Monday 6th August 2018
Normally Monday mornings fill me with a vague sense of dread, knowing that I’ve got to battle the M60 ring road in Manchester twice a day for the next 5 days. However, this particular Monday got off to a brilliant start as we received the first reviews for Greyhounds! Like excited children on Christmas morning, we all gathered round to hear what the critics had to say.
First up was Tychy, whose perceptive and detailed review which describes how Greyhounds ‘beautifully masters and combines both the Bard and the aesthetic minutiae of WW2’ left us smiling from ear to ear. But that wasn’t all! Broadway Baby also gave us a whopping 4 stars, stating that ‘you should think yourself accurs’d if you miss this clever and charming production’. We can’t help but agree! On a more serious note, we have all worked so hard to make this show the very best it can be, and we are absolutely delighted that audiences and reviewers are enjoying it so much and really understand the carefully crafted layers of the play.
As tempting as it was to spend the rest of the day basking in the glory of these reviews, there was work to be done! Jacob, Catherine and I attended a panel at Fringe Central about taking your show on tour (we have lofty aspirations for this play, don’t you know!). It was a great opportunity to hear experienced producers and programmers give some advice to those of us who refuse to move on after the Fringe want their productions to have longevity and the chance to be seen across the country. Meanwhile, Laura and Tim went for a spot of afternoon tea at the beautiful Colonnades at the Signet Library, dressed in their finest and most glamourous 1940s apparel.
Time flies when you’re having fun (or sitting in a lecture theatre taking notes like a keen fresher) and before we knew it, our debut on the Royal Mile stage was upon us. Hair coiffed, gas mask boxes stuffed with ration book flyers, and ukulele tuned, we took to the stage accompanied by the sound of the air raid siren courtesy of sound guru Paul. Director Jac did a sterling job of gathering a crowd and flyering whilst we sang our modest repertoire of 1940s hits: Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, and Hey Mr. Miller. Unfortunately the heavens opened – which couldn’t have possibly been anything to do with our beautiful singing although it did start when the boys came in with their verse (just saying) – but the rain didn’t dampen our spirits. The crowds stayed for the duration of our set, tapping their feet, singing along and even flossing, which though not quite era appropriate, we loved the enthusiasm! We stayed behind to watch the stage performance after us, which was for the show ‘The Servant of Two Masters’ by Il Vostro Teatro Capo, a theatre group all the way from Virginia, USA! They treated us to a group dance number and a well choreographed sword fight, all whilst wearing colourful and eye-catching costumes. You can catch them at C Venues at 1.35pm until the 11th August.
We had bite to eat, followed by our now customary car park warm-up, and then went into show #4 of our run which was another corker. It was lovely to see my parents in the audience (and on the front row, no less). Included in the price of their ticket was a conversation with me after the show, and the opportunity to buy me a French martini in the posh hotel bar. Aren’t they so lucky? A few of us stayed out for a gin or two, before heading back to the flat for pre-bedtime cups of tea and a good night’s kip, ready for another day of flyering, tea-drinking, and performing tomorrow.
Toodle-oo, dear readers!
Fiona
(Greyhounds’ Nancy Wilde)
TIME & AGAIN THEATRE COMPANY 