March 2009

Hello Everyone…

Well, life is never dull, is it? Nor should it be, for without the thrill of the unknown, without the possibilities of the impossible, without the excitement of the unexpected, what a boring old world this world of ours would be to live in....

So why do I begin this blog with just a smidgen of profundity? Well, maybe it's because the urge to be back, working in a full time theatrical production has once again ripped up all of my sensible plans and tossed them into the bin...  This coming March through to July I will now be touring the UK in a brand new musical called 'The Thorn Birds'. (The musical is based on the television series of the same name) I am playing the Christopher Plummer role 'Cardinal Di Contini - Verchese'… A new theatrical production is always an exciting project to be part of and I am sure that this production will be no exception. Its current touring schedule will hopefully soon be found in the date's section of this web site.

Having made such a huge about turn with my future plans, can someone now please explain to me what on earth was I thinking when kicking into touch the one aspect of showbiz that I love more than anything else? ('Roar of the grease paint' type productions?).... Its funny how, without fully realising it, I had kind of pulled away from all of those type of productions... Maybe it was a kind of subconscious move which occurred without any purpose or planning…  I simply started performing loads of very enjoyable 'Feel good' concerts around the UK.  As opposed to the regimented, disciplined, eight shows a week, scripted, theatrical productions, which always demand so much of any artiste's life.

When you are in a successful, long running theatrical production like 'Phantom' or 'Les Mis' etc, etc the contracts don't run weekly or monthly, they run yearly, and continue to run for as long as you can physically and mentally perform the role.  Which is wonderful, and fantastic, and establishes one as doing 'Okay' in the world of big stage productions. But then there is the other side of that success which does have a few personal drawbacks. For one thing your career has to go on hold, as you have no free time to do anything else. So sadly you never get considered for any of the exciting 'one off' roles in television, film or concert. It also kills stone dead ones social life, no late nights or pleasant occasions of quiet celebration, one has to live the life of the proverbial 'Siberian Monk' if one wishes to remain healthy and present for 8 (Two & a half hour) shows a week! Which may, to some small degree, explain the occasional 'Blip' in my attendance record over the years!?

Ah but why dally on such tender issues… that was then and this is now and in my life I don't think anything was meant to stay the same for long. Once I realised just how much I missed being in the hurly burly of a full blown theatrical production, I resolved to put matters right. Therefore, when invited to be a part of this wonderful production there was not so much as a flicker of hesitation on my part, before replying 'Yes sir, indeed sir, 3 bags full sir'….  Suffice to say, I am once again, looking forward to this production immensely.

As regards those very enjoyable.. 'Feel Good' concerts they are still to be a huge part of my yearly schedule. They were especially produced for people honest in their enjoyment and truthful in their dislikes. They were and are special concerts for the special people of whom I wrote in my last blog. The shows are called 'The Afternoon Show'. These shows have now evolved into an afternoon show of immense daft and dappy proportions. They feature everything I felt would be informal and hugely enjoyable and most of all entertaining. Their prime essence had to be spontaneity… and boy did we find that in abundance.
We now have members of the audience joining us on stage to do their thing… Whatever that might be!? (We've had a 69 year old belly dancer, an 87 year old belting blues singer, a clog dancer of indeterminable age that dances in wooden shoes whilst reciting poetry in Welsh, just to name a few.) We also invite requests for songs no matter what, and perform them, whether known or not, to the great amusement of all. We continually give out prizes throughout the show. We tell jokes.. And have rib-splitting repartee with the audience throughout. We even have bingo in between the first act and the second act. And then there are the sing-a-longs. We feature a variety of sing-a-longs from each decade (All words and lyrics are to be found in our special £1 programme). We always have a top of the bill and finally we hold an 'After show party' where we the cast join the audience for a cup of tea, a cake, and a chat.). Here's an incredible fact.. Anyone coming to one of our 'Afternoon Shows' could, by chance, walk into our show on an £8 ticket and walk out a multi-millionaire… This is true!… courtesy of one of the many lottery tickets that we give away during the show!? It has and continues to be a show of enormous fun, satisfaction and reward for all concerned..
For further info please visit www.theafternoonshow.eu There will be a new tour of concerts for 'The Afternoon Show', commencing autumn 09. All dates will be posted on both web sites over the next 6 weeks.  Hopefully I will get to see you there?

Then there are the insane going's on to do with my writing projects… The musicals, the play's, the story's, the poems and of course the Quiz/Game shows. Having an over active imagination can also cause a few side issues, such as finding the time to finish them all off.

Most of these projects are currently of the 'Stop, start' variety… (More on stop than start…But could start again at any moment). These projects have now been lingering on far too long, due in part to the demands of necessity. That old necessity of having to earn a living!? No doubt they will be finished sooner than later (Hopefully a lot sooner than much later?).

The present situation with some of the main projects are as follows…
RASPUTIN… Talks are underway for funding and production, which will hopefully see this musical finally performed in the autumn… Lets hope its the autumn of this year? It has been totally rewritten and revamped for the third time…
THE QUIET MAN… One more summer in Ballybunion should see this stage play finished. Next, to find an Irish musician who likes the story enough to collaborate with me on a search for its own, distinctive, musical style. Hell, even if this show is a complete disaster.. A two month holiday in 'LALA' land, facing the wrath and drama of the North Atlantic, will certainly make it all worthwhile..
THE PORCELAIN PALACE… A new musical comedy, which has leapt out of no where, and occupied my mind throughout this troubled winter… Features ghosts and a great story line. Definitely one for the future?
THE BOY ALEX… Still awaiting production scheduling over in Hollywood's animation City… Am now pitching for a children's publisher to launch the book version over here.
UNDERNEATH THE SEQUOIA TREE… Presently one that's on stop. Could be a great heartbreaker when finished. A tear jerking love story that spans a lifetime of impossible love.

Maybe this tour of The Thorn Birds will afford me the daytime peace and quiet to get some of them completed… I shall let you know in the next 'Blog'?

I look back on last year and realise that it was a year of new beginnings.. It was a year of change. Nothing great happened but then neither did anything bad, which nowadays must be considered a pretty good year.
I regard the immediate future as being a year of exciting opportunity, a year not to be missed. I am more buoyed by this year of 2009 than any of the previous 10… But can't explain why?

I have been asked by my dear friend, Shirlee of Michigan to include one of my daft poems. Please know my thoughts are with you at this sad time.… The poem is a paradox poem written in September 2006.
 
Love Without End

Oh, to stride once more o'er that sweet sod of youth
To ride without fear through love's drivel dried truth
To fight with loves passion; win, lose or draw
To play without shame in a game wanting more
To love with such lust unbridled and free
That now lives in my mind on sweet memories
To race with that love, naked of thought
Naive and complete in an innocence yet caught
To still see your face, to still breathe in your breath
To live out the dreams locked away in my chest
Regrets? Only one, to live it all again, only this time
Its ending?… That's right… to 'Love without end' 
 
To all my friends I would like to take this opportunity of thanking you sincerely for your continued support and encouragement. You make the good times great and the bad times bearable.. Thank you so much for being there. 

Much love, peace and prosperity to you all
Peter xx

 

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