", "coca-cola" (but not, interestingly, "pepsi") and "eastenders" are there for you to use but "inclement" is not ! What gives? Never done because I am too lazy.
4. Milk cubes !!!!! Potentially revolutionary way to add milk to drinks, they would come in a clear cube, the covering of which would degrade on contact with hot liquid. This could help dieters who need to use only a particular amount of milk. Never done because I am not a scientist.
5. The Macca Project. I did "Tug Of War" I really did, I will do it, but the flat is my concern now.
Anyway, I thought I'd list some potentially revolutionary ideas I have had in the past and the reasons why I never carried them out, for your entertainment....
1. Starting in October 1992 only listening to Beatles songs that had been released by thirty years previously. Meaning, for example, that I could not listen to Rubber Soul until November 1995. This may have given me a better appreciation for the progression in the group's work. It was never done because it would have been too much hard work and probably impossible given that you hear the Beatles everywhere.
2. Writing down every thought you have in a day. It was never done because it would have been impossible and discussion with friends suggested you would probably go insane. I still think it's an interesting idea, however I think you would need a dictaphone type deal to do it, perhaps a modified MP3 player would have sufficient capacity. There would also be that scientific thing about the very act of monitoring something causing it to change.
3. The interesting list of "words that are not part of a mobile phone's basic text predicting dictionary". Every time I get a new phone I think about this one, because there are some basic words that are not there, and some interesting ones that already are. I have found that "nike", "coca-cola" (but not, interestingly, "pepsi") and "eastenders" are there for you to use but "inclement" is not ! What gives? Never done because I am too lazy.
4. Milk cubes !!!!! Potentially revolutionary way to add milk to drinks, they would come in a clear cube, the covering of which would degrade on contact with hot liquid. This could help dieters who need to use only a particular amount of milk. Never done because I am not a scientist.
5. The Macca Project. I did "Tug Of War" I really did, I will do it, but the flat is my concern now.
03 July 2006
Randomnity
Subject 1 - stuff.
I have a lot of stuff. I went to my parents' house this weekend (and now that I *nearly* own my own house, I will have to stop referring to it as "my house", which I still think of it as, even though I haven't lived there in any permanent sense for nine years) and started to sort my stuff out. I genuinely didn't realise how much stuff there is. I bought three big "moving" boxes, and filled them within about an hour. I also have an issue with how to categorise and prioritise stuff. I started with what I thought would be easy, my books by, about or relating to The Beatles. I split them into three types - books I want to take to my new flat, books I don't want to take but I don't want to get rid of and books that can go out. I started to ruminate on this, because I am a hoarder and there are books there that contain no information not contained in other books and which I will probably never look near, but I don't want to just throw them out, it implies that they are worthless and they are not. So I have resolved I will sell them on eBay, and hopefully make a nice wedge. Hopefully. However, in order to do that I will need to secure the agreement of the parents to leave them boxed in their home for some time.
Anyway, I filled the box of Beatles, and it is too heavy to lift, so it will have to be decanted at a later date (when I have more boxes).
Next I moved on to videos, mainly of Doctor Who (old skool Who that is!) but also old telly ("three words, more. old. telly.") and, inevitably, The Beatles etc. That's another box full, and a little file box too.
Next was Douglas Adams and Monty Python - a little box, some charity shop bound (ulp!), and part of a big box.
This was followed by old music magazines, filled with interesting articles! you never know what bands you might get into!! and I even have nostalgia for certain issues - read that backstage at Romeo and Juliet!, made up a compilation tape from the list of great Queen tracks in that one!, I think that was the best article on Pink Floyd I've ever read and it was in the kitchen when I came back from watching England v. Scotland at Wembley in 1999. Some of these filled the bigger box, and others have been set aside as "more research is needed" before they can be definitively thrown away.
So I now have a half cleared bookshelf, and a half-cleared cupboard. Only the books on top of the cupboard and the big bookshelf to go. Wish me luck.
Subject 2 - the lost art of the compilation tape
I dropped the heavy black bag onto the patio, there were 100 sickening crunches as 100 cassettes - marginalised by the compact disc, rendered obsolete by the iPod - gave in to the pressure of their brethern bearing down upon them. In a sort of music format peace process the pre-recorded, cassingles, C60s, C90s and even a couple of C100s and C120s were put "beyond use".
As part of the great purge of my past the cassettes had to go. Simple nostalgia for old friends is not a good enough reason to hold onto things in the current climate. (As TOM said "....but what's it FOR!!!") I did keep a few : unique, unavailable in other formats, or at least not owned by me. But everything else had to go. Including a fair number of compilations. While going through this painful process that the compilation tape must have held sway for at least 25 years, possibly as many as 35. The satisfaction of a good compilation tape, one that ends mere seconds before the tape itself, is one that the current formats cannot hold a candle to. The CD-R compilation does not have the same thrill of gambling with time; as close to 90 minutes as possible, and not one second over. The CD-R software won't let you start if you can't finish. The MP3 compilation doesn't demand the same self-control, as there is no time limit, hence a 90 minute "best of" Rod Stewart expands to a behemothic 4 and a half hour playlist. Honestly, when am I ever going to listen to 4 and a half hours of Rod Stewart to appreciate the progression of a musical journey? I threw away three compilations of which I was immensely fond, two "soundtracking" comps, one for vocal songs from films (I believe there was a caveat that the songs had to be written and recorded especially for the film, or at least turn up there first) and one for instrumentals (all hail the City Of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra! and John Barry's theme to Midnight Cowboy) and the pre-club compilation, compiled in 2000 and was more usually the post-club, must-hear-some-good-music compilation. I actually played this on Saturday afternoon, and the sequence of Say You'll Be There-Happy-Young Americans-The Seeker is uplifiting in too many ways to detail.
As well as these multi-artist compilations, there were excellent single-artist compilations too, from the cleverly titled ("These Stories I've Known - The Best of Kenny Rogers", "The Beach Boys - Love And Mercy, Heroes And Villains", "Fleetwood Mac - Singles Bar") to the matter of fact ("The Sting Cassette", "Rolling Stones Compilation", "Elvis").
And, of course, there were the bittersweet, High Fidelity style memories of compilation tapes made for others where the songs themselves, or the subtle ordering of the tracks were the message...
All of which is to say, so farewell then, the Compilation tape.
Subject 3 - How memories attach themselves
Today was a "very 2000/2001" day I thought. I meant the weather and temperature etc. reminded me of days at that time. But how does that work? There must have been days with rain in the air before then, and after, so why is it a 2000/2001 day?
Oh, the sweet mysteries of life...
I have a lot of stuff. I went to my parents' house this weekend (and now that I *nearly* own my own house, I will have to stop referring to it as "my house", which I still think of it as, even though I haven't lived there in any permanent sense for nine years) and started to sort my stuff out. I genuinely didn't realise how much stuff there is. I bought three big "moving" boxes, and filled them within about an hour. I also have an issue with how to categorise and prioritise stuff. I started with what I thought would be easy, my books by, about or relating to The Beatles. I split them into three types - books I want to take to my new flat, books I don't want to take but I don't want to get rid of and books that can go out. I started to ruminate on this, because I am a hoarder and there are books there that contain no information not contained in other books and which I will probably never look near, but I don't want to just throw them out, it implies that they are worthless and they are not. So I have resolved I will sell them on eBay, and hopefully make a nice wedge. Hopefully. However, in order to do that I will need to secure the agreement of the parents to leave them boxed in their home for some time.
Anyway, I filled the box of Beatles, and it is too heavy to lift, so it will have to be decanted at a later date (when I have more boxes).
Next I moved on to videos, mainly of Doctor Who (old skool Who that is!) but also old telly ("three words, more. old. telly.") and, inevitably, The Beatles etc. That's another box full, and a little file box too.
Next was Douglas Adams and Monty Python - a little box, some charity shop bound (ulp!), and part of a big box.
This was followed by old music magazines, filled with interesting articles! you never know what bands you might get into!! and I even have nostalgia for certain issues - read that backstage at Romeo and Juliet!, made up a compilation tape from the list of great Queen tracks in that one!, I think that was the best article on Pink Floyd I've ever read and it was in the kitchen when I came back from watching England v. Scotland at Wembley in 1999. Some of these filled the bigger box, and others have been set aside as "more research is needed" before they can be definitively thrown away.
So I now have a half cleared bookshelf, and a half-cleared cupboard. Only the books on top of the cupboard and the big bookshelf to go. Wish me luck.
Subject 2 - the lost art of the compilation tape
I dropped the heavy black bag onto the patio, there were 100 sickening crunches as 100 cassettes - marginalised by the compact disc, rendered obsolete by the iPod - gave in to the pressure of their brethern bearing down upon them. In a sort of music format peace process the pre-recorded, cassingles, C60s, C90s and even a couple of C100s and C120s were put "beyond use".
As part of the great purge of my past the cassettes had to go. Simple nostalgia for old friends is not a good enough reason to hold onto things in the current climate. (As TOM said "....but what's it FOR!!!") I did keep a few : unique, unavailable in other formats, or at least not owned by me. But everything else had to go. Including a fair number of compilations. While going through this painful process that the compilation tape must have held sway for at least 25 years, possibly as many as 35. The satisfaction of a good compilation tape, one that ends mere seconds before the tape itself, is one that the current formats cannot hold a candle to. The CD-R compilation does not have the same thrill of gambling with time; as close to 90 minutes as possible, and not one second over. The CD-R software won't let you start if you can't finish. The MP3 compilation doesn't demand the same self-control, as there is no time limit, hence a 90 minute "best of" Rod Stewart expands to a behemothic 4 and a half hour playlist. Honestly, when am I ever going to listen to 4 and a half hours of Rod Stewart to appreciate the progression of a musical journey? I threw away three compilations of which I was immensely fond, two "soundtracking" comps, one for vocal songs from films (I believe there was a caveat that the songs had to be written and recorded especially for the film, or at least turn up there first) and one for instrumentals (all hail the City Of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra! and John Barry's theme to Midnight Cowboy) and the pre-club compilation, compiled in 2000 and was more usually the post-club, must-hear-some-good-music compilation. I actually played this on Saturday afternoon, and the sequence of Say You'll Be There-Happy-Young Americans-The Seeker is uplifiting in too many ways to detail.
As well as these multi-artist compilations, there were excellent single-artist compilations too, from the cleverly titled ("These Stories I've Known - The Best of Kenny Rogers", "The Beach Boys - Love And Mercy, Heroes And Villains", "Fleetwood Mac - Singles Bar") to the matter of fact ("The Sting Cassette", "Rolling Stones Compilation", "Elvis").
And, of course, there were the bittersweet, High Fidelity style memories of compilation tapes made for others where the songs themselves, or the subtle ordering of the tracks were the message...
All of which is to say, so farewell then, the Compilation tape.
Subject 3 - How memories attach themselves
Today was a "very 2000/2001" day I thought. I meant the weather and temperature etc. reminded me of days at that time. But how does that work? There must have been days with rain in the air before then, and after, so why is it a 2000/2001 day?
Oh, the sweet mysteries of life...
29 June 2006
A picture of health !
For those who may be concerned I am no longer deaf !
Dreams of being one third of the way to being a pinball wizard dashed !
Comments should also be enabled for anyone now.
Dreams of being one third of the way to being a pinball wizard dashed !
Comments should also be enabled for anyone now.
26 June 2006
Perfect isolation here behind my wall
Had a number of things I could have written about but have decided on the one that is causing me most grief at the moment.
Since last Wednesday I have been suffering from sinus blockage. I have been prone to this kind of thing most of my life, but in the past nine months have suffered quite badly, though thankfully not for long, three times. Basically, and this may be more information than you want to hear, I get all blocked up, bring up a lot of phlegm and usually suffer from a sore throat too. This time however, I have not had the throat problem, which last affected me on my first days in my new job and prevented me conversing very much with people as I would usually break down into uncontrollable and quite horribly "loose" coughing within a few sentences.
Instead the illness has borne the trajectory of :
Wednesday night - running nose
Thursday - blocked nose, coughing fits
Friday - coughing fits, pressure in right ear
Saturday - coughing, pressure in left ear
Sunday - coughin, pressure in left ear decreasing
The pressure in the ear, is not painful, but akin to deafness in that I can hear what I say amplified in my ear, but not what others say. This has lead to me talking very quietly but thinking that I'm shouting and turning the volume on the TV right up.
I thought I would be pretty much sorted today, but instead I am now equally deaf in both ears. This had led to feverish speculation in my mind that I am in fact, going deaf. Possibly brought on by the fact I have recently double the volume of the tracks on my iPod. Internet research indicates that "ear congestion" can be brought on by poor diet (check) or spinal/neck injury (possible side effect of my sporting injury ???)
Now, obviously my mind is running wild, and I have always had sinus problems from when I was a baby, though thankfully they don't happen too often. Hopefully by my next post the subject will be something else and not how I'm learning to live with deafness....
Since last Wednesday I have been suffering from sinus blockage. I have been prone to this kind of thing most of my life, but in the past nine months have suffered quite badly, though thankfully not for long, three times. Basically, and this may be more information than you want to hear, I get all blocked up, bring up a lot of phlegm and usually suffer from a sore throat too. This time however, I have not had the throat problem, which last affected me on my first days in my new job and prevented me conversing very much with people as I would usually break down into uncontrollable and quite horribly "loose" coughing within a few sentences.
Instead the illness has borne the trajectory of :
Wednesday night - running nose
Thursday - blocked nose, coughing fits
Friday - coughing fits, pressure in right ear
Saturday - coughing, pressure in left ear
Sunday - coughin, pressure in left ear decreasing
The pressure in the ear, is not painful, but akin to deafness in that I can hear what I say amplified in my ear, but not what others say. This has lead to me talking very quietly but thinking that I'm shouting and turning the volume on the TV right up.
I thought I would be pretty much sorted today, but instead I am now equally deaf in both ears. This had led to feverish speculation in my mind that I am in fact, going deaf. Possibly brought on by the fact I have recently double the volume of the tracks on my iPod. Internet research indicates that "ear congestion" can be brought on by poor diet (check) or spinal/neck injury (possible side effect of my sporting injury ???)
Now, obviously my mind is running wild, and I have always had sinus problems from when I was a baby, though thankfully they don't happen too often. Hopefully by my next post the subject will be something else and not how I'm learning to live with deafness....
19 June 2006
...in the middle of our street
Well, I've bought a house. A flat to be exact.
And everyone seems to be cock-a-hoop about it.
Except me.
I now understand what people say about it being one of the most stressful things you can do in your life. I like knowing what I'm doing, so this has been a bit of a nightmare so far. Viewing properties without fully knowing what I should be looking for (I eventually picked all the things I looked for when I was looking for rental places plus central heating). Engaging a solicitor and working out what the bidding system involved. The vague information you get back from that. Speaking to mortgage advisors and taking their advice (incorrectly as it turned out in terms of how long it would take to finalise a mortgage, meaning I had to go back and try to renegotiate the entry date.) Dealing with the parents about what they were going to pay towards it, and what that would entitle them too (although it is a fantastic deal in those terms) Now I'm on to working out what furniture needs to be bought and how best to buy it (interest free credit, warranties, etc, etc.).
However, desipite it being a nightmare, it does mean I will have my own flat that I can have my way and all my little plans and schemes can come true. Which is nice.
And I know I'm lucky to be able to afford a flat in such a good location in these days but it's still a nightmare.
And everyone seems to be cock-a-hoop about it.
Except me.
I now understand what people say about it being one of the most stressful things you can do in your life. I like knowing what I'm doing, so this has been a bit of a nightmare so far. Viewing properties without fully knowing what I should be looking for (I eventually picked all the things I looked for when I was looking for rental places plus central heating). Engaging a solicitor and working out what the bidding system involved. The vague information you get back from that. Speaking to mortgage advisors and taking their advice (incorrectly as it turned out in terms of how long it would take to finalise a mortgage, meaning I had to go back and try to renegotiate the entry date.) Dealing with the parents about what they were going to pay towards it, and what that would entitle them too (although it is a fantastic deal in those terms) Now I'm on to working out what furniture needs to be bought and how best to buy it (interest free credit, warranties, etc, etc.).
However, desipite it being a nightmare, it does mean I will have my own flat that I can have my way and all my little plans and schemes can come true. Which is nice.
And I know I'm lucky to be able to afford a flat in such a good location in these days but it's still a nightmare.
12 June 2006
A socially irresponsible post
Had a barbecue at the weekend. First time I've ever done one from start to finish, and it was lots of fun. The trick is to build little piles and then turn the coals over when they are white, spread them out and add others until your grill tray is full. Then you're ready to go, you need to top up every 45 minutes or so.
Anyway the most eventful thing was at one point the whole table on which the barbecues (there were two) were standing, caught fire, and I had to put it out. It reminded me of the old Public Information Films about the chip pan fires. I know they said, don't use water, but I figured that was because of the oil involved, so I used water. And towels to kill the fire at it's source. Within about 5 minutes it was all out. The only thing was I had to go pretty much back to the start with the barbecues, and that wasted some fuel.
I preferred the charcoal briquettes to the lumpwood, but it was all good.
Then, on Sunday I managed to get a sporting injury ! Considering how little sport I do, this is some feat, or perhaps that's why! Anyway, basically I fell over and my sunglasses cut my head, but because I was running between bases playing ball in the park it looked like I was making a heroic lunge for the base! And it looks as though I may get a cool scar over my eye! (How old are you !)
As Mark Corrigan would say :"I'm a man!"
Anyway the most eventful thing was at one point the whole table on which the barbecues (there were two) were standing, caught fire, and I had to put it out. It reminded me of the old Public Information Films about the chip pan fires. I know they said, don't use water, but I figured that was because of the oil involved, so I used water. And towels to kill the fire at it's source. Within about 5 minutes it was all out. The only thing was I had to go pretty much back to the start with the barbecues, and that wasted some fuel.
I preferred the charcoal briquettes to the lumpwood, but it was all good.
Then, on Sunday I managed to get a sporting injury ! Considering how little sport I do, this is some feat, or perhaps that's why! Anyway, basically I fell over and my sunglasses cut my head, but because I was running between bases playing ball in the park it looked like I was making a heroic lunge for the base! And it looks as though I may get a cool scar over my eye! (How old are you !)
As Mark Corrigan would say :"I'm a man!"
06 June 2006
Snorty Licks
There is an advert on your telly (yes, it's on your telly, YOUR personal telly! There ought to be a law!) at the moment, which is advertising The Rolling Stones Forty Licks compilation. And there are two things about it which bother me....
The first is that of the Forty (geddit!) tracks on this compilation, representing The Greatest Rock And Roll Band In The World, the advert previews Ruby Tuesday, Miss You, Under My Thumb and Angie. All great songs (with the possible exception of Miss You) but hardly the rockingest selection when you could have the riffs of Satisfaction, The Last Time, Start Me Up and Brown Sugar, is it? They're the Rolling Stones for god's sake ! Maybe falling out of that tree did more damage to Keith than reported and this summer's concerts are going to be mid tempo all the way.
The second is the idea of "re-promotion", obviously the re-promotion is in aid of the concerts this summer (although they're not till August), but the concerts themselves are supposedly in support of A Bigger Bang, the latest "best Stones album since Some Girls", but that's not being repromoted, it's the greatest hits. However it does set the mind thinking on other possible re-promotions : "Out now, from the Beatles, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band!", "The essential album of the year, Dire Straits Brothers In Arms (the year in question being 1986)" or "The breakthrough album from the new act everyone is talking about - The Bay City Rollers, Rollin'"
The first is that of the Forty (geddit!) tracks on this compilation, representing The Greatest Rock And Roll Band In The World, the advert previews Ruby Tuesday, Miss You, Under My Thumb and Angie. All great songs (with the possible exception of Miss You) but hardly the rockingest selection when you could have the riffs of Satisfaction, The Last Time, Start Me Up and Brown Sugar, is it? They're the Rolling Stones for god's sake ! Maybe falling out of that tree did more damage to Keith than reported and this summer's concerts are going to be mid tempo all the way.
The second is the idea of "re-promotion", obviously the re-promotion is in aid of the concerts this summer (although they're not till August), but the concerts themselves are supposedly in support of A Bigger Bang, the latest "best Stones album since Some Girls", but that's not being repromoted, it's the greatest hits. However it does set the mind thinking on other possible re-promotions : "Out now, from the Beatles, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band!", "The essential album of the year, Dire Straits Brothers In Arms (the year in question being 1986)" or "The breakthrough album from the new act everyone is talking about - The Bay City Rollers, Rollin'"
01 June 2006
First Post
This is my rant of the day.
John Prescott.
What's going on?
For a long time now I've been a fan of Prescott's. I think he is exactly the kind of person who people mean when they say "We should have more ordinary people in Parliament." I think it's great the fact that he used an official car to drive his wife 200 yards so her hair didn't get blown about is superb, and exactly what an ordinary person would do for their wife (not withstanding what has subsequently come to light about him).
I remember, back in University, we would have many a discussion about Mr Prescott in one particular seminar instead of whatever the actual subject of the seminar was meant to be. (Either Mr Prescott or Anne Widdecombe - our tutor had a bit of an obsession with both.)
However, much as I supported his actions, I was amazed by what occured in Swansea? during the 2001 general election. It seemed to me that the headline "Deputy Prime Minister Punches Voter During Election Campaign" would almost certainly spell the end of said minister's political career. Instead Tony Blair laughed it off with "Well, John's John you know." And I would have imagined this as a response from his own party. But no opposition politician, of any party, called for his resignation or even chastisement. He was transformed into a hero in my eyes. A man who was ridiculed on an almost daily basis but who was seemingly impervious to criticism, to the extent that no one even voiced that criticism. Here was a man, I thought, who knows where the bodies are buried. It can't simply be a case of knowing too much about the Blair-Brown Deal, because the opposition won't touch him either. Until today, and a fairly innocuous statement from George Osborne, more aimed at the Labour Government than Prescott in particular, no one outside the Labour Party has broached the subject.
And now here we are with another storm in a teacup, Prescott playing croquet when he was "running the country". As I understand it Tony Blair was not actually out of the country at the time in question, therefore was still "running the country". Also, for all we know, Prescott had been at his desk since 6am and decided he wanted a game of croquet over lunch. It wasn't as if he was drunk or on drugs, he could have been contacted any time had anything been required of him.
Yet, as a result of this, his own party are calling for his head ?
I'm afraid this could be the beginning of the kind of Labour in-fighting that saw the Tories stumble out of office without credibility as a working government. I think Labour MPs should think hard about exactly what this airing of their personal opinions in public could do.
John Prescott.
What's going on?
For a long time now I've been a fan of Prescott's. I think he is exactly the kind of person who people mean when they say "We should have more ordinary people in Parliament." I think it's great the fact that he used an official car to drive his wife 200 yards so her hair didn't get blown about is superb, and exactly what an ordinary person would do for their wife (not withstanding what has subsequently come to light about him).
I remember, back in University, we would have many a discussion about Mr Prescott in one particular seminar instead of whatever the actual subject of the seminar was meant to be. (Either Mr Prescott or Anne Widdecombe - our tutor had a bit of an obsession with both.)
However, much as I supported his actions, I was amazed by what occured in Swansea? during the 2001 general election. It seemed to me that the headline "Deputy Prime Minister Punches Voter During Election Campaign" would almost certainly spell the end of said minister's political career. Instead Tony Blair laughed it off with "Well, John's John you know." And I would have imagined this as a response from his own party. But no opposition politician, of any party, called for his resignation or even chastisement. He was transformed into a hero in my eyes. A man who was ridiculed on an almost daily basis but who was seemingly impervious to criticism, to the extent that no one even voiced that criticism. Here was a man, I thought, who knows where the bodies are buried. It can't simply be a case of knowing too much about the Blair-Brown Deal, because the opposition won't touch him either. Until today, and a fairly innocuous statement from George Osborne, more aimed at the Labour Government than Prescott in particular, no one outside the Labour Party has broached the subject.
And now here we are with another storm in a teacup, Prescott playing croquet when he was "running the country". As I understand it Tony Blair was not actually out of the country at the time in question, therefore was still "running the country". Also, for all we know, Prescott had been at his desk since 6am and decided he wanted a game of croquet over lunch. It wasn't as if he was drunk or on drugs, he could have been contacted any time had anything been required of him.
Yet, as a result of this, his own party are calling for his head ?
I'm afraid this could be the beginning of the kind of Labour in-fighting that saw the Tories stumble out of office without credibility as a working government. I think Labour MPs should think hard about exactly what this airing of their personal opinions in public could do.
19 April 2006
A beginning of sorts
Thought I'd better get into the habit of posting, if I intend to do such a thing on a regular basis, and I do.
So this is just to point out that my other blogs, the ones with more "point" to them, are available by clicking on the links to the left, including the new one for the imminent trip to China with Fiona.
So this is just to point out that my other blogs, the ones with more "point" to them, are available by clicking on the links to the left, including the new one for the imminent trip to China with Fiona.
05 April 2006
Still testing
This is still a test while I work out what I'm going to do with the blog. I'm about to start another blog, probably called, at least initially "The Macca Project". This will begin by being a resume of all Paul McCartney's albums, and will grow from there. I hope there will be irreverent but never personally insulting comment on all things Macca....or maybe not.
04 April 2006
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