ALASDAIR SATCHEL’S WEBLOG

Rainy Days and Nights

9 August 2008 - Edinburgh

The fringe. It's a funny beast. After having a nearly full house on our first night, our second show was cancelled due to low audience figures. Not ideal, by any means, but that's what happens.

So a night off was had. In actual fact, I think we were all pretty glad of a night off. It was early to bed for me, and as I lay there listening to the rain, I was kept gently teetering on the verge of consciousness by the seagulls nesting in the chimney pot.

The chimney seems to work like an ear trumpet, amplifying all that is said into it at the top. So I now have a certain fluency in seagull. I wasn't aware that they made so many calls. Mostly long distance calls over very poor lines, judging by the volume.

Last night's theatrical offering at Dionysus' font went down well. Our audience, around 30 of them, seemed to enjoy the show a lot, so you can't ask for more than that.

I do enjoy the dancing in the show. It's rather ripping fun. It's very odd in St Bride’s as our technical crew, Brian and George, are miles away from us way up at the top of the extendible seating, deep in the far darkness. You're conscious that they're there, but all you can see is gentle scrambling around several thousand feet above your head.

I went to see Dogstar's The Tailor of Inverness yesterday. It was really very good. Written and performed by Matthew Zajak, with Gavin Marwick on fiddle, it deals with Matthew's father's life during the 2nd world war, and Matthew's quest to find out the various truths of his father's travels.

Although I liked it, I feel it will be even better when it goes out on tour in the Highlands next year and plays in various village halls and theatres around and about. It will seem more impressive in such a situation, and have even more of an impact than it does in a room at the Assembly Rooms in the Fringe.

I think this is a show that people will be talking about for a long time to come. I found it very heartening to see a show dealing with our diverse population in this country, but more so a show that implicitly deals with consequence of actions, without shoving it down your throat. It's your call on what you make of Mr Zajak senior at the end of the piece. But no matter what you're guaranteed a good night out.

Press coverage of the show is going well too. We had 3 Weeks in last night doing a wee interview with Euan, one of the writers, and Mark, our director, while we lugged our set around in the get-out, as we packed our materials away for the next show.

Euan and Dave – Right Lines Productions have two shows on at the Fringe, Accidental Death of an Accordionist, and their musical with Jim Brice, Whisky Kisses. I noticed in the interview with them on this very site that it's reckoned that they are the first Highland company to have two shows on at the Fringe at the same time.

Sorry to be an egregious boor, but... back in 2005, my company Perhilion Theatre Co did both One Man Rant and Two Man Rumble at the same time. That is one fine way to loose weight, two of the sweatiest shows you can imagine, but back to back.

On that lovely image, I leave you to your day.

[Note to readers: Two of Alasdair’s blogs seem to have gone astray in cyberspace this week. We wil try to track them down and add them retrospectively next week – Ed]

© Alasdair Satchel, 2008

Links

• Mull Theatre
• Right Lines