I
always like an early start. This morning it was 3.30am so an early start to
the day as well as an early start to the season. An 11.00 am show at the Savoy
Theatre in Monmouth so three hours through the murk of the Marches and a
traditional breakfast in Monmouth Wetherspoons before getting in. The get in.
That's what it's called in the theatre. Lumping all the props in. Setting up.
The
Savoy Theatre in Monmouth is a traditional Victorian (built 1859) music hall
theatre and it's a great place to perform in. Slightly faded, slightly
delapidated but oozing show business atmosphere. Reminds me of when I joined
Salisbury Playhouse (the old theatre) fresh faced from drama school thinking
I was Gods gift to the acting profession. More about that another day maybe. No hot shower though which I had been looking
forward to, but there was hot water in the dressing room so not so bad. A raked stage proved challenging for the
chair balance. A rake is a slight slope
towards the audience. It makes the whole
business of presenting the show easier with a raked stage, but the chair
balance is much harder on a slope. Never
mind it was fine and apart from a couple of juggling drops (not enough practice
recently) the show went well. About 150 people, mostly
families with small children so it was a bit of a struggle choosing the right
boy for the finger chopping routine. The
boy I picked was too young really but there was no choice. He did well until
the very last moment before he had a wobble of terror. I can’t blame him. He thought he was about to lose his finger in
a bizarre public ritual. His mother
hadn’t warned him! He will never go to the theatre again. He will have a life-long phobia of magicians
and theatres. No it wasn’t quite as bad as
that. I made sure he was ok and came round and came back at
the end of the show for his prize. A
finger chopper trick. And he and his mum
were smiling so it was all ok in the end.
Fingers crossed! The boy who sat on my shoulders for the unicycle finale was superb and had the whole place in hysterics.
After the show I packed the props away in
the car when the guy who owned the sandwich bar next to the theatre came
up. I thought he was going to tell me
off for parking in front of his shop, but no it turns out he and his daughter
were in the audience, loved the show and would I like a free lunch? I had a delightful home made veggie quiche
with salad, a lovely cup of tea and a chat. So thanks to David in his place next door to the theatre in Church
Street. If you go visit and say hello
from me.
The show really hurt though! The first one of the season always does. The journey back from Monmouth saw me trying
to shift around in the car seat to ease the pain of the muscle cramps and aches.
My own fault of course for not exercising, training, practicing or even really
thinking about the show in January and February. I’ve made another resolution though. I’m going to train in March. I’ve opened up the stage in the workshop and
will use the space for a daily workout.
I know that if I don’t, come May when the season really kicks off I will
be really suffering.
The man from the garage came to look at my
broken clutch on the lorry and we have a plan, so all being well that will be
mended too in time for the start proper.
All the props and flats are out of the trailer and spread round the workshop
for renovation and repainting. A long
annual job but it does mean that everything will look good for Llandudno. And there’s the final build of the new
illusion to think about. The materialising
motorbike illusion. More about that
later too.
This afternoon I’m off to Shrewsbury to
meet the organiser of the Shrewsbury Flower Show. I’m there with the stage in August this year
for the first time. I performed there a
few years ago but just mixing and mingling so it will be good to be there with
the full rig. Lovely event and a lovely
town. I’m looking forward to it, and, as
I hope you can tell, the winter blues have all but gone as the new season can
be seen coming up over the horizon with the spring sun.
All the best from a road near you,
Mr Alexander
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