Hello One and all..... I am at it again. An Evening of TS Eliot is coming up at the wonderful Wilton's Music Hall. We had such a great time last December, that we have extended and stretched this one out a little further. The banner is all over the website, thanks to the amazing Jessy, as always. She is a wonder. I tried to update her the other day of something, and of course she already had it! Anyway, I am really looking forward to it. I think I have found the headspace to get back into it. It's not as easy as one would think actually. I never remember a script, however amazing, once a show has finished. Honestly 4 or 5 days is usually the length of time it takes to dissipate into the ether. Luckily I have given myself the time, and honestly it's not about me remembering the poem, it's about the poem itself, so I do have my words spread all over the stage. That is both re-assuring for me but also for the flow. I know the audience don't mind if I take a breath and remember, or if I take a breath and refer to the pages. There's around 20 pages of A4, so, quite a lot. And it is important them there pesky words are in the right order as much as possible. Sometimes I think being dyslexic helps! The trouble is when I have learned something wrong, and I have to unlearn it to get it back in there. That's a bummer.
This is proving true with my singing lessons. YES I am singing. Oh My GOD!!!!!!! A musical, my first musical, at 64 years old. At Sydney Fucking Opera House, or the SFO as I have begun to call it! I am in awe of the place. It's beautiful, from the outside, can't wait to get inside. I worked in Australia years ago and stayed opposite the SFO on the other side of the bridge, this time I will be directly opposite it. I feel SO LUCKY. What a privilege. And all the people I have met so far are all so lovely. The only person I have been working with is Mary Hammond, and she is based in London, and won't be coming to Sydney dammit. She is quite simply THE BEST. She ran the Musical Theatre at the Royal Academy of Music for 20 years and started their Integrated music and theatre department. She has worked on over 160 West End musicals. No point mentioning them all, but she was there at the beginning of Les Mis, Miss Saigon, etc. I have not sung a note in public before, and she is giving me the confidence and the understanding and the technique. I just adore her. And we have become fast friends. I hope I do her justice down under. I am quite familiar with the songs but not there yet. But I still have nigh on 2 months before I go, and I have the Eliot to do before that.
Of course, I mustn't forget Maigret series 2 that I am in with another bunch of great people, cast and crew. It's really fun watching Ben Wainright be Maigret. He's bloody good. And, lucky him, he is supported by a terrific cast. A couple I have worked with before, Nat Armin, Alex Bhat, so it's good to see them again too. Budapest, where we are working, feels so different now that the criminal fascist arsehole Orban has gone.
BUT Perhaps the MOST IMPORTANT thing now is to Pre-Order, if you are reading this before release date 4th June, Angel's EP. Her first song is Earth and Clay, but all the songs will get released every two weeks over the next couple of months. SO EXCITED, but she needs hits, as many as possible. I think the link is https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/angelparker/earth-and-clay This is a Spotify thing, but it will be on all the major platforms. I believe you have to put in your email. Sorry for that bother, but it'll be worthwhile! Her second EP, which she has also just finished is AMAZING, so please persevere and ENJOY! And then pre-order the next please.
Well that's it from my wee family break in Sicily before the maelstrom of work takes me. Oh, what fun life is!
xxxxx