On the topic of crappy theatre (pardon my French), I realised that I have not shared the “poo bag” story yet. As the RSC no longer has a permanent home in London, it borrowed the Tricycle Theatre recently. The play was “I’ll Be the Devil,” a story of 18th century Ireland very “loosely” based on The Tempest. We were invited to the dress rehearsal with an email that also warned us that the play had scenes of very violent nature and adult content. Our friends in the tech office who had seen it then elaborated that these scenes included English soldiers shoving a crucifix up the bum of an Irish Catholic and then smearing him with feces. So, you know, the feel good hit of the season here at Easter time!
We trundle up to the theatre for the dress and a few of us take seats near the top (and near the door) so we can make a hasty exit if needed. Those plans were then shattered when the play’s director and designer decided to sit right in front of us. So then this older, very large, very drama queen type actor comes on to the stage and yells for the director “Roger? Roger darling? Are you around? Might I have a word?” So Roger walks over to the balcony and the actor calls up: “Am I to understand we are not going to have a poo bag in the dress?” (this being the item used to smear aforementioned feces). Well, turns out that the RSC can’t shell out for two costume shirts, and they needed the clean one for that night’s opening performance, so, no, no poo bag for you.
The actor then goes into quite the strop “What?! No poo bag! This is ridiculous! What are we going to do on matinee days? (just water apparently). This is the RSC? This is shoddy! Quite shoddy! No poo bag!” He repeats all this for about 2 more minutes and then storms off the stage. In the meantime we’ve all been trying to contain our laughter (and try not to pee from the hysterics..lol). The director returns up to his seat, kind of smiles at us and says “Well, something is shoddy and it’s more his attitude.” Ha!
The play itself? Well, it was not nearly as gruesome and violent as warned (that crucifix scene being the bulk of it). The bigger complaint was that it was just, well pretty darn dull. One of our colleagues who didn’t come to the dress but saw it that night came in later and said “Instead of warning me about how violent it was, you should have warned me how blooding boring it was instead!”
Not boring? My upcoming weekend traveling out of London. I’m journeying up north to Manchester (never been!) to go to Collectormania. Yes, I will be getting my geek on this weekend..lol. My friend Sarah and I are hopping on a bus at 8am tomorrow and heading up to stalk Anthony Stewart Head from "Buffy," not to mention a number of “Heroes” cast members! Woo hoo! Have never been to one of these sci-fi convention things before, so I am sure there will be good blog fodder (and pics) next week! Next week also brings a trip to Old Vic on Tuesday to see “Speed the Plow.” Jeff Goldlbum will be mine, oh yes..he will be mine..lol
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