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.
Monday, 29 October 2007
Saturday, 13 October 2007
Thursday, 4 October 2007
Zeitgeist Theatre
"the spirit of the age"
A selection of 16 short plays
A selection of 16 short plays
in a packed evening of entertainment
Bedford Globe Theatre, Balham
Sunday 28 October at 8pm
Bedford Globe Theatre, Balham
Sunday 28 October at 8pm
Wednesday, 3 October 2007
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?
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?
Friday, 21 September 2007
What's on TV
The fallow summer season of watch-paint-dry TV is now at an end and the Autumn schedules are upon us. Steel yourselves for a plethora of programming in the familiar settings of police stations and hospitals. Sometimes one dead body or deadly disease just isn't enough, it has to be nothing short of serial killings or a horrific accident with ambulance-loads of casualties.
So what's worth watching in the hospital wing? Hugh Laurie makes a welcome return as Greg House, nobly managing the double impediment of walking with a limp and affecting an American accent. It's scary what they do to patients who have the misfortune to contract a mysterious illness. Fishing for clues, frequent misdiagnoses and throwing a cocktail of drugs in the mix often results in a near-death experience, shortly followed by a visionary moment in which the correct cure is found at the eleventh hour.
There's a new series of Gray's Anatomy, which continues in the same vein, but the spin-off, Private Practice, featuring Addison (the redhead) hasn't met with favourable reviews.
On the crime scene, Dexter made a grisly debut, but redeems itself with a gripping plotline, interesting characters and a dash of black humour.
The trend towards detective work with a paranormal twist continues - Medium (she sees it coming) the Dresden Files ( a female cop teams up with a wizard) Blood Ties (a female cop teams up with a vampire) and Saving Grace (a female cop meets her guardian angel).
As all these are American it's only fair to mention, Life on Mars - cops in a retro alternate reality - and there is talk of a spin-off.
Moving away from the police station but within the parameters of the paranormal is the much-hyped Heroes, now set for s econd series. The first series saw ex- Dr Who Christopher Eccleston put in appearance as the invisible man (yes that may sound like a contradiction in terms, but he is visible some of the time).
Talking of the Doctor, I hear that David Tennant is to stay on for a while, which I hope will be the case as I've grown accustomed to his face and don't want the dear old doctor to get a new one yet. (I know he has undergone more transformations than a cat has lives, but isn't he getting towards the end of his allowance now?)
Anyway, on the whole, while there is much re-working of tried and trusted themes, it seems there is also a little room for some innovative ideas and fresh new drama.
So what's worth watching in the hospital wing? Hugh Laurie makes a welcome return as Greg House, nobly managing the double impediment of walking with a limp and affecting an American accent. It's scary what they do to patients who have the misfortune to contract a mysterious illness. Fishing for clues, frequent misdiagnoses and throwing a cocktail of drugs in the mix often results in a near-death experience, shortly followed by a visionary moment in which the correct cure is found at the eleventh hour.
There's a new series of Gray's Anatomy, which continues in the same vein, but the spin-off, Private Practice, featuring Addison (the redhead) hasn't met with favourable reviews.
On the crime scene, Dexter made a grisly debut, but redeems itself with a gripping plotline, interesting characters and a dash of black humour.
The trend towards detective work with a paranormal twist continues - Medium (she sees it coming) the Dresden Files ( a female cop teams up with a wizard) Blood Ties (a female cop teams up with a vampire) and Saving Grace (a female cop meets her guardian angel).
As all these are American it's only fair to mention, Life on Mars - cops in a retro alternate reality - and there is talk of a spin-off.
Moving away from the police station but within the parameters of the paranormal is the much-hyped Heroes, now set for s econd series. The first series saw ex- Dr Who Christopher Eccleston put in appearance as the invisible man (yes that may sound like a contradiction in terms, but he is visible some of the time).
Talking of the Doctor, I hear that David Tennant is to stay on for a while, which I hope will be the case as I've grown accustomed to his face and don't want the dear old doctor to get a new one yet. (I know he has undergone more transformations than a cat has lives, but isn't he getting towards the end of his allowance now?)
Anyway, on the whole, while there is much re-working of tried and trusted themes, it seems there is also a little room for some innovative ideas and fresh new drama.
Saturday, 8 September 2007
Treasury of Unusual Words
"Podiacide" : The metaphorical act of shooting oneself in the foot.
B/S - "Bovine scatology": euphemism coined by American general Norman Schwarzkopf
"Kakistocracy" : A system of government in which the rulers are the least competetent, least qualified or most unprincipled citizens.
Definitions from Foyle's Philavery: A Treasury of Unusual Words, by Christopher Foyle.
B/S - "Bovine scatology": euphemism coined by American general Norman Schwarzkopf
"Kakistocracy" : A system of government in which the rulers are the least competetent, least qualified or most unprincipled citizens.
Definitions from Foyle's Philavery: A Treasury of Unusual Words, by Christopher Foyle.
Monday, 20 August 2007
the Mayan calendar
"Creation is speeding up...if you feel a little overwhelmed from time to time - get used to it - or get over it... it will keep on accelerating."
Mayan Calendar Comes North - 2004 - Part 1
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8689261981090121097
Mayan Calendar Comes North - 2004 - Part 2 http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-567329528148516232
Mayan Calendar Comes North - 2004 - Part 1
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8689261981090121097
Mayan Calendar Comes North - 2004 - Part 2 http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-567329528148516232
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