The Icemen Cometh

It makes sense that a place that regularly suffers from sub zero temperatures should celebrate the fact with a winter carnival. Minneapolis' Twin City of St Paul has duly obliged with such an event, and we braved the -20c climate to go and check it out, aided and abetted by the rather lovely David (chief LX at the theatre, and driver of needed vehicle to get there).

Before that however the small knackering matter of 8 shows in 4 days. Now I hear those panto dames amongst you laugh at such show schedules and take them in your stride. However, consider if you will that in this show we are basically all on stage all of the time! Anyway regardless of what you think, its very tiring. The workload was only added to on Sunday as the Minneapolis Children's Theatre took part in the "Rock The Cradle" event, a disco for the under 10s and their parents, at which Gruffalo and friends were asked to appear. Not one to shirk from my dancing responsibilities I donned the suit and myself, Snake and Mouse took to the dance floor. Whilst most children seemed happy at our presence I was confronted by one annoying little madam who proclaimed that I was a fake, not a real Gruffalo, and then proceeded to prove the fact by tearing off my rather delicate purple prickles. I was sorely tempted to unleash the Gruffalo's inner monster (no double entendre intended) but being in the land of the law suit I thought better of it.



We seemed to be a hit though and once we'd done our shows for the day it was off to the winter carnival. Sunday was the Ice Sculpture contest and the variety was there to behold:

The Last Supper
Palm Trees
Numb bum on throne
Faithful friend
Jaws
and of course Obama

St Paul of course is also the home of the creator of the Peanuts cartoons, and the centre is scattered with small nods to Charles M. Schultz, and whilst not made of Ice they are very lovely.


Today is a day off (and needed believe me) and saw the arrival of the next 2 series of "The Wire" for me to indulge in over the next few days until the temperature rises somewhat.

Til then

Alan

You can't always get what you want

As you may have gathered I'm full of musings at the moment, the latest of which is what we look for in a good piece of theatre (or theater if you're from this side of the pond). I personally look for good performances, strong narrative, inventiveness, playfulness and a whole host of other ness's that make me connect with the performer and the show. However, it would seem this is not what everyone looks for. The problem with online reviews is that some folks take it upon themselves to post comments, so if you're a curious soul with time on his hands (as I am) then you read these comments. From these, it would appear that a portion of audience look for glitzy set (with set changes), live music instead of recorded, and something that is basically familiar, that they recognise and can go home going "oh wasn't that nice, as nice as the other nice things we've seen this year".

Unfortunately "Gruffalo" doesn't offer set changes, live music, or familiarity. It offers simple story telling theatre where 3 actors play around and perform the tale of The Gruffalo for 55 minutes. It is a small scale show doing big things, it started in school halls and hasn't changed much in 8 years of being performed in New York, Hong Kong, Dubai, and a million other places. The fact it hasn't changed is part of its charm, the fact that these 3 actors could be on stage, in your front room, in a school hall, its the performances and the story that make it.


That is not to say that people aren't enjoying the show, we're getting great responses every night, but me being British I choose to focus on the 3 negative things I've read other than the hundreds of people cheering and clapping. It would seem that there is a section of people though who prefer something that looks a million dollars, sounds a million dollars, but they couldn't care what actually happens on stage. In this country it seems the word "budget" is a bad thing, necessity breeds invention is not a recognised trait, and perhaps that goes someway to displaying the problem Mr Obama's new selfless America will face. Its all well and good saying you'll make sacrifices, accept difficult decisions, but there will always be a section of American's who will choose the soulless expensive option as opposed to the inventive budget path, and Gruffalo aint for those folks.

Perhaps it is telling that every one of these comments says "my child loved it", and it may just be that child hasn't yet developed commercial wants or needs and is just happy to be happy. They won't stay that way unfortunately.



Alan

You Spin Me Right Round

Theatre publicity is tricky. With so much competition from other plays, movies, and basically any other form of entertainment available to the general public, how do you get people from reading about your show to actually booking a ticket. Reviews have always been a good starting point, we love nothing more than the reassurance that someone else has liked the thing which we are about to spend our hard earned cash on. Of course, not everyone reads the reviews and so the very helpful theatre is all too willing to publish a snippet of the review for your information.

The choice of snippet is key. Why only a few months ago myself, Anna and Karina stopped at a curry house in Madison, intent on sampling the food that night. As mindful diners we took time out to read the reviews on the window and check the joint out. To our amazement the restaurant had put bad reviews on the window and as the eager owner peered out at us, hoping we would fill a very empty restaurant we hot footed it to another place down the road. Had the owner taken a few choice phrases from the reviews instead of the whole articles we may have dined there, for it is possible to insinuate any reaction with a choice "spin" of the review. Were you to take snippets from my blog yesterday to depict my reaction to Obama's inauguration you could have taken:

"what I have witnessed today makes... politics look dirty, snide and contrived"

Would this be accurate? No, but a quote nonetheless. And so the Minneapolis Children's Theater have published the following on our poster (I've added links if you wish to read the full reviews)

"A great belly laugh" Pioneer Press
"I want to see it again" Star Tribune
"A jolly romp for all ages" Minn Post

2 of these are an accurate reflection of the well thought out, considered reviews that this stunning show deserves. The same cannot be said of the middle quote, for whilst the Star Tribune did publish the words "I want to see it again" it was a quote from the 6 year old (and might i add very astute 6 year old) accompanying the reviewer. The reviewer, who completely loathed our show, responded "Only if your mommy takes you". It just so happens that this spin is working in our favour and that I disagree with the Star Tribune's negative review. I am all for free speech and people having their opinions but this guy got facts wrong and that really annoys me. If the reviewer of the Star Tribune is to be believed the Gruffalo is a Japanese fable and adapted by someone named Robyn Price- who?

And with reviews not enough to boost seat numbers we are promised a whole host of marketing activities, including a hunt the Gruffalo campaign, as I terrorise downtown Minneapolis. At least I won't be cold.

That's that

Alan

Inauguration Day

Here we are then, the 44th President of the U.S.A is fully inaugurated, in office and probably in need of a stiff drink. Of course this election cycle would not be complete without me missing out on some sort of unique election event, in order to run about on stage growling at a bunch of apathetic kids on whom most of our very intelligent humour is wasted. So it was then that I was invited to the river view movie theater, an old art house cinema on the banks of the Mississippi to watch the inauguration ceremony in full with a large group of loud Americans all cheering at this momentous day. Alas I had to refuse as some bright spark in scheduling chose to put Mr Obama's inauguration head to head with the Gruffalo. I did get to see the ceremony and speech, but a trip to enjoy the occasion in full was too much of a squeeze.

The main thing, however, is that the deed is done. It was fascinating watching the pomp and ceremony play out over hours and hours, as Presidents old and new, and nearly every movie star in the world (some burglars are having a field day in LA right now) were trawled out in the east coast cold to celebrate the moment. There is a real sense of huge optimism here that this is a new chapter, a new beginning. He spoke of sacrifice, of the greater good, of surpassing all obstacles by perhaps not always putting yourself first and looking at the bigger picture. My reaction was one I was not expecting, and that was jealousy.

I am jealous of the adventure that this country is about to embark on, of the limitless hope that is now present in a whole nation. It amazes me that one man can do that. I have tried to liken it to something, anything in the UK. Is it similar to when Blair came in? Its difficult now to look back at that day without judging the deeds since, but on that night there was complete hope that we had turned a corner, that brighter days were ahead. The same cannot be said now. Were Cameron to win an election would we feel as Americans do now? No. The difference, and it is not a nice one, is that Barack Obama is a good man, a better man, than any statesman I have observed in recent memory. There is a natural intelligence, thoughtfulness that tells you its all going to be OK. We have nobody like that in the UK, what I have witnessed today makes our politics look dirty, snide and contrived. Here is a guy who doesn't care whether he is left, right, centre, republican, democrat, Christian, Muslim... he just wants the best possible results, regardless of party line, poll results, or sacrifice. If any of our leaders in the UK take anything from this, it should be to ditch the spin, the polls, the lies and attempt to do the right thing. Alas, not likely.

From a very happy America

Alan

That was the week that was

Our first week in Minneapolis is over and it already feels like we're part of the fixtures and fittings. In the last week we've seen temperatures ranging from -5c to -29c. Its strange to think that I now consider anything above -10c as "warm". This week we should even hit 1c which will surely trigger a rush to the beach to soak up the heat wave. I do find the extreme temperatures entertaining, apparently at anything below -20c if you throw a cup of coffee into the air it immediately begins to freeze and lands as a kind of slush, very cool. What is great about the weather is that they are so prepared for it, nothing stops, trains still run, shops still open, in England we'd have put the closed sign up and left the country by now. I'm getting good wear out of my winter collection, and have just purchased a snazzy pair of North Face trainers to cope with the snow. Buying shoes in the U.S is a lot more detailed than the U.K, my salesman gave me his card and everything (what was slightly depressing is that he'd been an actor for 20 years before quitting to be a shoe salesman, nice.)



Apologies for so much talk of the weather but it is the dominant presence here, it dictates whether you walk into town or attempt to walk into town, keel over wheezing and hail a cab. As for Minneapolis well its just lovely, and is certainly living up to the term "Minnesota Nice" which is a phrase used to describe the residents of Minnesota being hospitable and kind at all costs. We've already had several offers of home cooked meals, tour guides, lifts to anywhere we want to get to, everyone here is...nice.


Today is a day off and then the schools shows kick in tomorrow. Rik our sound guy has been measuring the noise level of audience reaction and is very excited about our first schools show, thinking we might break a few records. Its a great theatre to play and the reactions so far have been amazing. We ended the week yesterday by spending a few well earned hours in "The Black Forest Inn" a German bar that serves great Bratwurst and strong German Bier. Needless to say I have a heavy head this morning.



I'll leave it there for now, I'm starting to get into the swing of blog relevant stuff now so will update as and when.

Hope all is well

Alan

The best things come to those who wait

Touring is an interesting experience. On this tour we generally rock up to a venue and have a couple of hours to get the show up and running. Sometimes its a tight schedule. We also have to find places to wash costume, make repairs, grab some food and then pack it all up and mosey on out of town by sunset. So we were all a bit giddy at the prospect of 6 weeks at Minneapolis Children's Theater. We walked through stage door yesterday to be met with a fully assembled set, lights all rigged and focused (as well as 50 extra lighting queues!), costumes fully laundered and repaired, tea, coffee, doughnuts, nice dressing rooms... the list goes on. This place is brilliant, every department is on hand to help make things easier. We even had time for a dress run to make sure we could all remember the show. The show itself was a stormer, a relatively full house with that ideal mix of willing adults and wide eyed children meaning that we had a great time, and if yesterday is anything to go by, this 6 weeks will be brilliant. We finished the day off with a meal in a German Restaurant and a few biers, all very good.



As for the temperature, well that has plummeted to below -20c. We've been warned that if we walk anywhere we must have every inch of skin covered. The strange thing is, it doesn't feel that cold. When the wind drops its very pleasant, but as you breathe in your breath catches slightly. If we were to just walk around without covering our mouths apparently we'd inhale all sorts of tiny ice fragments that would not be very pleasant. Its certainly a culture shock, preparing to go anywhere takes a good 10 minutes. Alex is still recovering from seeing me in my thermals in the dressing room. So its cold, but very beautiful and strangely pleasant.



I'll leave you with a snap of our apartment




Be good

Alan

Baby Its Cold Outside

So we've made it across the Atlantic again (all of us, which is a minor miracle). We've successfully navigated the maze of Newark International and made it to our rather delightful apartments in the rather delightful city of Minneapolis. So far everything has been lovely. We have nice apartments, been shopping, I found a bar named Brits that not only showed the Newcastle game this morning but was packed with fellow Geordies all ready to hit the town in mini skirts and boob tubes and crown Minneapolis the Newcastle of the Mid West.

However, there is one blot on the horizon that I must share with you. People, we have no Internet in out apartment. Now there are some amongst you I know who will see this (as I do) as a good thing, a chance for Anna and myself to communicate with each other, read, enjoy what Minneapolis has to offer and not spend our time face down in a laptop. However, it does affect the blog somewhat. I was already planning to scale back the daily efforts of last year, partly as we're not travelling as much but also in anticipation of such telecommunication issues. But do not fret, the theatre has Internet, as does the lovely Spy House Coffee shop in which I am sat at this very moment. I shall blog, but perhaps only when there is something to say (which will hopefully be 2-3 times a week).

Right now content yourselves with the fact that we feel right at home in the twin cities (partly due to what we packed, sorry the image won't rotate)



But also due to the fact that the place is very very nice. As for the temperature, well that's hitting between -10 and -15c at the moment, with a cold snap coming next week! Our apartment is filled with industrial radiators (the kind you got in school), that get so hot they have a valve on the side that intermittently spits out excess gas to prevent an explosion. Something I've been known to do after a couple of pints and a curry.

Enough now. Hope everyone is well

Alan

Home is Where the Heart Is

So here we are. Bags packed, flights booked (well nearly, but more of that later) and we're almost set for Gruffalo leg 2! I have to be honest and say its with mixed emotions that I return to the U.S tomorrow. I make no bones about the fact that I'm a homing bird. I love my flat, my bed, my TV, my local pub (despite it featuring on Ross Kemps' most dangerous pubs in Britain... twice!). A lot of people say that what we're doing is amazing, fantastic, a great adventure, and it is, however, none of that stops me missing home, and there is nothing like 4 weeks of family, festivitiy, and friends to make you reluctant to leave it all. I have had an amazing Christmas, and I have walked around the grand old city that is London with a smile on my face loving life back home.

But, leave it we must and tomorrow we head for the cold climbs of Minneapolis (and when I say cold I mean flingin flanging freezing). This week the UK's weathermen have been in a tiswas over cold temperatures, well they aint got nothing on the -20c world we're flying into tomorrow. My bag is full of thermals, buffs, scarves, fleeces the lot. This is going to be well and truly cold.

I say "we're flying into" but that remains to be seen. I have a ticket, Anna has a ticket, and Alex has a ticket. Karina on the other hand, and perhaps its at this point I should refer to her by her full name- Karina Jane Garnet. This is a name Karina has been referred to by for a very long time, she has no other name, no stage name, no pseudonym, just Karina Jane Garnet, and a pretty name it is at that. It was even the name under which her ticket for the first leg of the tour was booked, and so it is with bewildered confusion that we can't quite work out why on this leg she has a ticket under the name Karina Jane HUGHES. Now it is true that Karina was born a Hughes, but she did not remain a Hughes for very long and has certainly not been a Hughes whilst being an actress, a mouse or any other creature for that matter, and there is no reason why anyone should even know she was a Hughes, let alone book a ticket under that name. But that is what the ticket says. Our airline are unmoved at the moment, refusing to change the name and merely adding a note to account and assuring that all should be fine... watch this space!

It could be that Gruffalo '09 starts with a key member of the team staying home. Now if only my ticket had a different name on it.

See you stateside

Alan