14/09/04

So, u’ve got news, we understand?

Yeah, a few things.

Like what?

Well, er…where shall I start?

Just start.

Right. Well, we got a change of cast. Unfortunately, Jaimie has had to pull out because of family illness, so I’m currently in the process of holding more auditions. Should have found our man within the next few weeks.

That’s a shame. I saw Jaimie at Southampton and I thought he was very good.

Yeah. It’s a pity ‘cos I think he was beginning to really enjoy himself on stage, which always makes the performance better, but it can’t be helped. The positive from this is with a new actor its an opportunity to re-jig things a bit, try some new directions. The heart of Writers Block is the dynamic between the two male leads and so with new actors, this will inevitably change this. My job now is to use that to bring a fresh perspective to the play. I’m looking forward to the challenge and so is Neil, the other male lead, who will remain.

How have the shows gone so far?

Very well indeed. Its been a real buzz to have the play performed the way I always wanted it to be. And the audience reactions have been very encouraging.

Your bound to say that though, aren’t u?

(laughing) Well, I guess I’m not gonna’ say “everybody thought it was shit – the worst thing they’ve ever seen”, no. But in truth, the reactions have really knocked me over. People seem to really dig the play. The most rewarding thing has been the different interpretations folks seem to have. The intention was always to generate multi-layered meanings, so the fact that some people have thought one thing and then others have thought something else has been real cool. And the comedy element seems to be working really well. The performances, too. Neil Fluellan is proving to be a very smart bit of casting! He’s been excellent throughout. A real performer. Playing off the audiences with some skill. And Lottie, too, has been impressive. Overall, these initial shows have worked really well as a kindof tester.

Is there things you want to change?

Oh yeah. I mean u can always improve can’t u? I’ve got a few ideas on how to. And like I said, with the change of cast, we’ve got a good opportunity to try different things.

What have the reviews been like?

Well, the one we’ve had for these new performances was very good. It’s on the site under “reviews”, funnily enough. But the only thing with it is that it gives quite a lot of the plot away, so if u haven’t seen the play yet and your intending to, it might be best to read the review afterwards.

What, and just take your word that its good, d’u mean?

(laughing again) No. The message board should b up and running soon and I want to encourage anyone out there who has seen the play to put their thoughts on it. U can check that for a second opinion. You bastud.

What other news have u got?

Well, I’ve hooked up with Ken Campbell again, which has been smart. It was really great to see him after something like seven years. We had a right laugh.

Ken Campbell? Wasn’t he in Fawlty Towers once?

Yeah, amongst other things. He was in the wedding anniversary one. He’s more known for his one man shows these days, though.

Any plans to do stuff together again?

Yeah. He’s agreed to be in my new show, Beat Freak. He’s playing King Solomon.

Right. But isn’t that supposed to b a one man show?

Yeah, but it was Ken who came up with the ground-breaking idea of having one man shows with more than one person in it. Although he now tells me that was a bad idea. Anyway, he’ll only appear as a video message, from time to time. He won’t actually be on stage with me. It’s still strictly speaking a one man show. I’m getting him a gig in Southampton soon as well, to do his current show, The History of Comedy Part One: Ventriloquism. That’ll b cool, ‘cos he’s the master, no doubt.

And you’re the apprentice?

He-he. Yeah, I suppose I am, to some extent. Our relationship has always had a touch of that, I guess. He knows about story-telling, for sure.

Anything else?

Well, there’s the Slovakian connection.

The what?

The Slovakian connection. Long story…..

Yes, thought it might be…..

…..but in a nutshell, a good mate of mine, who I met in Prague a couple of years ago, comes from Slovakia and he’s mates with this big cheese playwright out there. Apparently he’s really well-known and runs the national theatre of Slovakia or something like that.

And?

And, he wants to do a Slovakian production of Writers’ Block. He’s into doing these translations of foreign playwrights. He did some Hungarian geeza recently and he’s been looking for a British one to do. He wants to do mine.

Slovakia? Is that in Russia?

No. It used to be part of Czechoslovakia, but it became independent in 1991. I think. The capital is Bratislava. That’s where the play will b performed.

When’s that?

Well, Jozef and I have to do the translation, which we’ll do before the end of the year, and then he’ll pass it to matey. Sometime next year, I guess.

You’ll be able to say “Hi. I’m big in Slovakia”. Check U. Or should that be: Czech U?

Funny. And wrong. The two countries are separate now. I just said that. They really dig their artists out there in the east, though.  In the Czech Republic, the president is a playwright, Vaclav Havel. Now that’s taste. I’m well up for it.

What about the dear old Isle of Wight? What news?

Actually, I ain’t been there that much lately, since we did the Arts Festival.  As I’ve said, they were cool shows, though it’s always a bit nerve wracking showing your work to a lot of people that know you. I felt a bit raw after it. But we had a great after-show at the central in Ventnor. It seemed to go on for about two days. Spent a bit of time catching up with some old faces; heard about how Paul and Aaron and the rest are touring around the globe spreading the good news, Drew’s recording his second album, Paul Armfield was about to tour with Lambchop, and me  mates Kody are off touring the nation. Things are progressing for everybody, which is all good. But I didn’t make it to the Bestival, which probably would’ve been some crack what with half of Ventnor playing. I did get to go to one really good outdoor party, though, this summer. At Blackgang. It was so good, I wrote about it. The piece can be found on the “a writer writes” bit. But I’m trying to stay away as much as possible at the mo. Turns me into a nutter that place.

Finally, then, tour updates?

Well, with the re-casting and everything, I’ve had to cancel a couple of shows, but the aim is to be out performing again as early as possible in the new year. That’s the plan.