Oh PG!!! You Just Gotta Love him!

So one of our Uglies Peter PG Gordon updated his profile pic on twitter yesterday and I had to share it!!! Talk about a crime watch e-fit!! 

The immaturity of PG!! SPLOSHY!!!

My Buttons Bauble

A treat from my real life Cinders!! 

Mommy and Daddy Buttons!

"Our fatigue is often caused not by work, but by worry, frustration and resentment." {Dale Carnegie}

So... The Jarvo had to be up and away early today! which gave me chance to get into the theatre and have a bit of brekkie!  I've managed to to decorate the rest of my dressing room now too, so everyone seems to like that and the grottoish level of decoration.  It's no wonder a previous director (Phillip Dart - Buxton 2011/12) called me "the gayest straight man he knew"... Especially with all the glitter, tinsel and cuddley toys in there.  And of course the Panto tree is up... This year with new sparkly lights.  

My mom and dad were down from Brum on Saturday too.  They loved the show and said they were very proud which was a boost.  Mom very kindly said that you wouldn't guess it was my first time as lead comic, doing the songsheet Sheet and they loved the song!!  We went out for a delicious bit of dinner at Zizzi's afterwards and as ever had such a laugh... Usually at my dad's expense!  They were a tad embarrassed I'd got the whole audience to wave and shout "hello mommy and daddy Buttons!" 

So we had a bit of on stage hillarity over the weekend.  Poor old Kit, whilst dressed in quite a restricting costume during the ball scene! completely stacked it going up the stairs.  He crashed to the floor, with wig toppling off and the ensemble and PG (his 'sister') in hysterics.  It was a nice moment for the audience to see and thankfully Kit was ok, if not a little bruised around the pride region.  I couldn't resist adding "Hey Kitty! nice to see you back on your feet!" Which got a titter.

But he soon had his revenge... The following show, on leaving the stage, post their number, PG's wig fell off.  Now.... My old chum PG, will openly admit, that he can't often hold it in when it comes to corpsing!! We both share that inability.  He rushes off stage, tries to fix it, but has to appear in the next scene, searching in the woods.  The sisters arrived laughing before they'd started their dialogue, and the audience soon joined in as they spotted PG's wig was on backwards and completely covering his face.  Our woods scene went for nothing really because we were laughing so much.  When it's time for a little bit of unexpected splash PG absolutely covered me, resulting in an off stage shout "it's not my fault ya wig fell off!"  The audience seemed to like that!

Now As actors, we have to be ready to be occasionally upstaged.  Whether it be by another actor, a prop or some misguided scenery - it happens, especially in Panto.  Myself, Bonnie and Alice however are finding ourselves being upstaged quite frequently.  Upstaged by ill timed ponies and their dolloping poop!  They just can't seem to get on and off stage without leaving a parcel!!  How thoughtful of them!! Suffice to stay with the combination of these little deposits and lots of dry ice it's becoming increasingly difficult to "mind your footing!" As I'm closest to them for the tableaux I'm getting very nervous about inadvertently finding their leavings! 

Speaking of which I'd better go and check my boots!!

JB -  BB

Guildford - May We Present.... Our Pantomime!!

"The best audience is intelligent, well-educated, and a little drunk." {Alvin Barkley}

So the day has arrived.  Despite all the illness and bugs, it's opening day!!! Because Kit has duties for HRH Prince Charles! this time every year! with a private show! director Gerry! stepped in as his stand by for the opening matinee.  Gerry was of course brilliant, knew all the lines and movements better than we did, and was a joy to watch - so well done Gerry!!!

Alice backed off her vocals for the shows and let the ensemble or her relevant stage partner take lead vocals.  I managed to push through with a healthy dose of something from Dr Footlights!!  He always seems to have a cure.  Obviously though, pushing through does ultimately tire your throat out even more - but I'd have to deal with that afterwards.  

The first show went without a hitch, and it was fantastic to finally have an audience to judge what was funny and what... Well.... Wasn't! 

For the opening night, Kit returned and I was joined by a very special lady!!! Sandy was in, and she stopped by before the show with a few gifts bless her!! Lucky buttons!  I received some lovely flowers (gerberas - my faves), some chocolate Buttons (for a little bit of interval cannibalism) and nice little ornament, Cinderella themed for my Panto tree and a "Buttons Bauble!" Loving handmade by the Jarvo herself!!! 

The show went well again, and it was useful to test it on a more mature audience.  I think this years show is definitely one for the kids.  They know and love the story so much they are transfixed and shout out whenever they are required.  We do have less slapstick  and innuendo this year for the adults, but every year cannot be a repeat of the last, and hopefully there's enough there to keep the parents happy.  Judging by the tweets I received after the show! people seem to love it! 

I managed to get through my first two live song sheets, and it was fed back that I handle the children well.  I felt quite nervous doing this, it's quite daunting when your holding the audience, unscripted and still have to try and make them laugh.  hopefully it's something that I'll settle in to. 

I got suited and booted afterwards and met the gorgeous Jarvo! who had also dressed beautifully for the after show drinks with the major and theatre friends.  Again feedback was positive and a few people commented on the obvious promotion from stooge to lead comic.  Me and Sandy celebrated with a nice greasy burger and chips on the way home, and settled down with some T.V and a lot of steaming for me!!

I have to get well!!! And quickly!!

Bye for now!

JB - BB

AWAB!!! Abscent Without Blogging

“Be not sick too late, nor well too soon” {Benjamin Franklin}

Oh deary me boy, girls, ladies and Jellyspoon's!!  What a week and a bit it's been!!!  So much to tell and so little time.  Most of the cast, along with some of the creatives and me have been as sick as a dog, hence I've been being a very good boy and going straight home to bed after rehearsals/shows and sadly not written any blog updates.  I'm glad to say we are all now on the mend - and so will update you in a number of brief posts as to what has been happening.

Firstly, let's cover the producers run.  Despite coughing every other word, that seemed to go quite well without any major cock-ups and gave the team a good look at what we have managed to put together.  Finishing at 4pm was rear as it allowed me the chance to get home earlier and relax.  Unfortunately the extra relaxation time didn't help conquer the illness, which seemed at this point to be getting worse not better.

Back on Monday, and we were finally in to the theatre.  My favourite theatre in the world, the Yvonne Arnaud!! I normally love production week, seeing all the crew and theatre staff again, settling into my dressing room and getting my grotto decorations up.  Sadly, the illness really did stop me from enjoying it as much as I'd have liked.  Sod's law I suppose.  A little cough and a few aches and pains feel like the end of huge world when you're prepping for a show.... Sadly one of Robert's friends has been terminally unwell! and after a quick talk about all of or ailments we both greed that this put things into context.  

Poor Alice had it the worst I think,  she completely lost her voice at one point and couldn't speak or sing.  A quick trip to the doctors revealed it was a check infection, which had to run its course... This is obviously why us asthma sufferers were taking the brunt of it.  We all sat back on it during tech and the first dress, just to make sure we didn't spend ourselves out! 

Production week technically went well, the crew got everything done as and when they needed to and didn't take much extra practice!  Bravo guys!  The only bit that took a little longer was the transformation, but this was inevitable, and time had been allowed.  never work with children or animals, especially ones that leave little parcels everywhere!!! The Ponies not the children!!

For now I bid you adieu, and will see you in the next post, where we reach opening night and some familiar audience members!!! 

JB - BB