It seems that half of us at VOX Towers have been struck down by the lurgy and it ain’t a pretty sight. My nose is so raw I could challenge Rudolph to a schnozzle-off!
The good news is that none of you can catch our nasty little germs whilst reading the Blog from the comfort of your PC.
On the bad side I am going to have to keep it short and sweet so that I don’t infect my keyboard with snot and grot!
We had one of our favourite regulars in this week.... Mr Nick Holder.
Nick is a man of many talents but is more commonly known for using his voice as a fantastic, tongue-tastic, device.
Amongst other works Nick has played The Engineer in Miss Saigon at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Jean Valjean in Les Miserables at the Palace Theatre in the West End, Herod in Jesus Christ Superstar at The Lyceum Theatre - West End, Richard III & The Music Man at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre and L'Assommoir & Wolfpit at The National Theatre.
But apart from big scale, well known musical productions, Nick likes to diversify into the musical macabre.In June 2010 Nick starred in Stephen Sondheim’s firebrand musical Assassins staged and directed by Michael Strassen.
Assassins uses the premise of a murderous carnival game to produce a revue-style portrayal of men and women who attempted (successfully or otherwise) to assassinate Presidents of the United States.
Assassins first opened at Playwrights Horizons during the 1991 Gulf War, to packed houses, of which the audience either embraced the subject matter or rejected it depending on their political slant to the then current President and the war itself. In many ways the shows real subject matter was hijacked, as Assassins isn't so much about political murder but lost and angry individuals, those who fall off the American dream machine.
Nick drew every ounce of humour as well as anguish from his brilliantly realistic characterisation of Sam Byck, a bankrupt salesman in a Santa Claus suit who initiated a plot to fly a 747 into the Reagan White House.
He got rave reviews for his performances, with Time Out, who claimed the show as Critics Choice and show of the week quoting:
"There is a tendency for more flippant characters to overwhelm those with real political motivations. But this doesn't detract from performances like that of Nick Holder - best of all - as a raspy Samuel Byck. Plump as a Thanksgiving turkey and greasy as a McNugget, his perfectly-paced tape-recorded rant to Lenny Bernstein conveys a furious cynicism born of long-term, dee-seated injustice".
It was such a success that Nick was nominated for best male performance in the Off-West End Awards (affectionaltely known as the 'Offies') and who can blame them when his performance was described by Classical source.com as:
BLIMEY let’s hope we don’t meet you in a dark alley dressed as Santa Claus Nick! All I want for Christmas is to be left alone you mad person you!!!!!
Nick is currently rehearsing for his next twist on the stanger side of musical theatre, in the National’s - London Road, opening April 2011.
This experimental musical from Alecky Blythe and Adam Cork, directed by Rufus Norris, has a doubly daring premise. First, it's all about the murder of five women in 2006 by convicted serial killer Steve Wright - a story which brought a media storm to the quiet rural town of Ipswich, not least because the victims were all sex workers.
Second, its songs are all modelled upon the speech patterns of local residents. Blythe, who won a Time Out award for her first play, 'Come Out Eli', back in 2003, conducted interviews with the people of Ipswich, members of the press and others who found themselves caught up in the tragedy.
Then Adam Cork, who has written the music and collaborated with Blythe on the lyrics, took inspiration from the melodic and rhythmic speech patterns she had recorded.
Nick says this is the hardest piece of musical theatre he has ever encountered but believes it will be (in his words) “bloody brilliant”.
The Daily Mail, apparently, has already been firmly informed that 'London Road' will not be 'sensationalist in any way'. But exactly what it will be is more open to speculation - though its creators hope to reveal 'the ways in which even the darkest experiences can engender a greater sense of our mutual dependence'. Deep Man.
Nick hopes that his performance will be judged on just that ......his performance.... and that he won’t be embroiled into some sort of political and high brow condemnation of the risqué production.
OOOOO – he’s just like Johnny Depp – taking on all those strange, darker roles and not saying boo to a goose if people don’t like it. We think he is gonna go down a storm in this powerful and thought-provoking piece that is above all sensitive to the vitims’ humanity. Gritty Stuff People, Gritty Stuff.
A1 / LONDON NEWS
Well I thought I would share a bit of A1 Vox frivolity with you which also mixes nicely with our regular gad about London town feature.
There’s a Rumble in the Jumble!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That wiley, sassy Miss Tracy Wiles and slam dunkin', Felicity D took it upon themselves to set up a stall at the oh so trendy Wills Moody Rock N Roll Vintage Jumble Sale in Euston this month.
This is the new take on retail therapy.
The recession means that fashionista’s are having to tighten their Gucci belts and resist from handing over credit cards to cover some shiny but unusable item bought on a whim.
I know...It’s so depressing we are crying into our Prada purses. So what to do when the going gets tough, and the urge to splurge, tougher?
Think outside the box ladies and gentleman. Or put another way – think ‘outside’ the shop.
Yes, grab your imitation, (bought at the local market), Vuitton shopper, collect your coppers and coins, and embrace the humble jumble sale.
Things have come a long way from grannies pouring tea whilst selling a load of knitted goods. With an open bar, a DJ spinning smooth Brazilian jazz in the corner, and all the homemade cake you can eat, the Wills Moody Rock n' Roll Jumble Sale – started by a London-based arts group - certainly lives up to its title. It also kicks off at a very hangover-friendly 2pm, so you can squeeze in a lie-in and a pub roast before heading down. Blooming Marvellous!
As Tracy and Flick will attest, it’s not all charming tat. Tracy had many a pair of designer shoes, some of which had only been worn once, on the offing. Confessions of a Shopaholic.... eat your jumble heart out.
Some familiar A1 faces went along to show their support including the Scot with the Lot, Jane MacFarlane, and the Man with the Plan, Mr Andy Loudon.
It looks like a lot of fun was had by all and what a very forward thinking way of making a few extra bucks on the side. Well done ladies - you Rock N Jumble!
So if you have a yen for all things vintage, second hand or simply like rooting through the remnants of someone else's house, all while listening to cool music, and contemplating your next purchase from the bar, then Wills Moody Jumble Sale is for you. If you're really lucky you may even get to see our gorgeous duo Tracy and Flick selling their wares - OO ER!
That is all for this week folks. I am off to blow my nose for the umpteenth time and smear Vicks vapour rub onto any exposed area that can handle it. I don't know about Rock N Jumble, I feel more Snot and Grumble, so come join us next week when I'm sure we will all be fighting fit again and ready to roll with the vocal punches. Toodle pip!
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