A Very Happy Anniversary!

Living for Pleasure

Brokeback Blackpool

Sean prepares for a night out at Megawoof.

Photograph of the Mad Hatter with some Alice In Wonderland characters in Blackpool.

An Interlude

The Classier Side To Blackpool

Here are a few pictures and details of the Grand Ballroom at the Blackpool Tower. A frenzy of Victorian opulence that remains the focus of Blackpool to this day.

The Blackpool Party

The annual Stage Party in Blackpool is held to celebrate the work of Light Entertainment Industy in the North of England. This year it was held at the Blackpool Winter Gardens and Sean joined me. We stayed at the Hilton, North of the Pleasure Beach and amongst the partygoers was Seamus Cullen - my own bet to have won Any Dream Will Do. In fact, I stopped watching it when he was eliminated!
Seamus is currently touring, playing Che in Evita and made up the contigent attending the party from The Grand Theatre.

A great time was had by all of us and I danced the night away, even managing to share a smooch at the end with Sean. It all went swimmingly, even if Sean later refused to put on a curly wig and sing Oh What A Circus. Oh well.....

The Burlesque Approach

On Tuesday I went to the opening night of Infinite Variety at the New Players Theatre under the arches at Charing Cross. I have a long standing affection for this venue but unfortunately I have not yet seen a show there, suited to its size and shape. The Players is a relatively small auditorium at 275 seats, but it has an impressive stage and good appointments. The long slender auditorium, complete with its bar at the back has bags of atmosphere but requires brash, showy, bawdy production values to fill the space. Last year’s Burlesque-esque was simply laughable and much was expected of Blokbusta earlier this year, although that too failed to impress. The problem doesn’t so much lie with the shows, the Front of House is also a disaster with the bar staff being outrageously slow – stupifyingly so.

Still I went along to Infinite Variety, a new burlesque mounted by the Whoopee with high hopes. If it was possible to get a professional production any more wrong then I would like to see how. The pre-show drinks at the back bar were generous and yet un-monitored. The PR didn’t network guests and reviewer and whilst Scott and I munched on the nibbles, the stage crew continued to adjust lights and sound in full view of the incoming audience. At this press night, half the seats were empty. For future reference, as any PR knows, you ensure that a venue is overflowing on a Press Night. You create excitement! This was a damp squib that didn’t improve once the show opened, as you will see from my review. Honestly – no talent, masquerading as talent can be monumentally depressing. Please God, let a producer with flair and imagination take over the New Players.

Weigh-hey!

Saturday was my usual weigh-in day and after a painful swim – where I am sure I was actually still drunk – I got on the scales at 14 stone 11 pounds. In total, I have now lost 40 pounds in weight. I must admit, it made me feel great and has really spurred me on to try and get down to a goal weight of 13 stone 3 pounds – a ridiculous (I think) exaggeration but it is the goal my BMI has set me. We shall see…. In the meantime, nothing fits me anymore.

Sing A Long A Griff

Tom Griffin – or Griff as he is referred to amongst the cognisant – had his 26th Birthday Party on the following night, celebrating with karaoke at the Windsor Castle in Clapham Junction. I had been rather looking forward to this event and it was great news when Gareth announced that he would be joining Julie and myself. Well…… just when I thought that my karaoke choices could not get any more bizarre – Teenage Dirtbag!!!! – in a duet with Gareth. Oh dear! Still, it was nice to see Jonathan and Howard again and Griff really seemed to enjoy himself. He is a really good singer. Gareth ended up a little worse for wear and we found him lying on the street in Clapham. Lord knows how we managed to get him back to Streatham Common!?

It's One Of The Master's Affairs

Well it’s been quite a couple of weeks and finally I have enough time to sit down and catch up on some blogging. There are currently so many openings at the moment both in London and the length and breadth of the UK and naturally that filters down into the work I do. I have a lot of opening nights to attend and I have gone from mildly busy to madcap in the space of about one month. I am not quite sure why it is so busy and formal critics – those who write for the popular press – are bemoaning the inevitable clash of press nights around town. By the end of September I will have seen about 7 plays and musicals so you can imagine how it must be for a full time critic.
That said, I realise that I have an enviable role that allows me to mix a social life with a hobby and work. Thursday of this week saw me quaffing Kir Royales with Sean at the opening night party of The Rocky Horror Show. It was here that Sean introduced me to Sue Blane, the designer of both the original production in the 1970’s but also this current revival staring the lovely David Bedella. Following this Chris Borg joined us and we headed over to an Italian Restaurant in Wimbledon to catch up over veal and rose.

The Best of Times is Now!

In keeping with my theme of change, last week I worked on a Thursday rather than a Wednesday. Not exactly earth shattering I will admit, except that it worked perfectly with Vince’s time on The Plinth on Tuesday. Sadly the weather didn’t hold and whilst one might expect rain in London, nothing could quite compare to the downpour that happened between the hours of 1.00pm and 2.00pm last week. The heavens opened but even that couldn’t stop me from heading over to Trafalgar Square on my bike and cheering on Vince.

I must say, Vince was a complete hero, championing Gay Rights in Northern Ireland, espousing some of his favourite poetry and promoting safe-sex to London’s youth. All this whilst dishing out Cadbury’s Roses and trying to fix Tom up with a date! Catch it all by clicking to this link.

A huge, wet sloppy congratulations, Vince! You were the best!


That night, I purloined tickets for the gloriously tacky Bathhouse – The Musical for myself, Sean, Vince, Tom and Paul. A fun time was had by all and after several Jameson and Ginger’s (thanks for that idea, Tom) I was more than ready for an impromptu karaoke session at The Stag. Thank God, only about 12 people were in the bar and therefore huge crowds didn’t have to witness mine and Paul’s rendition of the Grease Megamix (Paul was SO the Sandy!) and No More Tears – Enough is Enough (I was SO the Barbra!)

On the good side, Sean is still talking to me.

On the bad side, this wasn’t the end to my karaoke shame this week.

Bathhouse - The Musical

It's amazing who you bump into on an opening night at the theatre!

Too Early For Porn

Tuesday saw a mad change to my generally un-shifting schedule this week. Thom Dibdin, a Stage Reviewer in Edinburgh took part in the One & Other Project on the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square. He – or I should say his alter-ego Penny Pornstar – took to the plinth at 6.00am and in a show of solidarity, I cycled into town to support him. I had to get up at 5.00am and it was pitch black when I set off.

Bizarrely, by the time I arrived at 06.33.03am it was broad daylight. After that, I did 60 lengths of the outdoor pool at Oasis before cycling off to London Bridge and the office.

PS I know I arrived at 06.33.03am because of this……
I can’t wait to see Vince on the plinth this week. Thankfully, at the easier time of 1.00pm.

Noise Pollution

Part of my rent includes a very small garden, which I am very fond of. Summer nights are few and far between in London so there is nothing better to get out there and relax in the sun. The problem has recently arisen that our neighbours have also had the same idea, but unfortunately cannot relax unless they are playing their music at a ridiculously loud level in the garden. On a hot day, it is terrible that we have to sit inside or suffer the thud-thud-thud of an over-amped bass. This happened on Bank Holiday Monday last and again last night. Rather than bother the police I decided to do the gentlemanly thing and ask them politely to turn it down. The American woman who answered the door immediately took the defensive insisting that it was not too loud and that her grandmother was having a party. Hmmm… Needless to say they took no notice whatsoever so anybody attempting to sit outside; put their kids to sleep or even sleep themselves would have to wait until these thoroughly inconsiderate morons decided to go out themselves. Thankfully I was going out but I now have the phone number for the Noise Police, who have the power to remove offending equipment if it becomes necessary. I don’t want it to go that far, but I am – probably stupidly, I know – actually rather surprised that people can be so obtusely offensive, caring not who they abuse or in what manner their arrogance manifests itself. Their upbringing I should imagine!

Slimmer of the Week

Well would you believe it? This week I didn’t really do a full quota of cycling; I abstained from all alcohol and swam about 2 miles less in the week that I normally would. All that and I have managed to loose 6lbs this week. That’s the type of weight loss you normally see at the beginning of a diet. I am now 15 stone 1 lb or 95.8 kilos having lost a total of 36 pounds or 16.36 kilos.

Byron & Felix Moxey

I received a lovely e-mail from my old flatmate Byron this week. His little boy Felix is off to school this week, just like Axl, Don and Celine’s little boy. Byron sent me a photo of him and it was so funny to see how alike they look.

First Impressions

Finally, after much um-ing and ah-ing I have finally made a proper start on my latest painting, my friend and neighbour Dr Murphy as the martyr, St Marina. Here is the first transfer to canvas 70cm x 50cm.

What Happened Next.

Needless to say, the week that followed with Ralph and Tyron in town and myself on holiday I practically lived on chocolate cake and vodka. This week I ate Mexican in Covent Garden, Oriental in Soho, French at Waterloo, Fusion at Camden and British in Kingston. Come Saturday I thought it might be possible that I had maintained my weight again, although it was a pipe dream and I weighed in at 15 stone 7 lbs. I had put on three pounds – but my God it was worth it. I really have my work cut out if I am going to get back on track.

An Interlude

My Actual Birthday

Well – to say that I went woke up with a sore head was an understatement. A late dinner at Balans accompanied by lots of Cosmo’s and a delicious desert and I was fairly wacked. What kind of a nut job then plans a Buffet & Cocktail Party for 3.00pm in the afternoon?

Thankfully Julie and Sarah were around to help and I had made a wonderful pate to go with the cooked chicken, potatoe salad, sausage rolls etc. Sarah had also sneaked me a MASSIVE chocolate cake which was quite lovely and I planned it as my ‘going to bed treat’ – (as Sean wasn’t stopping over )

Jack, Vince, David and my lovely Sean all turned up too. David and Vince bought me a beautiful couple of mugs that are so pretty. Jules bought me a Microphone for my computer and a gorgeous Honeysuckle that should smell lovely in the garden next summer. Gareth paid me a visit earlier in the day – it was his birthday too – and he bought me a bottle of Jacques Cider. Awww. Sean bought me the most beautiful silver necklace from Swag. It shines so brightly and makes me feel quite special.



10 Champagne Cocktails, 2 Blue Hawaiian, 6 Cosmo’s, 4 White Ladies and a Purple Motherfucker later, I was feeling no pain! Rory, Marin and Radha dropped by and left in the early hours and Chris Borg turned up too. We were all in the garden until the early hours, having fun, gossiping and chilling out.

Ralph and Tyron finally arrived at 11.30pm and it was such a pleasure to see them. Thankfully there was plenty of food waiting for them and we saved them a bottle of champagne to make some gorgeous cocktails.

Such a mad, happy day.

What Vincent Said Next

Maybe a prize for the best answer!

My Party Night

I warned Jack that they could smell fear.

Aside from Tyron and Ralph missing their flight from Berlin, my party night went with a bang. Sarah, Julie’s sister arrived and we all got ready before heading into town to The Village where we were supposed to be meeting the rest of the party. Vince and David had come over from NI and it was lovely to see their smiling faces. Jack joined the group which was great as he had never been to JoJo’s before. Mel and Paul came too although they couldn’t hang around. I think the pictures say it all though.

Julie has just got the bill for the champagne!

Mdm Terri puts me in my place.

Paul and Kirsty rave on.

The delightful Newtownards Massive.

All The Fours!

Taking elevensies on my birthday.