Thursday 15 December 2011

Echoes: The Ramble

I understand the delusion that those awful singers with the overly supportive parents on XFactor are under, finally. I just had a conversation on the phone where after every sentence my own voice replied with the exact same sentence (obviously) and I swear, the voice I hear in my head does not sound THAT much like my Mother's.

I can hear the group of women smoking outside through the intercom. It happens sometimes when I don't put the phone down properly, and it's always more interesting to leave it than to put it back. Particularly when I'm playing Christmas songs loudly in the office... they hear my overenthusiastic singalong and I hear their conversations. They're talking about the weather. It's cold out apparently.

" I turned my face away and dreamed about you"

Every year Christmas gets here faster than I can arrange the presents. You'd think it would be hard to be crept up on when you are revelling in the creeper. It's like a relationship that ends ever so suddenly, you're so busy being happy and enjoying the perfection of it all you forget to remember they're a bastard.

Bitter sweet I know, but I hope you enjoy it like you enjoy Fairytale of New York by The Pogues.

Cos everyone loves The Pogues. You can't dismiss someone with such icky teeth. You have to pay attention, even if you don't mean to. You have to keep looking. Or listening, as it were.

All of today I've heard the word "Christmas" from everyone who cares to get within earshot. I'd say it's deja vu but, you know, its the 16th of December. It happens. But everyone says it in the same voice. A sort of exasperated tone with a mix of joy and stressed out eagerness, a tone that is repeated every year, like an echo.

Here's a jolly thought: Mulled Wine is only £2.75 around the corner, in a pub full of fabulous people in the Theatre industry. I can tell they are because Thespians wear great shoes. And talk about them. A lot.

"Bought these brogues for the Lost Christmas Press Night tonight"

"Fabulous darling"

Blooming Marvellous.

Thursday 1 December 2011

11online goes live!

Hola Barcelona!

I must admit, I knew nothing of the International Brigade and their galant resistance movement in Spain when I came into the Arcola Theatre to see Goodbye Barcelona, a "Passionate New Musical" playing until 23rd of December. Now I can in no way say that the knowledge I have gained has any historical accuracy at all... but what I DO know is that the soldiers and their senoritas could all sing in tune and gun battles were often accompanied by the echo of a Spanish guitar.
If only reality was as poetic as this story tells it. There were so many comparisons I could make to todays world and how we see it: people from all backgrounds and religions coming together with one common goal (strikes), poorest people giving the most (cuts), anarchy and revolution (student riots) and the human race united! (...well, not just yet).
This ensemble piece was skillfully choreographed for the Arcola's limited space and facilities, the cast building the set for every single scene and creating an atmosphere that, along with the music, took you to war grounds, Spanish cafe's, homes, convents, bars and bedrooms... There are many a West End show that struggle to achieve as much.
The love stories that underline the war torn tale were heartfelt; Rebecca and Ernesto (played by Lucy Bradshaw and John Killoran) pull you into a desperate romance in an even more desperate situation, and Sammy and Pillar (so much more romantic a name with a Spanish accent) create a young and tragic (you just wait) drama complete with prostitution, virginity, clumsiness and wine, though not in that order.
Mark Meadows and Jack Shalloo were the stand out performances of the night, both playing soldiers of mixed passion for the war and it's rewards. "Uncle" Jack (Meadows) was the mysterious character of the piece who's story, once told, was brushed over rather too swiftly after all the build up, though on reflection, I feel this might just have been the point. Jack kept the comedy coming, which was excellently written to sweeten the war zone musical, with drunken comments, eagerness for Sammy (played by the charming Tom Gill) to get some nookie and even more eagerness to NOT talk about himself, until... well, you'll just have to see. Shalloo was key to bringing the storylines and characters together, but did so with a subtlety so rare and difficult to achieve in a small space. I do recommend the front row seats, though of course there is a risk you may get accidentally get spit on, but you may not care because you'll feel like there is no one else is in the room. Never has Theatre been more 3D.
The score was repetitive but not in a distracting way. The songs told the story smoothly and did so in such collaboration with the set, actors and lighting, I was more than impressed. Yes, I may have to check Wikipedia (or other reliable sites available) on the accuracy of the play, but until I do that, I can settle with the knowledge I had a more than entertaining evening.

Say Hello London, to Goodbye Barcelona.