Missing the War?

And relax.

That's it. It's over. Thank you all for everything. I've enjoyed it IMMENSELY. The last performance was a blinder: 4 and a half out of 5 is amazing. We sold out every single night. We partied till 3am. We did some very dubious dancing. We scoffed eggs and bacon after deconstructing the set. And now we dream it's over.

Hope you had as much fun as I have.

I'm going to go off and reclaim that life of mine, now where did I leave it?

This Show is a Triumph

Edited highlights from the BBC Bristol Review by her roachiness herself, Theresa Roche, who came to see the opening night:

"... the play boasts slick set design, dapper costumes and spot-on casting ...

"... compelling performance of leading actor Tim James ensures that Kelvin pull off a coup with this challenging piece of satire ... Perfectly cast as Arturo Ui, Tim James has a striking appearance that lends itself to an array of wonderful facial expressions. ... [He] infuses energy and passion into his characterisation and performance ... [and] deserves an award.

"The best supporting actor award should go to John Lomas as Ernesto Roma, Arturo’s most trusted lieutenant. He gives a consistently high calibre performance. His accent and mannerisms are utterly “American” and his characterisation of the gangster is good enough to be in The Godfather.

"Their talent is carefully marshaled by director Richard Thomas who also introduces some interesting ideas.

"... the fire ignited by quality acting from the two lead actors and also from Pat Croughan an actress who played several small parts to professional standard.

Overall this show is a triumph for Kelvin"

Two For the Price of One

The punters got a little extra last night: one play of 90 mins that was full of intrigue and plotting, but a little slow, then another, absolutely free - a 45 minute blaze-trail of high-drama, superb acting and frightening spectacle. They also got more out of you all than they'd bargained for, in many ways they got two-for-one just in the second half, with all of you hitting them with both barrels all the way through. It looks like you've all taken a leaf out of Two-guns' book.

I've had nothing but compliments from all though, so any feeling of hitting a low is purely among us. It's bounce back time...

The meal last night was a big success (Martin and Two-guns, you were missed, deeply). Laugh? Yeah, a bit.

That's Hitler, isn't it?

A drama so powerful, we regressed one poor unfortunate lady back to the horror of the 1940s and confronted her with the greatest bogeyman ever known. Ha! And this from the very woman who just a while before was telling me that all was a farce in the Arturo Ui front. Can she be blind? Could she not see?

You see? Even I'm reduced to quoting this damn thing now. I was STILL Hooked from mid-way through the first half (once the opening nerves had been eased off by your brilliant performances) and watched approvingly when my Dad's friend (known in the family as Uncle Steve and not renowned for his love of the theatre, but for a deep knowledge of all things WWII) nodded appreciatively when the lights came down on the final rally scene; if we can make Uncle Steve nod, we're doing exceptionally well.

Now it only remains to push that bar even higher over the next three nights. I know you can do it; a taste of Morocco awaits.

Chicagoan Rhapsody

- by Chris Warren; via May, Mercury et al.

Is this the Trust life? Is this just cauliflower?
Caught in the Bad Times. No escape from this penury
Open your eyes, look out for Arturo Ui!
I’m just a gangster, I need publicity
Because I’m Roma’s man, like fast cars, hang around in leather bars.
Any way the boss goes, doesn’t really matter to me? to me?

Roma, just killed a man. Put a gun against his throat
Pulled my trigger, now he’s choked.
Roma, lies had just begun
But he’s gone and blown them all away.
Roma, ooh, didn’t mean to make you cry
If I’m not back (what time? At eleven!)
Carry on, carry on, I’ve gone to Dogsboroughs

Too late, the match is lit
Fires on the water fronts, dealers act like real cowards?
Goodbye to Dockdaisy, she just had to go
Had to leave her far behind and seize the day
Roma, ooh, Now I see the truth
I sometimes wish we’d never been friends at all

I see a short-legged silhouette of a man
Givola! Givola! Will you come and do the tango
Mulbury, Clark, Carruther, Butcher and the other Man!
Goodwill Gaffles! (Goodwill Gaffles!) Goodwill Gaffles! (Goodwill Gaffles!)
Goodwill Gaffles let me go!
Dogsbrorugh! I’m just a gangster, nobody fears me
He’s just a gangster, from a Bronx family
Help or I’ll tell of the dock subsidy!
Giri come, Giri go, switching hats to and fro
Arturo! No, we will not show you faith!
(Show me faith!) Arturo! We will not show you faith!
(Show me faith!) Arturo! We will not show you faith!
(Show me faith!) Will not show you faith!
(Show me faith!) Will not show you faith (Show me faith!) Ahhhhh?
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!
(Arturo Ui, Arturo Ui) Arturo Ui is the one
Now Dogsborough has gone and left his place to me! To me! To me!

(Cool guitar solo, head banging by Bowl, etc.)

So you Dullfeets believe you can spit on my name
So you Dullfeets believe I can’t beat your own game
Oh, Betty, snuggle up to me Betty
Just gotta believe, just gotta believe I can win

Nobody will stop me, anyone can see
Nobody will stop me
Nobody will stop the great Ui

Even now the womb gapes?

What a Sell!

Amazing. A brilliant opening night, thoroughly enjoyed by all the audience, including me, but not including the two duffers who appeared to have been hoping for the resistible rise of are you being served.

I don't know about you lot, but all this being excited is knackering. I need a lie down.

I, quite literally, can't wait until this evening...