June updates

Ok, so I'm a terrible Blogger!  I don't ever seem to have the time to put fingers to keys and tell the world what I've been up to.  The issue there, is that those busy times are probably much more interesting than when I've got plenty of time to blog, but consequently, nothing to say!

 

A few weeks back, I took part in a week-long workshop of a new musical that has been commissioned by the Liverpool Playhouse, with a view to a full production sometime next year.  The piece was called Lost Boys, and is sort of, to Peter Pan, what Wicked is to the Wizard of Oz, although this story is what happened after the famous book ended, rather than before, as in the case of Wicked.

 

With a book and lyrics by Phil Willmott (Naked Boys Singing and Nunsense director), and music by Mark Collins, the show really had a lot of good stuff to recommend it.  There are a lot of really touching moments in it, and some absolutely beautiful songs.  I have a feeling that it will end up being a really good show.

 

I played Captain Hook. It's the first time I've ever had the opportunity to really go to town and play a proper hideous villain character.  It was great fun!  I got the chance to shout and scream, and snarl, all the while singing some cracking songs, and throughouly enjoying myself.  I have to say, it was utterly exhausting on the voice, and I'm sure I was doing all manner of things that a singing teacher would have a fit if they witnessed it, but I loved it!

 

We've also had two new boys in the cast of Naked Boys Singing (still doing well at the Charing Cross Theatre, every Friday and Saturday night at 10pm).  As resident director on the show, as well as dance captain, it was my job, along with associate musical director, Jem Powell, to get them ready for their first performance.  They only had five days to learn everything, and they were onstage, naked, in front of an audience at the end of day five, so it was pretty intense.

 

It's easy for people to underestimate NBS: it's only just over an hour long, so people are inclined to think that that means it's an easy show to learn.  Not so!  In many full length musicals, there are only a couple of full-company numbers per act.  The rest of the show is often made up of solos, and book scenes.  Not so with NBS at all.  It's just song after song, many of which feature the full cast, in full harmony.  So there's a LOT of music to learn and a LOT of dancing to get into your head. Some of it, although brilliantly choreographed by Andrew Wright, is really tricksy, and fiddly to learn.

 

When we were auditioning for the new boys, as far as I was concerned, there were two clear leaders out of the eight or so boys we saw.  I'm delighted to say that everyone on the panel agreed, and both boys accepted the job.  One of the new boys, David Malcolm was new to me, but the other Michael Cotton and I had worked together in Martin Guerre a million years ago, and we even knew each other frmo drama college a couple of  years before that.  It's been lovely re-getting to know each other.  They've both been amazing at fitting into the show.  They've worked extraordinarily hard at learning everything, and both have every reason to very proud of what they're doing in the show.  Why not pop down to the theatre one night and see for yourself?

 

In the midst of all of this mad crazy busy-ness, I took a day trip up to Manchester, to sing as a surprise waiter at a wedding.  I was driving up the M1, en route, and sitting next to me was the wonderful Tim Morgan, who I first met when we did Mary Poppins together about six years ago.

 

There we were, chatting away, when I witnessed what looked like an explosion coming out of the front of an articulated lorry just ahead of me in the outside lane.  I immediately switched my hazard lights on, as I slowed down, driving through loads of debris as I came to a stop.

 

It turned out that the "explosion" was actually the impact of the lorry slamming into the back of a van, which in trun was shunted into the back of a BMW that was carrying four people.  Dazed people were emerging from all the vehicles, as we ran over to see if we could help.  Tim immediately got on the phone to the emergency services, and I spoke to each person in turn, to make sure they could all talk, and to find out what was hurting.  The people in the car were all ok, except for a lot of neck pain, from obvious whiplash, and the driver had hurt his legs on the steering wheel.  The driver of the van was less lucky.  He had hit his head, as the impact happened, and a cut on his face was bleeding profusely.  His face was covered with blood, and he had a lot of pain in his leg.  Thankfully, on closer inspection, the cut was a lot less bad than it looked, it was just bleeding a lot.  I spent the time while we waited for the police and the ambulance to arrive, helping him to find a number for his wife's work, so that he could tell her that he was ok.

 

Oddly, by the time the police arrived, one of the four car passengers had done a runner.  The others started off by telling the police that there were only three of them in the car, but when it became clear that were knew there had actually been four, they changed their story, and said that the other one had an urgent appointment, and had to go.  WE WERE AT JUNCTION 9 ON THE M1! WHERE COULD HE POSSIBLY HAVE BEEN GOING ON FOOT?! It was all rather odd, and I can only assume that he had no legal right to be in this country, and didn't want to come face to face with the police!

 

I had been going round to everyone involved, force-feeding them wine gums, as I asserted that sugar would be good against shock, and after giving a statement to the police, about what little I had seen, we went on our way.  The rest of the day was very uneventful by comparison.  It was interesting to note though, that not a single other vehicle stopped to lend a hand.  It simply wouldn't have occured to me NOT to stop!  Such is human nature today, I suppose.

 

I've also started my day job in the last week or so, back at the box office at the Shaftesbury Theatre, for the run of Derren Brown's show, Svengali.  Ben and I went to see the show just before my first shift back.  I have to say, it's utterly astonishing.  I can honestly say, I was astounded at the extraordinary feats of psychology and mind-power madness that Derren can do.  I don't think there's ever been an entertainer quite like him.  I loved it.  I've been a friend of Derren's for a few years now, and Ben and I went to see him after the show.  Even though he's a mate, I still felt like a burbling fan, as the show had simply been that good!

 

I love being back at the Shaftesbury.  It's such a nice team of people, and because it's an independent theatre, rather than part of a large group, it's a very small team, and we all get on really well.  I can honestly say that not a day goes by there, when I don't get reduced to helpless tears of laughter over something. It may not be my vocational work, but I can think of a million worse places to spend my days while I wait for the next show to come along for me.

 

Last night I drove to Windsor, to Oakley Court Hotel, to lead a Crashing Waiters dinner event.  Crashing Waiters is basically an opportunity to surprise a load of diners, and get them all making one hell of a lot of noise, hitting things in rhythm, to create a huge kitchen junk percussion orchestra.  It's always a lot of fun, and last night was no exception.  It was the first time I've taken one of these sessions for over a year, so I was a little nervous about it, but as soon as it started, I really got into my stride, and had a ball.  I hope the clients did too!  They certainly seemed happy, as they left, so I assume it was all good.

 

Tomorrow is my birthday, and Ben bullied me into organising a bit of a get-together at our house for when I finish work tomorrow evening.  My mum and her partner, Ron, are coming down from Shropshire, my sister, one niece and my nephew will be here from North Wales, and dear friends Lisa with my goddaughter, Poppy, and Vanessa will also be there.  It's possible that a few assorted others will show up too.  I'm really looking forward to it.  My sister has promised me a birthday cake in the shape of an ABBA record, and I'm unreasonably excited abut that!

 

Talking of birthday parties, it was the birthday of our rats, Castor and Pollux on Monday.  On Sunday we all attended their official birthday party, at the home of their mum, Monkey, and her owners, Tom and David.  David had gone to loads of effort, putting together the perfect ratty birthday tea, complete with a birthday cake with candles, and tiny miniature cucumber sandwiches.  Attending, were Cas and Pol, their mum, Monkey, their sister, Esme, and their unrelated Auntie McCann.  Brothers Charlie Sheen and Emilio Estevez Rabbit were also there.  A great time was had by all.  At one point there was a bit of a scrap between Cas and Pol and Charlie, so they had to be separated, but other than that, it was amazing how they all accepted being around each other, especially mixing boys and girls together, which surprised us all.

 

So it's been a very busy time, with loads of things going on.  Sometimes I panic that I don't have time to fit everything in, but then I remember how good it is to be in demand, and I'd rather keep busy than not, so I reckon, I'm pretty blessed!

 

So this is me, signing off.

 

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