My Stage Highlights!

I hate posts that start with "I've not blogged for a while...", however in this case it is very true, and I shamefully admit that in terms of my drama, I've had an awful lot to blog about and have just been too lazy!

Since October of last year, my amateur dramatics antics have been non-stop, and I'm currently enjoying the longest break (1 week, to be precise) between finishing one show and starting the next.  In September, I was accosted in the middle of Kenilworth high street and bribed with the opportunity of playing the baddie into doing yet another pantomime.  The role itself was a small, rather half-heartedly written 'immortal' called Alsatia who seemed to flit between insinuating that the bad luck befalling the main protagonist was all her doing, to sitting on her laurels in the dressing room for the greater proportion of the final act of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves.  It took me a while to get into this character, but true to form the conjuring of a hideously generic foreign accent reminiscent of a B-Movie Dracula seemed to cement Alsatia in my head (if not my heart!).

Post panto, and after a brief break I was back at rehearsals, this time for Top Girls, by Caryl Churchill.  Much fun was had with the spelling of Caryl and after various blips we managed to get the referencing right!  My part was initially a small scene involving an interview with the main character, Marlene, however after a slight change in circumstances I landed not one, not two, but three roles in Top Girls in the end; the waitress, Kit, and Shona.  To summarise, I spent Top Girls trying not to drop plates and cutlery in the first act, lying my way (unsuccessfully) through an interview at the Top Girls Agency, and finally donning various sorts of denim (well, this play is set in the 80's) as a rather moody 12 year old!

And this brings me neatly to the play I've just finished, Hay Fever by Noel Coward.  This play was not without irony, for myself and at least one other cast member suffered hay fever during the course of rehearsals, and more than one of the show's performances should have been sponsored by Kleenex and some brand of antihistamines!  I adored this show, not least because I got to ditch the denim in favour of cloche hats and sparkly costumes, but also it was a fantastically bad-mannered comedy in typical Coward style which meant the cast and I had a brilliant time, even if my character, Jackie, was treated most appallingly throughout.

So ends the summary of my absence, and I hope to be blogging more frequently in future.  My next outing is Pygmalion, which is showing in July, and as rehearsals will start this coming Sunday I expect I shall have a few thoughts to jot down!

Break a leg!

Bad Dress Rehearsal, Good Opening Night...?

Both our technical and dress rehearsals are now out of the way, and with only a few short days to go before our opening night on Thursday, things are now getting to the stage (no pun intended) where the nightmares usually start and I begin to panic!

I'm not sure if there's any truth to the old saying "Bad dress rehearsal, good opening night" - I guess that, if it is, we might be in for a rocky start as both the tech and dress have run relatively smoothly!  For myself personally, after Sunday, I was just glad of a relatively sneeze/snot free rehearsal, with the use of tissues solely reserved for scripted purposes - thank goodness for antihistamines.

As for the rest of the cast...

Stealth photography aside, you can see that it's all a mad panic of line reviewing, clothes changes, acquiring props and rushing about...

No really, it is!

ST

'Keep Calm' - Opening Night

I confess I'm a little nervous, as tonight is the opening night of our play - one of two that Cubbington Players are putting on this October.  I feel a little out of practice as the panto was 9 months ago now, and although I was involved in the May production I wasn't actually on stage.  What seems to be making me feel worse is that I've got 2 friends coming along to see this one as well - no pressure then!
Luckily I have one of the smaller roles in 'Keep Calm', as this is technically my first production as an adult, or at least one that doesn't involve either custard pies or generally acting the fool.  I play the part of Mary Grant - a not dissimilar character to Sybil Fawlty, who leaves her husband in charge of looking after the household and baby while she goes out for lunch. 
Apart from the fretting and fidgeting before my exit, in contrast to my character when I do finally leave 'for lunch' I can quietly relax back stage while all hell breaks loose, and prepare for my emotional outburst at the end... it promises to be quite something.

ST

http://www.cubbingtonplayers.com/
14th, 15th & 16th October - Keep Calm (Louis Goodrich) & Babysitting Calvin (John H Newmeir)

Ristorante Etna

We walked into Etna on a Friday evening and I could immediately see why this particular restaurant had mixed reviews from the people who had eaten there over the years.  Although I had read that this was one of the first restaurants in Coventry's Restaurant Quarter, it seemed to lack the sort of atmosphere that I would have expected for an eatery that has been around for more than twenty years.  The interior had been redecorated in recent history, but unfortunately it has left the venue with a certain clinical air to it, everywhere was clean but it seemed lacking in any particular personality (the decorations for example seemed a little disjointed) and lacked the friendliness of other Italian restaurants that I have visited.

The menu itself was large and varied, and along with the specials board catered for most tastes whilst

Harringtons on the Hill

Even though I have lived in Kenilworth for nearly a year, either living the other side of town, or general ignorance meant that I had not come across the name of Harringtons before.  Unfortunately, I entered the restaurant with trepidation after a few interesting comments by my twitter followers, ranging from "I hope you don't get food poisoning/roaches in food/bleach squash" to "Hope it's improved since we were last there (on the plus side it couldn't have got any worse)" - Nice.

The restaurant itself was pleasant and clean, and was well lit considering it was already dark outside.  It had a nice 'cottagy' feel about it (as do many of the buildings in Kenilworth) with a relatively low ceiling, wooden beams throughout and a cosy atmosphere mainly due to its small size.
The one thing myself and my companion noted was that the menu was quite large, and although there was certainly plenty to choose from the main menu as well as the specials meant that it was a little overwhelming. 
We both decided on seafood starters and duck for our main course - I had the Crab Coctail, followed by the Pan Fried Gressingham Duck, and my friend had the Scallops and the Duck from the specials. The duck was well cooked and perfectly tender.  The sauce that came with my dish was Mango and Chilli, which I thought was an excellent combination that suited the duck well and gave it a sweet and sour flair accompanied by the stir-fried vegetables.  The two puddings, Cheesecake of the Day (Strawberry) and the Sticky Toffee Puddings suitably rounded off the meal.

I thought the restaurant was lovely and cosy, perfect for an evening meal as the winter draws in.  The staff were friendly and helpful, and the dishes were brought out promptly but without any feeling of being rushed.

I'd recommend this as a nice restaurant to go to as a couple, or a small group of friends, as due to its size it is probably unsuitable for large parties.

Harringtons on the Hill
42 Castle Hill
Kenilworth
http://www.harringtonsonthehill.com/

Stratford Food Festival 2010

After much deliberating between Cheese, and food in general, I have decided to visit the Stratford Food Festival this weekend (24th - 26th September), and save Cardiff's Cheese Festival for another year.  I've never actually been to a food festival before, so I really haven't got much of an idea of what to expect!
Having taken a quick peek at the organiser's website http://www.stratfordfoodfestival.co.uk/, it appears that there should be quite a bit to whet the appetite.  I look forward to visiting the French Market on Bridge Street - especially as I've already been introduced to a variety of luscious French cheeses such as Pie D'Angloys, Port Salut and Tomme de Savoie by a colleague of mine (who my twitter followers will know as 'French') and my cousin.
Having delved a little further, there are one or two particular stalls that I shall make a point of visiting as well:
The Garlic Farm - http://www.thegarlicfarm.co.uk/ - for the garlic obviously!
Nut Knowle Farm - http://www.nutknowlefarm.com/ - to educate myself on goat's cheese
And for those who know me well, I shall be making pit-stops at any stall that involves coffee.
For those that are interested, I'm trying to organise a Tweetup at the entrance to the main Food Festival site at 11.30pm on the Saturday - if you are interested, please either leave a comment on this post, or contact me via twitter - www.twitter.com/Midget500
Regards,
ST