For the most part, I had a charming evening last night. I went to a ‘Hatch’ event at Nottingham’s Hotel Deux where the theme for the evening was ‘Wish You Were Here’. There was an astonishing array of artistic performances, all being billed as: ‘another evening of the most exciting, intriguing and curious performance-y work in town, with sixteen artists responding to notions of absence, longing and nostalgia for the Great British Holiday’. It was a human menagerie of weird and wonderful characters, and (I’m sorry to tell those of you who missed it) it was for one night only. A live artist became a beach on the patio; a cardboard ice cream van became a Punch and Judy Show; a one-woman-band played a piano with a fork attached to her head. The Hello Friends Theatre gave a ‘dress-up, dress-down’ performance in which everyone we are, or ever were, or ever could be was laid bare before us (quite literally - for on two occasions a least, the delightfully fawn-like Ollie Smith (see picture above) removed ALL of his clothes and sat naked before us, miming to Louis Armstrong). Glenn Simpson (a member of the Nottingham Writers' Studio) performed a marvellous Beckett-esque soliloquy as a man whose only friend is a suitcase (see picture below right). The entire event was eclectic, witty, creative, quirky and huge, huge fun – a
ll thanks to Michael Pinchbeck (another Studio member) whose brainchild this was. Goodness knows what Maria’s Italian friend Elizabetta made of it. With her limited knowledge of the English language, it must have been like stepping into a Brechtian nightmare for her, but she didn’t seem to complain.So, a rather good evening really –marred only by the revelation from a friend of mine that a certain rather unpleasant person I know has been going about the town spreading calumny and lies about me. Ha! He wants to think himself lucky that I don’t write to his perfectly sweet girlfriend in North America and tell her what REALLY happened on St Patrick’s Night this year. He would undoubtedly try to deny it but I have witnesses, and he should remember that. Some people have a damned cheek, really.
And now, before I really begin to let off steam, I shall meditate for an hour or so. All is calm.
Tootle pip!
2 comments:
Oh that does sound rather splendid, though I tend to think that the last 25 years have been continuous piece of performance art where Glenn Simpson is concerned, with myself as one of the few consistent audience members. God bless his mad little socks.
Please smile and ignore all malicious lies being spread about you Mr Pilgrim. You're too clever and charming to give a fig what anyone thinks.
Take care old bean.
Sam
Even from way, way across the pond, Mr Kirk, your words are a great encouragement to me. Good karma.
As for GS - yes, bless is mad little socks. We do love him so.
R x
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