Zeitgeist Grand Slam

Zeitgeist Theatre offered up a packed performance of 16 short plays on one night for its Grand Slam at the Bedford, a large pub in Balham housing a theatre in the round.

The two most popular pieces of the evening were humourous ones - Le Sub Text, by Caroline Gold, served up the under-currents of a couple's conversation in a restaurant, with a soupcon of sarcasm from a supercilious waiter; while Clown Noir revealed the dark underbelly of comedy as a purple-haired clown laid aside his modelling balloons and opted for the foam-filled finale of custard's last stand.

Given the time limit of five minutes per slot, several writers went for comedy sketches such as Career Train Wreck by Ben Macnair - a graduate's dream of a glittering career struggles to stay on track.

On a more serious note, the English Class by Rachel Lawrence was based on events she encountered while teaching English to refugees and battered women.

Zeitgeist Theatre

http://www.zeitgeisttheatre.com/

Cutting edge new writing -

"the spirit of the age"

A selection of 16 short plays

in a packed evening of entertainment

Bedford Globe Theatre, Balham

Sunday 28 October at 8pm

Quotation marks

quotation-marks.blogspot.com

For people who are picky about punctuation, a collection of examples of inappropriate use of quotation marks. Some of them are quite funny, such as the ice cream van with the slogan "happy" children. Does this serve as a disclaimer reminding purchasers that the instant gratification of an ice cream doesn't buy lasting happiness?