There is no time to stop and relax. Today I was heading up to Newcastle for my final preview at the brilliant and refurbished
Live Theatre. But after that I'd be driving to Edinburgh.
I needed to set off by 11, and I had only half packed, so it was a slightly frantic morning of dashing round the house, trying to make sure I had got everything I would need for the next month.
It's hard, as it always is, to believe that the Fringe has come round again. And as yet it still hasn't sunk in that I am going back there. But that will come.
I had an enjoyable six hour drive (including lunch break) through sunny England to the bridges over the Tyne. I felt content and charged with potential, every mile I travelled making the prospect of Edinburgh slightly more real. I was listening to Alexei Sayle's Radio 2 show, which documents comedy since the late 70s through different genres - this week surreal comedians. I love
Alexei Sayle. He was one of the driving forces behind alternative comedy and was the fifth Young One, recently and correctly lauded by
Dave Cohen on Chortle. He's a comedian who perhaps hasn't had the praise or credit he deserves and TV hasn't been a supportive of him as it could have been (though I really enjoyed his "Stuff"). He is one of my comedy heroes anyway, though I would be nervous to meet him as I imagine he is a little abrasive and I don't know what he would make of me.
There was a little trail for next week's show which is about double acts. I wondered if Lee and Herring might feature in this. It is an act that perhaps is also not given the credit it deserves and which wasn't too supported by TV and as often as not is skirted over or ignored by comedy retrospectives. So I was rather chuffed to hear a little clip of our 90s radio show being one of the three examples they used in the preview. Not only had they not forgotten us, we were in the preview (well Stew was, they used a bit in which I didn't speak, but that's not the point). Whilst I don't imagine for a second that Sayle chooses the clips, I got a slight kick out of the confirmation that he at least would be aware of who I was. It made me happy, in any case, that we were still remembered.
Then I stopped off for lunch and knowing there was going to be something about the podcast in the Times got hold of a copy to discover this
rather lovely review of my current work in my new partnership. The reviewer really gets what we're doing and appreciates the podcast for exactly what it is.
How nice to have these little ego boosts on my way up to the Fringe. It felt like another sign that things are slowly moving in my direction. But I am sure fate is just setting me up for its usual hilarious slap in the face. I don't mind. I like some kind of existential Max Moseley I enjoy being slapped by fate.
The Newcastle gig was rather lovely too - it's been a while since I've played this town, but it's one of my favourites and though the audience eyed me a little suspiciously for the first five minutes, they soon accepted me for all my blasphemy and rudeness and warmed to me.
I have done a lot of previews of this show - far more than any other show I've done. And I think the hard work shows. I feel more prepared than I have been for a long time and am allowing myself to feel confident.
But I am aware that that confidence is just a soap bubble and I am heading to a town where a lot of people are waiting with pins.
Hopefully not literally.
But then I am happy enough with what I've got not to be too riled by criticism any more. For example someone drew my attention to
this bizarre little animation on Youtube, which makes me laugh so much. Not only because someone has gone to the trouble of doing it, but also the entire execution of it. The way the words are coming out of my own mouth. And the fact that it gives a link to my site, almost as if I myself have been insane enough to put this together myself in a moment of self-realisation and then am directing people to see how unfunny I am. There is a possibility that it's done as a bit of a joke by someone who actually likes me (I know that some people do this on the iTunes comments for the podcast to get a mention), but I hope not. I hope it is done by someone who hates me that much to be bothered to spend their time (only a small amount clearly) crafting this cinematic treat. I am thinking of opening my act with these words. It would be even better if it had been put together by Patrick Marber as it suggests. And that this was his considered and sober response to all the years of minor slighting we have given him.
So thanks to whoever put that together. It makes me laugh more every time I look at it. It works on so many levels.
