Welcome to my blog : Archive
Here is an archive of all my past blogs, just incase you missed any! To view my latest blog please click here
One Week in the life
Posted Monday, February 23, 2009
I've had some week.
I've opened in Othello at West Yorkshire playhouse and it's been a complete whirlwind of an experience. Simon Elmes' documentary about the whole thing went out on Friday and is available on Listen again bbc.co.uk if you missed it. It's also going to be on pick of the week at some point.
This is a great company ?they really are a very supportive group of people who venerate the rehearsal experience . I've been very fortunate to meet them all? Cos usually, I'm back stage on my own with Davy and Ken , sitting in my pants in the dressing room , drinking tea and honey and moaning about the journey to wherever we are. I'm not used to being backstage with other people and it's kinda reassuring to have others sharing the burden.
The audience's have been very appreciative in this first week-even with the press in -it's been extraordinary -although the booing and hissing of Iago at the end does border on panto ?"Othello-he's behind you!" Yikes.
I'm getting this a lot: " I don't usually get Shakespeare,man,but I really understood this, you get me?" There's a lot of people coming who don't normally watch this type of play -so I think that's gotta be a good thing. right?
Saturday matinees are good too - it's weird , you think you wouldn't enjoy it ,but actually
, it's cool. You have to watch the old voice box during the matinee - but I think this rehearsal process ,which was pretty hard core: rehearsing scenes over and over again at full tilt ?actually toughened my voice considerably - so I'm not worried about my voice for the second performance ?(cue the second performance - "The part of Othello in tonights show will be played by Jimmy Krankie due to Mr Henry thraping of his voice in the matinee"
Thank you for everyone who's sent good luck messages and cards - I really appreciate it - I've had messages from Trevor Peacock (yes yes yes yes yes yes NO) and Bernard Cribbins , and Tony Gardner , and Paul O Grady , and Rick Seigel and Paul Whitehouse and all manner of people - It's been fab ...glad to know I'm not alone in this.
Huge respect to my Wife and my kid for being so accomadating and allowing me to climb this particular mountain. It's been tough ...
I'll write again soon.
Peace
Len
Oh yeah ? CORALINE a new animated feature just out in the States , adapted from a Novel (a very fine work) by Neil Gaiman and featuring Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders amongst others as voice talent ?has just taken 40 million dollars in the U.S. alone. Congratulations Neil-----never get him on the phone now?(fashem rashem,mutter, dark thoughts etc)
Funny bits:LAUGHS
About:ME
Contact:ME
