Blog 71 – Behind the Fringe … Ms Paige Turner tells a porkie pie on each blog. Spot this one and you will receive a free entry into Creative Ink Publishing’s short story comp on the theme of ‘Promises’ – deadline – October 1st.
I had been on my way to the Edinburgh Fringe twice before – and with two different productions. The first time was back in my Ruddles Theatre Company days in 1979. We were going to take Barry Keefe’s splendid play ‘Gotcha’ which we had been touring in the midlands. Having taken Ruddles Brewery’s name (my company was based in Rutland) they gave us some publicity and that was that and the bank roll was too much for me.
The same story is re-told in 2003. My play, BLACKBERRY PROMISES – (the novel is available on Amazon and please leave a review) had 16 actors, 3 techies and a heavy set including a juke box. It just wasn’t going to work.
However, when my very good friend Mr Red Hat and his husband, who is very big at Assembly, suggested Mister Justin Case and I take a trip up, and my mate Flip Webster would be performing WOMEN OF AN UNCERTAIN AGE – her two women show with the lovely Maggie Bourgein at the Gilded Balloon – 2.30pm all days except Thursdays, we thought we would bite the Edinburgh bullet this year.
Flip’s show was luvverly jubberly and we had tickets for the Queen of South African Comedy – Tumi Morake – and Steve Richards – political editor of the Independent and Steven Berkoff’s ‘An Actor’s Lament’ and Jessica Sherr’s ‘Bette Davis – ain’t for sissies’. Actually, I felt like telling the lovely Jessica (watch out for her; she’s been on off Broadway) that getting old ain’t for sissies as I have been totally exhausted on my return from Edinburgh and I wasn’t even performing! Despite the fact that Milton Jones from ‘Mock the Week’ pinpointed me when I went to the loo during his stand up. Okay, I was sitting in the second row and I was wearing all white but Milton, like you said, I’d had a tiff with my husband and was living on my own postage stamp so didn’t hear you heckling me from the stage. Milton, my apologies, but have you ever thought of taking up a psychic routine?
On return, we then went up to the Tristam Bates Theatre and saw Fauzia Rahman’s play – what she wrote at Creative Ink for Writers. Her ‘The Philosopher’s Tale’ is part of the Camden Festival. It’s over now but all good stuff including bumping into Ms Beaconsfield Theatre there and talking about the new rules on rubbish. See my last blog.
A nod to the lovely WI who came and learnt how to tell a story with me a couple of weeks ago. The renowned India Knight of the Sunday Times was singing their praises last week and I agree. I love the WI and maybe in another life I will join them.
That’s all for now but please email me if you are interested in my November Creative Ink for Writers’ classes which are definitely running with three places left on Tuesdays and four places left on Thursday.
Edinburgh, hey? Well you certainly get around. My son’s doing The Fringe again this year – sketch comedy trio The Real MacGuffins. I would have loved to to catch their show and give me some feedback. Good reviews from the Fringe critics need some additional impartial feedback. Next time.
Now, I don’t know whether this is the fib or just gender confusion but “my very good friend Mr Red Hat and his husband” sounds pretty dodgy to me.
Not dodgy at all, Mr Double Cream. How’s the golf coming along? 🙂
Your spies are everywhere. Actually, I was researching material for a new sit com, which just happens to involve a a golf course, four men wielding primitive weapons followed by bragging contest.