Earlier this year, I saw a production of Alan Ayckbourn’s 2005 play, ‘Improbable Fiction’. It’s not often that an audience claps during a scene, but apparently the following passage elicited applause every night: Brevis: Being on the internet proves absolutely nothing. I tell you the internet is probably the biggest repository for junk, rubbish and [...]
Archive for the ‘Theatre’ Category
Ordinary People
Posted in Theatre, tagged Alan Ayckbourn, Improbable Fiction, Internet, Ordinary People on August 24, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
Where were you on 11 February 1990?
Posted in Cycling, Other Stuff, Theatre, tagged Happy Memories, memories, Nelson Mandela, Theatre, Villa Revue, Where were you? on February 11, 2010 | 7 Comments »
I feel a bit embarrassed today. I have no idea what I was doing twenty years ago when Madiba was released from prison. I do remember that I on 11 February 1990, I was 24, lived in Tableview and drove a 1976 Ford Escort called Sunshine. I don’t think I even knew who Nelson Mandela [...]
Opening Night
Posted in 100 word challenge, Theatre, tagged 100 word challenge, Opening Night, Opening Night Nerves, Theatre on October 30, 2009 | 3 Comments »
You wish thespians good luck by telling them to break a leg. My favourite version of the origin of the saying is this one: In traditional curtains, the legs of the curtain were constructed from long wooden rods. In the case of many encores, curtains would be lifted and dropped numerous times causing them to [...]
Speechless Saturday
Posted in 100 word challenge, Silly Stuff, Theatre, tagged 100 word challenge, Abigail's Party, Speechless Saturday, Theatre, Young Men on August 29, 2009 | 6 Comments »
Young men are rare in Cape Town, and even more so in amateur theatre. The play I’m in calls for some hard-to-find items: a Jose Feliciano LP, 1970’s ashtrays and furniture, Pomagne, and, you guessed it, a young man. I listed these on the front of my script, to remind me to look for them [...]
2008: Annus not so horribilis
Posted in Cycling, Other Stuff, Running, Theatre on December 12, 2008 | 4 Comments »
January: Decided that being phoned on the beach on 3 January by clients whose VAT payments had bounced, sucked. So I gave up my business. Still a few clinging to the apron strings. February: Played soccer with Flutts and clare. Still limping. March: Did my 13th Argus Cycle Tour, marshalled, cycled and handed out medals [...]
On Receiving Praise
Posted in 100 word challenge, Theatre, tagged 100 word challenge, Artscape, My Fair Lady, Praise, Ralph Lawson, The Power of Praise on September 3, 2008 | 2 Comments »
I know how important praise is. And the psychology behind praise. You’d think I’d be immune. Wrong. Yesterday, I was at Artscape giving final touches to the library for My Fair Lady. The director, Ralph Lawson, sees me: “Hi Dusty! What’s a famous director like you doing here, making props?” I spluttered something incoherent. Aw [...]
The Show’s Over But This Fat Lady Ain’t Singing Just Yet
Posted in 100 word challenge, Theatre, tagged 100 word challenge, His Royal Tardiness, Last Night, Rugby, Standing Ovation, The Show's Not Over Till the Fat Lady Sings, Theatre on August 18, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
We had the last two shows on Saturday. The matinee was marred by the rugby. And I’m not even talking about the score. Fifteen audience members and one of the cast got caught in rugby traffic, delaying the start by ten minutes. No, it wasn’t his Royal Tardiness this time. He saved his grand finale [...]
On Being Nervous
Posted in 100 word challenge, Theatre, tagged 100 word challenge, Being Proud, Parents, Stage Fright, Theatre on August 15, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Can you remember the last time you really wanted to impress your parents? I saw it in a 30-year old last night. One of the actors was beside himself because his parents were coming to see the show. First time they’ve seen him on stage. He comes from a non-theatrical family who find all this [...]
On Teamwork
Posted in 100 word challenge, Theatre, tagged 100 word challenge, Are You on This Planet, His Royal Tardiness, Priorities, Reliability, Teamwork, Theatre on August 13, 2008 | 3 Comments »
In theatre, the director is not allowed backstage once the show opens. I was glad of this last night, because I didn’t want the cast to worry about my blotches. What I didn’t know was that 45 minutes before curtain up, the lead had not arrived. When the stage manager phoned him, he claimed not [...]
On Praise
Posted in 100 word challenge, Theatre, tagged 100 word challenge, Criticism, His Royal Tardiness, Hurting with Words, No Praise is Ever Enough, Praise, Self-Awareness, Theatre, Who's the Prima Donna now? on August 8, 2008 | 4 Comments »
I lost my temper last night. An actor berated me for being hard on him; constantly criticising, never praising. So I said shouted, “It’s not ALL about YOU! Bloody Prima Donna.” He always asks me what he did wrong during a rehearsal. So I always tell him. I also tell him the things he does [...]
One More Sleep
Posted in 100 word challenge, Theatre, tagged 100 word challenge, Meeting Targets, Olympics, Opening Night Nerves, Theatre on August 7, 2008 | 3 Comments »
Three very important things are happening tomorrow: one good, one bad and one indifferent. Firstly, it’s opening night of the play that has consumed my life for the last two months. I will be banished to the foyer, where I will bite my nails and smile bravely while the cast and crew get on with [...]
Send in the Clowns
Posted in 100 word challenge, Theatre, tagged 100 word challenge, Bad Days, Directing, favourite things, Photo Call, That's Life, Theatre on July 20, 2008 | 2 Comments »
I’m passionate about my theatre, and I love what I do. But not today. We had photo call for the show that I’m directing. The one that is opening in three weeks time. It was chaotic. The cast wanted to chatter and have fun. I wanted to get done and on with the rehearsal. Enter [...]
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