I will blog later on the South Asia tsunami. I can't quite get my head round it yet, and wouldn't do justice to the millions affected by writing just now (imay not later either so don't hold your breath).
So for now- something a little more frivolous!
Lets talk panto! Yesterday a battered assortment of survivors from family Christmasses gathered to make a once in a lifetime trip. Nine of us got in a minibus (thanks YFC!), to go see our friend Kate, in Aladdin in Chesterfield. All a bit of a risk as she didn't know we were coming! Good trip up (despite nearly getting stuck in the mud outside my house), bit of a wander round Bakewell (indulged in some pudding too!). Then into panto land itself.
What can I say? Panto is introvert hell. I'm just not sure I get it.. and it does pain me slightly that it is the thing that keeps British theatre economically viable. Why the girls dressed as boys? (watching your friend doing a love duet (Words by Natahsa Bedingfield!!??) with another girl is a bit weird..) Why the middle aged men dressed as women? Why the complete acceptance of xenophobia? Panto is the land that political correctness forgot!!!!
Questions aside.. the fact is that the kids loved it (helped ably by us nine being VERY loud in the back row). They cheered and booed (not as excitedly as us however), they laughed, they ran for the sweets (thrown by a 50 year old man in drag.. but lets not bring reality back)..
And more importantly it was fantastic to see Kate... she was great! (even The Stage say so!!). And actually surprising people is the most fun! Specially when you have had a text conversation on the way up where she happily gave away her whereabouts for the rest of the day without having a clue. Oh, and the bit where she realised that she must know people as we cheered so loud everytime she came on stage. Oh, and the bit where the other cast members were wondering why the audience was so manic.. and the bit where she flew on a magic carpet.. and did a sword fight.. but not at the same time..
And there is something just so good about watching someone do what they were made for (not just panto Kate, I promise!). To watch someone operate so much in their gifting, to see them come alive.. its just the best..
So- thanks to all for coming and for performing.. lets do that again- just not panto!
So for now- something a little more frivolous!
Lets talk panto! Yesterday a battered assortment of survivors from family Christmasses gathered to make a once in a lifetime trip. Nine of us got in a minibus (thanks YFC!), to go see our friend Kate, in Aladdin in Chesterfield. All a bit of a risk as she didn't know we were coming! Good trip up (despite nearly getting stuck in the mud outside my house), bit of a wander round Bakewell (indulged in some pudding too!). Then into panto land itself.
What can I say? Panto is introvert hell. I'm just not sure I get it.. and it does pain me slightly that it is the thing that keeps British theatre economically viable. Why the girls dressed as boys? (watching your friend doing a love duet (Words by Natahsa Bedingfield!!??) with another girl is a bit weird..) Why the middle aged men dressed as women? Why the complete acceptance of xenophobia? Panto is the land that political correctness forgot!!!!
Questions aside.. the fact is that the kids loved it (helped ably by us nine being VERY loud in the back row). They cheered and booed (not as excitedly as us however), they laughed, they ran for the sweets (thrown by a 50 year old man in drag.. but lets not bring reality back)..
And more importantly it was fantastic to see Kate... she was great! (even The Stage say so!!). And actually surprising people is the most fun! Specially when you have had a text conversation on the way up where she happily gave away her whereabouts for the rest of the day without having a clue. Oh, and the bit where she realised that she must know people as we cheered so loud everytime she came on stage. Oh, and the bit where the other cast members were wondering why the audience was so manic.. and the bit where she flew on a magic carpet.. and did a sword fight.. but not at the same time..
And there is something just so good about watching someone do what they were made for (not just panto Kate, I promise!). To watch someone operate so much in their gifting, to see them come alive.. its just the best..
So- thanks to all for coming and for performing.. lets do that again- just not panto!
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