#64 Big wise eyes
Issue #64 Big wise eyes
31st May 2023
Hey everyone,
So where did May go?
My head's still spinning from the marvellous time I had in Vienna.
But I hit the ground running last weekend, with two blissful days rehearsing in the company of the Mixed Omens crew, getting ready for our run at the Drayton Arms in June. It's a wonderful Neil Gaiman-inspired show with a fabulous cast. Do come along and say hi!
But if modern myths and pop culture gods aren't your thing - may I recommend the following...
Rule of three
[Theatre] Phantom Peaks
Had the chance to experience this spine-tingling mash-up of immersive theatre and escape room mechanics in London last week. It's a fully realised steampunk world with its own lore and characters. Four hours of running around, solving puzzles, fishing for platypuses and making small-talk with mad scientists. I couldn't get enough of it. If you're within easy reach of London then I'm going again this Friday 2nd June if anyone wants to team up with me?
[OST] Tarzan
In the parlance of our beloved GenZ - Disney's Tarzan soundtrack didn't have to go this hard. But what really sets it apart is composer Phil Collins' insistence that he should sing on every track. EVERY. TRACK. The funniest example of this is in this scene where Glenn Close (herself a massive Broadway star coming off of her run on Sunset Boulevard) gets to sing about four lines before Phil kicks her off the track and JUST GOES FOR IT. Haha! I love it.
PS: I was listening to this video and Radio jumped on my lap and I thought "You know what, Radio. For one so small, YOU seems so strong." And then I said "My arms will hold you, keep you safe and warm." And he just looked at me with his big wise eyes and I had a little cry.
[Odd Couple] John Oliver & Cookie Monster
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver is currently off-air due to the WGA strike (which I wholeheartedly support as you might imagine). To fill the time, I present to you this video of Oliver and the mighty Cookie Monster ad libbing between takes.
Spotlight
Katy Schutte and I are planning a two day intensive in London on 24th & 25th July 2023. We're going to teach something we're really excited about - the game of the show. This is a technique we've been working on for over a decade. In essence, it means that you go into a performance with no structure at all and let the first scene tell you what the rest of the show needs. We're hoping to fill this class with experienced improvisers only, so we can really make full use of the 12 hours teaching time. Sign up to the waiting list here and we'll be in touch shortly.
Longform thoughts
Well, this was less than ideal.
Mr Bass blinked the tears from his eyes and tried to focus on the ground below him. It was rushing up to meet him at a somewhat insistent pace. The wind roared in his ears as he finally began to make out individual cars and even people on the streets outside his office building.
The building that he had just fallen off.
On the last day of every month I send out an Improv Fable to my premium subscribers. As this Wednesday is ALSO the last day of the month, I'm making one of my previous stories available. It's about falling off a building and working out what to do on the way down. Literally.
If you'd like to get these stories every month (as well as a host of other perks) then you can upgrade here - just put in your email address again and click the Upgrade subscription option.
It's pay-what-you-want monthly and that includes FREE - I'm honestly just happy to have people read and discuss the stories.
Radio contact
Me and Radio, keeping it BeReal.