We went to "Singing in the Rain" at the Hippodrome on Wednesday night. We quite enjoyed it, but it was one of those shows which just didn't seem to have the vibrancy and the energy that makes a good show a memorable success. We sat near a Welsh couple who had come to the show with their children and grandchildren and after making a few comments started to talk about Wales and then on to the shows they had been too. One of the funny moments was when we both tried to remember the last show we had seen at the Hippodrome and we couldn't - a bit sad!! Anyway, the musical is about the beginning of the talking pictures and at one point the previously silent actors were learning to speak 'proper' using tongue twisters - I have always enjoyed trying to get my tongue around the impossible and so here goes:
- Moses supposes his toes are roses, But Moses supposes erroneously, Moses he knowes his toeses aren't roses, As Moses supposes his toeses to be.
- Through three cheese trees three free fleas flew. While these fleas flew, freezy breeze blew. Freezy breeze made these three trees freeze. Freezy trees made these trees' cheese freeze.That's what made these three free fleas sneeze.
- Something in a thirty-acre thermal thicket of thorns and thistles thumped and thundered threatening the three-D thoughts of Matthew the thug - although, theatrically, it was only the thirteen-thousand thistles and thorns through the underneath of his thigh that the thirty year old thug thought of that morning.
- eating in public requires all private habits to be closeted. Pace yourself, so neither hoover like a wolf nor pick like a sparrow. Bring food to your mouth rather than drop your head.
- a man should stand up to greet a woman when she first arrives. There is no need, however, to jump up and down like a jack in the box every time she enters or leaves the room.
- hangovers are generally self-inflicted, so you should approach the day after an evening's overindulgence with stoicism, and keep your misery to yourself.
- being punctual always scores bonus points. You will come across as someone who cares about other people, and is efficient, organised and reliable.
- men holding doors open for women is still a chivalrous gesture, even in our less gallant time.
Saturday night - a real treat - an Elton John concert at the Gloucester Cricket Ground (about a 15 minute walk from our place). We couldn't believe we hadn't seen the concert advertised, but Harry got an email a fortnight ago about cheap accommodation and a show ticket - we didn't need the accommodation - but bought a ticket. It would have sold out months ago in NZ (I'm assuming some kiwis like Elton's music) but we had no problem getting a seat - and it wasn't a capacity audience on the night. I guess over here, as shows and music go, England is spoilt for choice and at the prices they tend to charge, people don't quite get as excited as we do when musicians and artists coming to town. We wandered to the show down some streets we hadn't been before - they had closed the roads so the crowd moved slowly and orderly along the street - tempted by the children on the footpath selling home made cup cakes and drinks and older people trying to make some cash hawking rabbit ears, pink hats, Elton glasses and things that glow in the dark. It was a great show - they are all gifted musicians and the lighting effects added to the show, without detracting from the musicians. The people in the hot air balloons above must have had a good view. When the band first came on it made us realise how age creeps up on us. The support act was a young (20) singer called Richard Fleeshman - he reminded me a bit of the kiwi singer Sean Preston whom we have had the pleasure to listen to a few times. Anyway besides being the support act for Elton, Richard has been a Coronation Street star for a short time (he played Craig Harris) but I suspect that his support to Elton is doing his career more good than being a star on the 'Street' (oops did I say that?). He must be learning heaps from the veteran. Most of the Elton band now live in the US, and indeed three of them (not the original) are Americans. There is:
- Davey Johnstone (only 59 - but he look as though he has had a hard life) - he is Scottish and the rock guitarist and vocalist and has also played with Alice Cooper and Meat Loaf - he has performed 2000 shows with the band.
- Guy Babylon - the keyboardist and orchestrator for the band he joined in 1988 - both Harry and I thought he was pretty good.
- Bob Birch - is from Detroit and is the bass guitarist - often in the background on the stage but a really interesting looking character.
- John Mahon - percussion and backing vocalist - he had a huge range of different instruments (some looked as though they were home made with paper mache) used to make all sort of interesting sounds.
- Nigel Olsson - the drummer who has done 1500 shows with Elton.
- Elton (Sir Elton actually) - a great pianist and singer who has sold over 200 million records and who we enjoyed listening to on Saturday night.
Sunday dawned nice and sunny so we took a picnic lunch and our bikes and rode along the canal path from Bath to Bradford on Avon. The path was in good condition, so no punctures today, and it was rather fun riding along the path looking at the various conditions of canal boats and ringing our bell so that all those in front (walkers, children, dogs, cyclists, cats, runners) knew we were about to overtake. We had canoed along a bit of this canal in the middle of winter (our first winter here) and so we stood under the bridge where we sheltered from the icy rain and laughed at some of the things we do - it was so different today. After 3 hours of cycling - what else would we want to do when returning to Bristol - sit in the sun a bit more and read.
It was Trooping of the Colour in London on Saturday - we didn't go, but Mike and Barbara did - so here's a photo of theirs. Another thing we have to do next year.
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