August 2009

Hello Friends..

August 2009! Not exactly the summer of blazing sunshine we were all hoping for. But at least the Welsh reservoirs are looking pretty healthy right now. The day's maxim (And pun?) being; 'Every dark cloud has a silver lining?' Well I guess that's as good a way as any to start a blog. I have a feeling that part of this blog will be carrying the same maxim.

Quite a lot has happened since my last posting (March 09)

Starting off... Rehearsals for the Thorn Bird UK tour started on the 2 nd of March and the show finally came off on the 11 th of July 2009. The tour of Thorn Birds was a terrific adventure and experience.. The show, pretty much as expected, was not hailed by the critics as an almighty, theatre rattling success, but by the audiences, (Which were plentiful in all areas); it was a much appreciated show and greatly loved. This was further shown by the amount of performances receiving that great audience accolade 'The standing ovation' of which we had in abundance.

The role which I had the privilege of playing was that of Cardinal de Contini Verchese. It was a rather frustrating role as he wasn't written to get that involved with the main storyline. So I did a kind of semi narrator role at the beginning of act one and at the beginning of several scenes in the second act. Even his one big song (Mystery) was divided in two by a dialogue scene. And the poor old Cardinal then never had the chance to explain why he felt Ralph De Bricasart (The hero) was a mystery. But, small potatoes, the old Cardinal did have a few interesting moments... Like being able to walk casually onto stage as the two lovers were passionately busy doing their love making on a make do sand bank.. And then to abstractly ask of the audience "How can we measure time?" Talking of which, there was one show where that line became a rather ironic question. For some apparent mystery (That shall remain a mystery) I unfortunately missed my entrance cue. This meant that the two lovers then had to keep going at their love making thingy until I showed up to move the show on. Well suffice to say they both seemed very exhausted; as was I, by the time I appeared breathlessly to spout the words....'How can we measure time?'... And a little voice in the front row was heard to call out spontaneously.. "I dun no... But you're late!" I tightly smiled at no one in particular and continued.

The cast were a fantastically talented and hugely enjoyable crowd of people. We had fun wherever we travelled... Maybe on occasions more 'Fun' than we were really entitled to, but by goodness some of it was just terrific. We all dined out together as often as possible. In fact, any excuse would do, maybe someone's birthday? Or someone going for an audition... or someone coming back from an audition or someone might have found a great restaurant and we would be invited to try it out.. For instance at Hull, after a two show day, we all piled into this nearest tavern of very friendly ways and put on a full blown cabaret show with live band and sound system. It was video'd by members of the cast as everyone did some number or other. It lasted all the way through till daylight dawned and a great time was had by all, such was the camaraderie of the inmates for this exceptional production.  

  So, with the tour all finished, which, by the time we had all recovered, was near to the end of July; I had to sort myself out for my first solo concert for five months. It came on the 31 st of July and it unexpectedly became a solo concert as my dear friend, an accompanist, Mr John Quirk was unable to join me Likewise with my leading lady Elizabeth Tiley, who was also in another part of the country.  

The concert itself was in Aberaeron on the beautiful Cardigan coast. I was to perform a show celebrating the opening of the Memorial Hall after its refurbishment.   I had the most wonderful night singing all the big theatrical songs and telling a host of short anecdotes from most shows that I had performed in. I have to say, without the wonderful generosity of the sold out audience I am not sure it would have become the night it did. But they were magnificent and we all had a ball. What a great way to start back.

Since that date I have been booking a whole host of concerts for the rest of this year and the next, all the way up to the end of May. Unfortunately trying to do too many things at once can sometimes be a bit counter productive, as it proved in this instance. Anyway who was it that said "Men can't multi task!"

  To perform concerts in the September /October /November /December one should, by rights be calling the venue programmers/agencies /theatre managers/owners etc etc in the depth of winter, Jan/Feb/March/April/May time. Unfortunately I was away on tour and still trying to find space to write. Plus the fact that I believed the rumour that 'The Thorn Birds' would be travelling on to Germany for an Autumn/Winter tour. Well I believed it enough not to apply my focus where I should have. Hence here I am in August still trying to find venues and space on a programmers schedule to fit either of my shows in for the period for Oct/Nov/Dec this year..As most venues have by now filled this part of their calendar.   So if any of you know of a venue looking for an act this side of Christmas... I'm your man!

The dates listed today are the dates set and confirmed up to the time of going to print. But the dates are being added to on a daily basis therefore as the concerts are booked in and confirmed so the web site will be updated as soon as possible thereafter....

 

 

 

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