This year has just been one thing after another, with little time to breath in between: The Hitler Moustache tour was followed immediately by the book publication and tour which was followed directly by the second series of As It Occurs To Me and now, even before that is quite finished, I will be concentrating on Christ on a Bike for the next two months (whilst trying to write my Radio 4 series which is being broadcast in October). I can't work out if I am being punched repeatedly in the face or if it's me that is doing the punching (and if my record of actual punching is anything to go by the latter seems unlikely). But today felt like the day when my brain switched over into Christ on a Bike mode. Even though I had done a couple of previews already and even though AIOTM (AIOTM) is not quite finished, it was only this evening that the focus shifted. I was doing a preview aptly enough inside a chapel that is now a pub in Islington and whilst I still had the original script in my hand, I did not have to refer to it very often and was also starting to sense which bits I don't want to do this time and where there is room to insert new ideas or expand old ones. I got a bit of a head rush about it and a feeling or excitement. I am very much looking forward to knocking it into shape over the next month.
Even though I was very fond of this show, it is standing up much better than I had imagined when I first re-read it and I am really glad that I am getting the opportunity to give this show the chance to get the recognition it deserves. There's some room for me to inject more passion and a little more seriousness to the script, but what I quite like about it is its lightness, its silliness and its meshing of different comedy styles. The reaction tonight was very promising, given that it's still June and this is only my fourth preview. It would be very satisfying if Christ on a Bike could be a hit that it didn't quite manage to become the first time.
I have always been reluctant before to go over old ground at the Fringe, but as I explained in an in depth interview I did this afternoon with some comedy fans, it does seem right to be having a crack at this one again on so many levels, partly because a lot of people who like me now haven't seen it, partly so I can get it on DVD, but mainly because I have learned a lot about stand up in the last nine years and can now, I feel, really do the idea some justice.
I am really looking forward to knocking it into shape, proving I guess, that a change is as good as a rest.
Here are the details of where you can see it and it will be at the Leicester Square Theatre for a longer run than usual from December through January and then off on a nationwide tour. I am getting 40,000 programmes delivered to my house on Friday, so I hope that that many people end up coming.
Meanwhile my fragile sanity continues to erode and my very mild OCD has been revealing itself to me as often, after I have left the house, I am forced to return to check that I have shut the front door. Not locked it (though that is sometimes the concern) but actually left the door ajar. As if that is something that I would ever do. But some fucked up part of my head keeps insisting I have to check. Which is annoying. If only the rest of my stupid brain could remember to take note of the fact that the door is closed and locked when I actually close and lock it, then this wouldn't be an issue. Or if only the rest of my brain was secure enough with itself to say "Fuck off, little part of the brain. Clearly the door is closed. When has he ever left the front door of his house ajar in his life? It just wouldn't happen. You're a fucking twat for even thinking it." But my brain is too insecure and paranoid to take this stand, so I walk back home and double check and find that of course the door is as always shut and locked. And whilst I can laugh about this behaviour now, I do fear that as I get older I will descend into proper out of control craziness. At the moment I am wandering around muttering the initial letters of the genealogy of Christ to myself. Which probably isn't a good sign either.
Once again the proximity of the comedian and the madman is highlighted. But as long as you're paying to see my babbling insanity then I guess it's OK>
