Freedom From The Mundane

Gail and I had a nice evening at the Playhouse last night to see the Rat Pack Live From Las Vegas show. We shot up town after work and had a meal in the Theatre Royal Bar – I went for the healthy haggis, neeps, and tatties option – and washed it all down with a nice bottle of red plonk, although, I also had their sticky toffee pudding for dessert, so it turned out not to be all that healthy in the end.

The Playhouse wasn’t quite a sell-out and it took a long time for the audience to warm up. I really think Edinburgh audiences can be the least enthusiastic about anything at times. Having seen the same acts in Glasgow and Edinburgh, the differences are black and white. In Glasgow you get enthusiasm, crowd interaction, and a much better vibe. In Edinburgh there is no willingness by most people to want to get involved. They would rather sit there and wait to be entertained before giving an applause. In Glasgow you are welcomed – until you get it wrong.

I think that’s why I’m often accused of being out of place in Edinburgh, particularly by my wife. I’m not as grumpy as some of the people around me.

Anyway, ‘Frank’ kicked off the show with the band at the rear of the stage, while standing under murals of Sinatra, Martin, and Davis Jr. The likeness both in appearance, mannerism, and voice was remarkable, and it was clear to see why this guy got the part of the Chairman.

Next on was ‘Sammy Davis Jr.,’ and I felt quite disappointed in the non-likeness. Okay, the guy was small, skinny, and brown, but he didn’t have the voice, looks, or dare I say it, skin colour of the real thing. Don’t get me wrong, ‘Sam’ could sing and dance, but he was too far from the man to make the act any more realistic.

Then up came Dean Martin. There was more of a resemblance compared to the real Dino, but to me, the voice let him down. It was nowhere near as low, smooth, or as “country” as Dino was in real life.

They each came on and did small sets, then sang one together to bring the first half to a close. I joined Gail outside during the break, and I really felt like the whole thing had gone flat. The audience was quiet, and the act seemed over-scripted, as if they had tried to get it too much like the real thing but had failed in doing so. Some of the jokes were falling flat (the Edinburgh audience or first night testing?), and I felt the production had compromised looks for voice, but had failed with both.

So in we trudged for the second half, and I have to say, what a difference! Talk about a game of two halves. The second hour flew by, was much more enjoyable, funny, and entertaining, and suddenly the likeness issue with Martin and Davis Jr., seemed to be less relevant. It became less obviously scripted, or maybe they were just getting better at acting, but by the end of it, I felt I’d finally got my money worth, which I couldn’t have said after the first half.

So all in all, it was good, but not as good as I had been expecting. It took a while to get going, and was good when it did, but in the end, it never reached its hype or potential. If the truth be told, I’d probably rather sit down and watch a DVD of the real thing.

Despite the usual tabloid April Fool gags today – the Metro with the dog urine activated electrocuting car, and a two headed Llama called a Pushmipullyu – there was some sense made that was reported on. That man Kevin Spacey, yet again, this time commenting on the unfair promotion of Lloyd Webber musicals through their talent shows. Spacey said: “When are they going to do one about a play? I think it’s imbalanced.’

It’s about time someone spoke about on the crap on the telly these days, especially ones like this that are ruining the arts and the careers of those within them. I utterly hate these singing and dancing shows where only one person wins. They are ugly, boring, and brain numbing. Cheap television with a high return – what does it say about the huge audiences that watch it?

Maybe if they invested some of the money from the phone in voting system to making new and interesting programs, instead of canning the good stuff in favour of that shite. There are more and more of them popping up all over the place, yet they are cancelling good shows like Rebus! It doesn’t make sense.

Onto the work now, and I got e-book editing complete. It turned out that extra 24 hours was vital, as it allowed me to get into it and really turn it over. I also planned out some RR contract stuff, and got my April newsletter sent out with the new GDR plan – which you can now read below.

Fiction
* Begin writing sequel to Hunting Jack (untitled) (G1,G2,G3)
* Write up Slick synopsis, query letter, and blurb (G1,G2,D1,D2)
* Complete final draft of Slick if reader feedback complete (G1,G2,D1,D2)
* Write two new short stories that are planned out (G2,G5)

Freelance/Non-Fiction
Writing:
* Query freelance gigs 25/mth (0/25 pitched – Total=31) (G7,G9)
* Write weekly SDR articles (1*,8,15,22,29) (G5,G7,G9)
* Start developing ideas for Scotland’s Treasure column for SDR Summer edition (Jul) (G5,G7,G9)
* Write at least four new weekly articles for DWT (0/4) (G5,G7,G9)
* Keep on top of article assignments from TLB (G5,G7,G9)
* Keep chasing work from non-advertised and networked sources (G5,G7,G9)
* See if non-fiction submission tracker needs used/updated

Business:
* Finish re-branding of CG Freelance to Compass Freelance (website and advertising) (G5,G7,G9)
* Prepare cuttings and print off as PDF (G7,G9)
* Create PDF file with skills and examples (G7,G9)
* Create SOR contract (G7,G9)
* Evaluate Quicken as a suitable small accounts package
* Printers – Check out wireless/photo quality/fast (G7,G9)
* Keep accounts up to date
* April invoices to TLB and DWT

Web:
* Make progress with client (1 interactive, 1 simple catering) (G5,G7,G9) – onsite visit. Talked through options and left CDs to view.
* Develop and build website for Creatively 4U Photography business. (G5,G7,G9)

Poetry
* Develop concept and start writing Poems for Pints (G4,G5,G8)
* Complete and submit Silly Poems for Wee People Vol.2 (PSH FFA E-book) (G4,G5)

Playwriting
* Nothing new planned
* Hopefully receive initial feedback from FUSE (Playwright Scotland) (G2)

Editing
* Stay on top of RR submissions (G6)
* Complete layout of RR issue 3 (G6)
* Continue laying out RR issues 4 and 5 (G6)

Marketing and Promotion
* Publish April newsletter (G5)
* Prepare May newsletter (G5)
* Keep website(s) up to date (G5,G8,G9)
* Create RR website on Facebook, Bebo (all others like MySpace) (G5,G6)
* Create personal website on Facebook, Bebo (all others like MySpace) (G5)
* Promote RR online every 7 days on MySpace/Facebook/Bebo/BBS (6,13,20,27) (G6)
* Promote link exchanges for RR (G6)

Reading and Research
* Continue reading, absorbing, and applying The Well-Fed Writer by Peter Bowerman (G7,G9)
* Complete Novel Writing – 16 Steps to Success by Evan Marshall (G1,G2,G3,D1,D2)
* Start The Brooklyn Follies by Paul Auster (G2,D1,D2)

Non-Writing
* Continue diet (15/28lbs lost as at 16/3/08) (R1)
* Finish the garden
* Begin Stage 1 Italian Lessons
* Start Galbraith Family Tree project

April 1st, 2008 | Tags: dinner, Edinburgh: the City & the Festivals, Editorial Comment, GDR's, meal, Playhouse Theatre, Rat Pack | Category: Edinburgh: the City & the Festivals, Editorial Comment, Food, Drink, and Bevvy, Freelance, Music, Writing, Writing Process | Subscribe to comments | Leave a comment | Trackback URL