Brief blog after gig walking home with nappies
July 24, 2010 |
18 comments
Thanks for the many superb replies to yesterday’s cheering-up appeal. And top marks to Deborah for being quite optimistic even before the blog appeared.
Tonight I had the pleasure of meeting several TYSICers at my Hammersmith show. They were all lovely. The show itself was pretty ordinary. Alarmingly
I only have a week to go until the festival. Not sure what’s wrong but the show seems never quite to be right. Any ideas?
I’m writing this on my phone, walking along with a bag of nappies under one arm. Tomorrow I am up even earlier than usual to do a Radio 4 show. You might hear me if you are also up horribly early on a Sunday.
Baby’s still sick and I have to sleep.
Proper post tomorrow.
Posted by Lorna on July 26, 2010
Saw your show at Riverside Studios on Saturday and really enjoyed it! (I was sitting directly behind Robbie – the guy in the front row who went for a wee half way through.) The computer bit at the beginning was a great intro.
I’m glad you mentioned Derren Brown as me and my boyfriend were at the same show on June 15th last year and saw you on stage … it was great to hear you speak about it as I was too shy to shout out and say “hey I was there too and saw you on stage”.
Good luck for the Edinburgh Festival and I hope you have a blast!
Posted by Emma on July 25, 2010
I definitely think you’re just being hard on yourself because you’re feeling a bit down for non-comedy-related reasons, and projecting that onto your perception of the show. As someone who was sitting in the audience, I’d definitely say that the audience enjoyed it! I loved the computer stuff at the beginning (will that feature in Edinburgh?) and the various ways of reprimanding annoying people (which, FYI, I indeed to utilise in future).
I also agree with Simone that BBQ man upset the rhythm – and probably more so from your point of view than that of the audience. I thought that whole bit was great, but can imagine that as it wasn’t quite what you’d planned, it might have made the show feel strange to you somehow. Anyway, as you said yourself, it’s valuable and unique practice for dealing with any hecklers/latecomers/odd individuals who rock up at your Edinburgh shows!
And if this and the many other positive comments here don’t entirely allay your fears… how about the old saying ‘bad dress rehearsal, good performance’?
Best of luck for Edinburgh – you’ll be great.
Posted by Heather Jones on July 25, 2010
Oh, and I should have added how much I enjoyed chatting with you in the bar after the show. So good of you to stay that long.
Having been too shy to give you a hug at the time, please have a virtual hug from me now **hug**
Posted by Heather Jones on July 25, 2010
I agree with Simone & Rachel Winter. While respecting the value of perfectionism, and the primacy of your own view of your own work, blah, blah blah, I do think you’re possibly projecting negatively due to the soul-draining tiredness you’re having to contend with (adrenaline notwithstanding) Be comforted that the material still works very well even when you feel like shit!
Oh, and I also had another thought: you may be comparing the show ‘as is’ with some ‘ideal’ version of it in your head, and finding it to fall short. But of course those of us in the audience just see it ‘as is’ and aren’t comparing it to another imagined version of same (if you see what I mean).
However, in the interest of not seems blandly indiscriminate in this reassurance, but without wanting to seem at all critical, cos I would hate to upset you (!!) I would perhaps risk mentioning that the end bit, where you connect back (not wanting to give spoilers) to a person mentioned earlier, maybe needs a bit of tightening up. And perhaps having that key (delightfully bathetic) example of someone making a difference TO you, it would be (more?) satisfying (in terms of the overall narrative shape) to finish with you making a difference to someone else, for good or ill (be that Kit, DB, revenge on the Youtube poster, sales of a certain cider, or even something linking to the teacher (for eg, whatever happened to that enormous you-know-what? I’d love to imagine it going up in flames….??) – or for that matter making a difference to the audience itself!
Like the tweet you got from DB, it’s those little bits of validation that lift you (or indeed anyone) from the nadir of despair – that’s what it’s all about, innit?
Sorry if this is totally off-beam. I just wanted to try to be helpful Please ignore if it’s not, and above all else be assured that you made us all laugh A LOT, so it’s all gravy (as I believe the saying goes)
As for me, you also made me think, especially some of the darker bits of your comedy, cos they definitely struck a chord.
Posted by Rachael on July 25, 2010
I’m almost certain that the show is better than you think it is, try not to be too hard on yourself. I hope you get some sleep soon!
Posted by Simone on July 25, 2010
I enjoyed seeing how all the little preview bits and pieces have come together – it’s a great show. I think the BBQ man upset the flow at the start. Also, I think “even on a Wednesday” was worthy of a bigger laugh.
A big thank you for taking the time to chat with us after the show, you made our night.
Posted by Megan on July 25, 2010
Which show? I will have to do the Listen Again thing. I have only just convinced my sick, aching self to hire a bike to toodle around Berlin and if I linger here longer, I will just sleep all day.
Trying to be optimistic, but I think I might have an ear or sinus infection and spent 4+ hours stranded in Poznan yesterday, so it’s very, very difficult.
Posted by Rachel Winter on July 25, 2010
and the show is probably fine. its just that you are tired/down/worried about your baby, and are projecting onto the show how you feel.
from the blog comments everyone else thinks it went well.
Posted by Rachel Winter on July 25, 2010
sorry your baby’s poorly. i hope its nothing too serious or long term?
ah, poor little Kit.
Posted by Carl on July 25, 2010
Is it bad to be commenting on this post in a club in London at 2.20am? Well, that’s what I’m doing and I’m incredibly exhausted after what can only be described as performing a strip tease for 20 people to Beyonce’s ‘All The Single Ladies’. Oh yes. Can’t wait to see you in Southampton. Live 5 mins from the venue if you’d like a cup
of tea and cake afterwards…
Posted by A lot of Rach[a]els on July 25, 2010
From the various reports I’ve heard this evening the show is going well and they all loved it!
Hope the early start doesn’t hurt too much and Kit gets better soon
Posted by Mariam on July 25, 2010
Maybe you’re overthinking it. There really wasn’t anything glaringly wrong with it, but maybe it’ll come together better after a few performances in Edinburgh? I personally thought the show tonight (er. Last night?) was great! Wish I’d actually thought to say that to you at the time but I was a bit distracted with making sure I returned the pen I nicked from the lobby.
Anyway, it was really nice to meet you. I hope Kit gets better soon.
Posted by Aislinn on July 25, 2010
I really enjoyed it! And I’d like to say on behalf of my sister that she really enjoyed it, too – every time we mentioned a joke or a part of the show on the train back she’d burst into laughter on the train, gaining us quite a few disappointed looks from snooty older people (unfortunately we didn’t boo any of them).
I shall see you in Edinburgh (you’ll wish you hadn’t pointed out to me that you read my sheet from the Rhod Gilbert recording as I’ll quite possibly use it as an excuse to say hello pretty much every time I see you from now on. For this in advance I apologise).
Posted by h2osarah on July 24, 2010
According to my friend Simone who saw the show, she really loved it. Maybe you’re not looking at it objectively? Also, I know for a fact that you’re always too hard on yourself.. I’m looking forward to seeing it in 2 weeks! xx
Posted by Josh on July 24, 2010
Your show’s probably missing a post-modernist scene showing the surreal murder of a cat dressed as Charlotte Church.
My apologies if your show already has a post-modernist scene showing the surreal murder of a cat dressed as Charlotte Church, then it’s perfect and you should stop worrying about it.
Posted by Natalie-Helen on July 24, 2010
Hope you’ve got plenty of Calpol! And that Kit gets better soon.
On R4, fabulous! If I don’t catch you in the morning (I have difficulties being awake) then will definately iPlayer it.
Haven’t been lucky enough to see your show so far but best of luck with it.
Have a good night sleep.
^_^
Posted by Kathryn on July 24, 2010
Frankly I’m amazed that you’re still able to blog coherently with such a demanding workload and a sick child. The effort is most sincerely appreciated.
No idea how to help with the show though. Sorry.
Posted by Kate W on July 24, 2010
Sorry about the early start and Kit still being ill.
Re the show; hmmm. Hard to say without more specifics about how you feel it’s not right. All the incarnations I’ve seen have been fun; sad I couldn’t make it tonight (rehearsing for a play that’s not quite right).