So "As It Occurs To Me" starts next Monday and I have six days to write a script and work out how the Hell I am going to stage it all. It's a terrifying prospect. I should at least be going out and trying to have experiences to write about or sitting at my desk and working hard, but I was tired from the ridiculously hectic last few days and ended up just sitting on my sofa, watching "The Time Bandits." I'd ordered a load of Michael Palin films off the internet, having had my interest piqued by his diaries. I've seen most of them in the past, but don't own many of the non-Python ones. I'm not actually sure I've ever seen "The Missionary" at all, though I must have done surely. I was surprised that both "The Missionary" and "A Private Function" are no longer commercially available and it cost me nearly £20 each to get them from dealers. Hope they're worth it.
I had seen "Time Bandits" many, many times before, but not for ages and I was surprised how much of it I had forgotten. Loads of great stuff and a great performance from the late, great
David Rappaport, who Andrew Collings once talked to on a trip to London and who sadly killed himself (the two events were probably not connected).
I wondered what had happened to the other Time Bandits in the interim and sadly some of them are dead, but Kenny Baker and Mike Edmonds are still rocking on. I had not known that Gilliam had written a second script, which contrary to what wikipedia claims was not stymied by the death of Rappaport and the disability of Jack Purvis, as these issues were addressed in the script. You can read about it
here.
And what became of Kevin,
Craig Warnock. It seems he is still acting (and is nearly 40). He has
his own website too, though I don't think he mentions the Time Bandits on there. Which is understandable perhaps, though still a little sad. He did a good job. And most men of my age probably wished they had been him back in 1981. I wish I could have been Kevin in the Time Bandits.
It would be on my CV that's for sure.
You can now hear the preview for "As It Occurs To Me" that Andrew and I recorded in my car on Saturday
at the British Comedy Guide. It'd be great if you subscribe via iTunes too, which you can do from the same link. Spread the word. And of course it would be better still if you came down to see one of the live shows, especially if you want me to do any more in the future. And if you want me to pay Dan Tetsell and TV's Emma Kennedy any money for being in it. It won't be the same if we do the whole thing on our own.
Go here, now!. You've got 10 chances to see the show. And anyone who comes to all 10 shows will get a special gift from me (you will have to bring all 10 ticket stubs to the final show and find me at the bar afterwards to qualify - and the prize might not be all that good).
And remember I have no idea what is going to be in the show on Monday or what it'll be like. It will be quite exciting whatever happens.
