It didn't feel like so long since I last played the Battersea Arts Centre, but when I got there I found the familiar building had had lots of slight additions and subtractions that made it feel like I had entered a Battersea Arts Centre in a different dimension. On the stairs up to the main room there were now some chairs and tables, but the chairs were lined with the carpet which progressed from the floor, up the back of the seat and then down the other side to the floor again. The auditorium seemed different in some impossible to pin down way and when I opened the door to go to the dressing rooms that lay beyond I discovered that there was just one large room there and not separate compartments and not toilet. Had I been away so long that everything had changed so, or just slipped between a crack between Universes?
I questioned the tech who said he had worked here for about three years and it had always been like this. Surely I had been here in the last three years? But maybe not. Checking my blog, the last time I mentioned the place was for a Christ on a Bike preview. And I have a feeling that that might have been in one of the smaller spaces (may be wrong - can't remember anything about it). I thought I did a gig here most years, so was surprised to find it was so long ago. I have been performing here for over 20 years now, I guess. This was one of the first places that I did warm ups for Edinburgh (and for Lee and Herring shows). We also rehearsed Punk's Not Dead here (and I think probably some of the other plays). Mind-blowing (as always) to have such a long association with a venue. Cool though too.
Aside from this slight discombobulation of changes to the venue and realising how ancient I am, I had a good time tonight. It was a bit warm and the audience perhaps a little soporific, but nearly everything is hitting well and I can do nearly all of it without the script (or with just the occasional sideways look). I tried out the Hamlet routine tonight and though it feels a little long I would like to try and get it into the show. I asked the audience if it should stay or go and they seemed very positive, but I said, "Yeah, Battersea Arts Centre! You would say that," knowing they'd love the clever/clever stuff.
It's going to be tough getting this down to time, because it's already over-full (the stories about my Scrabble cartridge, my ant murder and the sinister crow are all out at the moment). I am sure I can tighten up a few of the routines, but it's going to be another Fringe show where I can barely risk pausing for breath. Still about six more previews to go (and a few stand-up gigs) so I hope there is time to perfect this. But it's feeling good to me. Perhaps there's an additional maturity to some of the material (there's certainly plenty of immaturity too though). My early fears that people wouldn't want to laugh about this subject have proven unfounded. But I am enjoying the slightly shocked reaction on some of my challenges to our particular death rituals.
It's astounding that I am just a week away from starting to make my journey up north. How has the preview season gone by so fast. When I was on tour the days seemed to drag by, always with 32 gigs remaining however many I did. But the reverse is happening with the previews. It always feels like I've only done 5, but in fact this was my 21st stab at the show. Maybe I can alternate routines a little bit once I am doing the Fringe. An hour is never enough, but at least I have plenty of stuff for the tour.
I am surprising myself about how far ahead I am getting with everything. Getting close to having half the guests booked for RHEFP and there are some crackers still to come. Check out the line-ups here. I am sure that nearly all of these will be correct, but can't guarantee there won't be changes to guests due to the unpredictable nature of the Fringe.
