When: last night
Where: in the auditorium of the Roundhouse
Actually, JC has to take the credit for this one. I was miles away, focused on whether my fiance, having been dragged to the theatre to see ("which one is it again?") Shakespearean comedy wasn't having too rubbish a time.
I shouldn't've worried. The RSC came up trumps, and JC was pretty much totally enthralled by As You Like It, despite being extremely suspicious of the title.
In the interval, while most people were being distracted by a rabbit being skinned on stage, JC spotted Mr Poirot / Suchet, with his wife, engaged in conversation with another audience member. He seemed just like he always does: very polite and a thoroughly nice bloke.
I suggested we went over and told him how much we'd loved seeing All My Sons last year. JC wasn't so sure.
It reminded me of being in the theatre behind him on another occasion, when I saw Wet Weather Cover at the Arts Theatre. Happily, last night's show was far better than that.
Showing posts with label spotted. Show all posts
Showing posts with label spotted. Show all posts
Tuesday, 18 January 2011
Friday, 17 December 2010
Spotted: Christopher Eccleston
When: last night
Where: the Old Vic, upstairs bar.
Yes, there was more than one doctor at the Old Vic last night :-)
Thankfully, unlike the one on stage in A Flea In Her Ear, Christopher Eccleston was keeping his trousers on...
I'd headed for the upstairs bar, knowing it'd be easier to get served up there, and more likely to score something hot to soothe my sore throat. Parking next to a scruffy individual who was being much quieter than the braying theatrephiles around me, I asked the barman for a cup of tea. In the mirrors behind the bar, I saw a familiar, drawn, expressive face; checking the profile of the guy next to me, I was thrilled. It was Christopher Eccleston, actor extraordinare, being fantastically, err, ordinare.
Dressed in an ordinary black top and jeans, he was being distinctly unshowy, talking in a low murmur, gently moving the lady he was with (his mum? an aunt?) out of the way of other people in a way that totally betrayed him as different from the rest of the Old Vic crowd. They push rather than say excuse me, are loud and obnoxious, and have that strange theatregoer trait of extreme self-absorbtion with a completely misplaced sense of entitlement. Urgh.
JC was gutted to miss him. Having sat, tense, through Accused the other night, and reminisced with me about shows like Our Friends in the North, and Hearts and Minds (which blew me away as a teenager), he was anxious to know if "he was alright." Because usually, when you're watching Christopher Eccleston in some heartwrenching drama, he's not alright. Usually, his world's being torn apart; he's suffering. And tormented. And demonised. And horrified. And powerless. And, and...
But he looked alright enough in the lovely Old Vic bar.
Hope he enjoyed the show as much as we did. I'll post a review later today...
Where: the Old Vic, upstairs bar.
Yes, there was more than one doctor at the Old Vic last night :-)
Thankfully, unlike the one on stage in A Flea In Her Ear, Christopher Eccleston was keeping his trousers on...
I'd headed for the upstairs bar, knowing it'd be easier to get served up there, and more likely to score something hot to soothe my sore throat. Parking next to a scruffy individual who was being much quieter than the braying theatrephiles around me, I asked the barman for a cup of tea. In the mirrors behind the bar, I saw a familiar, drawn, expressive face; checking the profile of the guy next to me, I was thrilled. It was Christopher Eccleston, actor extraordinare, being fantastically, err, ordinare.
Dressed in an ordinary black top and jeans, he was being distinctly unshowy, talking in a low murmur, gently moving the lady he was with (his mum? an aunt?) out of the way of other people in a way that totally betrayed him as different from the rest of the Old Vic crowd. They push rather than say excuse me, are loud and obnoxious, and have that strange theatregoer trait of extreme self-absorbtion with a completely misplaced sense of entitlement. Urgh.
JC was gutted to miss him. Having sat, tense, through Accused the other night, and reminisced with me about shows like Our Friends in the North, and Hearts and Minds (which blew me away as a teenager), he was anxious to know if "he was alright." Because usually, when you're watching Christopher Eccleston in some heartwrenching drama, he's not alright. Usually, his world's being torn apart; he's suffering. And tormented. And demonised. And horrified. And powerless. And, and...
But he looked alright enough in the lovely Old Vic bar.
Hope he enjoyed the show as much as we did. I'll post a review later today...
Thursday, 30 September 2010
Spotted: Mel Giedroyc
Where: Comedy Theatre, watching Birdsong
The lovely presenter of The Great British Bake Off was at the theatre on Monday night, watching Birdsong.
I spotted Mel in the queue for the always-confusing ladies at the Comedy Theatre (queues to left and right? Blind corners with more loos hiding behind them? Mirrors that make you look like death? They're all in there...)
Mel was looking punkier than her British Bake Off image, with spikier hair, and maybe sporting some leopard print?
Last time I saw her in a theatre, she was giving an absolutely stunning performance in EUROBEAT: Almost Eurovision! at the Novello Theatre. She was brrrrilliant.
Birdsong was less good. Much longer, far fewer laughs(!), and left me strangely lacking in emotion, despite being about one of the saddest things in the world: trench warfare and WWI. Read my Birdsong review here on londonist.
Image from an orange blog on GBBO
Thursday, 23 September 2010
Spotted: Tim McMullan
When: Saturday night
Where: Novello Theatre
I'm always pleased to see actors in a theatre. Particularly when its not press night, and they're clearly there because they love what they do.
Tim McMullan, who I've seen playing the melancholy Jaques at The Globe and in Martin Crimp's The Misanthrope in the last couple of years, was in the row in front of us at the Novello on Saturday. We were seeing A Disappearing Number. (More on that to follow, I hope.)
Tim looked brilliantly unstarry. Jeans, converse trainers, and a nicely dishevelled lineny jacket. I'm guessing he was there with his wife or girlfriend, and they made a cool-looking couple.
Hope they enjoyed the show as much as me.
Where: Novello Theatre
I'm always pleased to see actors in a theatre. Particularly when its not press night, and they're clearly there because they love what they do.
Tim McMullan, who I've seen playing the melancholy Jaques at The Globe and in Martin Crimp's The Misanthrope in the last couple of years, was in the row in front of us at the Novello on Saturday. We were seeing A Disappearing Number. (More on that to follow, I hope.)
Tim looked brilliantly unstarry. Jeans, converse trainers, and a nicely dishevelled lineny jacket. I'm guessing he was there with his wife or girlfriend, and they made a cool-looking couple.
Hope they enjoyed the show as much as me.
Wednesday, 30 June 2010
Spotted: Darius Campbell (formerly Danesh)
When: last night
Where: Regent's Park Open Air Theatre
I've spotted a fair few "faces" at Regent's Park in the past.
And while at this year's Shakespeare performance (The Comedy of Errors) there were fewer than at Hello, Dolly! last year's award-winning musical, A and I were lucky enough to spot the lovely Darius, plus bird, enjoying the summer warmth, and a fantastic show.
I wasn't around for Darius' X-pop-factor-idol TV appearances. He wasn't really on my radar when he was in the charts. But I did see him shine in that dreadful Gone With The Wind (he was the best thing about it), and A is always really nice about him, saying he's a good bloke, and v professional.
Having worked with him in the past, A was tempted to go and say hi. But he was a long way away, and we didn't really fancy interrupting his night out.
We did see him being pestered for an autograph as we left.
Where: Regent's Park Open Air Theatre
I've spotted a fair few "faces" at Regent's Park in the past.
And while at this year's Shakespeare performance (The Comedy of Errors) there were fewer than at Hello, Dolly! last year's award-winning musical, A and I were lucky enough to spot the lovely Darius, plus bird, enjoying the summer warmth, and a fantastic show.
I wasn't around for Darius' X-pop-factor-idol TV appearances. He wasn't really on my radar when he was in the charts. But I did see him shine in that dreadful Gone With The Wind (he was the best thing about it), and A is always really nice about him, saying he's a good bloke, and v professional.
Having worked with him in the past, A was tempted to go and say hi. But he was a long way away, and we didn't really fancy interrupting his night out.
We did see him being pestered for an autograph as we left.
Thursday, 4 February 2010
Spotted: Clive Owen (and then some...)
When: last night
Where: Jerusalem at the Apollo Theatre
I had a fantastic time last night, in the main because JC was able to come with me for a change. And we had a great meal before we even got to the theatre.
And then there was the celeb spotting. JC was really enjoying looking around the audience, saying, "oh, that's... that's... oh, whatsisname..." And, for once, my brain kicked into gear, and I said, "Clive Owen?" and got a "Don't be ridicu... oh, it's Clive Owen," back from JC.
But Clive wasn't the only one. Sure, he might've been the biggest name there, in Hollywood terms (even though I can't stand the way he talks with the back of his mouth), but there was more than just Clive Owen in the audience at last night's masterpiece.
We also saw Felicity Kendal, Ben Miller and Nigel Planer.
Jerusalem itself was mind-blowing. There'll be more said on the topic, you mark my words...
And of course, this isn't the only time I've been in the audience with Miss Kendal recently. It seems she likes following me to shows.
The press night of Enron at the Noel Coward in the West End was one of my biggest celebrity spotting hauls to date. (Again, I reviewed it for londonist.) I'm pretty sure my friend Felicity was there, but so too were John Simm, Frank Skinner, David Dimbleby, AA Gill, Cillian Murphy, Monkee Micky Dolenz (nice hat) and Benedict Cumberbatch. Crazy, n'est pas?
Not only that, but on the same row as me were Charles Dance and Lindsay Duncan. "Charlie," as one of the ferociously annoying bright-young-things in front of me called him, was attending the after-show party. I can't speak for the others, but I'm sure they were all there.
Best of all was Rupert Goold. Sure, he'd won an award for Enron earlier that day. But did he have to arrive later than everyone else, and take his seat in the middle of a row, in the middle of the stalls, waving, air kissing, and shaking hands with everyone around him?! It was the most theatrical entrance I've ever seen a member of the audience achieve. Even counting the seemingly drunk Su Pollard at the Open Air Theatre in the summer. Pretty impressive.
It's been a surprisingly star-spangled start to the year. Long may it continue.
Where: Jerusalem at the Apollo Theatre
I had a fantastic time last night, in the main because JC was able to come with me for a change. And we had a great meal before we even got to the theatre.
And then there was the celeb spotting. JC was really enjoying looking around the audience, saying, "oh, that's... that's... oh, whatsisname..." And, for once, my brain kicked into gear, and I said, "Clive Owen?" and got a "Don't be ridicu... oh, it's Clive Owen," back from JC.
But Clive wasn't the only one. Sure, he might've been the biggest name there, in Hollywood terms (even though I can't stand the way he talks with the back of his mouth), but there was more than just Clive Owen in the audience at last night's masterpiece.
We also saw Felicity Kendal, Ben Miller and Nigel Planer.
Jerusalem itself was mind-blowing. There'll be more said on the topic, you mark my words...
And of course, this isn't the only time I've been in the audience with Miss Kendal recently. It seems she likes following me to shows.
The press night of Enron at the Noel Coward in the West End was one of my biggest celebrity spotting hauls to date. (Again, I reviewed it for londonist.) I'm pretty sure my friend Felicity was there, but so too were John Simm, Frank Skinner, David Dimbleby, AA Gill, Cillian Murphy, Monkee Micky Dolenz (nice hat) and Benedict Cumberbatch. Crazy, n'est pas?
Not only that, but on the same row as me were Charles Dance and Lindsay Duncan. "Charlie," as one of the ferociously annoying bright-young-things in front of me called him, was attending the after-show party. I can't speak for the others, but I'm sure they were all there.
Best of all was Rupert Goold. Sure, he'd won an award for Enron earlier that day. But did he have to arrive later than everyone else, and take his seat in the middle of a row, in the middle of the stalls, waving, air kissing, and shaking hands with everyone around him?! It was the most theatrical entrance I've ever seen a member of the audience achieve. Even counting the seemingly drunk Su Pollard at the Open Air Theatre in the summer. Pretty impressive.
It's been a surprisingly star-spangled start to the year. Long may it continue.
Thursday, 12 November 2009
Spotted: Miranda Sawyer
When: last night
Where: Ritzy, Brixton
Last night when I went to see An Education with CT and CB, Miranda Sawyer, ace journo and all-round brilliant person was seeing the same film.
I refrained from running up to her and shouting "I think you're fab" in her face, instead, pointed her out to the others. Short-sighted CB said she wasn't sure she knew what she looked like, altho she recognised the name. Some people just don't know their Smash Hits / Select / Time Out / Mixmag history. Cuh.
Miranda was on the Culture Show tonight, interviewing a frankly terrifying-seeming author from the States. I thought she did it all brilliantly as usual. It's all the more satisfying that she seems to live within walking distance of the Ritzy in Brixton, cos she and her blokey set off past my bus stop on their way home. Hurrah for this pocket of South London.
An Education was good, but not amazing, I guess. I liked it, but I didn't love it. It was a great snapshot of that moment, in that year (1962), definitely the 60s, but a pre-Beatles 60s. Dominic and Ros Pike were cool as the two mates of the slightly creepy David, and I think newbie Carey Mulligan was really good.
But there were a few things that jarred for me. I wasn't sure about the timeliness of cigarettes with filters (actually, a little research shows they are correct), Jenny's suddenly pierced ears, the flatness of Jenny's schoolmates - were none of them clever or interesting (I was horrified that bloody Ellie Kendrick might be in it a whole lot more), her caricature father played by Alfred Molina, and the English department of Oxford (?!) offering her a place...
And the final song? Man, as far as I'm aware, there were some pretty cool tunes recorded in the 60s, right? Some of them were even by women. And some of them were about being hurt by sleazy men. So why on earth, after all that period accuracy of cars, dresses, hats, sunglasses, tea-sets and the rest, did we have to listen to Duffy at the end? Please.
But it wasn't bad, and it was certainly nice going to the cinema again after all this time. (The torturous Disney's A Christmas Carol 3D effort really doesn't count.)
Where: Ritzy, Brixton
Last night when I went to see An Education with CT and CB, Miranda Sawyer, ace journo and all-round brilliant person was seeing the same film.
I refrained from running up to her and shouting "I think you're fab" in her face, instead, pointed her out to the others. Short-sighted CB said she wasn't sure she knew what she looked like, altho she recognised the name. Some people just don't know their Smash Hits / Select / Time Out / Mixmag history. Cuh.
Miranda was on the Culture Show tonight, interviewing a frankly terrifying-seeming author from the States. I thought she did it all brilliantly as usual. It's all the more satisfying that she seems to live within walking distance of the Ritzy in Brixton, cos she and her blokey set off past my bus stop on their way home. Hurrah for this pocket of South London.
An Education was good, but not amazing, I guess. I liked it, but I didn't love it. It was a great snapshot of that moment, in that year (1962), definitely the 60s, but a pre-Beatles 60s. Dominic and Ros Pike were cool as the two mates of the slightly creepy David, and I think newbie Carey Mulligan was really good.
But there were a few things that jarred for me. I wasn't sure about the timeliness of cigarettes with filters (actually, a little research shows they are correct), Jenny's suddenly pierced ears, the flatness of Jenny's schoolmates - were none of them clever or interesting (I was horrified that bloody Ellie Kendrick might be in it a whole lot more), her caricature father played by Alfred Molina, and the English department of Oxford (?!) offering her a place...
And the final song? Man, as far as I'm aware, there were some pretty cool tunes recorded in the 60s, right? Some of them were even by women. And some of them were about being hurt by sleazy men. So why on earth, after all that period accuracy of cars, dresses, hats, sunglasses, tea-sets and the rest, did we have to listen to Duffy at the end? Please.
But it wasn't bad, and it was certainly nice going to the cinema again after all this time. (The torturous Disney's A Christmas Carol 3D effort really doesn't count.)
Wednesday, 9 September 2009
Spotted: Jamie Theakston and Johnny Vaughan
When: Ten to 10 this morning
Where: coming out of Leicester Square
On my way to the BFI London Film Festival launch in a sunny, slightly autumnal Leicester Square this morning, I spotted a familiar (if older) face: Mensa member Jamie Theakston leaving the Capital Radio builing, with a huge box under his arm...
"Oi, Theako!" shouted a voice from behind him. (I can't promise 100% that this is what he said, but it kinda sounded like it.) There was Mr Vaughan, looking balder than ever (sigh), trotting along to catch up with his colleague...
It's been a while since I've seen Johnny, what with no longer being his neighbour, and therefore able to spot him out walking his hound :-(
The BFI London Film Festival launch was as inspiring and frustrating as usual. I want to see more films. Not more films in 10-20 second clips; more WHOLE films.
Here's my write-up of the launch on londonist
Where: coming out of Leicester Square
On my way to the BFI London Film Festival launch in a sunny, slightly autumnal Leicester Square this morning, I spotted a familiar (if older) face: Mensa member Jamie Theakston leaving the Capital Radio builing, with a huge box under his arm...
"Oi, Theako!" shouted a voice from behind him. (I can't promise 100% that this is what he said, but it kinda sounded like it.) There was Mr Vaughan, looking balder than ever (sigh), trotting along to catch up with his colleague...
It's been a while since I've seen Johnny, what with no longer being his neighbour, and therefore able to spot him out walking his hound :-(
The BFI London Film Festival launch was as inspiring and frustrating as usual. I want to see more films. Not more films in 10-20 second clips; more WHOLE films.
Here's my write-up of the launch on londonist
Friday, 4 September 2009
Spotted: Mark Rylance
When: last night
Where: Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, one of my favourite places on earth
Mr Rylance, former artistic director of the aformentioned esteemed establishment popped up in the audience last night. I hope he enjoyed himself.
He was wearing a rather jaunty black pork-pie hat, with a white band around it. Made me worry momentarily whether he was a) Justin Timberlake or b)... but hey.
CB admitted she's had rather a crush on him since his star turn in Jerusalem. I've always thought he was pretty great; perhaps I'll get to see him on stage soon; he's in Complicite's new Beckett thing...
The show was good, not amazing. I really enjoyed the performances; I'm just not convinced the play was quite good enough. Trevor Griffiths, also in the audience last night, has created a great script, line-by-line, but I needed a bit more of a dramatic curve to keep me going over the three hours.
Then if you call your new piece "A life...", you're going yourself into to get some tricky structural problems, I guess.
You can read my londonist review of A New World - A Life of Thomas Paine here.
Where: Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, one of my favourite places on earth
Mr Rylance, former artistic director of the aformentioned esteemed establishment popped up in the audience last night. I hope he enjoyed himself.
He was wearing a rather jaunty black pork-pie hat, with a white band around it. Made me worry momentarily whether he was a) Justin Timberlake or b)... but hey.
CB admitted she's had rather a crush on him since his star turn in Jerusalem. I've always thought he was pretty great; perhaps I'll get to see him on stage soon; he's in Complicite's new Beckett thing...
The show was good, not amazing. I really enjoyed the performances; I'm just not convinced the play was quite good enough. Trevor Griffiths, also in the audience last night, has created a great script, line-by-line, but I needed a bit more of a dramatic curve to keep me going over the three hours.
Then if you call your new piece "A life...", you're going yourself into to get some tricky structural problems, I guess.
You can read my londonist review of A New World - A Life of Thomas Paine here.
Tuesday, 11 August 2009
Spotted: Theatre Stars Galore at the Open Air Theatre
There was a host of just-about familiar faces at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre last night.
So many, in fact, that I stuck them all in a VL blog post on the subject:
It's an odd mixture, isn't it? I'm sure there were far more actors in the crowd; it seems they like the Open Air Theatre. Last time we were there, watching the very brilliant Much Ado About Nothing, A and I witnessed much drunken hilarity from someone who looked very much like Su Pollard... but we couldn't be sure.
Did they enjoy Hello, Dolly! as much as my sister and I did?
I doubt it.
(You can read my pretty restrained londonist review of the show here.)
So many, in fact, that I stuck them all in a VL blog post on the subject:
It's an odd mixture, isn't it? I'm sure there were far more actors in the crowd; it seems they like the Open Air Theatre. Last time we were there, watching the very brilliant Much Ado About Nothing, A and I witnessed much drunken hilarity from someone who looked very much like Su Pollard... but we couldn't be sure.
Did they enjoy Hello, Dolly! as much as my sister and I did?
I doubt it.
(You can read my pretty restrained londonist review of the show here.)
Saturday, 6 June 2009
Spotted: John Inverdale
When: last night
Where: The Alma, one of London's greatest locals
"In The Alma," read JC's text. "Standing next to John Inverdale."
Of course they were.
So much more satisfying than our current, true "you can see it from the kitchen window" local The East Hill, The Alma is one of my favourite pubs in London. Great vibe, gorgeous central bar, lovely antiquey-feel decor, it's just an all-round lovely pub.
John Inverdale obviously thinks so too! He was standing by the bar, right next to JC, TT and AF, watching England lose the Twenty20 (damn that Broad bloke and his dodgy fielding) with a lovely looking ladyfriend. She was wearing the most magnificent red patent shoes.
We thought about texting CD so he could tell his mum, but didn't in the end.
Where: The Alma, one of London's greatest locals
"In The Alma," read JC's text. "Standing next to John Inverdale."
Of course they were.
So much more satisfying than our current, true "you can see it from the kitchen window" local The East Hill, The Alma is one of my favourite pubs in London. Great vibe, gorgeous central bar, lovely antiquey-feel decor, it's just an all-round lovely pub.
John Inverdale obviously thinks so too! He was standing by the bar, right next to JC, TT and AF, watching England lose the Twenty20 (damn that Broad bloke and his dodgy fielding) with a lovely looking ladyfriend. She was wearing the most magnificent red patent shoes.
We thought about texting CD so he could tell his mum, but didn't in the end.
Sunday, 17 May 2009
Spotted: Kaley Cuoco and Johnny Galecki
When: last night
Where: in the interval of A Doll's House at the Donmar Warehouse
It's like buses, right? I don't see anyone famous for months, and then three come along IN ONE DAY. It's nuts. That's what you get for hanging around theatreland on a Saturday, rather than being in the flat ignoring the Grand Prix, I guess.
But WHO, WHO, WHO I hear you cry, ARE THESE TWO?
Let me put you out of your misery. Kaley Cuoco and Johnny Galecki are none other than Penny and Leonard from favourite guilty-pleasure channel4 telly programme The Big Bang Theory. OMG. OMFG. I.KNOW. Etc.
That's Johnny Galecki, who I also had a crush on when it was the 90s and I used to watch Rosanne every Friday in the hope that he'd be on as David, Darlene's long-suffering boyfriend.
Crazy.
I went to the bar in the interval, and saw a really pretty blonde girl standing there on her own. "My goodness," I thought, "I know her. Oh, no, I don't. It's just that she looks just like Penny from the... oh, it is Penny from The Big Bang Theory. " When I realised she was waiting for someone, I did momentarily think it might be...
Then David/Leonard/Johnny walked round the corner, and I couldn't believe it. Odd who makes you feel starstruck.
They were being nice and quiet and reserved. No shouty American TV stars here: it's the Donmar afterall. Johnny was wearing a ma-hoosive blingtastic white watch though; that was screaming American TV star, even if the rest of him wasn't.
And seemed quite loved-up in a nice, stealing-quick-kisses-in-public kind of way.
Oh, did I not mention they're a couple?
Where: in the interval of A Doll's House at the Donmar Warehouse
It's like buses, right? I don't see anyone famous for months, and then three come along IN ONE DAY. It's nuts. That's what you get for hanging around theatreland on a Saturday, rather than being in the flat ignoring the Grand Prix, I guess.
But WHO, WHO, WHO I hear you cry, ARE THESE TWO?
Let me put you out of your misery. Kaley Cuoco and Johnny Galecki are none other than Penny and Leonard from favourite guilty-pleasure channel4 telly programme The Big Bang Theory. OMG. OMFG. I.KNOW. Etc.
That's Johnny Galecki, who I also had a crush on when it was the 90s and I used to watch Rosanne every Friday in the hope that he'd be on as David, Darlene's long-suffering boyfriend.
Crazy.
I went to the bar in the interval, and saw a really pretty blonde girl standing there on her own. "My goodness," I thought, "I know her. Oh, no, I don't. It's just that she looks just like Penny from the... oh, it is Penny from The Big Bang Theory. " When I realised she was waiting for someone, I did momentarily think it might be...
Then David/Leonard/Johnny walked round the corner, and I couldn't believe it. Odd who makes you feel starstruck.
They were being nice and quiet and reserved. No shouty American TV stars here: it's the Donmar afterall. Johnny was wearing a ma-hoosive blingtastic white watch though; that was screaming American TV star, even if the rest of him wasn't.
And seemed quite loved-up in a nice, stealing-quick-kisses-in-public kind of way.
Oh, did I not mention they're a couple?
Saturday, 16 May 2009
Spotted: Michael Ball (?)
When: today, lunchtime
Where: Thomas Neal Centre, Seven Dials
OK, so I can't say I'm 100% sure I saw the heart-stoppingly brilliant Michael Ball today while I was eating my lunch. But I'm almost positive, so here goes.
I've cut enough images of the Ball's wonderfully rotund, cheeky, dimpled visage to recognise it as it sails past me on a shoe shopping jaunt.
I've listened to enough of his unique, sweet, moving, dulcet tones (really, really enough) to be attuned to the sound as he sing-songs to his tanned, blonde, male companion, "I just want to look in Size?" (Their question mark, not Michael's. Not mine.)
I was totally star-struck. Breathless. Shocked.
This is the man I spend an inordinate amount of time listening to on my ipod at work. On the train. In Sainsbury's. Listening to Michael Ball is my guilty pleasure. This is the guy I duet with whenever JC's out of the house. For me, you can forget Russell Watson: MB is The Voice.
I'm on my own. I've been talking to strangers all morning in the queue for the Donmar, surely I could go and, well, talk to him.
Contemplating my very tasty veggie pie from Progreso, I realise I'm probably not going to give up on my lunch to see if it really is him. Firstly, I'm sure it is. Secondly, I have nothing to say.
"Ahem, you were great in Kismet".
Not his greatest moment.
"Err, your version of Empty Chairs and Empty Tables can make me cry".
Move away from the stalker.
"Hi, I remember you from Opportunity Knocks".
Is this even true? Do I remember him from some Saturday night talent show from years and years ago, or is this just my imagination?
Some people are best left on ipods and on stage.
Besides, I'm sad to say, if it really was him, he needs to, shall we say, dress a little more "his age." To avoid a sort of muttony-male look. Just saying.
Where: Thomas Neal Centre, Seven Dials
OK, so I can't say I'm 100% sure I saw the heart-stoppingly brilliant Michael Ball today while I was eating my lunch. But I'm almost positive, so here goes.
I've cut enough images of the Ball's wonderfully rotund, cheeky, dimpled visage to recognise it as it sails past me on a shoe shopping jaunt.
I've listened to enough of his unique, sweet, moving, dulcet tones (really, really enough) to be attuned to the sound as he sing-songs to his tanned, blonde, male companion, "I just want to look in Size?" (Their question mark, not Michael's. Not mine.)
I was totally star-struck. Breathless. Shocked.
This is the man I spend an inordinate amount of time listening to on my ipod at work. On the train. In Sainsbury's. Listening to Michael Ball is my guilty pleasure. This is the guy I duet with whenever JC's out of the house. For me, you can forget Russell Watson: MB is The Voice.
I'm on my own. I've been talking to strangers all morning in the queue for the Donmar, surely I could go and, well, talk to him.
Contemplating my very tasty veggie pie from Progreso, I realise I'm probably not going to give up on my lunch to see if it really is him. Firstly, I'm sure it is. Secondly, I have nothing to say.
"Ahem, you were great in Kismet".
Not his greatest moment.
"Err, your version of Empty Chairs and Empty Tables can make me cry".
Move away from the stalker.
"Hi, I remember you from Opportunity Knocks".
Is this even true? Do I remember him from some Saturday night talent show from years and years ago, or is this just my imagination?
Some people are best left on ipods and on stage.
Besides, I'm sad to say, if it really was him, he needs to, shall we say, dress a little more "his age." To avoid a sort of muttony-male look. Just saying.
Friday, 15 May 2009
Spotted: Ben Whishaw
When: back, last month
Where: the press night of Rookery Nook @ Menier Chocolate Factory
I know, it was a long time back when CB and I saw Rookery Nook.
I was convinced we were sitting just behind someone famous; in fact, I was pretty sure it was that pretty bloke that had been on the Culture Show when they were talking about Katie Mitchell's ...some trace of her, but I couldn't be sure.
In fact, I was so unsure, I didn't even mention it when I blogged about that night.
He was too small, somehow. Too young. Too quiet. Too pretty. Too shy to have been that Hamlet that people raved about.
But seeing all the pictures that are out at the moment about Bright Star (particularly in Time Out), I'm now convinced.
Hope he enjoyed the show too.
Where: the press night of Rookery Nook @ Menier Chocolate Factory
I know, it was a long time back when CB and I saw Rookery Nook.
I was convinced we were sitting just behind someone famous; in fact, I was pretty sure it was that pretty bloke that had been on the Culture Show when they were talking about Katie Mitchell's ...some trace of her, but I couldn't be sure.
In fact, I was so unsure, I didn't even mention it when I blogged about that night.
He was too small, somehow. Too young. Too quiet. Too pretty. Too shy to have been that Hamlet that people raved about.
But seeing all the pictures that are out at the moment about Bright Star (particularly in Time Out), I'm now convinced.
Hope he enjoyed the show too.
Thursday, 26 March 2009
Spotted: Samantha Bond & Harry Enfield
When: earlier tonight, around 6.45ish (Sam); later, during the interval (Harry)
Where: the press night of Spring Awakening @ the Novello
Waiting for CB before the show, I was surprised to see quite a large number of photographers, plus a film crew, forming a funnel of meedja kerfuffle around the entrance to the Novello Theatre.
Who could they possibly be waiting for? A Girl Aloud? A Corr? A Franz Ferdinand?
Nope, a not-quite Bond girl: Samantha Bond. She spoke to the assorted press very nicely, and went on to sign not one, but three, autographs, despite looking a bit like she didn't really want to be there...
Later, during t'interval, CB's mates spotted Harry Enfield returning to his seat at the front of the dress circle. He was looking rather old, and baggy. Possibly because he was wearing a totally awful, baggy-doesn't-really-describe-it, ill-fitting sweater.
Harry: when you get older, you need your clothes to fit you better, not worse.
I wonder if they also thought the last song of the show ("Purple Summer") (for goodness' sake) was one of the most disappointing endings to a good piece of theatre ever. E.V.E.R.
Where: the press night of Spring Awakening @ the Novello
Waiting for CB before the show, I was surprised to see quite a large number of photographers, plus a film crew, forming a funnel of meedja kerfuffle around the entrance to the Novello Theatre.
Who could they possibly be waiting for? A Girl Aloud? A Corr? A Franz Ferdinand?
Nope, a not-quite Bond girl: Samantha Bond. She spoke to the assorted press very nicely, and went on to sign not one, but three, autographs, despite looking a bit like she didn't really want to be there...
Later, during t'interval, CB's mates spotted Harry Enfield returning to his seat at the front of the dress circle. He was looking rather old, and baggy. Possibly because he was wearing a totally awful, baggy-doesn't-really-describe-it, ill-fitting sweater.
Harry: when you get older, you need your clothes to fit you better, not worse.
I wonder if they also thought the last song of the show ("Purple Summer") (for goodness' sake) was one of the most disappointing endings to a good piece of theatre ever. E.V.E.R.
Monday, 16 March 2009
Spotted: Claire Skinner
When: Sunday late pm
Where: on the Northern Line, going south
I like seeing famous people on the Tube. Particularly when I've been watching them on TV only recently.
Claire Skinner, the mum from Outnumbered, had been doing her acting thing only days earlier, as part of Comic Relief.
So it was nice to see her looking dead ordinary (although she is terribly skinny) in real life getting on the northern line w herman at Highgate, heading south, and reading a supplement from a weekend paper, like me.
I didn't see where they got off.
Where: on the Northern Line, going south
I like seeing famous people on the Tube. Particularly when I've been watching them on TV only recently.
Claire Skinner, the mum from Outnumbered, had been doing her acting thing only days earlier, as part of Comic Relief.
So it was nice to see her looking dead ordinary (although she is terribly skinny) in real life getting on the northern line w herman at Highgate, heading south, and reading a supplement from a weekend paper, like me.
I didn't see where they got off.
Monday, 9 March 2009
Spotted: John Mackay
When: Sunday pm
Where: East Dulwich
Yes, I know. It's another "Who?" on the spotted list.
But this guy John Mackay (if indeed it was him, I think it was, he was walking like an actor) was in Six Characters and The Histories, so I feel like I know him intimately.
We were "area hunting" (note: NOT house hunting) in East Dulwich on Sunday, the rain had just started, and we were on our way home.
Of course, the appearance of an RSC actor looking all actorly on that main road (Lordship Lane?) in a bright blue puffa jacket hasn't cemented the idea that I'm ready to up sticks from the familiarity of SW4-SW12-SW18 and abandon all to live somewhere with an SE22 (ffs) postcode.
But it makes a nice Sunday spot all the same. Wonder if he's friends with Joanna Page. She told me she loved East Dulwich. Maybe, one day, I will too.
EDIT: post house-hunting on Friday, I saw him again, same blue jacket, at Peckham Rye. He defo lives around there.
Where: East Dulwich
Yes, I know. It's another "Who?" on the spotted list.
But this guy John Mackay (if indeed it was him, I think it was, he was walking like an actor) was in Six Characters and The Histories, so I feel like I know him intimately.
We were "area hunting" (note: NOT house hunting) in East Dulwich on Sunday, the rain had just started, and we were on our way home.
Of course, the appearance of an RSC actor looking all actorly on that main road (Lordship Lane?) in a bright blue puffa jacket hasn't cemented the idea that I'm ready to up sticks from the familiarity of SW4-SW12-SW18 and abandon all to live somewhere with an SE22 (ffs) postcode.
But it makes a nice Sunday spot all the same. Wonder if he's friends with Joanna Page. She told me she loved East Dulwich. Maybe, one day, I will too.
EDIT: post house-hunting on Friday, I saw him again, same blue jacket, at Peckham Rye. He defo lives around there.
Tuesday, 24 February 2009
Spotted: Neil Pearson
When: 6.15pm
Where: Down Escalator, Clapham Common Tube Station
Neil Pearson, walking down the escalator, coughing without putting his hand in front of his mouth.
"Who?" you might ask. With good reason.
Bridget Jones' boss, that's who. The bloke from "Sit Up Britain".
This guy:
Where: Down Escalator, Clapham Common Tube Station
Neil Pearson, walking down the escalator, coughing without putting his hand in front of his mouth.
"Who?" you might ask. With good reason.
Bridget Jones' boss, that's who. The bloke from "Sit Up Britain".
This guy:
- Boss: So, why do you want to work in television?
- Bridget: I've got to leave my current job because I've shagged my boss.
- Boss: Fair enough. Start Monday. We'll see how we go. And, incidentally, at 'Sit Up, Britain', no one ever gets sacked for shaggin' the boss.
Wednesday, 4 February 2009
Spotted: Jane Horrocks
When: 7.14
Where: Young Vic
It wasn't a 7.30 start at last night's King Lear, oh no. 7.15 I needed to be on The Cut. And it was still really snowy and icy on the pavements. And I was running late, as usual.
Grabbing my press ticket, attempting some niceties with the PR people, I rushed to the door. General Admission; I'd been warned the press seats might no longer be available.
In front of me, a petite blonde with her mate was also flapping over the awkward timings, and the potential of missing a good seat. I knew it was Jane Horrocks from her profile. No idea why; perhaps I was just on celeb alert last night. When I made a little quip about being late, she turned and stared really pointedly at me. "Do I know you? Should I know you? Do you know me?" her stare seemed to ask. When it became clear the answer was no, she carried on with her friend.
The girl ushering took my ticket after theirs and ripped through it. Weirdly, she then handed me back two pieces of paper: my ticket, and Jane Horrocks' booking receipt, complete with address.
She lives in Twickenham.
Where: Young Vic
It wasn't a 7.30 start at last night's King Lear, oh no. 7.15 I needed to be on The Cut. And it was still really snowy and icy on the pavements. And I was running late, as usual.
Grabbing my press ticket, attempting some niceties with the PR people, I rushed to the door. General Admission; I'd been warned the press seats might no longer be available.
In front of me, a petite blonde with her mate was also flapping over the awkward timings, and the potential of missing a good seat. I knew it was Jane Horrocks from her profile. No idea why; perhaps I was just on celeb alert last night. When I made a little quip about being late, she turned and stared really pointedly at me. "Do I know you? Should I know you? Do you know me?" her stare seemed to ask. When it became clear the answer was no, she carried on with her friend.
The girl ushering took my ticket after theirs and ripped through it. Weirdly, she then handed me back two pieces of paper: my ticket, and Jane Horrocks' booking receipt, complete with address.
She lives in Twickenham.
Monday, 26 January 2009
Spotted: Robert Glenister
When: 9.35am
Where: On the down escalator in London Bridge Station
Yes, Hustle's ugliest swindler was using the same tube station as me this morning.
I wasn't sure if he was Philip or Robert, but a little googling revealed he was the latter.
Head down, clutching what I would describe as an "attache case", but is probably one of those leather pocket document holder thingys without handles, just perfect for scripts, CVs and keeping your chest warm, with a "I'm going somewhere important, don't recognise me" expression on his face.
LK, owner of many a random crush, was jealous.
Where: On the down escalator in London Bridge Station
Yes, Hustle's ugliest swindler was using the same tube station as me this morning.
I wasn't sure if he was Philip or Robert, but a little googling revealed he was the latter.
Head down, clutching what I would describe as an "attache case", but is probably one of those leather pocket document holder thingys without handles, just perfect for scripts, CVs and keeping your chest warm, with a "I'm going somewhere important, don't recognise me" expression on his face.
LK, owner of many a random crush, was jealous.
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