As I orbit this 'Forbidden planet' Layla Zoe is pouring some acoustic bourbon in my ears with her powerful, smoky voice which cuts through the cobwebs like a warp engine and the memories come flooding through.
Firstly, Up-state New York: The last month brought our 'autumn'. I tried calling it 'Fall' and got that quizzical look from someone which lets you know their failing to understand? You see we don't have any trees here which lose their leaves and so the phrase is a non sequitur. Shame, I did miss the riot of colors and the scrunch of leaves. Which told you Halloween was coming and magic was near.
But, each place has it's way and here our temperature has remained mostly in the 70's with bright sunshine and just a few showers of rain. These drops of moisture have brought forth a carpet of beautiful flowers on the Rock. One a small delicate purple flower reminds me of my sweet Jean-Marie and our time here together. Lovers trying to escape their dead line by dancing in bed. I miss her sharp mind and lovely legs.
Next a memory of the workshop at Elmwood floats through. Especially a fracking table saw!!! Last week my new theatrical partner in crime 'George' and I were starting to build the set for the panto. The smell of sawdust, splinters in fingers and the fun as Mike Gnazzo used to say as you 'dope out a solution to a problem'. As much as George is a fine fellow. I still miss my hulking great friend Mike with whom no project seemed beyond us. Both of us working till we were exhausted, filthy and doing things we would normally only do for money and at the end proud and exhilarated by our efforts.
My preparations for playing the ' Grand old powdered man' are going well. The dramaturgy that one can do in the age of the Internet is astounding. I've watched clips of video him and literally peeked into his New York apartment. I've gathered information from all over the world. While ordering many of the books from the cottage industry which has set itself up to promote this stately homo. I've read the 'Naked cival servant' and found it just a blast. He is so easy to take in and makes you chuckle along no matter how dark the time of his life. I've also read a play by Tim Fountain using Q's words. He was trying to create a piece by which other actors could play him. So, I was interested and... it was bad! Really, bad!!! Good news though, I now have three gigs, two state side and one here in Gib before I go. Things are not good for gays here. Their too much under cover and homo-phobia is all about. So, I've offered to do the piece for our local gay and lesbians chapter and they've accepted. Stand by for moi to be called 'Queer' all over again! Won't be the first time and nothing like Mr. Crisp put up with.
In the last couple of weeks we've had a bunch of art things come through our little Rock. One was a show in the very grand Governor's house. We Gibraltarians still have someone sent over from England to preside over us and he gets to live in a truly beautiful building called the Covent. It was here that a play called 'It's not about heroes' was put on. It concern's two World war one poets and how they met. The play was sweet and full of poetry. But in the end the room it was done in was more interesting than the performance of the piece. These two 'guns for hire' though having good voices blunted the poetry with uninspired renditions. Otherwise the room was spectacular!
Something which was a lot of fun was the John Lennon drawings which we had on display. As some of you will know John and Yoko got married here in Gibraltar. Check out the 'Ballard of John and Yoko'. It was a lovely collection of his drawings and some hand written lyrics. Fab! Took me back in time and reminded me that today's artists have much to learn in style and purpose.
Lastly, we had an evening of remembrance at the Garrison library in which music and poems were performed for Veterans. I was asked to read and foolishly sent in a Bio of myself to get the Chairman off my back who insisted he needed something to introduce me. I performed my bit and all went well. It was nice to be in front of a crowd and hear my voice working again. Then when all the other people were done we had an intermission and I became a source of interest. Two women approached me (not that kind of approach! I wish it were.) to see if I could hook them up with people in 'Hollywood'. One was seeking funding for a "fabulous film project (a Costume period piece)". For which she had sold the option for to some far away agent in the land of the free. The other was seeking resources for 'her daughter to make a film here when she came to the rock'. To both I was polite and then when they'd left I laughed. Lastly on the dangers of letting your resume get out is that the woman who'd put on that play in the Governors house? Now wanted my opinion because I had been a professional actor and had a career. She insisted! I was truthful. I'm sure she'll steer clear of me now. Anyway, write and let me know how YOU are and I miss and love you all. Andrew
