Wednesday, February 06, 2008

Mid-week Memory

Aside

This was a photo taken of the play ‘A day in the Death of Joe Egg.’ - Peter Nichol’s black comedy about a couple and their daughter, who was severely brain damaged at birth. The play is a mixture of black comedy and heart break. The author himself had a very handicapped child.

I played the mother – the chap playing the father was a born comedian which was right for the play and made the sadness even more poignant. The school girl who played my daughter had to remain mute throughout, and was a sweetie.

There is quite bit of talking to the audience and I decide to do one piece, whilst putting lipstick on at the same time. We were very well rehearsed and normally the prompt was totally reliable but I’m happy to see we rarely, if ever, needed her. However one night she lost concentration and prompted me on a pause I had made to apply lip-stick – as we had rehearsed fifty million times. One of my friends in the audience said my face didn’t move a muscle - but my eyes flashed. I was quite cross!

21 comments:

Wayne said...

That would have been well worth a flash of crossness. In the right (or wrong) mood, I could imagine dropping out of character to rebuke her with a 'That was a dramatic bloody pause, dear - concentrate!'

Anonymous said...

Great hairstyle!

Cheers.

Pat said...

Wayne: don't think I wasn't tempted:)

Randall: you said the right thing - I have the same one now.

Krimo said...

Oh, to be on stage!!
My father once told me to leave the table and not come back until I knew how to act.
I stood in front of my wardrobe mirror going:
"To be or not to be...."
Sorry, Pat, I couldn't resist.

I agree with Randall.

Pat said...

Krimo: anything that makes me chuckle is allowed.

Anonymous said...

Oh dear, lack of concentration on the part of the prompter. Makes me think of several similar lapses during my time backstage or on lights. . . .

Anonymous said...

Hair and flare(s) - love 'em!

FootEater has posted about his love of Am Dram - you might be interested.

Eryl Shields said...

Love, love, love your hair. Actually I'm rather taken with the whole outfit it takes me back to my 'Vogue' discovery in the mid seventies.

Silly prompter, she was obviously not paying the slightest bit of attention, how can anyone apply lippy and talk at the same time?

Pat said...

Sam: My comment vanished. Thanks for the link; I went over for a peek. Well spotted:)

Eryl: normally she was excellent. Dunno what came over her but she was profuse with apologies and I forgave her.

OldHorsetailSnake said...

That's you, righty? What a beauty.

Pat said...

Hoss: a long time ago:)

apprentice said...

Oh I can just see your eyes flashing at her. Good photo, as are the ones of your latest trip. The sky has that early Spring watery look doesn't it?
And the banger makes me hungry!

Pat said...

Anna: it's amazing what a rank amateur can do with a digital. If only I had had it in India.

Anonymous said...

Those jeans - how trendy are they now! I remember those 1970s polos ...

How wrapped up we are in how you look and are dressed! The chaise longue is lovely, too!

Pity the poor girl that had to lie with her head on one shoulder for ... how long?

belle

Pat said...

Belle: I still wear clothes like that - maybe not quite so flared:)
I can't remember - she could have been there for the whole three acts. Funny how some things are fixed in one's memory and some float away.

Foot Eater said...

Is that amateur or professional?

Pat, you remind me there of Tippi Hedren.

(I haven't commented here before, even though I've often visited, because I'm afraid of besmirching your blog with foul cuss-words. I think this time I've managed to rstrain myself, and I'm flaming pleased -

Oh, bother.)

Pat said...

Foot -eater: hi! you're very welcome. It was amateur but we had a number of ex pros - actors, writers and directors. Eventually we bought an oast house and converted it into a theatre. The original was a small first floor room in an out house behind a pub. Very convenient.

Kanani said...

I love all these old photos of yours. I noticed th styling too --funny how things come around because that outfit looks like something you'd find on the runways now!

Pat said...

Kanani: I'm smiling because our runway is what planes go on . I'm hoping your runway is our cat-walk?

Bobkat said...

That's a great still photo of the play and has caught what looks like a tender moment.

Everyone makes mistakes during the run of a show, sometimes actors forget lines :) I'm glad you forgave her. I once stepped on the phantom of the operas fingers, it was his fault though as he was late getting down from the walkway, it was pitch black and I had to hurry down to get to my next cue!

Michele sent me to say hi on this sunny UK day.

Pat said...

Bob-kat: I expect you can remember many hilarious moments. The adrenalin seemed to heighten ones emotions and there was a lot Of fun to be had:)