Didn't jog yesterday as it was raining but we were out there again this morning my poor old thighs on fire. Still, it makes breakfast so much more welcome and delicious. As Paul Miller says in my London life who's to say that Peter O'Toole doesn't have a point? He may have many good ones. If he had been more analytical in his condemnation of British Theatre and more bravely specific about those he blames (what has he got to lose?) and given some modern examples, he might have done us all a favour. He may even have found in his heart some praise for the occasional production which he had seen or great performance from a young actor who had chosen to work on the stage because he or she loved it. However he has allowed himself to be dismissed by the culpable by sounding like a raving old fool with a talent for invective. I conclude that he doesn't really care.
While editing a showreel for someone today I was saddened to see actors in long running series who had lost the desire to delight an audience for whichever of the many reasons that may happen. There are some that defend the craft and struggle to rise and surprise despite the handicaps of what they are given to work with and I found myself moved by that.
A new regime started today; wife and I began it (albeit tardily) with a cup of green tea followed by a jog along the parkland walk and around the park itself with occasional walky bits. You have to be FIT to be an actor. You also have to find something to do. I spent most of the rest of the day updating a showreel which I had made for another actor who has since appeared in more stuff on the telly. This can be quite enjoyable when the computer is behaving well which I am glad to say it mostly did. I earn a few quid, we're all happy. A showreel for those who don't know is bits of one's career hung on an electronic washing line which is then distributed amongst uninterested parties, like ground bait to entice pike.
Turner, Whistler, Monet at Tate Britain. Tate Britain sounds like some young pop diva, anyway she curated this exhibition with admirable skill beyond her years. The beauty of it lay in the series of works hung side by side particularly for me and my lovely wife Whistler's nocturnes over which he fought a ruinous even though successful libel suit with Ruskin who said they were crap, basically. The theme of the exhibition mostly being light and London, Whistler also dealt with darkness in which he caught a strange and powerful luminescence. Each of the artists found more from less as their careers went on. That's a story everyone should know. We didn't bother taping any more of 'The Ring Cycle' from Covent Garden having glimpsed some of yesterday's ludicrous Dr.Who style costumes, sets and acting (I'm talking the 70's here not the new one which is actually rather good) I'll wait for the CD to hear the singing.
Tuesday: 'Tynan' performed by Corin Redgrave. A tremendous unaffected performance if you can say that about someone playing Kenneth Tynan, but it was. He obviously profoundly understood the subject and just told the story of this important man. Thursday afternoon: 'Days Of Wine And Roses' - my lucky week. I was very moved by this piece. Again expertly acted by Anne-marie Duff and Peter McDonald who clearly told the story. The great combination of Peter Gill and Alison Chitty led us straight through and drew us on with no distraction until it was done. Friday: 'A Raisin In The Sun' - fantastic cast in an old-fashioned play. Also this week 'Caravaggio' at the National Gallery along with a million other dissatisfied souls. See a great master and get an elbow in the ribs.
This blog starts at rather a low point. I had an interview a couple of days ago with Tony Clark director at Hampstead Theatre, Siobhan Bracke casting and Dennis Kelly the writer of what looks like a very good play 'Osama's Friend'. A very good natured affair which went well. They cast someone else. I was very disappointed. Plus ca change. I was apparently far too young and healthy looking. On the up-side I also saw Gillian Hawser for a part in a TV film romp called 'The Curse Of King Tut' filming in India in May/June. Keep your fingers crossed. There is also a possibility of work in Salisbury around that time. Those of you new to this world are probably already getting the idea, i.e. it is quite obvious that I shall never work again.
I'm an actor. I started when I was fifteen in 1967 as the young lead in an ATV Playhouse production written by David Rudkin called "Children Playing". It was soon wiped as videotape was precious in those days.
